Alders’ State Of The City Centers People Power

The ​“people have the power” — and alders must work to keep those democratic currents flowing, inside and outside City Hall. 

Newhallville Alder Kim Edwards offered that call to action Monday night as she delivered the annual Black and Hispanic Caucus State of the City address during the alders’ latest full board meeting on the second floor of City Hall. 

The speech came roughly two months after Mayor Justin Elicker gave his own annual state of the city address, in which he focused on signs of hope in New Haven even amid a host of educational challenges.

In her speech, Edwards outlined a set of priorities, including vocational education, job creation, community policing, and affordable housing development. 

And as the city debates whether to increase alders’ terms and salaries through a once-a-decade charter revision process, Edwards’ words formed a spotlight on alders’ unique proximity to their constituents among the host of elected officials representing each voter. 

Alders ​“CARE!!! — with caps and exclamation marks,” Edwards said. ​“This is our city. These are our communities. And we must all play a role and be accountable for what we allow to occur in our space.”

Edwards highlighted how alders and community members alike can stir a groundswell of civic engagement in New Haven and create change in their neighborhoods.

“There’s so many ways we can join forces,” Edwards said at the podium, addressing not only her colleagues on the Board of Alders, but about a dozen residents and community organizers who sat in the public pews.

“Join a community management team,” Edwards urged attendees. Volunteer at a family member’s school. ​“Sponsor a clean up,” she said. ​“Submit testimony” at public hearings. ​“Spread the word.”

She noted that the Black and Hispanic Caucus now comprises 22 members of the 30-person Board of Alders, and that women make up 43 percent of the board. Those who were once considered ​“minorities” now make up the majority of the legislative body. 

That representation is historic, Edwards suggested, and it comes with responsibility. ​“People have the power,” she said. ​“We gotta hold our feet to the fire.”

Edwards urged her colleagues to take more urgent action on goals like creating educational opportunities for New Haven’s young people.

She specifically called for a renewed focus on vocational and technical education options for students who aren’t interested in going to college. 

“Since 2008, the idea of reintroducing trade schools has come up in our conversations. When will we make this happen?” she asked. ​“When will we assist in building a pipeline for our budding fashion designers, hair stylists, barbers, electricians, carpenters, and more?”

Read Edwards’ full speech below.

Thank YOU, Madam President, and thank you all for being here tonight.

Good evening, I’m honored to stand here to give the Black and Hispanic Caucus’s annual state of the city address.

I am proud to be a member of the Caucus and even more proud to be a member of this Board.

Over the years the caucus has to come together to take on the challenges that face our City and to make a difference.

One of the challenges we have fought for and continue to fight for is EQUALITY. That being said here are a few facts.

The Black & Hispanic Caucus represents the minority members of the Board of Alders. But in fact, since there are 22 black & Hispanic Alders, WE, actually make up the majority of this board.

There are 30 members of this board. Of those, 13 or about 43% are women.

Of the 10 aldermanic Committees 4 of them are chaired by women. Which is Just over 40%.

New Haven is a city with many challenges. Where do I start? If you are not aware by now, the root cause of this is POVERTY. We all know the only way to tackle these complex issues is through good jobs and entrepreneurship. Three years ago, we sat in this very chamber and heard the impact decades of redlining had on our communities. And we, as the Legislative Body as a whole, and specifically the Black & Hispanic Caucus has continually faced those challenges.

This is how you build wealth and stability in a neighborhood. As a caucus we need to make sure we are using and creating innovative pathways to success. This leads me to JOBS. How do we connect more people to career placement opportunities? We need to continue partnerships with workforce alliances and organizations in our city that provide career programming and placement. We must also tell participants in these programs to tell a friend and get the word out. For example, New Haven Works is one entity and they just celebrated their 10th anniversary placing over 1882 New Haven Residents into jobs of which 53% are from neighborhoods of need and 83% are people of color. There are also other entities doing this kind of work helping with resumes, interviewing skills and filling out applications.

Programs like these have a significant impact in our city, it allows people to take care of their families and positively impact their neighborhood.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The Black & Hispanic caucus has been fighting alongside community members to ensure housing is affordable. We have taken significant steps as the Board of Alders to help address this crisis. New Haven has allocated more ARPA funds to affordable housing than any other city in CT, allocating $18 million dollars. We passed Accessory Dwelling Unit legislation to allow current property owners to build affordable housing units in their garages, basements and attic spaces. Over the past year there has been much more housing built or contracted to be built than ever. The Black & Hispanic caucus along with the full board supported projects like Beulah Land, Antilean Manor, Beacon, Monarch and more. Development is a key factor in some of this new construction. There have also been many new private homes that have been built by Habitat for Humanity and that’s in every sector of the city; Newhallville, Dixwell, the Hill, Fairhaven, and East Shore. Not only are these houses new, but the new owners must participate in the build, which instills a sense of community and pride in the neighborhood. We as a caucus are paying attention to the increase in evictions due to rising rents and are working to create more affordable units. However, we have much more work to do.

EDUCATION

It has been a tough couple of years in education. Children are falling behind in learning!! How do we support our children’s learning? How do we support everyone in the system that touch our students? From Teachers, to Aides, School Security Guards, Cafeteria Workers, Principals. HOW? Teachers and paraprofessionals had to adjust to a whole different style of teaching and engaging students. More children had a hard time returning back to school, what can we do collectively to get our students to actually show up in class? EVERYTHING we understood about education changed. That being said, we must have alternatives. Every child will not attend a college or university after high school; and that’s ok. Since 2008 the idea of reintroducing trade schools has come up in our conversations. When will we make this happen? When will we assist in building a pipeline for our budding Fashion Designers, Hairstylists, Barbers, Electricians & Carpenters and more. There are a lot of young people in this city who already have some of these talents. Let’s help them to hone their skills so that they can gain not only employment but set their career paths in motion now. In fact, many skilled tradespeople tend to start their own businesses which can lead to generational wealth. Bio tech and Advanced manufacturing are booming in our state- we need to make sure we are attaining skills and certifications to compete in these fields. Maybe the new Superintendent will lead the charge to make these things happen.

CRIME & VIOLENCE

We have a new police chief who was endorsed by and has the support of this caucus. The Chief has put together the best command staff of Assistant Chiefs who know how to get the job done. The Board of Police Commissioners play a major role as well, as a unified team of New Haven citizens who are truly dedicated to making our police department the best it can be; they have stepped up to the plate. In an effort to fight crime we need to make sure Community Policing Standards are not just notes and plans presented to us on paper but that the standards are indeed being met and improved upon because it makes a difference in our City. It makes a difference in saving lives, building relationships and most importantly keeping young people out of the streets. It makes a difference in our ability to solve crimes. It makes a difference in how we live and function in our neighborhoods. It makes a difference PERIOD!! However, it doesn’t stop there.

In order to get the difficult work done in this city we must work together. Here are some small ways that will have a lasting impact.

WE can work to make OUR city better by doing a few important things. 

• Join your community management team.

• Joining boards and commissions in our city

• Be a part of the block watch or establish a block watch where needed

• Help the police and fire departments to recruit & hire more young folks from our communities.

• Help-out at your child’s or family member school

• Volunteer as a mentor, give time to a group or community center

• Show up at a public hearing or submit testimony

• Spread the word on programs in our city

• Report issues that are affecting your neighborhood 

• Sponsor a community clean up

Every alder, every neighbor, every city official, and every public safety officer, such as firefighters, and teachers, has a role in making New Haven a better place and the best to live in the state of Connecticut. This is OUR city, these are OUR communities and WE must all play a role and be accountable for what WE allow to occur in our space. Gone are the days where we allow outsiders or even folks within our community to complain after the fact. There are tools in place that allow our community members to voice their concerns, attend meetings and enact real change! It is up to us and time to hold elected and public officials as well as ourselves to the fire where public safety, budget issues, education and all things NEW HAVEN — — — — — - matter. We can no longer just sit by idly and complain with inaction or post our disdain on social media. We must put action behind our words and chart a true pathway forward. FOR change…. Positive change! Change that is impactful and ensures generations to come will be successful……As Alders and as a Caucus we are here not because this is glamorous or easy work…This my friends Is certainly not the path for the faint of heart. We are here before you because we CARE. We care enough to step forward and represent our ward and our city and our goal is to do the right thing.

Thank you for your time.