Bysiewicz Seeks Latino Support On Grand Ave.

Yolanda Guzman made sure that Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Susan Bysiewicz didn’t leave her Grand Avenue bakery without taking a slice of tres leches cake.

In fact, Guzman packed eight slices of the three-milk Mexican dessert bread for the Democratic nominee: one slice for Bysiewicz, and one for each of the seven other local businesspeople, politicos, and campaign supporters who gave the former secretary of the state a walking tour of five different Fair Haven small businesses on Thursday afternoon.

“Just a small piece, just a small piece,” Bysiewicz pleaded with a smile.

The sweet gift seemed a good omen for Bysiewicz, who is running to be the state’s second-in-command alongside Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ned Lamont this November.

Even though Bysiewicz handily defeated an insurgent primary challenge from 31-year-old Latina labor organizer Eva Bermudez Zimmerman this past August, including in the city’s predominantly Hispanic Fair Haven neighborhood, the statewide Democratic ticket is now focused on winning crucial Latino votes in the general election. The outcome could depend on whether or not Lamont and Bysiewicz, two older, white candidates, can turn out the state’s Hispanic vote.

The Lamont campaign has gone so far as to promote Hill Alder Dave Reyes to the position of statewide director of Latino outreach for his campaign.

But the Lamont campaign wouldn’t let Reyes, at least this week, speak publicly. Reyes said he needed the campaign’s authorization to discuss his Latino outreach efforts and responsibilities and the issues facing the community; the campaign officially denied a request to let him speak, continuing a pattern beginning in the primary season of denying the New Haven politicians of color it hires to speak to a reporter. Reyes was allowed to be present but not to speak.

On the tour, Bysiewicz met up with Grand Avenue Special Services District (GASSD) Chair Frank Alvarado and Spanish American Merchants Association (SAMA) Executive Director Julio Mendoza just before 3 p.m. on Thursday at SAMA’s second-floor headquarters at 258 Grand Ave.

Mendoza explained that SAMA, which is largely funded through the state Department of Labor (DOL), is a one-stop shop for Spanish-speaking New Haveners interested in starting a small business. He said they do everything from translating letters from English to Spanish and back to helping aspiring small business owners put together business plans and loan applications. SAMA can give out $10,000 to $100,000 loans at 4 percent interest to qualified applicants. It hosts regular courses on accounting, business management, and first-time homeownership.

“We work with a merchant 10, 12, 15 times to get their applications together,” he said. ​“It’s very difficult.”

Bysiewicz promised that if elected lieutenant governor, she would encourage the administration to continue to support groups like SAMA and the businesses they serve through state programs like the Small Business Express Program, which provides up to $300,000 in low-interest loans for Connecticut businesses with fewer than 100 workers.

Along with New Haven State Rep. Juan Candelaria, former SAMA employee and small business consultant Jobana Maldonado, Hill Alder Reyes and several campaign staffers, Bysiewicz then made the rounds of a handful of small businesses on Grand Avenue between Blatchley Avenue and Ferry Street.

In Mi Lupita Bakery at 269 Grand, Bysiewicz spoke with Guzman, with the translation help of Maldonado, about how Guzman used to bake pan de fiesta with her mom in her native Tlaxcala, Mexico and sell the sweet, nutty bread at local festivals.

“She came to us not knowing anything about business,” Alvarado said about Guzman, who reached out to SAMA for help when she was first starting her bakery six years ago. Now, Guzman told Bysiewicz, she has a catering contract with the local club Van Dome, she distributes her pastries to local super markets and grocery stores, and she is looking to open another outlet in either New Haven or Bridgeport.

Bysiewicz promised to connect her with former Bridgeport State Rep. Lydia Martinez if Guzman ever decides to open a second shop in the Park City.

The lieutenant governor candidate and her retinue then swung by Cositas Deliciosas at 271 Grand Ave., where they marveled at the containers of fresh pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, and mango used to make fresh smoothies.

Miguel Xicohtencatl, who owns the restaurant with his wife, told Bysiewicz that he initially opened a convenience store at his current location. But then a friend told him to try selling snow cones instead, and the venture was a success, and so he pivoted to selling cold treats, and then smoothies, and now offers a full menu of tortas, tacos, burgers, and salads.

“We appreciate your hard work,” Bysiewicz said.

“We’re going to support you,” Xicohtencatl replied. ​“No question. You’re more than welcome here anytime.”

Bysiewicz then made stops to El Jibaro Hair Cut at 273 Grand Ave., where Serviano Burgos has been cutting hair for the past 27 years, and to Dayvett’s Gifts at 259 Grand Ave., where Ines Vidals and her husband sell dresses, costumes, masks, and other trinkets for everything from baptisms to quinceaneras to weddings.

The lieutenant governor’s last stop was at the 25-year-old affordable housing developer NeighborWorks New Horizons at 235 Grand Ave. There she spoke with director Seila Mosquera about how reliant the local affordable housing developer is on funding from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) and from the state Department of Housing (DOH).

“The state can continue to support SAMA by making sure that small businesses have access to the Small Business Express Program,” Bysiewicz said at the end of her Grand Avenue tour, ​“the grant programs, the programs that are specially targeted for women and minority owned business. SAMA, they know the people. They know the entrepreneurs. They know the needs. All you need is hard work and a good idea. And you know what, that’s America.”

Not Allowed To Talk?

After the primaries, the Lamont campaign promoted Hill Alder Dave Reyes from a lower-level position organizing in the Elm City to one of statewide responsibility as state director of Latino outreach.

When the Independent asked Reyes if he was up for an interview about his new responsibilities and about the challenges he thought Democrats may face this fall in getting out the Latino vote for Lamont and Bysiewicz, he said he was game, but asked that the Independent clear the interview request with the campaign first.

The Independent put in two requests to interview the local legislator about his role on the campaign, once last Friday at a campaign stop in the Hill and once via email a few days later.

On Monday night, Lamont Deputy Communications Director Sam Norton responded that the campaign would not allow Reyes to be interviewed about his new position by the Independent.

“Thanks for reaching out!” Norton wrote in an email. ​“We are going to pass on this story for now.”

When asked for an explanation why the request had been denied, the campaign did not respond.