After Housing Debate, Dixwell Ward Backs DuBois-Walton

Dixwell Democrats pressed the mayor on housing — then endorsed his challenger, 8 – 3.

That was the result of a nonbomding preference poll taken Wednesday evening at a meeting of the Ward 22 Democratic committee. The meeting took place at the McCabe Manor complex on Winchester Avenue.

Ward 22 Alder Jeanette Morrison, who lives in the complex, coaxed her neighbors out to hear from two mayoral hopefuls, one-term incumbent Justin Elicker and challenger Karen DuBois-Walton.

After a calm debate on housing in the city, they voted strongly in favor of the challenger, who ran the New Haven Housing Authority/Elm City Communities for 14 years.

These ward committee votes, which are taking place across the city, are non-binding endorsements for mayoral candidates, and offer a preview of the Democratic Town Convention in five days, where ward co-chairs will make an official party endorsement. With over half of the city’s 30 wards having conducted their votes, the Ward 22 vote was DuBois-Walton’s third victory, after Beaver Hills’ Ward 29 and West Rock’s Ward 30.

Morrison, an uncontested five-term alder, won unanimous support from the committee for her reelection. She drew enthusiastic support for her advocacy for the new Q House about to open to the community.

Though the ward is split town-gown between majority-Black areas of Dixwell and six of Yale’s residential colleges, those voting on Wednesday were mostly non-students. (See below for a list of ward votes.)

DuBois-Walton’s record of service at Elm City Communities was in the spotlight as she and her opponent traded thoughts on New Haven’s affordable housing shortage.

The exchange unfolded after Elicker touted both the affordable housing units created in city-constructed buildings, and an inclusionary zoning policy currently before the Board of Alders that would create new affordable housing requirements in private developments.

“This is a question of what we’ve been doing, and what still needs to be done,” the mayor said.

Not so fast, DuBois-Walton responded: Apportioning small set-asides in private development will ​“never” meet New Haven’s actual housing need. Overall, the city needs an even more transformative vision for such a basic need, she said. That could begin by decreasing ​“megablock” apartment complexes of market-rate apartments, and instead creating smaller developments that are on average cheaper to rent and create more jobs for local contractors.

“I want to accelerate this work, and bring that urgency that is needed,” she said.

Beyond the housing exchange, both candidates were pressed on how they would bridge divides in a city that has so many different organizations and voices.

DuBois-Walton recalled her experience in housing, especially in her effort to rebuild the authority’s portfolio. Though opinions about various projects made progress challenging, she said, the conversations and debates that occurred made the final product stronger.

Elicker agreed, and applauded the city’s wealth of public service organizations. ​“You throw a rock in New Haven, and you hit a nonprofit,” he joked, clarifying that he would never throw a rock at a nonprofit. ​“Dialogue pushes us to think harder about these challenges. That’s what makes our community great.”

Also present at the meeting were Democratic committee members from Ward 1, which includes commercial areas of Downtown and eight of Yale’s 14 residential colleges. Its representatives are all Yale undergraduates who grew up or went to school in various New Haven neighborhoods, including Fair Haven, Newhallville, and East Rock.

Sophomore Alex Guzhnay, who is running for alder, spoke about his experience working for New Haven Farms through a city-run program during high school, gaining experience while helping his family financially.

“All kids who want to work, who want to give back to their family, and their communities, should have the opportunity to,” Guzhnay said.

The students did not hold an endorsement vote, with co-chair Donasia Gray saying that the committee will conduct door-knocking and social media campaigns to gauge the ward’s preference.

Ward results to date follow, with links to stories.

Ward 4: Elicker near-unanimously (no official final vote tabulation)
Ward 7: Elicker, 14 – 5
Ward 8: Elicker, 16 – 4
Ward 9: Elicker, 7 – 0
Ward 10: Elicker, 14 – 0
Ward 14: Elicker, 15 – 11
Ward 15: Elicker, 11 – 0
Ward 18: Elicker, 20 – 4
Ward 19: Elicker, 22 – 4
Ward 21: Elicker, 12 – 10
Ward 22: DuBois-Walton, 8 – 3
Ward 25: Elicker, 31 – 12
Ward 26: Elicker, 26 – 12
Ward 27: Elicker, 7 – 0
Ward 29: DuBois-Walton, 17 – 7*
Ward 30: DuBois-Walton, 19 – 1