THE INNER-CITY NEWS by INNER-CITY NEWS

INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016 THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

We must work Justice together to support HBCUs’ sustainability in America By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Financial a Key Focus at 2016 NAACP Convention New Haven, Bridgeport

INNER-CITYNEWS Volume 30. No. 1571

Volume 21 No. 2194

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

Three New Commissioners Report for Duty Kapp Singer, Arts Paper, newhavenarts.org

Heading into the new year, three new arts administrators are ready to put decades of leadership in literature, poetry, theater, fashion, and community-building to work for the city. The Board of Alders approved the appointments of Alisha CrutchfieldMcLean, IfeMichelle Gardin, and Kelly Wuzzardo to the Cultural Affairs Commission in November. The Commission, which has a 2024 budget of $190,000, works with the Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism to sponsor a wide variety of cultural programming across New Haven. Crutchfield-McLean is the founder of Bloom, a lifestyle store, community gathering space, and cafe in Westville. Since opening in July 2021, Bloom has quickly become an arts hub, hosting events on Black literature and Afrofuturism, providing space for student art shows, and giving local artisans a place to sell their wares. “I love the intimacy of the arts community here,” Crutchfield-McLean said in an interview on Wednesday at Bloom. Crutchfield-McLean grew up in Boston and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned a

IfeMichelle Gardin. Photo Lucy Gellman.

degree in marketing. After graduation, she moved to New York City to pursue her interest in fashion. She lived and worked there for 16 years as a stylist, buyer, and—for a short stint—designer, before leaving for New Haven in 2016 to live with her partner.

At first, she felt “reluctant” to be leaving behind one of the world’s most renowned arts scenes. Quickly, however, Crutchfield found creative community in the Elm City. “Although being here was hard at first, connecting with artists was easy,” she

said. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Crutchfield quit her job in New York—which she had been commuting to for four years—and fully immersed herself in New Haven’s arts scene. After taking time to slow down and reflect

on her personal goals—even reading through her journals from when she was younger—she decided to start Bloom. “It was one of those if-you-build-itthey-will-come moments,” CrutchfieldMcClean said, with a laugh. “I make sure to connect with the well-known and the unknown; the latter is really who I advocate for in my business—those who don’t necessarily have a voice or a scene yet.” Alongside Crutchfield-McClean, arts veteran IfeMichelle Gardin——who has worked for virtually every cultural organization in the city—is bringing her expertise to the commission. Gardin, born and raised in New Haven, has been immersed in the city’s arts scene for almost six decades. From age 6 to 17, she attended celebrated Black dance school Bowen/Peters under the tutelage of choreographer and activist Angela Bowen. Gardin left to attend Morgan State University in Baltimore for college, where she continued dancing, and, following graduation, moved to New York. There, her interest in the arts continued to grow. She worked at small theater companies in Harlem and Brooklyn, finding herself immersed within the miCON’T ON PAGE 15

Downer Promises To Hit Ground Running by MAYA MCFADDEN The new haven independent

Troy Wyile walked onto the Wilbur Cross High School auditorium stage Monday to present a bouquet to his former tutor — as she embarks on a new route to help young people up their learning game in New Haven. Wylie was at the school as a guest of Andrea Downer, who was being sworn in as the new District 2 elected representative on the New Haven Board of Education. Downer took the oath of office for her two-year term along with the mayor, the city town clerk, and the members of the Board of Education. More than four years ago Downer promised to tutor now 18-year-old Wylie in math so he could reach the high school finish line. As she took the oath of office Monday afternoon, Dower announced she’d made good on that promise — while swearing to provide equitable education for all of New Haven’s students as the newest member of the city’s Board of Education. Downer, a 1989 Hillhouse High School graduate, was joined at the inauguration by her daughter Brittney Allison and sister Tammika Atkinson-Green on the

Downer with former student Troy Wylie.

stage as she was officially sworn into office by retired Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Lubbie Harper Jr. Wylie, a graduate of New Haven Academy, celebrated Downer Monday at the event with the flowers and thanks for providing him with academic and encouragement since 2016, through middle and high school. A decade ago, Downer began tutoring every week at the Mitchell Library.

She focuses her tutoring sessions, which are free to NHPS students, on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning needs. Downer said her goals while tutoring are to bolster student confidence in addition to academic success. Downer’s remarks Monday promised the hundreds who gathered for the inauguration event that she is committed to directly advocating for all of New Ha-

ven Public School students and families. She thanked her friends, family, campaign team, students, and the voters who elected her into the role as the District 2 elected school Board member. Earlier in the year, elected board member Darnell Goldson sought reelection for the seat but ended up dropping out of the race three months after Downer won the local Democratic Party’s endorsement in July. (New Haven has a hybrid elected, mayorally appointed school board.) Downer said Monday that her aims include ensuring that all students and parents get equitable support and opportunities, addressing teacher burnout and recruitment, pushing for more school funding, and boosting student standardized test scores. “To the students, parents, and citizens of New Haven, I have heard you loud and clear,” Downer said. “Together we will be productive for the betterment of our educational system. I am truly honored.” Downer is the mother of a Career High School graduate. She works as an electrical engineer and serves as Democratic co-chair of Ward 27. She holds degrees in management information systems,

engineering, and business policy and strategic leadership. After the inauguration event Downer said she plans to spend the first week of the new year continuing to review meeting materials for the upcoming full Board of Education meeting on Jan. 8. She plans to attend committee meetings over the next few days to learn in depth about the current state of the public schools. Before departing Monday, Downer was approached by New Havener Bernadette Robinson who introduced herself and requested that Downer help her to get a tutoring gig within NHPS. “I want to help the kids read,” Robinson said. “I remember having so much fun, that I just want to do it again. It’s my purpose.” Now retired, Robinson said she desires to work with first and third graders as she once did years ago. Robinson left with Downer’s phone number and promised to contact her to learn of openings for tutors. “We need to bring back the village,” Downer responded. “I’d love to help get you working with the kids.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

At Inauguration, Imam & Rabbi Pray For Justice by DEREEN SHIRNEKHI The new haven independent

Rabbi Eric Woodward and Imam Omer Bajwa didn’t compare notes before giving back-to-back invocations at Monday’s mayoral inauguration. They didn’t need to — they knew what to say. And they had similar messages to impart. Tasked with setting a spiritual tone to open the biannual inauguration of the city’s mayor and city/town clerk and Board of Alders as well as a member of the Board of Education, Woodward and Bajwa both led attendees with prayers for peace, for justice, and for officials new and old. Their joint message of peace came against a backdrop of strife over the war in Gaza, which has reverberated in New Haven as it has elsewhere around the country and world. Woodward, the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel, began his speech by invoking President George Washington’s letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. “‘May the children of the stock of Abraham, may all of us who dwell on this land, continue to merit and enjoy the goodwill of the other inhabitants, while everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid,’” he recited. He continued, praying that Mayor Justin Elicker be granted “a wise heart, candor of speech, the courage to act decisively, and the strength to respond to every challenge with dignity. Give him a full measure of your compassion, that he may be the instrument of your compassion and justice in this world.” Bajwa, who is the director of Muslim Life at Yale’s Chaplain’s office, followed with his own words of peace, justice and courage: “We ask that Mayor Justin Elicker, Michael B. Smart, Andrea L. Downer, and the alders of the city of New Haven will all find the courage to stand for that which is just, the courage to speak the truth, the courage to support the oppressed, and the voice to express the voices of the marginalized. To hear the concerns of those who speak without the benefit of our privileges.”

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In a conversation after the ceremony, Bajwa was asked how he prepared for his speech, and his thinking of the call to service, and the domestic and international tumult of our time, a call that echoed throughout the day’s speeches. “I didn’t speak to any of the other people when I prepared my remarks,” Bajwa said, laughing. “The fact that there were such echoes of that throughout, from our elected officials to all the speakers to the clergy, it was very heartwarming and says a lot about where our hearts and minds are at.” Woodward stated he felt the same way. When describing his preparation process, he said, “You think about the emotions and feelings that are in your heart, and that you feel like the moment needs, and you think, ‘How can I give voice to them through my tradition?’ For me, it was, ‘How do we give voice to a desire for connection and hope?’” Bajwa and Woodward complimented each other on their remarks and found common ground in how they sought to find the right message for the moment through their traditions. In his own remarks, after being sworn

in, Elicker called back to the words of these two local religious figures. “When I think about inclusion, I think about our clergy like Imam Bajwa and Rabbi Woodward, who modeled today that no matter your faith or world events, we can come together in common purpose and unity to advance the greater good,” Elicker said. Pastor Valerie Washington of Upon This Rock Ministry closed out the inauguration with her own prayer for the city and its updated roster of elected officials. “You said that when the righteous are in position, the people can rejoice. We believe the majority are righteous, so we thank you for placing us in the position to be able to rejoice,” she said. Later, Washington said that every summer her prayer team meets at 11 a.m. on Saturdays to pray for the city of New Haven. “I pray for them all the time, so to actually be able to do it publicly, for me, was a privilege.” In her words, she wanted people listening to understand that God is protecting our city and leading our officials. “It’s a tough job for them,” she said, “so we have to keep them in prayer all the time.”

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

Stetson, Q House Transform Into A Winter Wonderland Danielle Campbell The Arts Paper, newhavenarts.org

Inside the Stetson Branch Library, parents Marcus and Alicia Watley passed by shelves of tightly packed books, making their way over to a pile of baby clothes for their 7-month-old daughter Charlotte. Nearby, Watley sisters Sydney and Savannah played with toy cars, librarians helping them rev the engines on the building's carpet. Their brother, Marcus Jr., looked through the clothing as Brielle, the eldest sibling, helped watch the bunch, beaming with the pride of an older sister. Around them, volunteers buzzed through the space in red and white t-shirts, spreading Christmas cheer. The day was young, and already it seemed that the whole building was in the holiday spirit. That kicked off a day-long holiday celebration and "Winter Wonderland" at the Stetson Branch Library and Dixwell Community Q House, held in late December as Christmas Eve eve fell over the city. A collaboration among over two dozen city nonprofits and small businesses, the event brought out over 1,000 people, from babies and toddlers to doting grandparents and elders who still believe in the magic and miracles of the season. In its inaugural year, it doubled as a celebration of community. Organizers included Kristen Threatt and Brian Burkett Thompson of Gorilla Lemonade and Eat Up Foundation LLC, Reese McLeod also of Eat Up Foundation LLC, Erick Evans Jr. of Good Brothas Detailing and Car Care, and Rashaan Boyd of A Hustlers Vibe. Sponsors, of which there were over 40, included Yale New Haven Health, the New Haven Fire Department, New Haven Free Public Library, New Haven Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism, Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, Greater New Haven NAACP Possible Future Bookstore, and the Freddie Fixer Parade Committee, Inc. among many others. “The importance is to show these kids [that] you have people that really truly love and have some support in what you doing, what you got going on,” Thompson said in an interview at Stetson before the event picked up. “Kids soak that in, and they soak in bad energy, too. So, if you ain't showing no love, you're not giving that, you're not trying to show no support. They soak that in and that's when the streets get em.” Threatt said that he was originally inspired to create this event by the loss of his own baby girl, Krystal Pearl Threatt, on the day she was born—December 25, 2012. Every year, he spends the holidays thinking about the life she would have lived, and the gifts she would have enjoyed on her birthday and for Christmas. This year, he said, he tapped into that energy by giving back to his community— and was thrilled for others to join him

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Bottom: Emmanuel Tineo, Dominique MacCalla's Fiance, helping Landon with a coat as mother Lizzie Ash and grandmother Jill Little look on.

along the way. “As a community, when we come together, we can make great things happen,” he said. “If it wasn't for them [community members] supporting us and Gorilla Lemonade, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to do something as special as this, this celebration.” Those festivities began on Saturday morning, as Stetson Branch Manager Diane X. Brown, Stetson librarians and a group of volunteers opened the branch to neighborhood families, offering up clothes, coats, shoes, toys, books, care packages, and diapers on the cusp of the Christmas holiday. There to lend a hand, Dominique MacCalla and her fiancé Emmanuel Tineo jumped into action, helping families find the right sizes and try on coats. “There are a lot of people in need, especially during the holidays,” MacCalla said. “It's getting cold outside. Some people don't have coats. So, it's nice that people can come and get coats and know that they're gonna have something warm, especially as it gets really cold.” Watley, there with her husband and five young kids, praised community members for coming together to give back, especially around the holidays. In the years since the Covid-19 pandemic first hit New Haven, she said, “it’s very important to be a village.” As a parent of five, it also helps her know that she and her husband aren’t going through any of it alone. Nearby, mother Lizzie Ash and her

mother-in-law, Jill Little, said they were also grateful for the event, particularly during the holiday season. With her son, Noah, at home, Ash had the morning to spend quality time with her daughters, Landon and London. She noted how important it was for Landon to see people giving back—and to understand the beauty of charity and gifting in real time. As she watched parents arrive in the space, tending to kids and families, Brown said she is extremely proud of Threatt and Thompson. For years, Stetson has hosted holiday events, from Christmas concerts with Chris “Big Dog” Davis to visits from Santa Claus to Nutcrackerthemed dance workshops. This year, she said, their participation created a totally unique and different event that she hopes the library can participate in for years to come. “For them to step up to the plate and say, ‘You know it’s not about just me, it’s about me giving back,’ They’re leading by example,” she said. “It’s hard to find people like this. I don’t run into this every day. I’m working with them because they’re doing what I’ve been doing for so many years and they get it.” The morning event was just the beginning. By dusk, hundreds of families— and over 150 volunteers—had arrived at the Q House, lining up outside as the "Winter Wonderland" snapped cheerily into action. Inside the building’s gymnasium—trans-

formed into a festive landscape with bright balloons—Threatt and Thompson ushered in a full-fledged party. Holiday cheer, it seemed, was everywhere, with gift giveaways, free snacks and pizza, bouncy houses, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus and the Grinch, and music from DJ Herman Ham. As families filled the gym, laughter rippled through the space, from a gingerbread house and holiday village with fake snow to a photo station with Santa and the Grinch. At stations, children colored and received face paint and free books, nibbled on popcorn, and posed for impromptu photos in front of a candy-canepatterned house. At the center of the room, a Christmas tree waited with gifts wrapped neatly under its branches. Threatt explained that they were raffle prizes, for which every family was entered upon entrance. As she waited in line with her family to get a toy, New Havener Timeka Daniels said she was in awe at the spectacular display of a true Winter Wonderland. “It was beautiful,” she said. “Lots of people showed up, children. I think that we should have more things like this in our community. It turned out to be something very amazing and exciting and I pray next year they can do it again. I enjoyed myself." For more from the event, watch a video from Threatt here.

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Memberships National Association of Black Journalist National Newspapers Publishers Association Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Greater New Haven Business & Professional Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. The Inner-City Newspaper is published weekly by Penfield Communications, Inc. from offices located at 50 Fitch Street, 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06515. 203-387-0354 phone; 203-3872684 fax. Subscriptions:$260 per year (does not include sales tax for the in State subscriptions). Send name, address, zip code with payment. Postmaster, send address changes to 50 Fitch Street, New Haven, CT 06515. Display ad deadline Friday prior to insertion date at 5:00pm Advertisers are responsible for checking ads for error in publication. Penfield Communications, Inc d.b.a., “The Inner-City Newspaper” , shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad or for typographical errors or errors in publication, except to the extent of the cost of the space in which actual error appeared in the first insertion. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The entire contents of The Inner-City Newspaper are copyright 2012, Penfield Communications, Inc. and no portion may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

January 2024 Survivor of the Month -

Jacqueline Hundley Bracey

“

My name is Jacqueline Hundley Bracey. I am a child of the King! Mid to late summer 2003, I had my annual mammogram and as always, I remember being a little anxious but not fearful. After taking some pictures, the technician told me not to get dressed. She returned and stated that the radiologist had ordered an ultrasound. After the ultrasound, I was informed that I could leave and that my primary care doctor would receive the results of the visit. Several days later I received a call from Dr. Geller, my primary care doctor, who stated that he wanted me to see a surgeon about the results of the mammogram and ultrasound. He gave me the name and number of a surgeon and indicated that he would be contacting him also to inform him that I would be calling for an appointment. I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t remember the name of the surgeon; however, when I called the office, they were expecting my call and made an appointment within the week. Normally I don’t discuss routine doctor appointments with my husband, but that evening I shared with George that I had an appointment with a surgeon about my mammogram results. His first response was: “Why? Is something not normal? When is the appointment? Do I need to go with you?” Trusting my God, I was not afraid, but I did begin to think maybe this could be something serious. I told him the doctor was only going to review the mammogram and the ultrasound at this time. During the review, the doctor stated we should follow up in six months and see if there were any changes. My appointment was on a Friday morning and Dr. Geller had instructed me to call him afterward. I related what the doctor said, and Dr. Geller stated he needed to speak to him for more details. Monday morning, I received a call from the surgeon who said, “I have been thinking about you all weekend. Dr. Geller and I have discussed your test results and have determined that you should have a biopsy and remove any and all foreign tissue at the same time.” I was scheduled for the next week and a Lumpectomy with biopsy was performed. It was determined that I had Stage 0 breast cancer (called ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]) and I would need six to eight weeks of radiation. Special thanks to my nephew Roderick Richardson who worked at Yale and met me each day at the radiation center before treatments for support. For those eight weeks, he was my comforter. Asking questions and participating in the decision making process is a part of my nature and understanding that “Be an advocate of your own body” as Sisters’ Journey would say, I would begin my next steps. I arranged my radiation treatments to be the last appointment of the day so I could work, commute, and still attend treatment five days a week for eight weeks. (That was not easy, but we made it happen.) After doing some research about taking tamoxifen, I discovered there was no data to determine whether or not it made a difference relative to postmenstrual women. I needed to find out more information. Dr. Geller arranged for me to meet with Dr. Andrea Silber, who shared the current data about breast cancer in general and tamoxifen specifically with me. I opted not to take the drug. I requested the results of my annual mammogram when taken, no matter how long it took, to avoid

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” Dr. King’s words forever remind us that positive change is won when we unite.

Jacqueline Hundley Bracey

the anxiety of waiting for the results in a few days. I feel that waiting after annual mammograms causes women so much anxiety/emotional distress. We should petition to have the results as part of the examination. I chose to be private about my breast cancer diagnoses, not hiding, but sharing it primarily with my family and close friends. I have remained relatively healthy. My motto is, “I don’t chase illness, it has to catch me.” “Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be” – Sonia Ricotti

HONORING THE LEGACY

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

God promised us life and I believe Him. Lord Jesus thank you, for giving me such a vibrant community of family and friends to experience life with. Especially, Linda White-Epps for her vision; Dawn White-Bracey, my “Daughter in Love”; my husband George Bracey; sons Kent and Dean Bracey; and my grandchildren Kendrick, Dominique, Kaylin and Donovan – the ones who have come alongside me to love, encourage, support, and uplift me through all the twists and turns of life. Congratulations Sisters’ Journey for 25 years of being that community of friends!

DR.

Support us by Shopping or Donating: Tee Shirts are available in our Shop! New Haven Virtual Support Group Meeting: Every 3rd Tuesday of the month 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Bridgeport Virtual Support Group Meeting: Every 3rd Thursday of the Month 6:30pm – 7:30pm Contact Us: sistersjourney@sbcglobal.net Or Call: 203-288-3556 We’re on the web @ Sisters Journey Inc. or

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

New Alders Take Oath — In Unison by NORA GRACE-FLOOD The new haven independent

A year after first taking an oath of office in a private swearing-in ceremony at City Hall, Ward 21 Alder Troy Streater stepped onto the stage of City Hall with 28 other alders for his first full-fledged inauguration. That made it feel different. It felt like being part of a team. Streater was also one of seven alders who experienced their first New Year’s Day inauguration Monday afternoon. Streater stood alone when he was sworn in last February after winning a mid-term special election to replace former Alder Steve Winter, who took a job as the city’s climate director. On Monday his was just one of 30 hands to raise as U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery asked each incoming alder to accept their roles as municipal individuals inside the Wilbur Cross auditorium. Streater, like other newcomers who spoke to the Independent following the event, said he saw the two-hour ceremony as more than a chance to realize his individual responsibilities as a representative. It was an opportunity to recognize the layers of teamwork required to govern a city. One hundred family members and friend did attend his mid-term private inauguration. Still, Streater said it was extra special to walk into Wilbur Cross on New Year’s Day and stand with his fellow alders — to forget the ego of public service and remember the necessity of community to prompt change. “It showed how everyone comes together,” he said. He pointd to the presence of Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and state Attorney William Tong on stage and hundreds of community and family members in the audience as illustrative of the collective work it takes to get something as seemingly simple as functioning street lights and speed bumps in place. Continuing to make sure that funding goes towards those basic necessities, Streater said, remains his top priority throughout his next term: He wants to keep installing more street lights along Dixwell Avenue, build speed bumps on St. Ronan Street, and establish a public park on Gibbs Street. He also wants to work with adjacent alders to make sure the Winchester Green — an upcoming research, residential and shopping hub along Winchester Avenue — promises employ-

Troy Streater, second from the right, with brothers Kenny Streater, Glen Myers and Anthony Streater.

Alders take the oath of office Monday afternoon.

Kiana Flores, second from left, sits through first-ever inauguration with fellow alders.

ment opportunities for all nearby New Haveners likely to be affected by the development. “I grew up in that ward,” he said. “I want to make sure that, once it’s up, this development really revives a spot that’s been dormant for more than 40 years.” Ward 9 Alder Caroline Smith, who represents parts of Fair Haven and East Rock, said the event marked “a time to really take a moment and feel the responsibility of the role.” Smith reflected on how the role of alders is not just to lead themselves, but to empower others to participate in the democratic process as best they can. As the co-founder of Collab, an entrepreneur training and support program, Smith said her chief focus in office is fostering “inclusive economic development,” or finding ways to help extant and potential business owners in her ward grow both independently and collectively. “I want to bring State Street business owners together,” she said, to uncover common funding pots and compile local job opportunities for residents. In addition to bringing business owners into more direct conversations with one another and their elected representatives, Smith said she invited several young people she identified from around New Haven to the inauguration to encourage further engagement with city government, like 25-year-old Kobey Smith, who works with the New Haven Chamber of Commerce and is

not related to Alder Smith despite the common last name. “Hopefully they’ll be able to see themselves in these seats one day,” Smith said. Twenty-year-old Kiana Flores, meanwhile, was the youngest alder sworn in Monday. A junior at Yale who grew up in Fair Haven and will now represent downtown, she said her primary focus is getting greener transit on tap for the city, including building out more bike lanes across the city. The inauguration itself reminded her of the first goal she hopes to accomplish in the coming weeks: learning from the alders themselves about how to be an alder. Beyond more bike lanes, Flores said she isn’t sure about “specific resolutions” regarding what she wants to get done in office. But she said she has already been attending “trainings” with other alders to learn the bureaucratic complexities behind getting policies passed — and to find “security in knowing that it’s all a learning process.” The following individuals were sworn on to the Board of Alders Monday afternoon (29 in person): Ward 1: Kiana E. Flores Ward 2: Frak E. Douglass Jr. Ward 3: Ron Hurt Ward 4: Evelyn Rodriguez Ward 5: Kampton Singh Ward 6: Carmen Rodriguez Ward 7: Eli Sabin Ward 8: Ellen Cupo Ward 9: Caroline T. Smith Ward 10: Anna M. Festa Ward 11: Henry “Rodney” Murphy Ward 12: Theresa L. Morant Ward 13: Rosa Ferraro Santana Ward 14: Sarah A. Miller Ward 15: Frank R. Redente Ward 16: José L. Crespo Ward 17: Salvatore C. Punzo Ward 18: Salvatore E. DeCola Ward 19: Kimberly R. Edwards Ward 20: Brittiany T. Mabery-Niblack Ward 21: Maceo Troy Streater Ward 22: Jeanette L. Morrison Ward 23: Tyisha S. Walker-Myers Ward 24: Evette T. Hamilton Ward 25. Adam J. Marchand Ward 26: Amy D. Marx (not present) Ward 27: Richard W. Furlow Ward 28: Thomas R. Ficklin Jr. Ward 29: Brian Wingate Ward 30: Honda Smith

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

Poetry On Palestine Envisions A Freer World Adrian Huq, The Arts Paper, newhavearts.org

Thirty adults gathered round on couches and chairs at Possible Futures, eyes and ears turned toward the front of the room. Several of them sported keffiyehs, a traditional Arab scarf that has become a show of solidarity with Palestinians during a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. At the center, Mx. Yaffa steadily recited to an audience of attentive ears and hearts. “I gaze my third eye stretching to fields of citrus and olive where blood is spilled that feels and looks like mine,” they began. “I am and am not home, for I am Palestine, and she yearns for me to taste home.” Those words from their poem “Falasteen”—the Arabic word for Palestine— graced Possible Futures last Friday night, as PeerPride and the Edgewood Avenue bookspace came together to present the work of Palestinian American poet Mx. Yaffa and their new publication, Blood Orange. The second stop on a three-week long book tour, the reading doubled as a conversation with the audience, pressing attendees to imagine a more just world, where grief and violence are not so constant. The event was hosted in collaboration with PeerPride, which houses the program Trans Haven and is led by New Havener and LGBTQ+ advocate Kirill Staklo. This visit was also a welcome back to Connecticut for Yaffa, who previously lived in the state for three years. They co-founded the Waterbury-based nonprofit Life in My Days and helped launch the Connecticut Mutual Aid network at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. They currently reside in Oakland, California. Outside of being a writer and poet, Yaffa serves as the Executive Director of the Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity. As their first book, Blood Orange traces the author's own grief while living in the Palestinian diaspora and serves as a tool for processing recent events and generational trauma through the written word. The book confronts the anguish of being Palestinian—and living in the vast diaspora—at a time of intense loss of human life while also inviting readers to imagine pathways toward utopia. Their poems deal with topics including yearning for home, belonging, and mental health against the backdrop of ongoing displacement of and violence against Palestinians. The title pays homage to Yaffa oranges—a fruit appropriated by the British and then by Israel, said the author—and the blood spilled as Palestinians fight for and are displaced from their land. The poet also wrote many of the poems during the eclipse weekend on October 14, when the sun appeared to have a ring of blazing orange around it.

Adrian Huq Photos.

Yaffa said that they wrote the book so that other queer and trans Palestinians would both feel seen and have a safe bubble to process their emotions “without necessarily the impulse and immediate need to always feel better.” What motivates them in their advocacy for a free Palestine is not the possibility that they will get to go to and one day die in Palestine, but that future generations will not have to deal with settler violence and what they see as colonialism. “I am of a people who have died a thousand times as white people came and conquered,” Yaffa read from the book’s titular poem. “Our blood filling trees and canyons turning the sea a blood orange like an eclipse that forgot to subside.” Twenty-eight out of the book’s 32 poems were written after Hamas’ October 7 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 200 more as hostages. The event, now seen as the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, prompted a mass militarization by the

Israeli Defense Forces, and has since resulted in the deaths of over 21,000 civilians in Gaza, and a growing humanitarian aid and public health crisis. Of those civilians, almost half have been children. Yaffa noted that the poems immediately flowed out of them, after years in which they previously had “never been able to write about Palestine until October 7.” All proceeds from the book will go towards supporting queer and trans Palestinians and on-the-ground work in occupied Palestine. They cited that financial need has risen dramatically for Palestinians trying to leave Gaza in search of safety. The price to cross the Rafah Border Crossing between southern Gaza and Egypt, for instance, currently translates to upwards of $7,000 per person regardless of age. This cost is especially a barrier for marginalized groups like queer and trans Palestinians, they said. Yaffa also noted rising need among queer and trans Palestinians in the dias-

pora who have faced financial hardship from losing jobs and housing along with emotional harm from doxxing and harassment. Fundraising requests have gone up from a couple hundred dollars to $10,000 to relocate, support themselves, and send funds back to their families. As they read, Yaffa encouraged attendees to reject narratives that paint all Palestinians in the same violent light. They noted that there are a plethora of identities within the Palestinian experience, including Black, trans, queer, and disabled Palestinians, and that people, particularly allies, must also show up for these different subgroups. Growing up, they said, no one talked about their family history, and there existed a lot of unprocessed grief. Only later in life did they become more connected with their identity and feel safe enough to express the fact that they are Palestinian. Yaffa has lived in nine countries, but has never been to Palestine. “That’s the displacement that we’re talking about,”

they said. They also have relatives on their father’s side from Sudan and from Armenia on their mother’s side, both countries which currently are or previously have experienced genocides. “We’re so interconnected with that pain,” they said. When the names of all the people that were killed in Gaza were released by the Gaza Health Ministry, Yaffa shifted through the list. They discovered that over 100 of their mother’s cousins had died, and was the one to break the news to her. In total, Yaffa has lost 182 family members since the war began. They called on audience members to consider: “What is your role in the movement?” Among the audience members was Ala Ochumare-Harris, co-founder of Black Lives Matter New Haven (BLMNHV). They said that they were moved by the tie between Black and Palestinian liberation. “I often tie our work here that we have to do to Palestine, and what has been going on in Palestine before October. It was a sad realization that I’ve been right in saying that stuff.” Ochumare-Harris appreciated Yaffa’s push to encourage people to step into roles within activism, wherever their superpower lies. Fellow BLMNHV co-founder Sun Queen chimed in that she appreciated Yaffa’s message of uplifting the “most marginalized of the marginalized.” Another attendee, Adrian Drzewucki, wanted to come see Yaffa since they had already preordered the book and promoted it via their Trans Book Tuesday series on TikTok. “Ever since everything in October began, I have actually redirected my series to really highlight trans Palestinian authors because it’s really important to emphasize that trans people are everywhere. It’s not a new concept, and we matter,” Drzewucki said. When Peer Pride reached out to Possible Futures about if they were interested in being the host space on Yaffa’s book tour, Anderson said it was an “automatic yes” to create space for Palestinian voices and also support poets. “To be able to have an event with a displaced, queer, trans Palestinian poet is just a tremendous opportunity for our community to come together around art and expression and at a time when people are also really looking for spaces to come together and make sense of what’s happening in the world,” Anderson said. While Possible Futures has long carried books by Palestinian authors, Anderson added that she feels encouraged that more people are now seeking out books by Palestinian authors. Physical copies of Blood Orange are available at Possible Futures on 318 Edgewood Ave, New Haven. Yaffa’s next project is compiling and editing a Queer and Trans Palestinian Utopia Anthology to envision a better future through essays, short stories, poetry, and visual art. Submit work by January 7th here.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

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Three Kings Deliver for Zulay THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

Lisa Reisman, The Arts Paper, newhavenarts.org

Four-year-old Zulay Rodriguez waited in line at the Wilson Branch Library, her eyes fixed in anticipation. She stood patiently with other children and their families in the Washington Avenue library’s lower level on a Thursday afternoon for the annual Three Kings Day/ Dia de Los Reyes celebration commemorating the story of the three wise men who arrived bearing gifts for a newly born baby named Jesus. Dia de Los Reyes is “the most important event we do each year because a huge portion of our community is Puerto Rican, ” Children's Librarian Michelle Ziogas said. The roughly 50 guests, most of them families, had the chance to enjoy the sweet bread known as rosca de reyes. Some would find a small plastic baby Jesus figurine embedded inside. “Whoever finds it gets good luck, but also has to host a party,” Library Tech Kristy Manning said while handing out the treat. Then Ziogas and Officer Jeremy Cordero of Yale Police Department took the stage. The two read aloud “Dreams of Green.” With Ziogas reading in English and Cordero in Spanish, the two shared the story of a girl named Lucia living in a snow-blanketed Ohio who yearns to be home in tropical Puerto Rico celebrating Dia de los Reyes with her family and

The three kings: Luis Chavez-Brumel, Jessica Robayo, and Jeffrey Panettiere.

friends. The story ends when Lucia realizes that she can recreate the tradition of Dia de Los Reyes wherever she goes. Then, a dramatic pause from Ziogas and Officer Cordero. From the back of the room, three kings, otherwise known as librarians Luis Chavez-Brumel, Jessica Robayo, and Jeffrey Panettiere, proceeded to the front table with regal solemnity. New Haven Police Department K-9 Sunny, led by Detective Christopher Boyle, played the role of a camel signaling that much like for Lucia, the tradition can carry on in New Haven. Library

staff wheeled out carts loaded with gift bags and categorized by age. A queue of youngsters snaked to the back of the room. “We’ve come every year,” said Stephanie Gonzalez, who brought her children, including her newest baby. “We believe in the Three Kings so this means a lot.” Wilson branch manager Meghan Currey marveled at this year's turnout. “We did it outdoors during Covid, so it’s great to be able to offer something inside now,” she said, as bomba music pulsated through the brightly lit space. “And it’s a multi-cultural crowd, it’s serving everyone, not just one particular group.”

Former Wilson Branch Manager Luis Chavez-Brumel She lauded Chavez-Brumel, the former Wilson branch manager and now deputy director at New Haven Free Public Library, for his involvement in the Three Kings library celebration before her arrival. “This started in 2021 with a donation from Yale’s Peabody Museum gift shop during its renovation,” Chavez-Brumel said while taking a break from handing out gift bags. He credited Panettiere for his efforts in sustaining the tradition.

Kevin and Jannelli Rodriguez.

Stephanie Gonzalez with her daughter.

“Do you like dinosaurs?” Panettiere said to a young boy standing alongside him. “Coloring books? “We’re now in our third year, and we’re building up momentum,” he said, highlighting Fashionista Vintage & Variety for providing the imperial finery each year. It represents “a way to promote New Haven’s cultural equity plan.” The plan, which launched in 2022, focuses on “weaving equity into our systems” by “expanding our imagination about what culture looks like, who creates culture, and where culture happens,” according to togethernewhaven.com. For Ziogas, the event embodies the essential role that libraries play in a community. “This is about inviting people to a place where they feel welcomed, no matter their circumstances,” she said. “Earlier a woman said she was working and she couldn’t stay for the whole event, but she’d love for her three kids to get a gift so we made that happen.” Kevin and Jannelli Rodriguez brought their two-month-old daughter, Sarai. “My family always celebrated back home, and it’s nice to have it here,” he said, as little Zulay scurried past him towards her mother, Maritza Rodriguez. “Look,” Zulay said, showing her mother Maritza Rodriguez a Barbie, a soft smile on her face

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

Alder Sues City For $100M by DEREEN SHIRNEKHI The new haven independent

On Monday Troy Streater was sworn in for his first full term a city alder. On Tuesday he sued the city for $50 million in punitive damages and $50 million in compensatory damages for the two dozen years he spent in prison on a wrongful conviction. 57-year-old Streater, who won the special election for Ward 21 alder in January 2023, received a state pardon in April 2022 after being wrongfully convicted of murdering 19-year-old Terrance Gamble in Newhallville in 1990, when he was 23 years old. He spent 24 years in prison as a result of a case based on no physical evidence but primarily on false testimony later revealed to be coerced, including by a woman who testified she’d been threatened by cops with retaliation against her and her child. In a suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Streater is seeking compensation from the city and accountability for a system that forced him to serve time for a crime he had always maintained he did not commit. “In January 2023, Mr. Streater was elected a member of the City of New Haven’s Board of Alders — a testament not only to his strength, character, and resilience, but also the potential destroyed by Greene, DiLullo, and the City of New Haven’s violation of his constitutional rights,” Streater’s complaint states in part. “Mr. Streater now brings this case to seek redress in damages for the grievous harms inflicted by his wrongful conviction and incarceration, to hold the City of New Haven Police Department accountable for the misconduct that ruined his life, and to prevent this miscarriage of justice from occurring to anyone else in the future.” Streater’s 10 listed claims against the defendants include malicious prosecution, failure to intervene, fabricating evidence against him, and withholding exculpatory evidence, depriving him of a right to a fair trial. The complaint details the missteps taken by the New Haven officers involved in the Gamble case: Joseph Greene, Robert Lawlor, Jr., Vincent Raucci and Vaughn Maher. Greene and now-deceased officer Anthony DiLullo, especially, are described as having fabricated evidence and intimidated four witnesses whose testimonies helped convict Streater. All four, including a young boy who was told by the officers his testimony would keep his mother out of jail, have since recanted their statements and spoken up about the intimidation they faced. There was no other physical or forensic evidence tying Streater to the murder. City Corporation Counsel Patricia King declined to comment on the specifics of the suit, which she hadn’t received yet.

LAURA GLESBY PHOTO Streater: Lost 24 years of his life to a crooked prosecution.

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City Tries Again With ADUs THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

by NORA GRACE-FLOOD The new haven independent

The Elicker administration is looking to update a law aimed at encouraging people to develop “mother-in-law” apartments — so that someone will actually build them and create needed new housing. Officials gathered inside City Hall Thursday afternoon to pitch a plan to amend a 2021 ordinance that allowed owner-occupants across the city as of right now to develop such apartments — formally known as accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. They discovered that not a single person has built an ADU without still having to seek zoning relief first in the two years since the ordinance passed with the intention of increasing affordable and highquality housing stock. (Eleven applications have sought Board of Zoning Appeals permission to build ADUs.) “As a city with lots of historic structures, we have lots of space that could be used for denser housing,” City Plan Director Laura Brown said during Thursday’s presser. ADUs, she said, “allow that increased density without big housing developments — in some ways, they’re almost invisible.” Mayor Justin Elicker defined ADUs as “residential units that are on the same parcel as a single-family dwelling but provide

complete independent living facilities for more than one person.” He called ADUs one pathway for property owners to develop small-scale housing for renters in need of affordable options — or for elderly relatives. (Hence their common nicknames as “mother-in-law apartments” and “granny flats.”) The Elicker Administration is proposing the following changes to the original ordinance in an attempt to remove barriers believed to dissuade residents from building ADUs: • Eliminating the owner-occupancy requirement, which was originally imposed to keep megalandlords from cashing in on the legislation. • Abolishing minimum lot size mandates; 4,000 square feet of land is currently required for an ADU. • Permitting entirely new housing development as opposed to limiting development to conversions of attics, basements or garages. • Standardizing setbacks between ADUs and property lines to just five feet, instead of continuing to require that building setbacks match those of the principal structure on a property. Deputy Director of Zoning Nate Hougrand told the Independent that dimension-

Maybe this'll work: City Plan Director Laura Brown, Housing Authority chief Karen DuBois-Walton, and Congressional staffer Lou Mangini at Thursday's presser.

al restrictions are largely at fault for forcing ADU hopefuls to go before the Board of Zoning Appeals. Hougrand said he has had “a lot of conversations” with people interested in developing ADUs who ditch the idea in totality upon realizing their ineligibility, typically because they’re not owner-occupants. “We can’t count how many people have just backed off, who decided not to move forward,” said Laura Brown. Simply getting rid of lot size restrictions, Brown added, would make another 4,000 parcels eligible for as-of-right ADUs. That would up the number of properties primed for such development from 19,000 to 23,000. The Board of Alders will now review the proposed ordinance changes and decided whether to vote them into law. Reached for comment later Thursday afternoon, Dixwell Alder and board President Pro Tem Jeanette Morrison said that while she can’t speak for the entire board, she anticipates her colleagues will support policies intended to increase housing supply and affordability. “As a leader of the board, and looking at our legislative agenda, housing is one of the top priorities. Anything that supports housing, the board wants to support,” she said.

Eviction-Busters Go National by DEREEN SHIRNEKHI The new haven independent

Rosa DeLauro is working to make sure that tenants have lawyers when they face eviction the same way their landlords do. DeLauro, New Haven’s U.S. representative, highlighted that goal at a press conference Friday about her re-introduction of the Eviction Prevention Act in Congress. In Connecticut, more than 90 percent of tenants taken to housing court for an eviction do not have a lawyer with them. Meanwhile, more than 80 percent of the time, their landlord does. If passed, DeLauro’s bill will authorize a grant program where state and city governments can apply for funding totaling no less than $1 million to hire attorneys to represent tenants with incomes less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level — or, $37,500 for a family of four. This is known as the “right to counsel” — allowing tenants in civil cases to enjoy the same guarantee of representation enjoyed by criminal defendants who can’t afford lawyers. The grant program would make $125 million available annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2028. The act would also lead to the creation

DEREEN SHIRNEKHI PHOTO New Haven Legal Assistance Association Executive Director Alexis Smith, state Commissioner of Housing Seila Mosquera-Bruno, and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro at Friday's press conference.

of a national database of evictions within a year of its enactment. It would mandate that the Government Accountability Office conduct an analysis of the limitations of the current legal system for tenants at risk of eviction. DeLauro first introduced the Eviction Prevention Act in 2018. At Friday’s press conference, held on the second floor of the Orange Street headquarters of the New Haven Legal Assistance Association

(NHLAA), she spoke of how the issue is personal to her. When DeLauro was 9 years old, one Friday night she and her parents came home to find their belongings on the street, she recalled. They had been evicted. They would need to live with her grandmother until they got back on their feet. “Not everyone can go live with a grandmother, or aunt, or uncle, or family member,” she said. “Eviction turned our world

upside down.” Connecticut already has its own right to counsel program, which launched in January 2022 and expanded in January 2023. DeLauro stated that the legislation will increase reliable resources for existing programs so that they can serve more people. Connecticut’s current funding through UniteCT is only accounted for through September 2025; the federal grant program could solidify funding for years to come. The Connecticut Bar Association oversees the administration of the state right to counsel program. At Friday’s press conference, association Executive Director Angela Schlingheyde said that the program has served 4,022 clients since its inception through the end of November 2023. “Having an attorney means everything to these clients,” she said, explaining that representation goes beyond interpreting complicated legal jargon (though that is important). Attorneys can buy tenants more time and prevent a disruptive move, while also helping tenants find new housing. “You cannot talk about access to justice if you are going to court and the person

who is being evicted does not have access to counsel. That is not justice,” she said. Connecticut Fair Housing Center Staff Attorney Leah Levinger highlighted the fact that evictions disproportionately impact Black and Latino families, who are more than twice as likely to rent than White families, and who are less likely to have representation than White tenants. NHLAA Executive Director Alexis Smith approximated that, while private attorney costs differ, the average local attorney charges $150 to $300 per hour. Schlingheyde said that researchers estimate that the state has saved approximately between $17.6 and $22.4 million as a result of the program. DeLauro finished the press conference by describing the fear and insecurity of tenants facing eviction without counsel, and the fact that “they are at the mercy of a system.” “That’s what we’re trying to do, is to provide them with the access to have counsel. We know that you take your chances — you may succeed, or you may fail, but you have representation. Someone who is helping to fight the battle for your security and your family’s security.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

Historical significance and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference president Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and Mathew Ahmann, executive director of the National Catholic Conference for Interrracial Justice, at the March on Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963. In the years after his death, King remained the most widely known African American leader of his era. His stature as a major historical figure was confirmed by the successful campaign to establish a national holiday in his honour in the United States and by the building of a King memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C., near the Lincoln Memorial, the site of his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. Many states and municipalities have enacted King holidays, authorized public statues and paintings of him, and named streets, schools, and other entities for him. These efforts to honour King have focused more on his role as a civil rights advocate than on his controversial speeches, during his final year, condemning American intervention in Vietnam and calling for the Poor People’s Campaign. The King holiday campaign overcame

forceful opposition, with critics citing FBI surveillance files suggesting that King was an adulterous radical influenced by communists. Although the release of these files during the 1970s under the Freedom of Information Act fueled the public debate over King’s legacy, the extensive archives that now exist document King’s life and thought and have informed numerous serious studies offering balanced and comprehensive perspectives. Two major books featuring King—David J. Garrow’s Bearing the Cross (1986) and Taylor Branch’s Parting the Waters (1988)—won Pulitzer Prizes. Subsequent books and articles reaffirmed King’s historical significance while portraying him as a complex figure: flawed, fallible, and limited in his control over the mass movements with which he was associated, yet also a visionary leader who was deeply committed to achieving social justice through nonviolent means. Although the idea of a King national holiday did not gain significant congressional support until the late 1970s, efforts to commemorate King’s life began almost immediately after his assassination. In 1968 Rep. John Conyers of Michigan introduced a King holiday bill. The idea

gradually began to attract political support once the newly formed Congressional Black Caucus included the holiday in its reform agenda. Coretta Scott King also played a central role in building popular support for the King holiday campaign while serving as founding president of the Atlanta-based Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change (later renamed the King Center), which became one of the major archives of

King’s papers. Despite the overall conservative trend in American politics in the 1980s, which might have been expected to work against recognition of the efforts of a controversial activist, King holiday advocates gained political support by portraying him as a symbol of the country’s progress in race relations. Musician Stevie Wonder contributed to the campaign by writing and recording “Happy Birthday,” a popular tribute to King. In 1983 Coretta Scott King and Stevie Wonder participated in the 20th Anniversary March on Washington, which drew a bigger crowd than the original march. After the House and the Senate voted overwhelmingly in favour of the King holiday bill sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy, Pres. Ronald Reagan put aside his initial doubts and signed the legislation on November 3, 1983, establishing Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, to be celebrated annually on the third Monday in January. Coretta Scott King also succeeded in gaining congressional approval to establish a King Federal Holiday Commission to plan annual celebrations, beginning January 20, 1986, that would encourage “Americans to reflect on the principles

of racial equality and nonviolent social change espoused by Dr. King.” Celebration of the King national holiday did not end contention over King’s legacy, but his status as an American icon became more widely accepted over time. The revelation during the early 1990s that King had plagiarized some of his academic writings and the occasional controversies involving his heirs did little to undermine recognition of King’s enduring impact on the country. Even before the first King national holiday, members of King’s fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, had proposed a permanent memorial in Washington, D.C. By the end of the 20th century, that proposal had secured governmental approval for the site on the Tidal Basin, near the Mall. In 2000 an international design competition ended with the selection of a proposal by ROMA Design Group. To build and maintain the memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation eventually raised more than $100 million. Commemorations of King’s life were also held in other countries, and in 2009 a congressional delegation traveled to India to mark the 50th anniversary of King’s pilgrimage to what he called the “Land of Gandhi.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

Report: Time To Start Closing Schools by MAYA MCFADDEN

New Haven’s shrinking student enrollment means it’s time to start considering closing some aging and under-utilized public school buildings. That is one takeaway of a newly released New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) school building planning study. The study’s final report was unveiled and discussed at the latest Board of Education Finance and Operations committee meeting held via Zoom. The report focused on district enrollment and building utilization and conditions, and spatial needs. “Although there is a surplus of seats districtwide, Hillhouse and Wilbur Cross HS are both over capacity,” the report stated. It concluded that NHPS buildings require new investment, with 10 current schools identified in “poor” condition requiring significant investment with an additional 31 facilities identified as “fair” and approaching “poor condition.” The study was conducted by local architecture firms Svigals + Partners and S/L/ A/M Collaborative (SLAM). SLAM K12 Public Schools National Market Leader Kemp Morhardt and Svigals Managing Partner Jay Brotman joined Chief Operating Officer Thomas Lamb in presenting the report at Tuesday’s meeting. Brotman and Morhardt reported that the district has lost 3,100 pre-K-12 students since the 2016 – 17 school year. They projected an additional decrease of an estimated 1,740 students over the next ten years. This year NHPS has 18,877 pre-K-12

suggestions for which schools to close. That’s what comes next. Lamb emphasized that no matter which decisions are made regarding closings or relocations, “the capital need for the district is going to be significant.” “The data that has been collected identifies specific objectives that will help the district align to its vision and goals. These will be the compass that is needed to position the district to areas of concentration as we move through the planning strategies,” Lamb said. The work will include forming a task force including NHPS staff, board members, and community members. CON’T FROM PAGE 11

Alder Sues City

PAUL BASS PHOTO Negrón (at left): "This has to be done with community, not to community.”

students. The report projects that district enrollment will decline to 17,140 students by 2031. The report scored two of the 43 total existing school facilities as being in good condition. (The report includes the now closed West Rock STREAM Academy, Quinnipiac School, and Strong School on Orchard.) Ten of the district’s current schools were scored poor, meaning they have immediate facility concerns and their “system is problematic, causes disruption to occupants and operators and is at the end

of useful life” and “requires major capital investments to repair or replace building infrastructure.” Brotman and Morhardt agreed that most of the district’s newest schools are in OK condition but have major components that will soon reach their end of life. Schools Superintendent Madeline Negrón told committee members the study begins an extended process aimed at closing some schools and reinvesting in others. She promised to update the committee during a February meeting about next steps, which will include developing

a comprehensive facilities plan with the help of community engagement. “This work has to be done with community, not to community,” she said. rotman said schools like Career High don’t have all of their inter-district seats filled, while other schools like Cross are overcrowded. Overall the report identified a “significant surplus of 3,300 seats at the elementary and K‑8/PK‑8 level.” The report recommends that the district form a plan to consolidate its pre-K‑8 schools within the next three years. The report summary does not give specific

would have been able to continue with his life, his family, his career.” The complaint lists several instances of similar behavior from the two officers, as well as the New Haven Police Department more generally, that preceded Streater’s case and lasted for decades. The complaint names not only the four officers involved in Streater’s case as defendants, but also then-Police Chief Nicholas Pastore, who served in his position from 1990 – 1997, and the city of New Haven. It alleges that although neither officer was ever disciplined, the city knew of their actions. The $100 million is meant to compensate Streater for the 24 years he spent in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and the harm caused to both him and the people close to him. Streater, who had been employed by the Southern New England Telecommunications Corporation before his arrest, was not able to make any money during that time, or to be with his three children, or to attend the funerals of loved ones after they died, the complaint states. Taubes said the high figure sought is also intended to deter the city from falsely imprisoning people in the future. Corporation Counsel King said that given Streater’s elected position, her office will review “what, if any, potential conflicts of interest and ethical implications may arise with the filing of this lawsuit.” Streater became an alder in a mid-term special election. He won reelection, to a full term that began Monday. He likely will not be able to vote on the settlement of his own case, but otherwise will not face any conflict of interest, Taubes said: It would be no different if a police officer had rear-ended Streater’s car, and he sought compensation from the city. “Simply because you’re an alder does not mean that you cannot go to the courts to seek justice for a historical wrong that’s been done to you,” he said.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024 CON’T FROM PAGE 02

Commissioners lieu of the Black Arts Movement and its various outgrowths. “I felt so connected there,” Gardin said. In the mid-1990s, she moved back to New Haven and, festival after festival, job after job, has never stopped facilitating creativity in the city. With Bea Dozier-Taylor, Gardin organized the Ifetayo Cultural Festival, a multimedia Black arts event, and worked with the organization City Spirit Artists to bring artists into local schools. She served as the first community liaison at the Shubert Theatre, creating an exhibit honoring the life of New Haven choreographer and activist Paul Hall, and started the Arts@Work program to teach high school students about theater production. Gardin has worked for the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and Long Wharf Theatre, organized the city’s Kwanzaa celebrations, and created a theater production summer program for high schoolers. Gardin’s most recent work has been the creation of Kulturally Lit, an organization focusing on African diasporic literature, which produces the Elm City LIT Festival and is currently planning a series of events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of James Baldwin. “Now artists are thriving,” Gardin said, reflecting on several decades of the city’s cultural infrastructure. “There’s a renaissance happening.” As part of her work on the Commission, Gardin hopes to continue growing New Haven as an arts destination. “People used to just see us on 95 passing between Boston and New York,” Gardin said. “We can be as major as that.” Crutchfield and Gardin are joined on the Cultural Affairs Commission by Kelly Wuzzardo, the director of education and engagement at the Shubert Theatre. Wuzzardo has worked in the dramatic arts in New Haven since 2002. “After 20 years of being here, it seemed like a good time to give back and join the Commission,” Wuzzardo said. “A lot of my job already is about access.” In the past she has worked alongside community groups, nonprofits, and the Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism to plan public arts events, and on the Commission she hopes to continue this work. Wuzzardo particularly wants to focus on fostering youth programming. “It’s amazing to see a child see their first live performance, especially when they see people like them on stage,” she said. “Everybody has something to offer, and we all have something to learn from each other, and it’s an exciting time to see what the next generation does with the arts.”

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

5 Men Who Inspired Martin Luther King, Jr. to Be a Leader By Femi Lewis

Martin Luther King Jr., once said, "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable…Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." King, the most prominent figure in the modern civil rights movement, worked in the public spotlight for 13 years—from 1955 to 1968—to fight for desegregation of public facilities, voting rights and an end to poverty. What men offered inspiration to King to lead these battles? Mahatma Gandhi is often noted as providing King with a philosophy that espoused civil disobedience and nonviolence at its core. It was men such as Howard Thurman, Mordecai Johnson, Bayard Rustin that introduced and encouraged King to read the teachings of Gandhi. Benjamin Mays, who was one of King's greatest mentors, provided King with an understanding of history. Many of King's speeches are sprinkled with words and phrases originated by Mays. And finally, Vernon Johns, who preceded King at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, readied the congregation for the Montgomery Bus Boycott and King's entrance into social activism. "Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." While King read many books about Gandhi, it was Howard Thurman who first introduced the concept of nonviolence and civil disobedience to the young pastor. Thurman, who was King’s professor at Boston University, had traveled internationally during the 1930s. In 1935, he met Gandhi while leading a “Negro Delegation of Friendship” to India. The teachings of Gandhi stayed with Thurman throughout his life and career, inspiring a new generation of religious leaders such as King. In 1949, Thurman published Jesus and the Disinherited. The text utilized New Testament gospels to support his argument that nonviolence could work in the civil rights movement. In addition to King, men such as James Farmer Jr. were motivated to use nonviolent tactics in their activism. Thurman, considered one of the most influential African American theologians of the 20th Century, was born on November 18, 1900, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Thurman graduated from Morehouse College in 1923. Within two years, he was an ordained Baptist minister after earning his seminary degree from Colgate-Rochester Theological Seminary. He taught at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Oberlin, Ohio before receiving a faculty appointment at Morehouse College.

In 1944, Thurman would become pastor of the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples in San Francisco. With a diverse congregation, Thurman’s church attracted prominent people such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Josephine Baker, and Alan Paton. Thurman published more than 120 articles and books. He died in San Francisco on April 10, 1981. “To be honored by being requested to give the eulogy at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is like asking one to eulogize his deceased son — so close and so precious was he to me …. It is not an easy task; nevertheless I accept it, with a sad heart and with full knowledge of my inadequacy to do justice to this man.” When King was a student at Morehouse College, Benjamin Mays was president of the school. Mays, who was a prominent educator and Christian minister, became one of King’s mentors early in his life. King characterized Mays as his “spiritual mentor” and “intellectual father.” As president of Morehouse College, Mays held weekly inspirational morning sermons that were meant to challenge his students. For King, these sermons were unforgettable as Mays taught him how to integrate the importance of history in his speeches. After these sermons, King would often discuss issues such as racism and integration with Mays—sparking a mentorship that would last until King's assassination in 1968. When King was thrust into the national spotlight as the modern civil rights movement picked up steam, Mays remained a mentor who was willing to provide insight to many of King’s speeches. Mays began his career in higher education when John Hope recruited him to become a math teacher and debate coach at Morehouse College in 1923. By 1935, Mays had earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. By then, he was already serving as Dean of the School of Religion at Howard University. In 1940, he was appointed the president of Morehouse College. In a tenure that lasted 27 years, Mays expanded the school’s reputation by establishing a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, sustaining enrollment during World War II, and upgrading faculty. After he had retired, Mays served as president of the Atlanta Board of Education. Throughout his career, Mays would publish more than 2000 articles, nine books and receive 56 honorary degrees. Mays was born on August 1, 1894, in South Carolina. He graduated from Bates College in Maine and served as a pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Atlanta before beginning his career in higher education. Mays died in 1984 in Atlanta. “It is a heart strangely un-Christian that cannot thrill with joy when the least of men begin to pull in the direction of the stars.” When King became the pastor of Dex-

Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Public Domain

Benjamin Mays, mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Domain

Mordecai Johnson, first African-American president of Howard University and Marian Anderson, 1935.

ter Avenue Baptist Church in 1954, the church’s congregation was already prepared for a religious leader who understood the importance of community activism. King succeeded Vernon Johns, a pastor and activist who had served as the 19th pastor of the church. During his four-year tenure, Johns was

a forthright and fearless religious leader who sprinkled his sermons with classic literature, Greek, poetry and a need for a change to the segregation and racism that characterized the Jim Crow Era. John’s community activism included refusing to adhere to segregated public bus transportation, discrimination in the workplace, and ordering food from a white restau-

rant. Most notably, Johns helped Black girls who had been sexually assaulted by white men hold their attackers accountable. In 1953, Johns resigned from his position at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. He continued to work on his farm, served as editor of Second Century Magazine. He was appointed as the director of the Maryland Baptist Center. Until his death in 1965, Johns mentored religious leaders such as King and Reverend Ralph D. Abernathy. Johns was born in Virginia on April 22, 1892. Johns earned his divinity degree from Oberlin College in 1918. Before Johns accepted his position at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, he taught and ministered, becoming one of the most prominent Black religious leaders in the United States. In 1950, King traveled to the Fellowship House in Philadelphia. King, not yet a prominent civil rights leader or even a grassroots activist yet, became inspired by the words of one of the speakers— Mordecai Wyatt Johnson. Johnson, considered one of the most prominent Black religious leaders of the time, spoke of his love for Mahatma Gandhi. King found Johnson’s words “so profound and electrifying” that when he left the engagement, he purchased some books on Gandhi and his teachings. Like Mays and Thurman, Johnson was considered one of the most influential Black religious leaders of the 20th Century. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree from Atlanta Baptist College (currently known as Morehouse College) in 1911. For the next two years, Johnson taught English, history, and economics at his alma mater before earning a second bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago. He went on to graduate from Rochester Theological Seminary, Harvard University, Howard University, and Gammon Theological Seminary. In 1926, Johnson was appointed the president of Howard University. Johnson appointment was a milestone—he was the first Black person to hold the position. Johnson served as the University’s president for 34 years. Under his tutelage, the school became one of the best schools in the United States and the most prominent of the historically Black colleges and universities. Johnson expanded the school’s faculty, hiring notables such as E. Franklin Frazier, Charles Drew and Alain Locke and Charles Hamilton Houston. After King’s success with the Montgomery Bus Boycott, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Howard University on behalf of Johnson. In 1957, Johnson offered King a position as dean of Howard University’s School of Religion. However, King decided not to accept the position because he believed he needed to continue his work as a leader in the civil rights movement. "If we desire a society in which men

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

The BHM Guide to Rx Weight Loss Medicines By Keyaira Boone, BlackHealthMatters.com

The weight loss landscape has dramatically shifted thanks to prescription weight loss options. Many in our community are curious because they have changed how folks approach shedding excess pounds. Injectable drugs and pill choices approved for weight loss are dominating public discourse, and speculation about who is and isn’t using these products, especially celebrities, is ongoing. Every day, a news item explores these prescriptions’ benefits, side effects, and potential risks. CEOs and influencers have sung their praises. There is even a trendy TikTok song inspired by their popularity. Even traditional weight management brands have gotten in on the action. WeightWatchers now rebranded as WW, a staple in the weight loss industry, has begun offering access to medical interventions, including semaglutide, via their WeightWatchers Clinic’s launch. Last year, the company acquired Sequence, a digital health platform for clinical weight management. WW offers one-on-one clinician care, insurance coordination, and other membership privileges through their clinic. Noom, an industry newcomer, has launched the Noom Med program, where consumers can

access medical advice for their mental and physical health and prescriptions for GLP-1 obesity drugs after being evaluated by professionals who will determine their eligibility. If you are considering prescription weight loss options, here’s what you need to know. What Are Your Options? Injectables Injectables have become an increasingly visible option for prescription-aided weight loss. They are approved for weight loss for those who have been categorized as clinically obese (BMI >30) or are overweight with medical conditions like high blood pressure or high weekly at gradually increasing doses. Some of the options on the market include Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide), Mojourno and Zepbound (tirzepatide), Saxenda (liraglutide), and Imcivree (setmelanotide). Familiarize yourself with the non-brand name versions of the medications so that you can ask your healthcare provider the necessary questions. How Do They Work? Injectable drugs behave similarly. “Dulaglutide, liraglutide, semaglutide were designed to act the same way as GLP1,” according to Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are a class of

stomach, nausea, indigestion, sometimes, constipation, heartburn,” according to Dr. Danielle Timmons, a family medicine doctor in Decatur, GA. Injection site reactions and hyperpigmentation are common as well. However, these side effects are not universal. “Some people can have more severe reactions,” she explained. These include “persistent vomiting and severe nausea.” Side effects are not necessarily permanent, either. A study found that when it came to liraglutide, for example, “The most common adverse effects were gastrointestinal and primarily occurred early in the treatment course.” Dr. Timmons noted that there can be an “uptick in those symptoms” associated with “going up to the next higher dose.” “Your body’s just trying to get used to that new dose,” she said. Some patients, however, have more serious gastrointestinal issues, including pancreatitis, gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), and bowel obstruction. While GLP-1 drugs result in rapid weight loss, there is no such thing as a quick fix. Understand that these injectables are designed to be used long-term, with you eventually moving into a maintenance phase to maintain their effect. If you stop taking these drugs, you could regain some of the weight you’ve lost.

medications utilized to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. What are The Common Side Effects? There are a variety of common side effects associated with these medications. “A lot of people will experience upset

Pills If you aren’t interested in injectable medications, you can explore the weight loss prescriptions available in pill form. Some of the names of these options include Metformin, Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave), Orlistat (Xenical, Alli) – sometimes available over the counter, Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia), and phentermine (Adipex, Lomaira) are pill options. How Do They Work? “Metformin works by helping to restore the body’s response to insulin. It decreases the amount of blood sugar the liver produces, and the intestines or stomach absorb,” according to the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. Depending on the dosage given by your doctor, you can take it once or more daily with food. While phentermine decreases appetite, topiramate also does so and makes you feel fuller longer after eating. What Are The Risks? Beware of starting an over-the-counter option without consulting your physician. A study published in 2021 noted, “Phentermine-topiramate is not recommended for patients with significant cardiac history such as coronary disease and uncontrolled hypertension.” Patients in clinical trials also experienced insomnia, CON’T ON PAGE 1

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Streetwear Trio Is “DA’W.O.R.L.D.” THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

by LISA REISMAN

The bell above the door sounded at DA’W.O.R.L.D., the Whalley Avenue mecca for men’s urban clothing. “Coming in for some love,” the customer said, dapping up DA’W.O.R.L.D. manager Hallie “Bizzy” Bolden III, wardrobe consultant Tariq “Riq” Bolden and owner Hallie “Rock” Bolden, Jr. behind the counter. “Have a good one.” “A lot of times people come in even if they’re not shopping,” said Rock, as the neighbor exited. “Make themselves known, make their presence known, show their respect. And that feels great because I think one of the most important things you can do if you have a business in the community is know your people. Nothing’s better than feeling welcome, anywhere.” That generosity of spirit extended further when DA’W.O.R.L.D. donated upwards of $10,000 in children’s clothes to a free holiday shopping event at Stetson Branch Library, according to organizer Kristen Threatt. Rock, along with sons Bizzy and Riq, opened DA’W.O.R.L.D. in August 2021 with a mission to offer premium men’s urban clothing and accessories as well as, Rock said, “to involve ourselves with this community.” Rock formerly owned Rock’s World, a retail men’s clothing store at the intersection of Orange Street and Chapel Street. “Fashion can be very appealing to our youth,” said Rock, as Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights” sounded on the speakers in the mellow light of the shop. “Engaging with them is a big part of who we are and what we do. If you come into this store, even if you just want to look, someone is going to greet you, someone is going to speak to you.” Bizzy, 22, a triplet with Riq and their sister, agreed. “There will be some customers that maybe had a bad day, and then they come in here, and they tell us what’s going on with them, and as they’re leaving, they’re like ‘I feel better now.’ Retail therapy for real.” “We are in the business to make money for sure, but everything is not about a profit,” Rock said. Hence, the “W.O.R.L.D.” in the shop’s name. “It’s our trademark,” he said. “It’s short for ‘We Own da Right to Live our Dreams.’ We see what we do and what we bring in urban fashion as a way to help inspire people to get after that.” Rock’s passion for retail began with the display windows at Chambers Army & Navy while he was growing up in Mount Vernon, NY. “They were always captivating and I’d go in a lot, even though I couldn’t afford anything,” he said. “But I knew this is

Rock with a photo of a younger Rock at Rock's World on Orange and Chapel.

the business I wanted to be in, and I kind of spoke that into reality.” He worked at a retail clothing store, then got into sales, parlaying his experience into a position as buyer for Seven Fox clothing store in Waterbury. It was when Seven Fox moved to Massachusetts, and asked Rock to continue working with them, that he decided to forge a path of his own, opening Rock’s World on Orange and Chapel. When the pandemic hit, Rock had moved on to a business that specialized in personalized shopping for people. There was an opportunity to be an operations manager at an Amazon warehouse doing supply chain management. He took it. It was an education. “I was managing 75 to 100 associates a night, and we would regularly ship out 15,000 to 20,000 packages,” he recalled. “It showed me the power of e‑commerce.” Before, he said, “I had to rely on the community to keep my doors open. Now I saw the potential to ship not only to states but around the globe.” In the summer of 2021, Rock saw an empty storefront in the stretch between Orchard and Sperry streets. “The rest is history,” he said. According to Gorilla Lemonade ’s Kristen Threatt, a regular customer, DA’W.O.R.L.D. stands out for its premium quality and fashion-forward trends. “They have it all before anyone else does,” he said, citing Stacked jeans. “We introduced them two years ago when no one knew what they was, now it’s the hottest jeans, that’s what everyone wants,” Bizzy said. “I go to a lot of trade shows, so I see the season ahead of time, I see the samples

Rock, with a New York Blank Yankees jersey, part of the Negro League collection from SD Sports.

Tariq "Riq" Bolden, Rock, and Bizzy in front of Whalley Ave's DA'W.O.R.L.D.

that the world won’t see,” Rock said, standing in front of a wall with an array of baseball shirts from the Negro Leagues. There’s another way the shop is forwardlooking. “All three of us are buyers,” Rock said. “So we have the advantage of two generations. Their fathers were my peers as a customer base, and now they’re coming in with their sons, so Riq and Bizzy are building their relationships and their customer bases.” Working with his sons has another benefit. “We’re family-owned and ‑operated, and we’re also father and sons, and our customers see that,” he said. “They see a unity here, not us beefing with each other. We are one chord, one harmony, and we translate that to our customers.” To that end, he makes a point of keeping the lines of communication open. “The fashion part is easy for them because they live it, but they are still learning the business part,” he said. “Everything I’m dealing with, overhead, profit and loss statements, taxes, we talk, we converse.” For Rock, “that’s all showing them what they can do in business and in the community, and also showing them as business partners their worth,” he said. “I always say a job is cool, but a lot of people won’t pay your worth or understand your worth.” “See this?” Riq asked, gesturing at a T‑shirt with a slogan that read LOYALTY HONOR RESPECT. “That’s Tenaciti, a designer brand, premium goods, super-nice stuff. We introduced this to the city, all positive messages.” For Bizzy, “fashion is a way for people to express their personality, and for us, we not only sell it, we live it, this is us,” he said. “This is us trying to do right by our community.” To that end, DA’W.O.R.L.D, which is just a short walk from Yale’s campus, has become a destination spot particularly for the university’s football and crew teams, Rock said. “Every year they bring new guys in,” he said, adding that the store extends a 10 percent discount to college students in the area, including Southern Connecticut State University and the University of New Haven. Last summer, DA’W.O.R.L.D. was the first New Haven store to partner with Sillable, an online app launched by three Yale students to make it easier to shop locally. “There’s a little bit of a disconnect between Yale and the larger New Haven community … we felt like the Sillable app would be like a little bridging gap,” Rock said. “We are all about fostering better connections between everyone, in our community and in the larger community,” he added. “That’s everything.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024 CON’T FROM PAGE 1 7

Weight Loss Medicines irritability, anxiety, headache, attention disturbances, depression, dry mouth, and kidney stones. “Lactic acidosis is a rare but serious metabolic complication that can occur because of metformin accumulation during treatment with metformin,” wrote the organization. Metformin has come under scrutiny for other reasons as well. When Do The Side Effects Require Intervention? If you’re taking these medications and the side effects are impacting your dayto-day life, medical intervention may be needed. “Are you getting up from your cubicle multiple times daily because you must run to the toilet? Are you unable to hang out with your friends?” According to Dr. Timmons, that’s an issue you must address immediately. “It’s important to discuss the issues with your PCP (primary care physician) so that the symptoms can be monitored,” Dr. Timmons added. Diet and Exercise Still Matter If you decide to explore prescription weight loss medicine, don’t be under the mistaken impression that you can eat anything you want. These medications work best with lifestyle changes like staying hydrated, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. You must consider adding strength training and cardio to your lifestyle. Because injectables, in particular, lead to rapid weight loss, you can get a condition that usually impacts older people called sarcopenia ( the gradual loss of muscle mass, strength, and function). But there are also Ozempic butt and Ozempic face, which we are not immune to because “Black don’t crack.” Now that you have some background, you can discuss your options with your physician to see what weight loss treatment might work best for you. Take note of the questions below to prepare for a discussion with your HCP. Then, make the decision that you believe will work best for you. What To Ask Your Doctor Before Committing To Prescription Weight Loss Meds • Am I a candidate for prescription-aided weight loss? • How does this medication work? • How many studies have included patients with [insert your specific medical condition here]? • What are the most common side effects of this medication? • What are the rarest side effects of this medication? • How will this medication affect my nutrient intake? • How would you suggest I alter my lifestyle to fit this medication? • How will this medication interact with my current medication(s)? • What is the lowest maintenance dose for this medication? Supported by an educational grant from Novo Nordisk Inc.

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Celentano Observatory 400 Canner Street New Haven, CT 06511

In person REGISTRATION is Available

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The Office of Early Childhood is accepting applications electronically. Parents of 3 and 4 year olds are encouraged to apply online. English: https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx? action=24982&culture=en Spanish: https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx? action=24982&culture=es

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Dental Exam record

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

THE INNER-CITY INNER-CITY NEWS 2024 - January 2024 NEWS- January July 27,03, 2016 - August 02, 16, 2016

Seymour Housing NOTICE Authority CHFA – 23-301

CDBG 2023 –PRETBDAPPLICATIONS AVAILABLE VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING Revitalization at Castle Heights

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y Sealed bids are invited and will be received by the Seymour Housing Authority, 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have until 2:00PM on Thursday January 25, 2024, in the Office of the Seymour Housing been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon reAuthority, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483, at which time and place they will quest by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed prebe publicly opened and read aloud. applications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510. Proposals must be submitted on the forms provided and in a sealed envelope plainly marked with the appropriate title. “Revitalization at Castle Heights for the Seymour Housing Authority”.

NOTICE OF BID

NOTICIA

A MANDATORY pre-bid conference will be held at the Seymour Housing AuthorVALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES ity, Seymour Avenue, Seymour, CT 06483 on Monday January 8, 2024 at 2:00PM. AllHOME prospective toHouse attend.y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está INC, enbidders nombre are de larequired Columbus

aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo A satisfactory Bid Bond or Certified Check, in an amount equal to five percent (5%) ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos of the base bid, shall be submitted with each bid. The Bid Bond shall be made paymáximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 able to the Seymour Housing Authority and shall be properly executed by the Bidder. julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) A 100% Performance, Labor and Material Bond is also required. All sureties must be en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición listed on the most recent IRS circular 570. llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 . Attention of bidders is directed to certain requirements of this contract which require payment of Davis-Bacon wages, and compliance with certain local, state and federal requirements. This is a partially Federally funded project. Contract Documents including plans & specifications can be viewed online beginning December 25, 2023 and purchased from Advanced Reprographics Planroom website, visit http://www.advancedplanroom.com/ select “Public Jobs” and select “Revitalization at Castle Heights for the Seymour HA”.

NEW HAVEN

242-258 Fairmont Ave

Note: Addenda this bid will be issued via email. 2BRtoTownhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR,Contractors 1 level ,intending 1BA to bid MUST BE REGISTERED on the Advanced Reprographics Plan holder’s list in orAll new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 der to receive direct email of any and all addenda.

highways, near bus stop & shopping center underconsideration, 40lb allowed. must Interested contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 Bids, toPet receive be inparties the hands of the authorized representative, no later than the day and hour mentioned above.

CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s The Seymour Housing reserves the to right or reject anyofor all bids; Certificate Program. This is aAuthority 10 month program designed assistto in accept the intellectual formation Candidates response to the Church’s Ministry The cost is $125. startin Saturday, August 20, 2016of 1:30to inwaive any informalities, or;needs. to accept any bidClasses deemed the best interests the 3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. Seymour Housing Authority. (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT

All bids will be considered valid for a period of One Hundred Twenty (120) days.

The contractor who is selected to perform this State project must comply with CONN. GEN. STAT. §§ 4a-60, 4a-60a, 4a-60g, and 46a-68b through 46a-68f, inclusive, as amended by June 2015 Special Session Public Act 15-5.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour

State requires minimumAugust of twenty-fi ve (25%) state-funded untillaw 3:00 pm ona Tuesday, 2, 2016 at its percent office atof28theSmith Street, portion of the be Concrete set aside Sidewalk for awardRepairs to subcontractors holding Seymour, CTcontract 06483 for and Replacement at curthe rent certification fromAssisted the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services Smithfield Gardens Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. (“DAS”) under the provisions of CONN. GEN. STAT. § 4a-60g. (25% of the total state-funded value with DAS-certified Small Businesses and 6.25% of the topre-bid conference willDAS-certifi be held at ed theMinority-, Housing Authority Smith talAstate-funded value with Women-, Office and/or 28 DisabledStreetBusinesses.) Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, Julygood 20, faith 2016.effort to meet owned The contractor must demonstrate the 25% set-aside goals.

BiddingANdocuments are available from the Seymour Housing Authority OfAFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER MBE’s, WBE’s, SBE’s AND SECTION 3 DESIGNATED ARE888-4579. ENCOURAGED TO APPLY fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CTENTERPRISES 06483 (203)

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any

Town of Bloomfield

Salary Range:

$87,727 to $136,071 Deputy Finance Director/Controller Pre-employment drug testing.

AA/EOE. For Details go to www.bloomﬁeldct.org

Town of Bloomfield

Finance Director

Salary Range - $101,455 to $156,599 (expected starting pay maximum is mid-range) Fully Beneﬁted – 35 hours weekly Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website – www.bloomﬁeldct.org

Portland

The Town of Wallingford is offering an excellent career opportunity for a technical leader in the wastewater treatment industry to assist the Superintendent in providing managerial direction in the operation and maintenance of the Town’s wastewater treatment plant, pumping stations, and sanitary sewer collection systems. Applicants should possess 4 years of progressively responsible experience in water pollution control and a bachelor's degree in environmental science, chemical engineering or other engineering with courses in chemical qualitative analysis, biochemistry or microbiology, or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. Must possess and maintain a State of Connecticut Class III or higher Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator's license or the ability to obtain the same within the probationary period. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator’s License. Salary: $80,555 to $103,068 annually plus an on-call stipend when assigned. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and a deferred compensation plan. Applications may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page and can be mailed or faxed to the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492; Fax: (203) 294-2084, or emailed to: wlfdhr@wallingfordct.gov by the closing date of January 11, 2024. Phone: (203) 294-2080. EOE

Full time experienced welder for Structural/Miscellaneous metalsemail resume tojillherbert@gwfabrication.com

DRAFT HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE NEEDS PUBLIC REVIEW

Police Officer full-time Go to www.portlandct.org for details

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

Wastewater Treatment ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

The South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) and a Regional Advisory Committee have updated the region’s Hazard Mitigation Plan for FEMA review and municipal adoption. Prior to State and FEMA review, the public is encouraged to review and comment on the draft plan. The plan identifies and prioritizes actions each of the 15 SCRCOG municipalities may take to mitigate the risks of natural hazards and climate change.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice To review and comment on the draft plan, visit the SCRCOG Hazard Mitigation

webVILLAGE page at: www.scrcog.org/hazard SAYEBROOKE

Old Saybrook, CT APPLY NOW! The plan is available for review through March 13, 2023. (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Project The Wage plan Rate includes detailed information regarding twelve natural hazards and Top pay for top performers. Health climate change and their impacts to the region and each municipality. Impacts Beneﬁts, 401K, Vacation Pay.

include those to criticalSite-work, facilities,Casthistoric assets, and the built environment. The New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, goals of the plan include the categories of community planning, flood hazards, in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, trees, regional collaboration, and public awareness and preparedness. Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, State of Connecticut Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. Comments can be submitted to Rebecca Andreucci, Senior Transportation PlanOffice of Policy This contract subject to state set-aside ner andatcontract compliance requirements. randreucci@scrcog.org or by phone at (203) 466-8601. andisManagement

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut, Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Office of Policy and Management Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 is recruiting for an Information Technology Technician hour). Project(40documents available via ftp link below:

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Further information regarding http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage the duties, eligibility Invitation for Bids requirements and application Unarmed Security Services Faxinstructions or Email Questions & Bids to:at: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com are available

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses

https://www.jobapscloud.com/ Elm City Communities Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483is currently seeking bids for Services of a firm to proCT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= vide Unarmed Security Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be 230927&R2=7602FR&R3=001 AA/EEO EMPLOYER The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

obtained from Elm City Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, November 6, 2023, at 3:00PM.

THE INNER-CITY INNER-CITY NEWS January 2024 - January 2024 NEWS- July 27, 03, 2016 - August 02, 16, 2016

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR BID NOTICE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DANBURY Refuse and Recycling Services

IFBHOUSING No. B23006 VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus and thePackage: New Havenhttps:// Housing Authority, Please register here toHouse obtain Bid is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=49968

opment located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL RETURN: 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME will be mailied upon reHousing Authority ofINC. theApplications City of Danbury, quest by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed pre2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 applications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

Envelope Must be Marked: NOTICIA IFB No. B23006, Refuse and Recycling Services Attn: Lisa Gilchrist, Purchasing Agent VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

HOME INC, en nombre de laSUBMITTAL Columbus HouseDEADLINE y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) CONTACT PERSON FOR IFB DOCUMENT: en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición Gilchristdurante – Purchasing Agent llamando a HOME INCLisa al 203-562-4663 esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse 203-744-2500 a las oficinas de HOMETelephone: INC en 171 Orange Street, tercerx1421 piso, New Haven , CT 06510 .

February 6th, 2024 at 10:30am (EST) E-Mail: lgilchrist@hacdct.org

[Minority- and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to respond]

NEW HAVEN Planner Transportation

242-258 Ave(SCRCOG) is seeking to The South Central Regional Council Fairmont of Governments fill the Transportation Planner position. Visit 3BR, www.scrcog.org the full posi2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 1 level for , 1BA

tion description, qualifications, application All new apartments, new and appliances, newrequirements. carpet, closeApplications to I-91 & I-95are to be submitted by noon on Monday 2023 or until the position is filled. highways, nearFebruary bus stop 5, & shopping center Questions may be emailed to jobs@scrcog.org. SCRCOG is an Affirmative AcPet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 tion/Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) #2023-12-GC

CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S.,FOR B.S. (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster

GENERAL COUNSEL/LEGAL SERVICES

St. New Haven, CT

The Housing Authority of the City of New Britain (Authority)

is seeking competitive proposals for general legal services from experienced, area law firms. The RFP will be available on December 4, 2023, and can be obtained online at www. Sealed bids are invited byreceived the Housing AuthorityAdministrative of the Town Offi of Seymour nbhact.org. Proposals must be at the Authority ce no later than January 05, on 2023, at 3:00 August p.m. Eastern Standard and until 3:00 pm Tuesday, 2, 2016 at itsTime. office Late at 28Submissions Smith Street, facsimiles will not be considered.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith is looking for licensed and insured towing companies who would be interested in signStreet Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. ing up to be on our monthly towing rotation. Interested vendors will be subject to a due

diligence check. Vendors placed on our rotation will be assigned a month(s) in the year, in Bidding which alldocuments towing calls are for available all of HACB’s will beHousing placed with that assigned fromproperties the Seymour Authority Ofvendor. Interested parties should email their Company name and address, contact person fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. and phone number, along with a W9 and Certificate of Insurance to procurement@parkcitycommunities.org . The cut-off date for submissions is COB 12/18/2023 .

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the

Electric Utility System Operator/Dispatcher

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

APPLY NOW!

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders

Top pay for top performers. Health Beneﬁts, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Principal Labor Relations Specialist. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 230417&R2=6342MP&R3=001

Operates electric distribution substation and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for an electric utility serving 25,000 customers. Coordinates electric system switching and places equipment in and out of service during routine and emergency operations. Requires HS diploma/GED with 2 years experience in the operation of Distribution SCADA equipment and/or switchboards used in the distribution of electricity. Experience and training may be substituted on a year for year basis. Must maintain valid system operation certification from Connecticut Valley Exchange (CONVEX) or other approved agency or be able to obtain the same within 90 days of hire. Must posses and maintain a valid State of CT driver’s license. $ 34.63 - $ 41.15 per hour plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply to: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page and emailed to wlfdhr@wallingfordct.gov. Fax #: (203) 294-2084. Closing date will be December 27, 2023. EOE.

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

WANTED

Seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:

to Bid: TRUCK DRIVERInvitation 2 Notice nd

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE Truck Driver with clean

CDL license(4 Buildings, 17 Units) Old Saybrook, CT

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

Please send resume to Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, CastNew Construction, Wood Framed, attielordan@gmail.com in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding,

PJF Construction Corporation Flooring, Painting, DivisionAA/EOE 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework,

Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

POLICE OFFICER

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

City of Bristol

$73,220 - $89,002/yr.

Fax or Email Questionstesting, & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com Required HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses general info, and apply Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER online: www.bristolct.gov

DEADLINE: 12-04-23 22

THE INNER-CITY INNER-CITY NEWS 2024 - January 2024 NEWS- January July 27,03, 2016 - August 02, 16, 2016

Construction

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valCT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits id drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 621Contact: Tom Dunay VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE 1720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410. Phone: 860- 243-2300 HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom this develAffiatrmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to applyapartments Drug Free Workforce opment located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apAffirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:will be mailied upon rebeen received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications Reclaimer and Milling with current quest byOperators calling HOME INC atOperators 203-562-4663 duringlicensing those hours. Completed preand clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the NorthLargeStreet, CT Fence applications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Third Company looking for an individual for our east & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits PVC Fence Production Shop. Experience preferred but will Floor, New Haven, CT 06510. train the right person. Must be familiar with carpentry hand Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300 & power tools and be able to read a CAD drawing and tape Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com measure. Use of CNC Router machine a plus but not required, will train the right person. This is an in-shop production poWomen & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Duties include building fence panels, posts, gates and AffirmativeMACRI Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer VALENTINA VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDESsition. DISPONIBLES more. Must have a valid CT driver’s license & be able to obtain a Drivers Medical HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está Card. Must be able to pass a physical and drug test. Please email resume to pboucher@atlasoutdoor.com. Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipaceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ment. Must have a CDL License, clean driving record, capable of AA/EOE-MF ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos operating heavy equipment; be willing to travel throughout the máximos. Las We pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m.tscomenzando Martes 25 Northeast & NY. offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefi Full Time julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100)Administrative assistant position en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición for a steel & misc metals fabrication shop who will oversee the llamandoEmail: a HOMEdana.briere@garrityasphalt.com INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirseof clerical duties such as answering phones, acdaily operations Women & Minority encouraged to apply a las oficinas de HOMEApplicants INC en 171are Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 .purchase orders/invoicing and certified payroll. counts payable Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer Email resumes to jillherbert@gwfabrication.com

NOTICE

PVC FENCE PRODUCTION

MAINTAINER II PUBLIC WORKS The Town of Wallingford Department of Public Works has openings for Maintainer II. Applicants should possess 2 years’ experience as a laborer in construction work involving the operation and care of trucks and other mechanical equipment, or 2 years training in one of the skilled trades and 1 year of experience in construction operations, or an equivalent combination of experience and training. A valid (CDL) Class B or higher is required. $24.87 - $29.16 hourly plus retirement plan, paid sick and vacation time, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, family medical & dental insurance, and promotional opportunities. A complete job announcement and application may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page and can be mailed to the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492, or emailed to: wlfdhr@wallingfordct.gov by the closing date of January 17, 2024. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

NOTICIA

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR BID

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DANBURY

Union Company seeks:

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

NOW HIRINGNEW FOR 2024 SEASON HAVEN

Roma Construction, 242-258 Inc. has openings forAve Laborers, CDL Drivers Fairmont with Class A & B Licenses,1.5 andBA, operators. are,an Equal 2BR Townhouse, 3BR, 1We level 1BA Opportunity Employer and have training availability. All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center

Please contact Rebecca 860-996-8766 Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested partiesat contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 or put in an application at romaconst.com CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30630 Plainfi eld Rd Jewett 3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. City, CT 06351 (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster

ROMA CONSTRUCTION, INC.

St. New Haven, CT

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

is looking for licensed and insured towing companies who Sealed be bidsinterested are invited by Housing of the of Seymour would in the signing upAuthority to be on ourTown monthly towuntil 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, ing rotation. Interested vendors will be subject to a due diliSeymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Repairs and Replacement at thea gence check. Vendors placed Sidewalk on our rotation will be assigned SmithfieldinGardens Assisted Livingall Facility, 26 calls Smithfor Street month(s) the year, in which towing allSeymour. of HACB’s properties will be placed with that assigned vendor. Interested A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith parties should email their Company name and address, conStreet Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. tact person and phone number, along with a W9 and Certificate ofBidding Insurance to procurement@parkcitycommunities.org . The documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Ofcut-off date for submissions is COB 12/18/2023 fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any

Elevator Maintenance and Repair Services

IFB No. B24001 Please register here to obtain Bid Package: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/ requests.html?company_id=49968

PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL RETURN:

Housing Authority of the City of Danbury, 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Envelope Must be Marked: IFB No. B24001, Elevator Maintenance and Repair Services Attn: Lisa Gilchrist, Purchasing Agent

SUBMITTAL DEADLINE

January 30th, 2024 at 10:30am (EST)

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management Invitation to Bid:

CONTACT PERSON FOR IFB DOCUMENT:

2nd Notice

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for an OPM Assistant Division Director in the Office of Finance.Old Saybrook, CT

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Lisa Gilchrist – Purchasing Agent Telephone: 203-744-2500 x1421 E-Mail: lgilchrist@hacdct.org

[Minority- and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to respond]

Further information regarding (4 Buildings, 17 Units) the duties,Tax eligibility Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project requirements and application instructions are available at:

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Casthttps://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, 230908&R2=0104MP&R3=001 Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. strongly encourages the applications of women, This minorities, contractand is persons subjectwithtodisabilities. state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 QSR STEEL Project documents available via ftp link below: CORPORATION http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

APPLY NOW!

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders AA/EEO EMPLOYER Top pay for top performers. Health Beneﬁts, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Full time experienced welder for Structural/Miscellaneous metalsemail resume tojillherbert@gwfabrication.com

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

Southwestern Athletic Conference emerges victorious

FAMU takes 2023 Celebration Bowl title

Special to The Inner-City News, courtesy of and by Mekhi Abbott, the AFRO.com

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Head Football Coach Willie Simmons holds the 2023 Celebration Bowl trophy inside of the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. FAMU successfully defeated the Howard University Bison with a final score of 30-26 on Dec.16. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Southwestern Athletic Conference The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Rattlers defeated the Howard Bison in the Cricket Football Celebration Bowl on Dec. 16. Delivering a final score of 30-26, the Rattlers left Atlanta with their first ever Celebration Bowl victory. The Bowl, also known as the “Black National Championship,” started off with a bang when Howard University graduate student Ian Wheeler returned the opening kickoff 63 yards, not being tackled until he reached FAMU’s 27-yard line. Four plays later, the Bison sprinted out to an early 7-0 lead against the Rattlers. “I honestly didn’t expect to kick me the ball because their kicker has a good leg. But once I saw it in the air, I knew I had to show out. It’s always awesome being able to put our team in position to score to start off the game,” said Wheeler. After linebacker and fellow gradu-

ate student Christian White strip sacked FAMU quarterback Jeremy Moussa causing him to fumble the ball, the Bison were able to recover the ball once again in FAMU territory. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Champions took advantage of the turnover and executed a six play, 37-yard touchdown drive to go up 14-0. The Bison went into halftime with a 16-10 lead after FAMU’s kicker Cameron Gillis kicked a field goal with 11 seconds left in the second quarter. A relatively quiet third quarter saw both teams score zero points, but the fourth quarter was full of action. FAMU flipped the momentum, scoring on their first possession to start off the final quarter after Moussa threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Dean. With that score, they were able to take their first lead of the game, 17-16. In their very next possession, Moussa and Dean connected on another deep ball, this time for 53 yards. The Rattlers led the Bison 24-16. After kicking a field goal to break FAMU’s 17-0 scoring run, Bison defensive back Carson Hinton jumped a screen pass thrown by FAMU’s Moussa and returned it 27 yards for a defensive touchdown. The Bison retook the lead 26-24. However, the Rattlers didn’t take long to respond. The 2023 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Offensive Player of

the Year’s deep ball was connected on Dec. 16 and Moussa was able to throw another pass for a touchdown, this time to wide receiver Jah’Marae Sheread for 38 yards to put the Rattlers in the lead 30-26. The Bison had two more offensive possessions in the fourth quarter to try and respond, but both drives resulted in interceptions thrown by senior quarterback Quinton Williams. After starting

the game off with a pedestrian first half performance that resulted in an interception thrown, a fumble and a safety, FAMU quarterback Moussa made the big throws when it mattered the most in the second half. He finished with 289 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a fumble. Williams finished with 106 passing yards, 0 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. FAMU’s Dean was named the 2023

Cricket Celebration Bowl’s Offensive Most Valuable Player (MVP). Despite 56 points being scored, the 2023 Celebration Bowl proved to be a defensive matchup. FAMU’s “Dark Cloud” defense held Howard to only 187 total offensive yards, which is a record for the least amount of yards put up by an offense in Celebration Bowl history. Nine of the 26 points that Howard put up were scored by the defense via the pick-six by Hinton and a 2-point safety caused by Howard defensive lineman Darrian Brokenburr. The offensive touchdowns scored by the Bison were set up by special teams and a fumble caused by the defense. FAMU’s senior linebacker Isaiah Major took home Defensive MVP honors after securing what proved to be the game-sealing interception for the Rattlers. Major was also named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year at the conclusion of the regular season. Tiffany-Dawn Sykes, FAMU’s vice president and athletic director is the first female athletic director to win a Celebration Bowl. Sykes forged a strong relationship with star linebacker Major. “My vision for FAMU Athletics is for every student-athlete to graduate with a degree in one hand and a championship ring in the other. THIS is what it’s all about! Congratulations Isaiah Major!”

We must work together to support HBCUs’ sustainability in America By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Education sent all colleges and universities across the nation a notice, reminding them that they need to comply with the newly updated cybersecurity regulations published by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The regulations – which include specifications such as implementing critical controls for information security programs, maintaining oversight of service providers and designating an individual to oversee a school’s cybersecurity infrastructure – came in response to an uptick in ransomware attacks on schools around the United States. While these regulations are certainly warranted in an age where personal data is becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber-criminals, the penalties for failing to comply with the regulations – especially the withholding of federal needs-based funding under Title IV – pose an existential threat to schools operating under tight budgets. Take, for example, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which have throughout their existence struggled to find the substantial funding that many state and private predominantly White

institutions (PWIs) of higher education enjoy and who are already steeling themselves to deal with an expected surge of applicants following the Supreme Court’s regressive decision to effectively end affirmative action admission programs. The loss of Title IV funding would drastically affect around 80 percent of the student bodies at HBCUs and would have a consequential negative impact on the future of these vital institutions of higher education. Endowments at HBCUs pale in comparison to those at the U.S.’ top-ranked colleges and universities, with the overall endowments at all the country’s HBCUs accounting for less than a tenth of Harvard’s. The gap in funding between PWIs and HBCUs isn’t just because of smaller endowments, it’s also because state lawmakers keep funds off HBCU campuses – in North Carolina, for example, legislators awarded N.C. State an extra $79 million for research while N.C. A&T – the nation’s largest HBCU – was given only $9.5 million. When it comes to access to technology, HBCUs also face an uphill battle with 82 percent of HBCUs being located in so-

called “broadband deserts.” Despite their struggles with funding, and the fact that these schools constitute only 3 percent of four-year colleges in the country, HBCU graduates account for 80 percent of all Black judges,

50 percent of Black lawyers, 50 percent of Black doctors, 40 percent of Black members of Congress, and our country’s current vice president. HBCUs truly know how to do more with less, but they cannot be saddled with costly regulations that pose an existential crisis to their ability to operate and be given no help to deflect some of the costs. Fortunately, however, there are businesses and individuals who see the importance of HBCUs to the Black community and are willing to lend their hands – and their dollars – to support them. The Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), a non-profit chaired by philanthropist and entrepreneur Robert F. Smith and funded by major tech companies like Cisco, has raised millions of dollars to help HBUs comply with the Education Department’s mandates. Cisco alone donated $150 million to the SFI with $100 million allocated to bringing HBCU cybersecurity system upgrades and $50 million going to establish an endowment to offer alternative student loans. With $89 million already distributed to 42 HBCUs across the nation, the initiative has already saved around $1.5 billion in needs-based funding to these colleges and

universities and is making strong inroads to helping these institutions meet the new cybersecurity regulations, but more is required if all HBCUs are to be saved. Given the empowering impact HBCUs have on the nation’s Black community and the future promise of a more inclusive America, it is imperative that more companies support the work the Student Freedom Initiative is doing to ensure these vital higher education schools can continue to educate and inspire future generations. As Vice President Harris said, “What you learn at an HBCU is you do not have to fit into somebody’s limited perspective on what it means to be young, gifted and Black.” We in the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) https://www.nafeonation. org/ stand in strong support of the Student Freedom Initiative. We all should work together to ensure the sustainability of HBCUs in America. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is chairman of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) and president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 03, 2024 - January 16, 2024

CON’T FROM PAGE 24 Sykes wrote on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to Major thanking FAMU for his overall collegiate experience in being able to get a degree, earn a SWAC Championship and be named a 2023 Black College Football National Champion. The season proves to be a historic one for both programs. This was both FAMU and Howard’s first time going to Mercedes Benz Stadium to play in the Celebration Bowl. FAMU clinched its first ever SWAC football championship just a couple weeks ago after defeating the Prairie View A&M Black Panthers, 35-14. FAMU finished their season 11-1, going an undefeated 8-0 against SWAC opponents. The Rattlers started off their season by knocking off Jackson State, who were the then reigning 2-time SWAC Champions. After losing their second game of the season to in-state opponent University of South Florida, FAMU would run the table and not lose a single game for the rest of the season. FAMU is only in its third season as a SWAC school after leaving the MEAC in 2020. Prior to that, FAMU had a 15-year run as a MEAC program and was a part of the conference for over 35 years in total. This year, FAMU became the first school in NCAA history to win a conference title in the SWAC, MEAC and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in football. Each of the three respective conference’s member schools are composed entirely of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). FAMU continues to add to their legacy as one of best football programs in all of HBCU football history. FAMU is the only HBCU program to ever win a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) National title. FAMU also boasts four college football Hall of Famers and over 60 players who have played in the National Football League, including current starting middle linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, Markquese Bell from the class of 2021. Despite the 4-point loss, the Bison still had a season to remember. They finished their season with at least a .500 record (6-6, 4-1 MEAC) for the first time since 2017. They also won the MEAC outright and qualified for their first bowl game in thirty years. Some of their season highlights include a 30-point blowout victory against the then 7th-ranked (FCS) team in the nation North Carolina Central Eagles and a very close 23-20 loss against the Northwestern Wildcats. The Wildcats are a Power 5 program that have a record of 7-5 overall and 5-4 in the Big Ten, one of the most challenging and competitive conferences in all of college football. Some notable names amongst the crowd at the Celebration Bowl included Vice President and Howard alumna Kamala Harris, former NFL MVP Cam Newton and his younger brother, former Bison quarterback Caylin Newton. Actor Lance Gross from Howard University’s class of 2024 was also in attendance.

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How Chrishon Lampley became first Black woman in the Midwest to go national with a wine brand What sets Chrishon Lampley’s Love Cork Screw wines apart from others is that her labels are fun, whimsical, and not intimidating, she said in a recent interview. The labels include “Be the Light” Sauvignon Blanc and “Good Times, Good Friends” Pinot Grigio which appeal to the brand’s target demographic of 25- to 44-year-olds. Some wine brands even started imitating her, which makes her proud. “When I set out to launch Love Cork Screw, I wanted to touch lives through my story. I want to inspire others and break glass ceilings,” she noted on Shout Out LA. She developed a strong awareness of what the traditional wine novice and enthusiast enjoy after spending 15 years pursuing her passion. To produce her quality wine, she traveled around the world and made it a priority to ensure that her brand adds nutritional value to every label, she noted. Prior to venturing into the wine industry, she co-owned an art gallery in Chicago’s South Loop. However, a terrible flood ruined the building and compelled her to close. “During that time, I was also working with well-known distributors in sales, so I was on the frontlines regarding newly released wines and consumer demands,” she said. She used these two stepping stones to plateau herself into creating Love Cork Screw wines, she stated. “My thought process was even through the challenges, I can leverage my knowledge and skillset to launch my own wine brand and fill in the gaps for what consumers were missing,” said Lampley. “I

Toni Townes-Whitley now one of only two Black

women serving as Fortune 500 CEOs by Abu Mubarik

by Abu Mubarik, Face2FaceAfrica.com

By Face2FaceAfrica.com

Photo: chrishonlampley.com

knew I would be able to use whatever platform I learned to inspire other entrepreneurs. And that was enough for me to get started.” In 2022, WGN reported that she is the first Black woman to have a national wine brand, with more than one million bottles sold following her wine’s launch in 2013. Research shows that out of more than 11,000 wineries in the U.S., only about 1% have a Black winemaker or are Blackowned. Working in an industry dominated by White males has not been easy for the entrepreneur. According to her, she is

usually mistaken for the promotional girl and not the owner. This, she said, means working extra hard to be taken seriously and to be heard. “I’ve learned through perseverance and resilience that as long as I don’t give up, I will reach my goals,” the Chicago-based negociant and wine enthusiast told Shout Out LA. She credits her mom and dad, Ann and Lou Lampley, for their unconditional support. Lampley said, “My parents have shown me the meaning of resilience, unconditional love, and the importance of entrepreneurship. I am forever grateful.”

Toni Townes-Whitley recently joined the list of Black business executives heading Fortune 500 companies. She has become the CEO of Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), a Virginia-based Fortune 500 technology company that supports government agencies, intelligence services, and the Department of Defense, according to Fortune. She becomes one of two black women currently serving as Fortune 500 CEOs, the platform said. The other is TIAA CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett. Walgreens chief Rosalind “Roz” Brewer resigned three months ago. According to Reuters, the separation was mutual. Townes-Whitley took over from former SAIC chief Nazzic Keene. Her appointment was announced in May and she became “CEO-elect” in June this year. “I was with the other female in our duo just a few days ago,” she said of Duckett, “And we were talking about the importance of how we show up and that we have a greater pipeline into these roles.” “This is an opportunity for me not only as a female but as an African American female,” said the CEO who has served in financial services, healthcare, state and local government, as well as higher education. “We’ve never had an African American female as a CEO in national security. And yet, if you look at our security forces, they’re quite diverse. And so, we’ve got to ask ourselves, both by sector and by size of company, why are we not building that pipeline?” Prior to joining SAIC, Townes-Whitley

SAIC's ToniTownes-Whitley.Photo: SAIC was Microsoft’s president of U.S. regulated industries, with an $11 billion P&L. SAIC on the other hand has $7.7 billion in annual revenue and a No. 479 ranking on the Fortune 500. She assumes her new role with a clear understanding that SAIC is undervalued. “I’m starting with a hypothesis that this company, with its rich legacy and its current portfolio, is undervalued by the market,” she told Inc.com. “And it is also slightly misunderstood. How do we differentiate? What is our unique capability? I think we have to articulate that better, and we actually have to execute against it.” Townes-Whitley said in the interview that she had hired a chief innovation officer coming right out of the Air Force who is “going to bring some real-world perspective to our portfolio, how we go to market, and how we introduce more innovation to our customers.”

After over 20 years of teaching, Brietta Clark now 1st woman and 1st Black to lead Loyola Law School y Abu Mubarik, Face2FaceAfrica.com

Brietta Clark now leads LMU Loyola Law School as dean. Her appointment comes after more than 20 years of teaching and five months of serving as interim dean. As the 19th dean of Loyola Marymount University’s (LMU) Law School, the appointment makes her the first woman to hold the position and also the first Black dean in the university’s 103-year history. According to CBS News, she will oversee a student body that totals more than 300 students, over 60% of whom are women. “I am thrilled to welcome Brietta Clark as the new Fritz B. Burns Dean of LMU Loyola Law School,” LMU Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas Poon, Ph.D. said. “Her unparalleled expertise, combined with her passion for advancing research and education and her commitment to diversity and inclusion, makes her an exceptional leader to propel our law school into a future of excellence and innovation.” Clark joins a growing list of black wom-

en who are leading law schools across the country as well as universities. Her appointment comes at a time when the university was seeking to be more inclusive, particularly in how they teach the law. “This is a place where we interrogate the law,” Clark said. “Where we’re all about social justice. We think about inequality, right? And yet it has taken a long time for the legal academy to start to have its leadership, and even its professors and faculty and students, really reflect the diversity of America.” She first joined the law school faculty in 2001 and has served in several capacities, including as Associate Dean for Faculty from 2015-20, according to the University’s website. The website adds that she was recently awarded the 2023 David P. Leonard Faculty Service Award by the St. Thomas More Society. Also, she has received recognition for her mentorship by the school’s Black Law Students Association, the Judge Stephen O’Neil Trial Advocacy Mentoring Program (“Young Lawyers Program”), and the Health Law & Bioethics Student Association. Additionally, she participated

Brietta R. Clark. Photo: Loyola Law School

in the AJCU Ignatian Colleagues Program for leaders in Jesuit higher education. In her early career, she served on the Los Angeles County Medical Association-Bar Association Joint Committee on Bioethics where she helped draft ethical and legal pain management guidelines for physicians. What is more, she served on the Institutional Review Board for Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles as well as a volunteer attorney with the HIV/ AIDS Legal Services Alliance. Prior to joining the LLS community, she specialized in healthcare transactions and regulatory compliance, working at the Los Angeles office of Sidley, Austin, Brown & Wood. She also volunteered with the National Health Law Program, which nurtured her interest in Medicaid access and protecting safety-net hospitals in underserved communities. Meanwhile, Clark got a B.A. from the University of Chicago and her J.D. from USC Law School, where she was also a post-graduate research fellow.

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