nothin DeLauro Endorses Leng’s Reelection | New Haven Independent

DeLauro Endorses Leng’s Reelection

Laura Glesby Photo

Rosa DeLauro: Leng “was there to pick us up.”

Joined by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Hamden Mayor Curt Leng officially announced his campaign for reelection Saturday afternoon at the foot of newly-reopened Sleeping Giant State Park.

In endorsing Leng, DeLauro, who represents Connecticut’s Third U.S. Congressional District, broke a common practice amongst federal officials of waiting until after a primary election to endorse a mayoral candidate.

He’s a dear friend,” DeLauro told the Independent in an explanation of why she chose to break this convention. He does the work, and he doesn’t do it for grandstanding.”

In 2017, DeLauro also endorsed New Haven Mayor Toni Harp before a primary election took place, though her opponent that year did not eventually win many votes. DeLauro stayed neutral in the hotly contested 2013 New Haven mayoral primary, endorsing Harp in the general election.

Leng is seeking a third two-year term in office. Legislative Council representative Lauren Garrett is challenging Leng for the Democratic nomination. The primary election will take place on September 10. Jay Kaye, a production manager for Ferraro’s Painting and Restoration, is running for mayor as a Republican in the general election.

Leng and DeLauro spoke to a small crowd Saturday at a portable podium beside the entrance to Sleeping Giant. In May of 2018, a tornado devastated the park, toppling 2,000 trees. Sleeping Giant was closed to the public for over a year as volunteers worked to clear the trails. It reopened one week before Leng’s announcement.

At the podium, DeLauro praised Leng for his handling of that tornado. He was there to pick us up,” she said.

I often was in daily communication with the mayor” in the storm’s aftermath, DeLauro recalled. They had all hands on deck to ensure safety and preparedness.”

She spoke of Leng’s role in advocating for Hamden residents after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied homeowners assistance in repairing their houses after the storm, saddling many with tens of thousands of dollars of costs not covered by insurance.

Curt stood up to FEMA and said, That was unacceptable,’” DeLauro said. He inspired her to introduce the DEBRIS Act, which would allow FEMA to direct federal funds to private property debris removal after natural disasters, she said. The bill will soon go before the U.S. Senate.

DeLauro also lauded Leng’s work in strengthening ties with Quinnipiac University, increasing tax reliefs for veterans, and bolstering infrastructure.

Then Leng stepped up to the podium to formally announce his candidacy.

Mayor Curt Leng.

In his speech, he alluded to two incidents last spring that sparked allegations of life-threatening misconduct on the part of Hamden Police Department officers. In February, a video was released that showed officers threatening to fire shots and call Immigration and Customs Enforcement on two Latino men during a traffic stop. Two months later, an officer shot at two unarmed, black citizens in New Haven, wounding one.

Make no mistake,” Leng said. Actions have consequences, and those consequences have to be stronger if you carry a badge and a gun.”

He acknowledged a need to rebuild bonds of trust” between the police force and the public, and suggested that trust can be repaired by improving police training and bolstering community policing efforts.

But Leng dismissed generalizations about the police department and the town based on the two incidents.

There are some who have pushed a narrative that seeks to define Hamden by these incidents. To paint our entire police department — to paint our town, sometimes — as unprepared and ineffective, untrained and even racist” is untrue, he insisted. This is not Hamden, and this is not what Hamden Police Department or our town that I am proud to lead stands for.”

Leng touted the town’s 3R” initiative, which, in part, guarantees pre-kindergarten for all children and will rebuild town schools. Hamden’s Legislative Council voted to pass a majority of the plan last Tuesday. He also celebrated his successful veto of a budget that would have raised the city’s mill rate to 49.99.

After the event, Leng praised DeLauro for being one of the biggest fighters for the people who need it.”

Mayor Leng with his family after the event. Printed on the back of Cooper Leng’s shirt: “Mayor’s Son.”

I’m extraordinarily humbled,” he said of DeLauro’s endorsement.

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