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THE INNER-CITYPENFIELD NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025 COMMUNITIONS INC Volume 32. No. 1604

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Downtown Upzoning Signed Into Law THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

by Thomas Breen

The New Haven independent

With the city’s zoning director and four downtown-area alders arrayed around him, Mayor Justin Elicker signed into law a zoning update designed to encourage the development of more housing in the city’s center. Elicker put pen to paper on the second floor of City Hall Tuesday morning during a celebratory signing ceremony for the Downtown for All zoning overlay, which the Board of Alders unanimously approved on Dec. 1. The zoning overhaul was spearheaded by Downtown/East Rock Alder Eli Sabin (Ward 7), and was championed by fellow downtown-area alders Kiana Flores (Ward 1), Frank Douglass (Ward 2), Angel Hubbard (Ward 3), and Carmen Rodriguez (Ward 6), as well as by the Elicker administration’s City Plan Department. Broadly, the overlay district loosens restrictions on the size, density, configurations, and locations of new residential developments downtown. Now that it’s been signed into law, Downtown for All allows for the development of: • Taller residential buildings, thanks to the doubling of the maximum floor-area ratio from 6.0 to 12.0; • Denser housing, thanks to a lowering of the minimum gross floor area ratio per unit to 400 square feet, down from 1,000 square feet (or 600 square feet for qualifying inclusionary zoning developments); • Single-room occupancy units, now that developers can apply for a special permit to create rooming houses and dormitory-style apartments. “There’s so much demand for housing, and not enough supply, so prices go up,” Elicker said on Tuesday. This new law is designed to use zoning — “one of the biggest levers we can use” to influence the housing market — in order to encourage the development of lots more places to live. Connecticut needs more than 100,000 new housing units, Elicker said, and New Haven has a goal of creating 10,000 more over the next ten years. “We are building

Let there be law! Mayor Elicker (center) signs "Downtown for All," with Angel Hubbard, Carmen Rodriguez, Abdul-Razak Zachariah, Eli Sabin, and Frank Douglass. Credit: Thomas Breen photo

building building,” Elicker said, referencing the city’s 550 housing permits issued so far this year. This bill is designed to promote more of exactly that. City Deputt Director of Zoning Abdul-Razak Zachariah added that this zoning update — including provisions designed to make it easier to build housing in industrial districts covered by the overlay district — should reduce delays and decrease costs for the construction of new housing. He said those costs are all too often passed along to tenants in the form of higher rents. “We did it!” Sabin said before giving the mayor, zoning director, and his aldermanic colleagues high-fives. “Hard work pays off. Teamwork pays off.” Sabin argued that building more mixed-income and affordable housing downtown should help with just about every facet of life in the city’s center:

More construction will mean more jobs for New Haveners. More housing near jobs will mean less car traffic and fewer greenhouse-gas emissions by people who can walk to work. More eyes on the street will make for a safer city. Elicker and Douglass gave special shout-outs to Sabin for his work across years in building support for this legislation and getting it across the finish line. What About IZ? Zachariah spoke on Tuesday about how so much of the city’s zoning code was written in 1962, and how the zoning code has not kept up with New Haven’s changing housing needs. But what about a much more recently adopted local zoning overhaul: 2022’s Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) ordinance? How does Downtown for All interact with and build off of IZ. Zachariah said on Tuesday that Down-

town for All is designed to work with IZ where those two districts overlap. After years of public debate and review and tinkering, the Board of Alders adopted an amended IZ law in January 2022. The ordinance requires developers of certain market-rate apartment buildings to set aside a percentage of units at deed-restricted affordable rents. Downtown, that means that new buildings with at least 10 apartments have to set aside 5 percent of units for renters with Section 8 subsidies and another 10 percent of units for renters making no more than 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). IZ also includes a host of incentives — including a 25 percent FAR bonus and no parking minimums — to make it more appealing for developers to comply with its affordability provisions. On Tuesday, Zachariah said that IZ’s FAR bonus plus Downtown for All’s FAR boost should

allow for developers to build even taller than they otherwise would be able to. But, these nearly four years later, is IZ working to actually create new affordable housing? As of late October, the answer was no — or, at least, not yet. City spokesperson Lenny Speiller told the Independent on Oct. 27 that, as of that date, no IZ affordable apartments were yet open and occupied. There are currently 24 different IZ-eligible developments in the works. If and when they are finished, they will contain a total of 696 new apartments, 104 of which will be set aside at affordable rents. (The largest IZ-eligible development in process is the 462-unit project slated to be built atop vacant land at 185-253 State St; 69 of those apartments will ultimately be set aside at below-market rents.) During an interview with the Independent in late October, Elicker spoke about how IZ appears to be more appealing so far for smaller renovations and developments. (On Tuesday, Elicker and Zachariah repeated that point, with Zachariah noting that smaller developers appear interested in taking advantage of the parking and density bonuses included in IZ). But, Elicker continued in late October, “we’re concerned overall about the lack of development, particularly for larger building projects … It’s not helpful to have an Inclusionary Zoning ordinance that’s really strong and nothing gets built, because then you have no IZ affordable units being built.” Elicker said at the time that the city is “evaluating whether we should change some of the components of the Inclusionary Zoning ordinance” in order to make sure that development happens. He also pointed out that there is “still a huge amount of development happening” across the city. That includes affordable housing projects supported by local and state subsidies. “The natural IZ-created units,” however, where no extra government subsidies are required, are “clearly not going as well as we’d like.”

Lamont, Health Commissioner Discuss CT’s First Measles Case, Tout Nursing Compact by Ronni Newton, We-Ha.com CTNewsJunkie

The University of Hartford’s state-ofthe-art Hursey Center for Advanced Engineering and Health Professions served as the backdrop for a press conference that focused on an advancement in health care, as well as a frightening step backward in the eradication of a highly-contagious disease – measles – that has now appeared to Connecticut. Gov. Ned Lamont and Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, scheduled Thursday morning’s press conference to tout the fact that Connecticut is now one of 43 U.S. states and territories to sign onto the Nurse Licensure Compact. The agreement allows

Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to obtain one multi-state license to practice nursing in all participating locations, and gives state employers more support to respond to nursing shortages by increasing the pool of available professionals. The majority of reporters’ questions Thursday morning, however, focused on the announcement late Wednesday of Connecticut’s first case of measles in more than four years. Juthani reiterated information that was released in a press release Wednesday night indicating that the individual with measles is an unvaccinated child, under the age of 10, who lives in Fairfield County. The child recently traveled in-

Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani and Gov. Ned Lamont discuss the state’s first measles case in four years at the University of Hartford on Dec. 11, 2025. Credit: Ronni Newton / We-Ha.com

ternationally, and the measles symptoms appeared several days later – symptoms that “included cough, runny nose, congestion, fever, and eventually a rash starting at the head and spreading throughout their body.” An investigation is underway, Juthani said, “identifying what contacts they might have had, where they might have gone through an infectious window” which is based on symptoms, she said. They are working with the family on contact tracing in rapid fashion, she said, and will notify anyone who may have been in contact with the child. Read more at We-Ha.com

Christmas Comes Early To The Shack THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

Abiba Biao

Arts Council of greater New Haven

As Izaiah Brockington stood at the mic, he closed his eyes, his silver stocking hat shining beneath the blue light. Piano came in, and he eased into the first verse of Donny Hathaway's “This Christmas." The steady beat of the drums followed, and soon after, cheers and claps from the crowd. If you looked closely, you could almost see the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future behind him, ringing in the festivities and seasonal greetings. Last Saturday, Christmas came early to a sold-out crowd at The Shack’s Christmas celebration, a fundraiser for the myriad services it provides to New Haven's West Hills community. The event, which hosted 50 people, is a part of A2A Productions’ series “Cafe Night at the Shack,” which started five months ago and is hosted by New Haven artist, advocate, and A2A Productions founder Andrea Daniels-Singleton and several of her creative colleagues and collaborators. “A lot of people are dealing with a lot of different things, even during the holidays—sickness, sadness, death,” said event emcee Sean W. Hardy. “But this is a time where we are reaching out to encourage one another, that you can make it.” Cafe Night performances are held once a month and incorporate singers and musicians from live bands, sometimes drawing inspiration from notable artists past and present. Previous concerts have paid homage to Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Betty White, and Stevie Wonder, Daniels-Singleton said. The concert series also doubles as a fundraiser, with proceeds from each session going to the community hub that Alder Honda Smith has created at 333 Valley St. At turns a media center, recording studio, urban farm, cafe, and gathering spot, it serves everyone from kids and teenagers to elders. Currently, it offers farming, music production and composition, and media arts classes in journalism and multi-media storytelling, among other activities. Daniels-Singleton, who grew up in the neighborhood, has long made it part of her mission as an artist to give back. Earlier this year, she shouted out Smith at multiple A2A Performances, including an installation of “The Cry Within” that made it to the Shubert Theatre. Smith, for her part, said that the love is mutual. “It takes giants to come along and decide to … give back to their community, and that's something that Andrea has been doing,” Smith said in an address to the crowd. “Every event that she has done here has been for the welfare of this community and of this center.” With soft, ambient white and orange lighting, artists set the mood for win-

Andrea Daniels-Singleton, who runs A2A Productions. Abiba Biao Photos

ter cheer. The holiday joy and festivities buzzed through the air. Around the room, performers and audience members alike dawned their best ugly sweaters and fuzzy jackets. In the lefthand corner of the room, wha t is usually the pool table during normal Shack hours was covered in black tarp, converted into to a gift station. In the middle of the table, a shimmering, small plastic Christmas tree appeared, complete with a bag of presents for singers, who would unwrap them after the performance. During the event’s two parts—a section for holiday carols and a section for worship and praise—a sense of holiday cheer seemed to be everywhere. Behind the singers, band members Colon Haywood and Daniel Singleton grooved on the keyboards, with Terrance Ivory on the drums, and Curtis Eaddy on bass guitar. Singing backup, soprano Toni Gore remained a constant and mellif-

luous presence, joined by artists Lisa Brown, Gwendolyn Wilkins, Brockington, and Daniels-Singleton at various points throughout the night. Gore, who has been singing background vocals for Daniels-Singleton for two years, said that she was motivated by A2A’s efforts in the community. “Anything that’ll help to do for the community, we’re involved,” Gore said. “Also, it makes people feel like they're doing something for the community when they purchase a ticket because they know what it's going towards.” For Quanisha Morrison, who goes by the stage name “A’lache,” participating in the event and “supporting my girl Andrea” was a no-brainer. As a resident of Valley Street, A’lache also has a personal connection with the event, and noted her eagerness to uplift arts and culture in her own neighborhood. “It’s helping me out because I’m a part of this neighborhood, this community.

It’s dope,” she said of the concert. “So I love it. And then, I’m honored to be a part of this and then collabing with artists, like great artists.” Similar to Brockington, no matter how many times she performs, the pre-performance jitters always manage to find their way to her. Shaking, cold sweats, racing thoughts—she goes through it all in the lead up to a performance, she said. And then, she gets on stage and does her thing anyway. “One time, I came close to passing out, I swear,” she said to Gore. “The first show that I did for her [Daniels-Singleton], when she did a Christmas show over in Post Road. They were back there praying for me, like the whole circle, man!” And yet, when A’lache graced the stage to perform Stevie Wonder’s “That’s What Christmas Means to Me,” you could’ve never guessed her anxiety. A natural at commanding the space, her

voice was boisterous, carrying a confidence and swagger that lifted people off their feet and to clap along. Her vibrato and edgy rasp filled the room, giving life to the already joyful lyrics. Brown, Daniels-Singleton, and Gore followed hot in pursuit, repeating the chorus. In the crowd, guests Silver R., Laura Austin, and Adrienne Senior became fast acquaintances for the night, bonding over light chatter and plates heavy with good food. While the first two had never been to The Shack before—and Senior had only come once—all seemed genuinely excited for the performance. Senior described her expectations for the night’s performance as “being well entertained like I was the first time.” When a friend said they couldn’t attend the night’s concert due to surgery, she didn’t let that stop her from coming out and making new friends along the way. “Everything from the dinner to the entertainment is just awesome,” she said. “I came, basically tonight, to get more in the Christmas mood.” Austin said that she felt inspired to visit the Shack after hearing about Smith’s efforts and investment of her own money into the center by visiting her website. She first learned of the event through Facebook. By the end of the night Daniels-Singleton had worked up a sweat, from providing background vocals to bringing food to all the guests and artists. While the concert took a month to plan and organize, she said, it’s a labor of love she doesn’t mind investing time in. Given the turnout for this year's celebration, she added that she may need to find a larger venue for next year's festivities. “I want it to remain a benefit for the Shack because the Shack does amazing things, and I always want to support them as she [Smith] supports me and the things that I do,” she said. Daniels-Singleton shows no sign of stopping her creative purists in the new year. In addition to the Cafe Night at The Shack series, she’s also working on several other independent projects, including a children's book and novel which will be released in late 2026. She is also preparing to draft all the music for her next installment of “The Cry Within,” which will debut in summer 2026. No one knows the transformative power of music, perhaps, more than Daniels-Singleton’s husband, who has supported her through all her creative endeavors. “Music is a way of expression, and you never know what people go through,” he said, reflecting on the event as he packed up his keyboard for the night. “And through music, there's the sense of healing, joy, that can help people overcome obstacles that they may be facing.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - January 23, 2019 - January 29, 2019

Cross Keeps Composting THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

by Maya McFadden

Thursday’s 10:40 a.m. lunch wave to pick out her usual red apples from the share table bin to put into a favorite lunch recipe she’s created. She uses the apples when available to mix into her tuna salad, which also includes celery, eggs, and light mayo. While Anderson and Sasso manage the daily system, they agreed the program is built on student momentum. The environmental club prepped the school’s student body for the expanded composting program at the start of the year by creating an informational video to help train students in the do’s and don’ts of sorting.

The New Haven independent

Instead of throwing their meatball sandwiches into a trash can, Wilbur Cross High School students sorted their food scraps into a large compost bin, put their uneaten fruit and Goldfish packets on a share table, and placed their plastic forks and sauce packets into the garbage. They did so on Thursday as the East Rock high school’s environmental club has grown its composting operation, which began as a small pilot in May 2023, into a full-scale program woven into students’ and teachers’ daily life. After initially partnering with local nonprofit Peels & Wheels on small-batch, once-a-week composting, Cross has now joined the district’s expanding compost initiative with regional partner Blue Earth Compost. Since starting with Blue Earth in October, Cross has diverted about 3,100 pounds of food scraps away from the school’s dumpsters. Cross is one of nine New Haven public schools that compost with the help of Blue Earth. The school district began its compost pilot program with John Martinez, Barnard, New Haven Academy, and High School in the Community. It gained funding to support those schools through the ReFED’s Catalytic Grant Fund. When that grant ended in June 2025, the program was added to the district’s USDA grant, which went on to fund composting at Metro, Truman, Worthington Hooker, and Sound School before the end of last school year. The USDA grant was supposed to end in May 2025 but the city and school district were able to get a year extension to be able to continue running the pilot this year, too. Blue Earth picks up the compost once a week at the nine participating schools. Over the past three years, 86,077 pounds of food scraps have been collected between the schools. Wilbur Cross sophomores and environmental club members Ayerim Cordin and Sofia Ganiga said the shift is visible every lunch period as they joined educators Kim Anderson and Barbara Sasso in collecting food scraps Thursday. While the club members suited up in gloves and manned the cafeteria’s two sorting stations, Cordin helped at one to point to the trash or compost bins guiding students through where to throw each item on their tray. Student after student showed the ease of separating each item into its correct place. To avoid filling the compost bin too quickly, the students stacked their trays off to the side. Previously, school custodial staff would have to fill 14 trash bags each day, according to these environmental club members. Now, thanks to the expanded compost program, cafeteria waste has dropped to just four bags a day. In October, Cross collected 660 pounds

“This is our problem,” Ganiga added. “If it’s just adults doing it, no one’s going to keep it up.”

Sorting scraps from plastics, in Cross's cafeteria. Credit: Maya McFadden Photos

of food scraps. In November, it collected 2,440 pounds. “It’s cool to think we can actually make a difference,” said Ganiga, who joined the environmental club her freshman year. “We always talk about making a difference but here, you can literally see the difference.” In addition to composting, the environmental club has expanded its share table initiative, redistributing unopened snacks and fruit throughout the school when those foods are not wanted by students who must pick up a full lunch tray. Sasso, a retired veteran English teacher turned substitute teacher, worked to clean the school store space last week for the club to store and refrigerate remaining food from the share table. On Thursday, Anderson and Sasso joined ABM Energy & Sustainability Manager for NHPS Michelle Martinelli and city Recycling Educator Rose Richi to stock the transformed food redistribution hub.

Anderson noted that she is no longer the school’s sole “snack lady,” a nickname she earned because she would previously store all share table goods in her first floor English classroom. Now, Cross has a designated school storage space with a full fridge that doesn’t completely take over her classroom’s mini fridge. Cross art teacher Melody Gallagher stopped by the newly repurposed school storage place Thursday to fill a basket up with unused fruit, hummus, and sunflower seeds for her classrooms. On Fridays, any leftover share table goods are donated to local food rescue nonprofit Haven’s Harvest to distribute around town. “Students are always hungry, and access to healthy food isn’t relatively available for everyone,” Gallagher said. Now the fruit that used to get tossed in the trash ends up in classrooms like Gallagher’s for students who constantly tell teachers they’re hungry throughout the day. One substitute teacher popped into

Cordin agreed, saying she most enjoys seeing the gradual filling of a compost bin throughout lunch waves. “Composting shows us how important it is to care about the environment. It’s only going to help us be better adults one day,” she concluded. Sasso said that “all kids are learning that this is what you do with your food. It’s a 21st-century life skill. You introduce it at school so they can take it home and be adults who can teach others.” Anderson and Sasso have also found that the environmental club’s wok spans across several students’ interests, making it so youth from all different backgrounds want to volunteer. Students that speak Pashto and Spanish are joining to help share with their fellow non-native-English speakers about the group’s environmental efforts. Cross’ staff talked with cafeteria staff about capturing more leftover food Thursday by offering to wheel a compost bin to the kitchen at the end of the day to also put remaining food scraps directly from the kitchen into the school’s compost before it reaches the trash. Cross Principal Matt Brown called the environmental club’s efforts “incredible.” .“It shows that there was an enormous amount of time invested,” he said. “The increase in participation is phenomenal. The way students are passing food along instead of tossing it shows how aligned the whole building is becoming.” The effort has also sparked conversations about urging the district to revisit its food contracts and cafeteria menus. Anderson noted that composting has made it clear that hundreds of students pick up full lunch trays each day only because they’re required to do so to get a single item they actually want, like an apple or a chocolate milk. In a recent Thought Exchange survey shared by the school’s superintendent to the community, food and lunch ranked as a a highly rated topic shared by students, teachers, and parents alike. Their concerns noted requests for “better” lunch food options to keep students fed and less distracted from learning.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

Questions about your bill? Yale New Haven Hospital is pleased to offer patients and their families financial counseling regarding their hospital bills or the availability of financial assistance, including free care funds. By appointment, patients can speak one-on-one with a financial counselor during regular business hours. For your convenience, extended hours are available in-person at Yale New Haven Hospital once a month. Dates: Nov. 17, 2025, Dec. 15, 2025, and Jan. 20, 2026 Time: 5 - 7 pm Location: Children’s Hospital, 35 Park St., 1st floor, Admitting Parking available (handicapped accessible) An appointment is necessary. Please call 855-547-4584. Spanish-speaking counselors available.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

HBCU and New Haven Native President receives life-saving kidney transplant Courtesy of HBCUNEWS.com Livingstone College President Dr. Anthony J. Davis is celebrating a renewed lease on life after receiving a life-saving kidney transplant, months after publicly sharing his need for a donor during the college’s spring commencement ceremony. Davis’s emotional appeal resonated across the campus and beyond, sparking an outpouring of support that ultimately led to a successful transplant and a powerful story of faith, community, and hope. Before receiving this miracle transplant, Dr. Davis battled stage 5 kidney disease, spending nearly 18 months on dialysis. On days when the illness took its toll, he relied on golf carts to navigate the campus and continue fulfilling his duties. At the time, Davis had no idea that a compassionate stranger—moved by his story—would ultimately become the answer to his prayers and change his life forever. “How do you ask somebody to give something as vital as a body part?” he told HBCU Gameday. “It was humbling. The hardest season of my life.” In addition to expressing gratitude to his anonymous donor, Dr. Davis also thanked HBCU Gameday for amplifying his story, crediting the platform with helping connect him to his life-saving donor. “Had you not pushed it out,” Davis said, “I wouldn’t be sitting here today on the other side of a transplant.” In a powerful full-circle moment, Dr. Davis—the 13th president of Livingstone College—underwent his transplant sur-

one of the most difficult chapters of his life. “Students would stop me, circle the golf cart, and pray for me,” Davis said. “Young brothers grabbing my hands in the cafeteria… bishops in the AME Zion Church—everywhere I went, people were praying.”

Livingstone College President Dr. Anthony J. Davis

gery on November 13, which also coincided with National Day of Giving. Just one week after the procedure, his new kidney was already showing signs of normal, healthy function, marking a hopeful new chapter in his recovery and leader-

ship journey. Dialysis can be an intense and physically demanding process for those diagnosed with kidney disease, often bringing side effects such as fatigue, nausea, anemia, and weight gain. Dr. Davis endured all of

these challenges while continuing to lead the North Carolina HBCU. Throughout the ordeal, he praised the Livingstone College community for their unwavering support, crediting students, faculty, staff, and alumni for helping carry him through

Now back in good health, Dr. Davis is focused on continuing his work as president of Livingstone College, reaffirming his commitment to service and leadership. He has shared that leading and serving others is not just a role he holds but a calling—one he is grateful to return to with renewed strength and purpose. In addition to this growth, Livingstone has received multiple multimillion-dollar donations from an anonymous donor, including a $10 million gift in February. According to Dr. Davis, the funding will support a $225 million campus infrastructure project, featuring a new 350-bed residential quad, a four-star, college-operated hotel, expanded solar energy initiatives, and a comprehensive modernization of the campus. Together, these developments signal a period of renewed momentum and long-term transformation for the historic HBCU. “Livingstone College will not look the same,” Davis said. “We will be a different HBCU—still affordable, still mission-driven, but competitive with the higher-echelon schools.”

Reading, Magic, and Mentorship A Special Day at Augusta Lewis Troup School in New Haven

There is a unique kind of magic that happens when a community comes together to invest in its children. It’s not just about the items given or the time spent; it’s about the message sent to the next generation: You matter, and your future is bright. This message was loud and clear recently at Augusta Lewis Troup School in New Haven. Fixing Fathers, Inc., in partnership with Street To Straight, paid a special visit to a vibrant group of 2nd and 3rd graders. The event was centered around a book reading and signing of Nyelah & Noah and Uncle Jimmy's Magic Nickel, by Dr. David Asbery & Tanisha Asbery, but it quickly became a celebration of learning, creativity, and connection. The highlight of the day was the live reading session. In an age dominated by screens, the simple act of reading a book aloud to a child holds immense power. It does more than just entertain; it builds a bridge between the reader and the listener. Live reading is a critical tool for developing literacy. When adults read with expression and enthusiasm, they model reading fluency. Children hear how language sounds, learning the rhythm of sentences and the intonation of questions. This auditory experience is the foundation of reading comprehension. It allows young minds to focus on the story's

meaning rather than struggling to decode individual words on a page. Furthermore, these interactive sessions spark curiosity. When a child can ask a question about a character or predict what happens next, they are actively engaging with the text. This engagement transforms reading from a passive task into an exciting adventure, fostering a lifelong love for books. The generosity of Fixing Fathers, Inc.

extended beyond the story itself. To ensure the magic continued at home, every single child received their own copy of Nyelah & Noah and Uncle Jimmy's Magic Nickel to keep. Ownership of books is a key factor in educational success, giving children the ability to revisit the story and practice their reading skills independently. But the surprises didn't stop there. Fix-

ing Fathers, Inc. also treated both classes to six sets of Paaxido Magnetic Tiles. These 100-piece magnetic building block sets are more than just toys; they are essential STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning tools. By constructing towers, castles, and abstract shapes, these students are learning spatial awareness, problem-solving, and basic engineering concepts—all

while playing. The atmosphere in the room was electric with joy. Dr. Asbery took the time to personally sign all 50 books, ensuring that he met with every student individually. These one-on-one moments are where the real impact lies—looking a child in the eye and validating their importance. The smiles on the students' faces were the true measure of the event's success. This incredible day would not have been possible without strong leadership and community collaboration. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Brother Nathan Joyner and Principal Eugene Foreman for opening the doors of Troup School and making this event happen. Their dedication to their students' enrichment is evident. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the Street to Straight team, the Fixing Fathers board members, and the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma for their unwavering support. It takes a village to raise a child, and in New Haven, that village is strong, caring, and committed to seeing our youth succeed. As we look back on this wonderful visit, we are reminded that investing in our youth requires presence and tangible resources. Whether it is through the pages of a book or the building blocks of a STEM kit, every effort counts.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

Hazel Street Welcomes New Homeowners by Mona Mahadevan The New Haven independent

Over the last few months, Sylvia Cooper spent her lunch breaks walking to Hazel Street and watching vacant lots transform into two-family houses — one of which would soon become her new home. On Monday, she stood beside Gov. Ned Lamont, Mayor Justin Elicker, and the head of a nonprofit developer to cut the ribbon on four houses that she and three other first-time homebuyers hope to move into by the end of the year. From the living room of one of those new, income-restricted homes — which are located at 88, 94, 98, and 100 Hazel St. — city and state officials also announced energy-efficiency upgrades made to 30 existing homes in Newhallville. The new homes were developed by Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven (NHS), which partnered with the Yale Urban Design Workshop and Efficiency For All. According to Jim Paley, the executive director of NHS, the $4.3 million project was funded primarily through grants from the state Department of Housing, the city’s HOME fund, and the State Housing Tax Credit Contribution (HTCC) program, which is allocated through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA). The $4.3 million figure includes the price of acquiring the lots and demolishing one building. NHS is under contract to sell the homes for $295,000 apiece to four buyers that earn less than 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), which is $62,800 for a family of four. Each blue-paneled home contains an owner-occupied unit with four bedrooms and a rental unit with three. Cooper told the Independent that she was the first person selected for one of the Hazel Street homes. She celebrated the purchase during Monday’s press conference as the fulfillment of a long-held “dream.” “This journey was long, and yes, I had to shed a few tears along the way,” said

Sylvia Cooper cuts the ribbon on her new home, alongside city and state officials and Neighborhood Services Executive Director Jim Paley. Credit: MONA MAHADEVAN PHOTO

Cooper. “But dear God, I am here today!” The packed room, filled with community members, nonprofit leaders, and city and state officials, burst into applause. When she was diagnosed with epilepsy, Cooper said she had to leave the workforce for five years, until she finally found the right medication for her condition. She now works at Christian Community Action, where she supports people recovering from substance use disorders. She found out about the Hazel Street development two years ago and put down a deposit on the same day. Since then, she’s been taking classes on financial literacy and homeownership to prepare for the purchase. “This is not a selfish journey,” said Cooper. “It takes a village to make this

happen.” When she moves into her new home, she plans to join the neighborhood’s community management team, advocate for more lighting, and help elderly people in the neighborhood. Paley said the homes received their Certificates of Occupancy Monday morning, which, according to Cooper, means the bank will likely be able to process her mortgage by the end of the year. She plans to live in the top unit and have two of her sons occupy the first floor. “Thank you for embracing those that dare to dream,” said Cooper. During Monday’s press conference, Paley celebrated the new homes for creating “stability” and “long-term generational

wealth.” He emphasized that the houses “are not designed to be starter homes,” but rather residences that can be passed through generations. He noted later that NHS is planning to develop homes on Frank and West streets in the Hill. Even though the lots are still empty, Paley said people have already put down deposits, demonstrating the demand for affordable homeownership in the city. The Hazel Street homes are a model for “new, New Haven two-decker houses,” declared Andrei Harwell, director of the Yale Urban Design Workshop. He credited seven Yale students, from the School of Architecture and Law School, for “wholeheartedly” taking on the challenge of designing spacious, light-filled homes on tight lots.

In her remarks, state Commissioner of Housing Seila Mosquero-Bruno praised the Hazel Street homes as modeling partnership between educational institutions, private developers, and the public sector. She said similar collaborations are taking place in Waterbury with University of Connecticut students and Hartford with Trinity College students. Elicker, meanwhile, spoke about the juxtaposition between the federal government cutting benefits for low-income residents and the city, which is “building, building, building” new homes. He called on New Haven to take an “all of the above” approach to the housing affordability crisis, which means investments in more warming shelters, supportive housing, rental units, and homeownership opportunities. “It’s not just about building units,” said Elicker. “It’s about building a home,” a place where someone can “imagine raising a family” and “growing old.” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said the state has over 17,000 new units in the pipeline, but it needs closer to 100,000. “This is a model for how we get there,” she said. “We hope this will be replicated across the state.” Lamont echoed those comments, and then noted that the state’s new housing bill, signed just a few weeks ago, is “all about” developments like the one on Hazel Street. He expects the bill to make it “faster” and “easier” to do similar projects moving forward. Bysiewicz agreed, praising NHS for building on “abandoned, underutilized lots.” “I love it because, I don’t know,” said Lamont. “The way you described it, it’s kinda cool.” He said he especially likes the idea of aging in place, and then argued that ownership an important strategy for addressing the state’s wealth gap. And “how about energy efficiency!” exclaimed Lamont. “You guys check every box.” He applauded Paley and declared that the state needs 1,000 copies of him.

Nearly 40,000 CT Residents Have Medical Debt Canceled In $63M Initiative by Staff Report CTNewsJunkie

HARTFORD, CT — Nearly 40,00 state residents are about to have some or all of their medical debt erased, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. Lamont on Monday announced residents who have been selected for debt relief will receive an Undue Medical Debt branded envelope containing a letter from Undue Medical Debt in the mail over the next several days. The initiative launched last year launched last year in partnership with the national nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt to give relief to those who are having difficulties paying medical bills. “Medical debt can delay healing due to stress and anxiety about how to pay

these bills,” Lamont said. “With this latest round of letters being sent out to Connecticut residents, we will have eliminated $198 million in medical debt over the last year. This makes a real difference in the lives of our families, reducing fear and concerns.” This third round of the initiative is eliminating more than $63 million in medical debt. In total, nearly 160,000 Connecticut residents who’ve been struggling with bills have had $198 million in medical debt eliminated since the initiative began last December. Under the initiative, Undue Medical Debt leverages investments from the state to negotiate with hospitals and other providers on the elimination of large, bundled portfolios of qualifying medi-

Credit: zimmytws / Shutterstock

cal debt owed by Connecticut patients. Those who qualify must have income at or below four times the federal poverty level — currently $32,150 for a family of four — or have medical debt that is 5% or more of their income. Since these medical debts are acquired in bulk and belong to those least able to pay, they cost a fraction of their face value, often pennies on the dollar, according to Lamont’s office. Because this debt erasure occurs through the purchase of large, qualifying bundled portfolios of debt from participating partners like hospitals and collection agencies, there is no application process for this relief and it cannot be requested. Allison Sesso, president and CEO of Undue Medical Debt, said medical debt creates both financial strain and emo-

tional burdens that prevent families from seeking the care they need. “We’re proud to partner with Connecticut’s community-minded providers who recognize that removing these unpayable debts helps their patients and communities thrive, and we look forward to bringing relief to even more families in the future,” Sesso said. The first round of the initiative in December 2024 erased approximately $30 million in medical debt for approximately 23,000 people; and the second round in May 2025 erased more than $100 million in medical debt for 100,000 people. Lamont said the state would continue partnering with Undue Medical Debt for further rounds of medical debt cancellation.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

Coach Solo’s Mission at Get ’Em Boy Boxing

In the Ring and in the Community By Faith Ann Bailey & Dr. David Asbery

On Orchard Street, the rhythmic sound of gloves hitting heavy bags fills the air at Get ’Em Boy Boxing. Inside the gym, Solomon “Coach Solo” Maye moves with purpose, guiding students as they jump rope, shadowbox, and prepare for their next round. For Maye, this gym is more than a place to train — it’s a safe haven and a source of stability for young people in the community. Maye’s passion for mentoring comes from his own experiences. Growing up without steady guidance and facing challenges that led to incarceration as a teenager, he knows firsthand the importance of having someone to look up to. “I want to be the uncle in the community — the mentor — that I never had growing up,” he says. A Gym with a Purpose Get ’Em Boy Boxing isn’t just about teaching kids how to throw a punch. It’s about building discipline, focus, and confidence. The gym provides structure and a sense of belonging, especially during after-school hours when young people need it most. Inside the gym, students learn more than boxing techniques. Footwork drills teach focus, bag work channels frustration, and conditioning builds both physical and mental endurance. For many, the gym becomes a second home — a place where they feel supported and encouraged to grow. Parents often notice the difference. They see their children becoming more confident, more focused, and more engaged in school. Teachers report better behavior and improved emotional stability. For Maye, these small victories mean more than any championship belt. Mentorship in Action Coach Solo’s approach is simple but powerful: he combines high expectations with genuine care. He holds his students accountable while offering them the encouragement they need to succeed. Whether it’s helping a student improve their grades or guiding them through personal challenges, Maye is there every step of the way. Some of his students have gone on to compete in regional and national boxing events, but Maye insists that the real wins happen outside the ring. It’s in the moments when a student chooses the gym over a bad decision, or when a parent shares how their child is thriving. Building Futures, One Round at a Time Get ’Em Boy Boxing is more than a gym — it’s a community. It’s a place where young people can find stability, learn life skills, and discover their potential. For Maye, the goal isn’t just to train boxers; it’s to shape futures “I’m not just teaching them how to fight,” Maye says. “I’m teaching them how to fight for themselves, for their future.” In a small gym on Orchard Street, Coach Solo is making a big impact — one student, one round, and one life at a time.

Peace Found With Parkinson’s THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

by Jisu Sheen

The New Haven independent

Out on YouTube soon. A Good Run: Finding Peace with Parkinson’s By Etana Solomon and Kathleen Camp Premiere at Hopkins School New Haven Saturday, Dec. 13 For Kathleen Camp, 30 to 60 were “the good years.” “It was good. I had you. That was fun,” she says, facing the camera in the new Connecticut-made documentary A Good Run: Finding Peace with Parkinson’s. It’s not her first time speaking to the audience, but it’s the moment we understand who’s with us on the other side of the lens: Camp’s daughter and co-documentarian Etana Solomon. “And then this happened.” In 2014, Camp was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Solomon was still in college. In 2020, at age 25, Solomon became Camp’s primary caregiver. Five years later, on Saturday afternoon, A Good Run premiered at Hopkins School, showing the realities of a life with Parkinson’s, a young caregiver, and a raw take on the existential musings from either side. Hartford’s Ike Abakah and Josh Jenkins wrap the New Haven mother-daughter duo in lush aesthetics as director of photography and creative director, respectively. To make a simple shoe-tying scene cinematic, the film zooms in, getting every last grain of dirt before setting the frame in motion among scenes of Solomon running in the forest. Camp used to run, too, in a different way. As her daughter put it, she “had to outrun a life that tried to break her.” Long before her “good years,” she lived through a tumultuous childhood with fighting parents. “It was hard for me because I was the oldest,” she recalls in the film, pausing as the reality of her situation sinks in. “And I was trying to get out of there.” Once she did, she struggled with substance use, eventually landing in rehab. Solomon herself grew up protected from these stories from her mother’s past, hearing them for the first time as she began her caregiver role.

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Etana Solomon with mother Kathleen Camp at Sunday's Westville premiere. Credit: Jisu Sheen photo Posted inArts & Culture

In a post-screening Q&A Saturday with Cole Brown of Questlove’s and Black Thought’s Two One Five productions, Solomon remembered her adjustment to caregiving as a push to reorient her life. “Some people were okay with it, and we made it out.” Others, not so much. It’s no harm, no foul, Solomon said. Camp experienced a similar shakeup, noting in the film that she lost people in her life after getting sick: “I lost the strength to carry them.” Through it all, Solomon and Camp choose each other—in the movie, in the Q&A, and before, and beyond. Among Camp’s last words to the Hopkins theater’s audience were a call to consider “the person sitting next to you—the person who wants to be there.” Camp’s parting words in the film also highlight the present: “Don’t wait. Do

what you want to do. If you get the urge to do something, do it.” Once Solomon graduated college and got a job, she was able to start taking her mother on vacation. They got four mother-daughter trips in before Covid-19 hit. These remain some of Solomon’s proudest moments. The film’s intimate, cosmic depths are matched with a dreamy score by musician Andy Sorenson, adding to the Hartford creative scene’s presence in the project. Strings, piano, and vocals create a fabric for the audience to fall into. Facing the camera with surreal blues and pinks framing the edges of her face, Solomon reminisces on a childhood full of love. “She didn’t just raise me,” she says of Camp. “She built our world from nothing.” That world grew into a safe, loving

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place where Solomon could draw meaning from the unthinkable. As Camp’s primary caregiver, Solomon is not only her helper and motivator but also her advocate in crucial interactions, such as with medical staff. Later in the film, Solomon credits her mother for building her up to “be the best version of myself and handle this period of my life with as much grace as possible.” To help regulate her emotions, Solomon goes on runs. She finds parallels between the extremes of her exercise practice, like running the New York City marathon, and the extremes of her mother’s daily fights through the development of her disease. “A marathon is an endurance race,” Solomon explains on screen. When it’s over, we celebrate the athletes’ hard work. Speaking in a measured, tender voice, she invites us to do the same for people with Parkinson’s. Of course, she looks forward to celebrating the end of Parkinson’s when researchers find a cure. But even without a cure, her hope remains unchanged: for “a moment of celebration for the feat that my mom endured with this disease.” Parkinson’s Disease, as A Good Run details, is more than just the tremor many people know it for. It is a nervous system disorder affecting speech, eating, sight, and hearing. People with Parkinson’s can experience convulsions, confusion, and face changes. Over the course of the Q&A, Solomon sometimes stepped in to repeat Camp’s answers, other times letting her mother’s words speak for themselves. At one point, I caught my gaze drifting to Solomon too early, while she was still listening intently to Camp. There was a lot said in the simple act of not looking at us, not yet. Following Solomon’s lead, I realized I could understand Camp much more than I had originally thought. “To see her do it was incredible,” Camp said of Solomon finishing the New York City marathon, which was featured near the end of the half-hour documentary. Riding the subway, walking past gritty buildings, and affixing a number to her clothes, Solomon appears to access a dimension of life entirely different from the home interiors and hospital settings making up the bulk of the film. If it’s jar-

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ring for the audience to see, one can only imagine how it feels to live it. When the topic of the U.S. healthcare system came up in the Q&A, Solomon let Camp speak first. “You want to say something? You’re leaning in,” Solomon said to her mother. Camp summed it up in a sentence: “It’s bad.” Because Parkinson’s is a chronic, progressive disease, Solomon added, lines are often drawn late; a patient’s functioning might be “not up to par” for many years before they receive full support. In the documentary, medical lingo and complicated documents overlap onto each other as Solomon and Camp intake the unending flow of information. Part of what Solomon aims to do with A Good Run is raise money for the Parkinson’s Foundation, which supports Parkinson’s research and provides free programs like medical practitioner trainings and a helpline open to anyone. Attendees at Saturday’s screening were directed to a QR code for donations to the organization. Solomon, who works in the nonprofit field and is now on the People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council at the Parkinson’s Foundation, understands money flow in straightforward terms. She pointed to the example of HIV/AIDS research, which took almost $4 billion to come up with a treatment to extend people’s lifespans. It’s a large amount of money, but putting a number to it made it feel graspable. It seems the research is on its way. Attendees at the screening included a speech pathologist and a Parkinson’s researcher, both of whom were optimistic about new developments in the field. Their attitude was generous, immediately offering help for Solomon’s and Camp’s specific situation. Solomon urged the audience to share their stories. The process, she said, will help them find meaning as well as heal others. Camp left the audience with one last instruction. “Just love each other.” A Good Run will be available to watch on YouTube after a few final editing tweaks. In the meantime, you can follow along Solomon’s and Camp’s journey on TikTok and Instagram at @agoodrun_.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

Health Expert Warns of Implications of Federal Loan Limits for Nursing Students by Isaac Morgan, BlackDoctor.org Health care workers seeking advanced training or entering the field are raising concerns about the U.S. Department of Education’s proposal to narrow which graduate programs qualify as “professional degrees” for higher federal student loan limits. In a new proposal, the U.S. Department of Education would narrow which graduate programs qualify as professional degrees for higher federal loan limits, meaning fewer programs would be eligible for larger borrowing caps. This policy change, according to multiple reports, stems from the GOP-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which directed the agency to redefine professional degrees for federal loan purposes. What’s concerning, critics say, is that the proposal would strip the “professional” designation from hundreds of master’s and doctoral programs — including nursing, public health, counseling, education and other essential fields ‘Consequences will be immediate.’ As for nursing, headlines and social media posts have highlighted concerns that the proposal would negatively affect advanced degree programs. Some Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are not included on the Education Department’s draft list of professional degrees eligible for higher borrowing limits, which could reduce the amount of federal loan aid available to nursing students, according to Newsweek. Nursing and public health experts, such as Dr. Shawnte’ Elbert, warn the policy shift could cause a domino effect by restricting loan access, worsening work-

force shortages across health care settings and making clinical training more expensive for students. Elbert, owner of Elbert Innovative Solutions and a health education professor, told Blackdoctor.org in a brief phone conversation that the changes should not be taken lightly, even as the Trump administration has released a fact sheet about the proposal. BDO plans to conduct a more in depth interview with Elbert to explore the implications further. “These financial limits will reduce who can enter the field — and the community consequences will be immediate,” Elbert said. Limits on loan borrowing The Trump administration’s proposal would significantly reduce the number of

degree programs eligible for larger federal borrowing allowances, which previously applied more broadly to graduate students, according to a report from Inside Higher Ed. Under the plan, federal rules would be reshaped into two categories. Most graduate students would be capped at borrowing $20,500 a year, with a lifetime limit of $100,000. By contrast, students enrolled in programs the department designates as professional could borrow up to $50,000 a year, with a lifetime limit of $200,000. The administration has said the new limits would apply to loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026. The proposal would also eliminate the Graduate PLUS loan program, which has allowed graduate students to borrow up

to the full cost of attendance. Instead, the administration says it would create a repayment assistance framework for eligible borrowers, according to CNBC. What DOE says this change is The department has defended the move, saying that it is a way to curb graduate borrowing growth and target larger loans to programs that meet specific criteria the agency has set for professional preparation. It also claims that the change is intended to reduce overall graduate student debt and to align loan policy with statutory direction from the recent bill. According to the Education Department’s “Myth vs. Fact” page, officials stress the proposal is only about student loan categories and not a judgment on the professions themselves. The agency says

the change would not affect accreditation, licensure, job titles or professional recognition. Department officials also argue most graduate students will not be affected, noting that about 95 percent of nursing students already borrow below the new cap. They contend the limits could help reduce excessive borrowing and pressure schools to lower tuition. However, critics argue that the administration’s explanation is misleading. Organizations such as the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, analysts writing in Inside Higher Ed and public health leaders counter that the department’s framing downplays the impact. They argue the proposal would make essential degrees harder to afford, with many programs costing $45,000 to $90,000 a year — leaving private loans as the only option for many students. Critics also warn the change would disproportionately harm Black and brown students, who are more likely to rely on federal loans to pursue advanced degrees in nursing, public health and other service oriented fields. What comes next The policy proposal will be published in the Federal Register for public comment before any final rule is issued. Stakeholders — including universities, professional associations and state regulators — are expected to press for clarifications or exemptions for fields such as nursing, physical therapy and social work. Students pursuing advanced nursing degrees are advised to monitor the rulemaking process, consult financial aid offices about projected borrowing limits and explore alternative funding sources such as scholarships, employer tuition assistance and state programs.

Listen: ConnCORP's Annual Toy Giveaway Lucy Gellman

The New Haven independent

The idea for a toy giveaway first came to Daniel Hunt in a dream. As it becomes a reality for the second year in a row, he has a mantra that he's been repeating over and over again: be a blessing to the community. In this season, and all seasons, it's what keeps him going. Hunt, the community liaison at the Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program (ConnCORP), is bringing that message with him into this week, as he prepares for the organization's second annual Christmas toy giveaway. Friday, he came on WNHH-LP Community Radio to promote the event, which takes place Wednesday Dec. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Newhallville Police Substation, 596 Winchester Ave. in New Haven. To listen to the full episode, click here or on the audio at the bottom of this article. "This is the community that I grew up in, and that we serve," Hunt said on a short episode of WNHH-LP's "Arts Respond" on Friday. "I'm from New Haven, grew up

in Newhallville, live in Newhallville currently, I'm in the city all the time ... so it's important for me as community liaison to give back." Last year, Hunt had a dream about a giveaway, perhaps influenced by his own love for Christmas (he credits his grandmother for that enthusiasm), and the annual backpack giveaways that have become a summer ritual at ConnCORP (read more about those here and here). That same week, he got a call from Sgt. Jarrell Lowery, who is currently the district manager for New Haven's Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods. He asked Hunt if he wanted to collaborate on a giveaway for the holidays. For Hunt, it was an easy yes, and by the time the December evening rolled around, there was a line down the block. Hunt, who stayed in touch with many of the families, thought about how much need there was in the community, and vowed that it would become an annual event. In addition to the New Haven Police Department, partners including the New Haven Fire Department, 94.3 WYBC, the African American

Daniel Hunt and Elaine Roper at ConnCORP's annual backpack giveaway earlier this year. Gio Roper File Photo.

Society and Southern Connecticut State University all came onboard. "We want to be a blessing to the community," Hunt said, later adding that his faith is a significant part of what helps ground him. "Let's get out in the community so people can see more of us ... you never know what people are going through, and that's what it's about." For community members interested in giving back this holiday season, it is one of several chances in to do so. The New Haven Pride Center and Witch Bitch Thrift, for instance, have both asked for food donations. Sites like the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, Community Soup Kitchen, Loaves & Fishes, and United Way of Greater New Haven that are always looking for volunteers. As they have for a decade now, Black Lives Matter New Haven—this year in partnership with the Unhoused Activists Community Team (U-ACT)—is holding a drive for cold-weather items like hats, mittens, coats and sleeping bags, with a wishlist and donate link where people can make direct financial contributions.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

Fire Chief To Retire by Thomas Breen

The New Haven independent

Fire Chief John Alston plans to retire at the end of January, bringing an end to his nearly ten-year tenure leading the city’s fire department. Alston announced his coming retirement in an email letter sent to New Haven Fire Department personnel and city fire commissioners on Monday morning. Alston confirmed his Jan. 31, 2026 retirement plans in a follow-up call with the Independent. He said that he will continue to write books, lecture, and travel with family after he steps down from the job. “Every firefighter knows their ‘numbers,’ and while this decision comes with mixed emotions, the time has come for me to begin a new chapter,” Alston wrote. “After more than 40 years in the fire service and with gratitude for having reached 65 years of life, I reflect with humility and appreciation on a career filled with both triumphs and challenges. I am especially thankful for the nearly ten years I have had the honor of serving alongside you as Chief, working together in service to the great City of New Haven.” Then-Mayor Toni Harp first appointed Alston to serve as the city’s fire chief in 2016 after he retired from a 31-year career with the Jersey City, N.J. fire department. Current Mayor Justin Elicker reappointed him to a new four-year term in 2022. The Board of Alders unanimously approved his 2016 appointment and his 2022 reappointment.

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The final day of Alston’s current term is Jan. 31, 2026 — the same day he plans to retire.

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During the 2022 reappointment process, Alston’s supporters praised him for diversifying the department, improving its technological capabilities, and leading it ably through a number of crises — including the mass K2 poisoning on the Green in 2018, the on-duty death of Firefighter Ricardo Torres in May 2021, and the Covid-19 pandemic. During that same reappointment process, the then-leadership of the fire union criticized him for not responding quickly enough to fixing over 100 broken fire hydrants and for failing to do enough to lift morale at a time when many of its members were hurting. In an interview Monday, Alston cited those same “major events” as defining moments of his tenure. “All in all, I love this city. I love the people in this city,” Alston said, while thanking Mayor Harp, Mayor Elicker, and the alders for the opportunity to become the “first outside chief” in the department’s 155-year history. “I’m very happy for him,” city fire commission Chair David Hartman said on Monday. Alston “has been incredibly successful at this for many years. He’s still a firefighter at heart, [and a] great administrator as well. … He’s given himself to New Haven. I just wish him well in his retirement.” Hartman said he found out about

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Fire Chief John Alston

Alston’s coming retirement in Monday’s email. Fellow city fire commissioner Kelcy Steele said the same. “I was shocked to receive that news today through email,” Steele said. “I definitely believe he was a great chief, great for the city of the New Haven. We’re definitely going to miss his service.” Miguel Rosado, who became the president of the fire union in January of this year, confirmed that he too found out about Alston’s coming retirement in Monday’s email. In his limited time as fire union president so far, Rosado said, “we had some fairly decent interactions. I wish him well on his retirement and his future endeavors.” Rosado, Hartman, and fire commissioner Barbara Vereen each said they’d like to see the city’s next fire chief come from within the department — “homegrown,” as Rosado put it. Vereen, who praised Alston for being a helpful and clear communicator, also urged the city to “look internally” for the next chief. Elicker, who will be responsible for choosing the next fire chief pending aldermanic review, said he hasn’t yet made a decision about how to fill the role once Alston departments. He said the city likes to “hire internally when we can,” but he hasn’t decided yet on next steps. “Chief Alston has been fantastic,” Elicker said, describing how he led the department through Covid and “through some challenging times with significant loss” of some rank-and-file members “under tragic circumstances.” What advice does Alston have for whoever fills this role next? “Always do a 360,” Alston said. Firefighters undertake such an approach — evaluating a fire from all sides, all angles — when responding to a blaze. The next chief should “apply that logic to every situation: Take a look from the other person’s side of view,” looking at every situation “from all angles.” To the next fire chief, he concluded, “you’re inheriting a great department.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

Mechanic III

360 Management Group Invitation for Bids

The Town of Wallingford is accepting applications for Mechanic III. Wages: $35.42 to $43.00 hourly. For additional information and to apply online by the December 28, 2025 closing date please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

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The South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) seeks the services of one or more consultants for the following transportation planning studies during the 2026 and 2027 Fiscal Years (July 1, 2025- June 30, 2027): Congestion Management Study, Scenario Planning Study, and Ridge Road Safety Study. Responses are due by January 7, 2026 (12 noon local time). The full RFQ document can be viewed at the Council’s website: www.scrcog.org or can be made available upon request. Contact James Rode at 203-466-8623 with any questions.

Invitation for Bids

398-400 Concord Street Drainage System Improvements The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids from qualified firms for drainage system improvements at 398-400 Concord Street. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Building Maintenance Technician

Monday, November 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM.

The Town of Wallingford is accepting applications for Building Maintenance Technician. Wages: $31.21 to $37.09 hourly. For additional information and to apply online by the December 28, 2025 closing date please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

Elm City Communities Invitation for Bids

Agency Wide Moving Services Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids from qualified contractors to perform Moving Services on our property’s agency wide. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal. https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway/ beginning Monday, November 24, 2025 at 3:00 pm

Galasso Materials LLC, a quarry and paving contractor, has positions open for the upcoming construction season. We are seeking candidates for a variety of positions, including: Scalehouse Dispatcher/ Equipment Operators and Laborers. NO PHONE CALLS. Please mail resume and cover letter to “Hiring Manager”, Galasso Materials LLC, PO Box 1776, East Granby CT 06026. Galasso Materials is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Monday, November 24, 2025 at 3:00 pm

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

Custodian

DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The Town of Wallingford is accepting applications for Director of Information Technology. Wages: $137,135 to $174,569 annually. For additional information and to apply online by the January 15, 2026 closing date please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/ human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

Listing: Night Dispatcher Extremely fast paced petroleum company is looking for a full time (which includes on call and weekend coverage) detail oriented experienced Night Dispatcher. A strong logistics background and a minimum of one year previous experience is required. Send resume to: HR Manager, P.O. Box 388, Guilford, CT. 06437. Email: HRDEPT@eastriverenergy.com

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Criminal Justice Grants and Contracts Specialist (Grants and Contracts Specialist) in the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning division. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/ sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 251104&R2=4191AR&R3=001 The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities & persons with disabilities.

Maintenance workers needed for the Wallingford Public Schools to work the 2:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. shift. Hourly rate: $20.27 to $26.41. Requires some experience in building maintenance work. The closing date will be October 20, 2025. To apply online, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NORWALK, CT IS REQUESTING PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING (IPA) FIRMS OR INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE AUDIT SERVICES FOR ITS PORFOLIO OF ASSISTED HOUSING AND RELATED PROGRAMS. TO OBTAIN A COMPLETE COPY OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS, CONTACT GUILLERMO BENDANA, PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST AT GBENDA@NORWALKHA.ORG PROPOSALS

ARE DUE AT 2:00 P.M. ON 11/19/2025.

*An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disabled and Veterans*

NORWALK HOUSING IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ADAM BOVILSKY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

Listing: Technician Apprentice

360 Management Group

Opening for a full time HVAC/Oil/Heating Technician Apprentice. Candidate must possess a technical school certificate in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, oil, propane and natural gas. Send resume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email HRDept@eastriverenergy.com

Invitation for Bids

Agency Wide Snow Removal Services 360 Management Group is currently seeking bids from qualified contractors to perform snow removal services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing. cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

**An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Veterans**

The Glendower Group

Monday, November 3, 2025, at 3:00PM.

Request for Qualifications

Project Architect for the Redevelopment of George Crawford Manor The Glendower Group is currently seeking proposals from qualified firms for Architectural & Engineering Services for the Redevelopment of George Crawford Manor. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, November 10, 2025, at 3:00PM.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

COLLECTIONS MAINTAINER III

Request for Proposals

The Town of Wallingford is accepting applications for Collections Maintainer III. Wages: $34.62 to $39.22 hourly. For additional information and to apply online by the December 30, 2025 closing date please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

Brokerage/Agent of Record Consulting Services for Insurance Benefits

The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Proposals for Brokerage/Agent of Record Consulting Services for Insurance Benefits. A complete copy of the requirements may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, November 3, 2025 at 3:00PM 14

THEINNER-CITY INNER-CITYNEWS NEWS -- November November20 13,,2024 2024 -- November November26, 19,2024 2024 THE THE INNER-CITY NEWS December 17 December 23, 2025 July 2016 THEINNER-CITY INNER-CITY NEWS February 05 2025 February 11, --August 02, INNER-CITY NEWS INNER-CITY NEWS July27, 27, 2016 THE NEWS - -November 13 ,, 2024 -- November 19,2025 2024 August 02, 2016 2016

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks: VERSIÓN REVISADA

NOTICE Construction DE Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming NOTICE AVISO AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA PARAand NOTICE Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. LA AUTORIDAD DECTVIVIENDA DE NEW HAVEN Location: Bloomfield We offer excellent hourly rate &(ECC/HANH) excellent benefits

VALENTINA MACRIDE RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE INFORME ANUAL TRABAJO (MTW) DEL AÑO FISCAL 2024

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PREAVAILABLE VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE-APPLICATIONS APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Contact: Tom Dunay Phone: 860243-2300

Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com behalf ofVII Columbus House the New Housing Authority, La HOME SecciónINC, II y on la Sección del Acuerdo de and Trabajo de laHaven Autoridad {el "Acuerdo") HOME on House and Authority, INC, onbehalf behalf ofColumbus Columbus House and the NewHaven Housing Authority, Women &laof Minority Applicants arethe encouraged toHousing apply is HOME accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develexige que INC, antes de que Agencia pueda presentar suNew Plan yHaven Informe Anual de Trais accepting pre-applications for and one-bedroom apartments atat this development located at 108 FrankAction/ Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apis accepting forstudio studio and one-bedroom apartments this develbajo Aprobado al pre-applications Departamento de Vivienda yOpportunity Desarrollo Urbano de los EE. UU. (el Affi rmative Equal Employer opment located atat108 Frank Street, New Maximum income ap"HUD"), debe realizar una audiencia pública, considerar los beginning comentarios del público ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM Monday Ju;y opment located 108 Frank Street, NewHaven. Haven. Maximum incomelimitations limitations apply. Pre-applications will from 9AM 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y sobre las enmiendas propuestas, obtener aprobación de la(approximately Junta de Comisionados y 25,ply. 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications 100) have Pre-applications willbebeavailable availablela from 9AMTO TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, and when (approximately have presentar las enmiendas HUD. been received atending thealoffices ofsufficient HOMEpre-applications INC. Applications will be mailied100) upon re25,2016 2016 andending whensufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been atHOME HOME INC. Applications will bebe upon reEl período decalling comentarios de (30) días comienza el viernes 1mailied de noviembre de quest byreceived INCtreinta atofof 203-562-4663 during hours. Completed preReclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with those current and clean beenreceived atthetheoffices offices HOME INC. Applications willlicensing mailied upon re2024 y finaliza el sábado 30 de noviembre de 2024. Se pondrán a disposición copias quest by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. prequest by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed delapplications Informe Moving toCT Work (MTW) del año fiscaloffices 2024 at en 171 el sitio web Street, de la agencia must totoHOME Orange Floor, New Haven, 06510. We offer excellent hourly rate &offices excellent benefi ts Street,Third applications mustbe bereturned returned HOMEINC’s INC’s at 171 Orange Third www.elmcitycommunities.org o a través de Twitter, www.twitter.com/ECCommunities Floor, New Haven, CT 06510. Floor, New Haven, CT 06510. o a través de Facebook www.facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities. Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300 Se le invita a enviar comentarios por escrito dirigidos a: ECC/HANH, Moving to Work FY2024 Annual Report, Attn:rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT Email: MACRI DE ALQUILERarePRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES 06511VALENTINA o por correo electrónico a: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org. Women &VIVIENDAS Minority Applicants encouraged to apply De conformidad con las Secciones II y VII mencionadas, se ha programado una audiVALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES Affi rmative Action/DE Equal Opportunity Employer DISPONIBLES VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS ALQUILER HOME INC,enenlanombre la Columbus House y de New Haven Housing está encia pública que se de aceptarán y registrarán loslaPRE-SOLICITUDES comentarios públicosAuthority, para el lunes aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo 25 HOME de noviembre de 2024 a las 3:00 p. m. a través de RingCentral: https://v.ringcentral. INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está HOMEenINC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de Se la New Haven Housing Authority, está com/join/185686287?pw=d7db4e4f735df6289ed5adfb24f3f113 ubicado la calle 109 Frank Street, yNew Haven. limitaciones ingresos aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios apartamentos deaplican un dormitorio en estededesarrollo aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de unp.m. dormitorio en esteMartes desarrollo máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 comenzando 25 ubicadoTrailer en la calle 109forFrank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones ingresos & Highway Equipment. Mustde have a100) CDL IDTractor de la reunión: ubicado en laDriver calle185686287 109 Frank Street, New Construction Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos julio, 2016 hasta cuando seHeavy han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente máximos.clean Las driving pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09heavy a.m.-5equipment; p.m. comenzando Martes 25 License, record, ofdisponibles operating willing to travel Contraseña: enmáximos. las oficinas depre-solicitudes HOME INC.capable Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas porbe correo aMartes petición Lasyaw6Zk28PK estarán 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han&recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) throughout the Northeast NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefi ts llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han Las recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición O marque: a las de HOME INCINC. en 171 Street, tercer New Haven , CT 06510 . en oficinas las oficinas HOME LasOrange pre-solicitudes seránpiso, enviadas pordeberán correo a petición llamando a HOMEdeINC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes remitirse +12679304000 Estados Unidos (Filadelfia, PA) llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse Email: a las oficinas de HOME INCde endana.briere@garrityasphalt.com 171reunión: Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 . Código de acceso/ID la 185686287 a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, piso, New & Minority Applicants are tercer encouraged toHaven apply, CT 06510 . ContraseñaWomen de acceso telefónico: 9296952875

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks: NOTICIA NOTICIA NOTICIA

Union Company seeks: Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Números internacionales disponibles: https://v.ringcentral.com/teleconference

NEW HAVEN Construction

Cualquier persona que requiera una adaptación razonable para participar en la audienciaSeeking puede llamar al Gerente de adaptaciones razonables (203) 498-8800, ext.and 1506 o al to employ experienced individuals in the labor,Ave foreman, operator teamster 242-258 Fairmont número (203) 497-8434. trades TDD for a (203) heavy 497-8434.mber outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid 2BR Townhouse, 1.5Fairmont BA, 3BR, 1orlevel , 1BA drivers license required. To242-258 apply please call (860) 621-1720 send resume to: Personnel Ave All newP.O. apartments, new appliances, new carpet, 242-258 Fairmont Aveclose to I-91 & I-95 Department, Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

NEW NEWHAVEN HAVEN

Listing: Mechanic

2BR Townhouse, BA,&3BR, 1 center level , 1BA highways, near 1.5 bus stop shopping 2BR Townhouse, 1.5Opportunity BA, 3BR, 1close level , 1BA All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, to I-91 & I-95 Affi rmative Action/Equal Employer underfor40lb allowed. Interested parties to contact Maria @M/F/V 860-985-8258 ImmediatePet opening a full-time mechanic; maintenance be done on commercial diesel&trucks All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 I-95 and Drug Free Workforce highways, near bus stop & shopping center trailers. A valid driver’s license is required in order to run company errands efficiently and safely. Send highways, near busCTstop & or shopping center resume to:Pet HRunder Manager, O. Box 388, Guilford, 06437 email hrdept@eastriverenergy.com 40lbP.allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s underThis 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @formation 860-985-8258 Listing: Commercial CertificatePet Program. is a 10 month program designed to assist in the Driver intellectual of Candidates

Town of Bloomfield

Salary Range:

$87,727 to $136,071 TheDeputy Stateof ofConnecticut, Connecticut, Officeofof The State Office Finance Policy Policyand andManagement Management is is recruiting recruitfor Director/Controller ing foran anInformation InformationTechnology Technology

Senior(Information Policy Advisor to the Manager Technology Pre-employment drug testing. Secretary Finance. Manager 1) in in the the Office Office of of Finance. AA/EOE.regarding the Furtherinformation information Further regarding the Details go to duties,For eligibility requirements and duties, eligibility requirements and www.bloomfieldct.org application instructions are available at: application instructions are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/ https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/ sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1= 241015&R2=5571MP&R3=001 250105&R2=1561MP&R3=001

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

CORPORATION

APPLY NOW!

WANTED

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

TRUCK DRIVER Construction

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT CHIEF NOTICE OF STOCKPERSON PUBLIC HEARING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR THE ELM CITYCOMMUNITIES, HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) REVISED VERSION

The Town of Wallingford Electric Division is seeking a highly motivated individual to MOVING TO WORK (MTW) FY2024 ANNUAL REPORT supervise the Redevelopment Division’s perpetual and real-time material inventories, including various The Milford & Housing Partnership (MRHP) is seeking sealed bids for records and reports pertaining to inventory control, material usage, workCT. orders. the following Fire Alarm Upgrades at Catherine McKeen Village in and Milford Bids Section II and Section VII of the Authority's Moving to Work Agreement {the "AgreeApplicants shoulduntil possess a H.S.5,diploma equivalent, and 3 yearsRedevelopment of experience in will be received December 2024 ator2:00 pm at the Milford & ment") requires that before the Agency can file its Approved Annual Moving to Work storekeeping, materials management, and/or inventory control. 1 year of supervisory Housing Partnership offi ces located at 75 DeMaio Drive, Milford, CT 06460. All bids Report and Report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (the experience is preferred. Must possess and maintain a valid Connecticut Driver’s Liwill be opened and read aloud. pre-bid walk thru will be held on November 18, 2024 "HUD") that it must conduct aA public hearing, consider comments from the public on cense. Wages: $41.63 to Drive, $43.92Milford, hourly. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits at 2:00 pm at 95 Jepson CT, Catherine McKeen Village – Community the proposed amendments, obtain approval from the Board of Commissioners, and subpackage that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, individual and family Room. Contract documents mit the amendments to HUD.including plans & specifications can be viewed on-line and medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and voluntary deferred compenpurchased from Digiprint’s website November 11, 2024. Visit www.diThe thirty (30) days comment periodbeginning begins on on Friday, November 1, 2024 to Saturday, sation plan.30, To 2024 apply online by Security the December 6,$25K 2024 closing pleasePerformance/ visit: www. - Join Our Head Start Team -date, giprintplanroom.com. 5%copies Bid (Over ONLY) and 100% November and of the Moving to Work (MTW) FY2024 Report, will Elm CityONLY) Communities esta actualmente wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications also Payment Bonds (Over required. Bidders will noteorrequirements be made available on the$100K agency websiteare www.elmcitycommunities.org viaare Twitter, aceptando aplicaciones para la lista de available at the Department of Human in Room #301 of the Town of minimum wage rates, nondiscrimination/equal opportunity rules (Executive Order www.twitter.com/ECCommunities or viaResources Facebooklocated www.facebook.com/ElmCityComespera de Crawford Manor Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 11246) and related provisions in the General Conditions. No bid shall be withdrawn for munities. 294-2084. sixty (60) EOE days. Complete bidding requirements are noted in the Contract Documents. Crawford Manor, ubicado en un vecindario bienmust establecido, estáthe following This project is federally assisted. with You are invited to provide writtenTherefore, commentsbidders addressed to:comply ECC/HANH, Moving to aceptando solicitudes para suDevelopment lista de espera. Esta oportunidad de Open Positions: requirements: Housing and Urban Act of 1968; Equal Opportunity proviWork FY2024 Annual Report, Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, vivienda es exclusivamente para personas mayores y con discapacidades. sions of Executive Order 11246; Non-Discrimination provision of Title VI of the Civil CT 06511 or via email to: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org. Family Advocate La comunidad ofrece apartamentos tipo estudio y de una habitación Rights Act of 1964; Labor Standards provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act and related acts con diseños espaciosos, que incluyen dormitorios más grandes y Compliance and Contract Work HoursIIStandards Act; prevailing wage determinations as issued by Pursuant said Sections andManager VII),Division a public where public comments willfor be The Townto of Wallingford ishearing seeking skilled applicants balcones privados. LosElectric residentes disfrutan de un highly acceso conveniente a the Unitedand States Department of Labor; and all applicable provisions under Title I of the accepted recorded is scheduled for Monday, November 25, 2024 at 3:00pm via Full-Time Assistant Teacher First Class Lineman. Applicantsmédica, must be atransporte H.S, trade school, or yvocational high school instalaciones de atención público entretenimiento Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. RingCentral: graduate with https://v.ringcentral.com/join/185686287?pw=d7db4e4f735df6289ed5ad 4 de years’ experience in electric line construction/maintenance en el centro la ciudad, además de servicios de mantenimientowork de with Part-Time Assistant Teacher MRHP is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and Housing Provider. fb24f3f113 experience working with energized 13,800-volt equipment. Must possess and maintain emergencia las 24 horas. (Hourly Rate: $16.35) Any individual with a disability who needs special assistance to participate should cona valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to operate equipment. Wages: $51.88 to tact Cheryl Giers at Town cgiers@mrhp.org at least five (5) days before the bid opening. Meeting ID: 185686287 $57.67Apply hourly. The offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes penonline Password: yaw6Zk28PK REQUIREMENTS: sion plan, paid sick and vacation time, individual and family medical insurance, life inLos ingresos no deben superar el 80 % del ingreso Anthony J.Scan Vasiliou, Executive Director or13 surance, paid holidays, and voluntary deferred compensation plan. To apply online medio del área (AMI).& Consulte laPartnership tabla a Or dial:Redevelopment Milford Housing FAMILY ADVOCATE PART TIME FULL TIME code bycontinuación theQR December 6, 2024 closing date, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/governpara conocer los límites máximos por JOB ID: 5918 de ingresos TEACHER TEACHER +12679304000 (Philadelphia, PA)familiaresJOB 75 DeMaio Drive United States COMPLIANCE MANAGER ID: 3724 ment/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available atlathe Department ID: 6183 en tamaño de familia. La inclusión en la lista de espera seJOB basará fecha www.NHPS.net Access Code / Meeting ID: 185686287 JOB ID: 5927 Milford, CT 06460 hora enResources que se reciba la solicitud. solicitudes se sellarán la fecha ofyHuman located in Room Las #301 of the Town Hall, 45con South Main Street, Dial-in password: 203-877-3223 y hora a medida que9296952875 se reciban. ¡Use el código QRL para294-2084. presentarEOE su Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203)

WE ARE HIRING

Lineman – Electric Utility

Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy solicitud! outside work statewide. Reliable perInternationalAvenue, numbersNew available: 241 Quinnipiac Havenhttps://v.ringcentral.com/teleconference which are two bedrooms and rent from Invitation to Bid: sonal transportation and a valid driv# Personas PLUMBING WORKERS NEEDED. Have you wanted to become a plumber work in off the $1,950-$2,000 and include heat, hot ever water and2 cooking gas, private or entrance, nd 1 enael hogar ers license required. To apply please2 Notice Any individual Reasonable to participate in thejourneymen hearing plumbing field?requiring LBR Mechanical is seeking plumbing mechanics, street parking and onsite laundry.Corp I Accommodation have a couple with washer/dryer which are Invitation to Bid: $74,350 Máximo may call the for Reasonable Accommodation Manager (203) 498-8800, ext. 1506inorplumbat the call (860) 621-1720 or send resume and helpers construction project$65,050 located in LLC, Bridgeport, CT. Experience Invitation to Bid: $2,000. Pleasea bill 241 Quinnipiac Avenue, 111 Roberts Street, Suite G1, nd TDD Number (203) 497-8434. Please send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O.to Box2 ndNotice ing/heating, construction and roughing a plus. Will train the right candidates. Driver’s East Hartford, CT 06108. 2 Notice CT Solicite en línea en https://ecc.myhousing.com Invitation forcall Bid 368, Cheshire, CT06410. Old Saybrook, license and proof of citizenship required. Please 914-276-1493 for an application attielordan@gmail.com

Truck Driver with clean

CDL license New Emergency Generator at Bonnie Acres

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE descargue una aplicación en: (4 Buildings,The 17 Units) Housing Authority ofo the City of Bristol (BHA) is seeking sealed bids from a

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

to startI your new PJF Construction Corporation AA/EOE Also, a 3 career. bedroomhttp://www.elmcitycommunities.org unit at 254 Fairmont Avenue, New Haven. They rent Old Prevailing Saybrook, CThave Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity qualified contractor for a New Emergency Generator at Bonnie Acres, 59 Vance Dr., Tax Exempt & Not Wage Rate Project for $2,050 and the tenant pays all the utilities. Off street parking and private Old Saybrook, CT Employer M/F/V CT. Sealed bids will berecibir received or before p.m. (4 Buildings,Bristol, 17 Units) Para unaon solicitud por 2:00 correo, porEST, favorThurs, llame Dec. 475- 19, entrance. Section 8 welcomed. Drug Free Workforce (4 Buildings, 17 Units) 2024, and publicly opened, forthwith at BHA’s office at 164 Jerome Ave., Bristol, CT

355-7289 o envíeand una paving solicitud por escrito a Atención: Galasso a quarry contractor, has positions Exempt & NotHousing, Prevailing Wage Materials Rate Project LLC, New Construction,TaxWood Framed, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Waitlist Elm City Communities, Box 1912, 06010. Sealed bidProject packages must Coordinator, beCastclearly marked “New Generator PO at Bonnie Acres” Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate open for the upcoming construction season. We are seeking candidates Also, I have a 2Siding, bedroom atNo 248 Fairmont Avenue, Haven. They rent for Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity including veterans*** New Haven, CT 06509 in-place Concrete, AsphaltAttention: Shingles, Vinyl in***An response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The costEmployer, is $125. Classes start disabled Saturday,and August 20, 2016 1:30Mitzy Rowe, CEO. electronic bids will be New accepted. 3:30Unified Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, for a variety of including: Scalehouse Equip$1,950.00 and the positions, tenant pays all utilities. Off street parking private CT. Deacon’s Association is pleased toM.S., offerB.S. a Deacon’s New Construction, Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, CastA pre-bid walk through will be held onthe Thurs., Dec. 5, 2024, atDispatcher/ 2:00 p.m. and Please meet Flooring, Painting,Wood Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Full Class driver for aprogram fast-paced forChurch daysof64 and week(203)Time 996-4517 Host,BGeneral Elijah Davis, D.D.petroleum Pastor of Pitts company Chapel U.F.W.B. Brewster Certificate Program. ThisAssociation is a 10Bishop month designed to assist in the intellectual formation Candidates Las solicitudes se pueden presentaCastCT. Unified Deacon’s is pleased to offer a Deacon’s entrance. Section 8 welcomed. New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, ment Operators and Laborers. NO PHONE CALLS. Please email rein front of 59 Vance Dr., Bristol, CT 06010. Attendance is strongly recommended for all Continuum of Care, New Haven, Connecticut – in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30ends. Previous experience required. Competitive wage, 401(k) and benefits. Send Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. St.Certificate New Haven, CT • En persona en 356 Orange St, New Haven, CT06511 Program. This isthe a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates clientsPolice Advertising and cultivation existing and new advertising is key toOfficer the growth and 3:30 Chairman, Deacon Joe J. needs. Davis, M.S., B.S.of bidders. TheVinyl deadline for de RFI shall beenFri., Dec. 13, 2024, ato2:00 pm.LLC, Conin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Siding, sume and cover letter to “Hiring Manager”, Galasso Materials in Contact: response to theManager, Church’s Ministry The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30(a través unquestions buzón ubicado la puerta principal); resume to: HR P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email HRDept@ Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. (203) Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. PastorNews. of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church Brewster Please bill the por Fairmont Avenue 258 Fairmont Avenue, LLCpurchased continued success of Joe The Inner-City The paper is64delivered weekly to businesses, schools, tract documents 3:30996-4517 Contact: Chairman, Deacon J. Davis, M.S., B.S. including plans &CT specifications can be Haven, viewed online • Enviada correo al PO Boxto1912, New CT 06509and eastriverenergy.com POAppliances, Box 1776, East Granby 06026. Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Residential Casework, full-time (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. St. New Haven, CT at the same billing address as 241 Quinnipiac Avenue. from Advanced Reprographics website www.advancedplanroom.com or by calling shopping outlets and wherever newspapers can be found. This is a remote sales position. Electrical, and Fire Protection. St. New Haven, CTINVITATION TO BID: CONTINUUM OF CARE, NEW HAVEN Bid Extended, DuePlumbing Date: 5,compliance 2016 usted acomodación para completar su aplicación This contract isMechanical, subject to state set-aside andSi August contract requirements. I410-1020. willnecesita be the contact personrazonable for them to call at 860-231-8080, ext.llame 161.al LEGAL NOTICE (860) *****An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Veterans***** Galasso Materials is an Affirmative Action/Equal 203-498-8800 ext. 1507 Opportunity Employer. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. is requesting licensed and insured contractor bids for their property located at 979 QuinA 5% Bid Security and 100% Performance/Payment Bonds are required. Bidders will Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 All applicants will considered for employment attention to race, color, Work closely with Publisher and editor toofcreate a successful sales strategy. Lasbesolicitudes estarán disponibleswithout el 31/01/2025 Sealed bids New are invited thethe Housing Authority of the Town Seymour nipiac Avenue, Haven. by Complete first floor kitchen renovation. Scope to include note requirements of minimum wage rates,national nondiscrimination/equal opportunity rules Project documentsDue available via ftpsex, link below: religion, orientation, gender identity, origin, veteran or disability status. Bid Extended, Date: August 5, 2016 Las solicitudes debenprovisions presentarse del 07/03/2025 until 3:00layout. pm onOwner Tuesday, August atScope its office 28 Smith Street,motivated. new kitchen to Must supply new to alsoatinclude new flooring (Executive Order 11246) and related inantes the General Conditions. No bid shall be2,cabinets. a2016 self-starter and highly http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage BidAnticipated Extended, Start: Due Date: August 5, 2016 August 15, 2016 of Seymour, area. Job also includes complete first floor bathroom renovation. This includes a be withdrawn for sixty (60) days. Complete bidding requirements are noted in the Con06483 for by Concrete Sidewalk Repairsofand at the Sealed bidsCTare invited the Housing Authority theReplacement Town of Seymour August 2016below: complete gut (down to studs) of theLiving bathroom. Environmental testing will be conducted ProjectAnticipated documentsStart: available via 15, ftp link tract Documents. Smithfield Gardens Assisted Smith Sealed are invited byAugust the Housing Authority of Street the Town of Seymour 3:00bids pm onincludes Tuesday, 2,Facility, 2016 at26its 28Seymour. Smith Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang available @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com byuntil the owner. Scope supplying and installing newoffice step inatshower stall,Street, vanity, This project is federally assisted. Therefore, bidders must comply with the following Project documents via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage Opening for a and full time HVAC/Oil/Heating Technician forRepairs Bids HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran,requirements: S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses until 3:00CTpm onwall Tuesday, August 2016 at office at 28 travel. Smith Street, Seymour, 06483 forInvitation Concrete and lighting, Replacement at the toilet, tile flooring and finishes, tileSidewalk 4ft2, wainscot is its desired, grab bars by Housing Urban Development Act of 1968; Equal Opportunity proviPotential local http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith toilet and showers, fan Concrete with motion sensor, and baseboard heating. The scope Apprentice. Candidate mustfor possess a technical sions of Executive Order 11246; Non-Discrimination provision of Title VI ofschool the Civil Seymour, CT exhaust 06483 for Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the and Skills: Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. Senior Sales Representative Qualifi cations City Bristol Invitation BIDS Agency Wide Driveway Repair, Milling, Sealcoating and Striping Fax or Emailof Questions & Bids to: DawnAA/EEO Lang @EMPLOYER 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com of Street work toSeymour, include floor for the bathroom. Scope toJuly include replacement exist- communication CTdrain atAssisted 10:00 am, on Wednesday, 20, 2016.Seymour. Rights Act ofWide 1964; Labor Standards provisions&ofPreventative the Davis-Bacon Maintenance Act and related acts Agency Plumbing Services Communicates well and has 26 strong written and of verbal skills. Smithfield Gardens Living Facility, Smith Street

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certificate in heating, encourages the&participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE &dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com Section 3 Certified Businesses ventilation, air conditioning, FaxHCC or Email Questions Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 ing windows, entry doors. Owner to select tile style, colors, and style of faucets and and Contract Work Hours Standards Act; prevailing wage determinations as issued by Knows effective ways to market products and services and learns offerings quickly. 3A 60pre-bid Management Group is currently bids from qualified contractors to about new Haynes the Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave,&Seymour, CT 06483Businesses will be held atseeking the be Housing Authority Office Smith HCC$78,813/yr. encourages participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE Section 3 Certified light fixtures. conference Further detailed information will given on the scheduled site28 visit. GC oil, propane andCo.ofnatural Send resume to: the United States Department Labor; andgas. allseeking applicable under TitleHR I of the 360 Management Group, Is currently bidsprovisions for Agency Wide PlumbBiddingDriveway documents areindependently available the Seymour Housing Authority Ofperform Repair ,Milling,from and striping on ourmanagement property’s Works well and has advanced time and organization AA/EEO 32 EMPLOYER Haynesskills. Construction Company, Progress Ave, CT 06483Development Act of 1974 price include dumpster and permit feeds. Minority/women’s business enterRequired testing, general Ashould pre-bid conference will beam, held atWednesday, the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 onsealcoating July 20, 2016. Housing andSeymour, Community ing Services & Preventative Maintenance. A complete copy of the requirements agency wide. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email Potential manage sales has good leadership skills. fice,are28encouraged Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203)representatives 888-4579. prises to Ato bidding meeting will be held at 979and Quinnipiac Street Seymour, CTapply. at 10:00 am, onsite Wednesday, July 20, 2016. info, and apply online:AA/EEO EMPLOYER may be obtained from 360 Management Group’s vendor Collaboration Portal. City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal. https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesysBuilds relationships customers coworkers and The Housing Authority ofHRDept@eastriverenergy.com the City of Bristol is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. SBE, MBE, Avenue, New Haven on 11/22/2024 atwith 1pm. All bids are and due by 12/6/2024 at 10 has am. strong interpersonal skills. Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Ofhttps://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on tems.com/gateway/ beginning Wednesday, www.bristolct.gov An associate or bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related major is a plus but not required. W/DBE, and Section 3 businesses are encouraged to respond. AllThe bids,Housing W9, work scope timeline andthe copy of license andor questions should bebids, submitAuthority reserves right to accept reject any or all to 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority OfAt least [number] years of sales representative experience is preferred. tedfice, in writing to Monica O’Connor via email moconnor@continuumct.org or delivered reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any DEADLINE: 12-07-25 **An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity 23, Employer including DisabledPM. and Veterans** to 109 Legion Avenue, New Seymour, Haven. CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. Monday, September 2024, at 3:00 fice, 28 Smith Street,

Weekly Print Publication

Call John

203 435-1387

Interested should apply totheJohn Thomas, eldcomm.com informalities incandidates the bidding, if5, such actions are bestpm interest of theJThomas@penfiEOE November 2025 atin3:00 The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to Housing Authority. reduce the scope of the project to reflect available anyto The Housing Authority reserves the right to acceptfunding, or rejectand anytoorwaive all bids, informalities in theofbidding, if such actions are infunding, the bestand interest of the reduce the scope the project to reflect available to waive any

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

These Popular Brands Face Lawsuit Over ‘Addictive’ Processed Foods by Isaac Morgan, BlackDoctor.com

San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against 10 major food and beverage companies, accusing them of selling ultraprocessed foods that city officials say are harmful and addictive. The suit argues that the companies marketed these products to children and contributed to a growing public health crisis. According to NBC News, City Attorney David Chiu said scientific evidence has become difficult to ignore. Companies named in the lawsuit include Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Nestle USA, General Mills, Kellogg, Post Holdings, Mars, Mondelez and ConAgra Brands. “We have reached a tipping point in the scientific research about the harm of these products,” Chiu said at a news conference, per NBC News. He added that the foods are “deeply linked to serious health conditions” and have imposed high medical costs on cities across the country. The lawsuit states that the companies knew the foods were “dangerous for human consumption” and used misleading tactics to sell them. The Consumer Brands Association, a trade group representing many large food and beverage companies, defended the industry, claiming the products meet federal safety standards. The group argued that the lawsuit oversimplifies nutrition and misleads consumers. Ultraprocessed foods often include flavored chips, sugary drinks, packaged desserts, energy bars and other items with synthetic compounds or additives. Research has linked these foods to higher risks of obesity, diabetes, heart disease

dren eat comes from these ultraprocessed foods, and 55% to 60% of what adults consume come from them,” he said. Popkin added that current eating patterns are dramatically different from those seen in earlier generations.

and early death. Understanding processed foods Processed foods are often high in refined carbohydrates, added sugars and added fats. These ingredients can trigger the brain’s reward system, causing dopamine releases that make people crave more. Experts say this cycle contributes to overeating and makes the foods difficult to avoid.

Common examples include sweets, salty snacks, sugary drinks, packaged desserts and fast food. Researchers say these items are designed for taste and convenience, which makes them appealing but also more likely to be consumed in large amounts. Growing national debate Criticism of food processing has increased in recent years. NBC News reported that Health Secretary Robert F.

Kennedy Jr. has made reducing artificial ingredients part of his health agenda. Nutrition researchers say ultraprocessed foods became widespread in the United States in the 1980s and now make up a major part of the American diet, according to the news outlet. Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina, told NBC News that ultraprocessed items now dominate what both children and adults eat. “About 75% to 80% of what chil-

Ultraprocessed foods are fueling worldwide health problems The lawsuit against the major food brands comes amid growing concerns about health problems linked to ultraprocessed foods. In fact, a new Lancet study found that ultraprocessed diets are rapidly replacing traditional, healthier diets worldwide. The report says surveys and sales data show these foods have “displaced long-established diets centred on whole foods and their culinary preparation.” Lancet researchers also concluded that ultraprocessed diets are damaging nutritional quality and driving chronic disease. They warn of higher exposure to toxins and additives in packaged foods, and say large studies show “gross nutrient imbalances” and overeating tied to energy-dense, hyper-palatable products. Lancet notes that more than 100 prospective studies and clinical trials link ultraprocessed diets to higher risks of multiple chronic diseases, with adverse outcomes spanning “nearly all organ systems.” Overall, the Lancet scientific journal suggests the global shift toward ultraprocessed foods is “a key driver of the escalating global burden” of diet-related disease, and calls for policies that promote minimally processed diets.

Atlanta Braves invests $1 million in HBCU baseball & softball Courtesy of Shaun White HBCUNews.com

State University, Benedict College, Calvin University, Jackson State University, and South Carolina State University— received substantial upgrades, including HD camera systems, arena-style batting cages, field maintenance equipment, and advanced HitTrax technology. Thanks to the generosity of the initiative, each campus has experienced meaningful improvements that will support student-athletes for years to come. All of the projects supported by the 2025 initiative have been completed, with the exception of Benedict College’s upgrades, which are expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Throughout each Braves season, Truist contributed $755 to the Henry Louis Aaron Fund for every Atlanta home run—an homage to Hank Aaron’s historic 755 career homers—helping fulfill the initiative’s five-year, $1 million commitment. In addition to this year’s recipients, several other HBCUs, including Clark Atlanta University, Savannah State University, Tennessee State University, Tougaloo College, and Tuskegee University, have also benefited from the ongoing support provided through the Homers for

The Atlanta Braves and Truist Bank have officially completed their Homers for Hank project, a $1 million initiative designed to strengthen baseball and softball programs at HBCUs. Launched in honor of Braves legend Hank Aaron, the effort provided critical funding, upgraded facilities, and expanded resources for student-athletes across multiple HBCUs. By closing out the project, the Braves not only celebrated Aaron’s legacy but also reaffirmed their commitment to advancing opportunities for Black athletes within collegiate sports. The initiative, launched in 2021 with support from the Henry Louis Aaron Fund, has provided transformative resources to baseball and softball programs across six HBCUs. Over the past four years, participating institutions have benefited from upgraded equipment and significant field enhancements designed to strengthen player development and program competitiveness. The 2025 recipients—Alabama A&M University, Albany

Hank program. In addition to its support for HBCUs, the Atlanta Braves extends its community impact through the Braves Park Projects Together with Truist initiative, which provides local parks and recreation centers with essential field and ballpark improvements aimed at enhancing playability and safety. Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, the program also directed resources to assist facilities in Western North Carolina, helping restore damaged fields and ensure communities could return to safe, functional recreational spaces. HBCUs aren’t the only schools benefiting from this level of investment. Through the Hank Aaron Diamonds initiative, supported in partnership with Truist, the Atlanta Braves are also funding infield upgrades for schools within the Atlanta Public School District. Together, these efforts play a vital role in enhancing opportunities for student-athletes while continuing Hank Aaron’s enduring legacy of expanding access to quality baseball experiences.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

New Initiative Gifts Birthday Cakes To Kids In Shelters by Lisa Reisman

He regarded the cake with awe, then cautiously stuck his finger into the rich frosting with a mischievous smile as the group sang “Happy Birthday.” When Harvin gifted him five $1 bills, he could barely contain his glee.

The New Haven independent

Justin turned five last Sunday. His mother Alysha wished him a happy birthday when he got up and gave him a hug. That was that. Until that evening, when he encountered a group of people in the kitchen of Life Haven, a 40-bed Ferry Street facility which provides temporary shelter to homeless pregnant women and female heads of household with young children. He saw a thickly frosted cake on the table, a wrapped gift, and a card. He looked up at his mother. “It’s for your birthday,” Alysha told him.

“This means a lot,” his mother Alysha said. “We don’t really have the money to celebrate his birthday.”

“For me?” he asked, his face breaking into a sunny grin. The occasion was the first installment of the C.A.K.E.S. initiative. Short for Collaborate with Adults and Kids to Ensure Success, it’s the brainchild of Yevgeniya Rivers, a math professor at the University of New Haven and, as it happens, the former teacher of Marcus Harvin, founder and president of Newhallville Fresh Starts. “I’ve been following the important work he’s doing,” she said, of the nonprofit’s mission to feed anyone in need based on its belief that the first step toward realizing one’s aspirations is nutritional suste-

At Justin’s 5th birthday party, with Alysha, Naomi Rivers, Marcus Harvin, Adam Rawlings, and Yevgeniya Rivers.

nance. “I wanted to be a part of it.” Her daughter Naomi, she said, came up with the idea of surprising kids with freshly baked birthday cakes in the shelters where Fresh Starts does their meal deliveries.

“My birthday is a day I always feel appreciated and loved,” said Naomi, a student at Amity Middle School in Orange. “I want everyone to feel like that.” Sunday evening marked the pilot run

of C.A.K.E.S. There were a few minor glitches. There were candles but no matches. It took a while to find a cake knife. None of that seemed to matter to Justin.

Danielle Gordon, a Life Haven intern who’s pursuing a master’s in social work, watched the proceedings. “Birthdays can be hard times for people who can’t afford to treat their kids with a party and cake and gifts,” she said. “This is a really nice gesture for everyone.” The plan is for families to register their kids for a birthday cake; on the bulletin board in the front hall is a sign-up sheet and a QR code. Naomi said some of her classmates have expressed interest in pitching in. There was talk of gradually expanding the initiative to other shelters and learning more about each child so they could customize their cakes. “I see this as a supplemental source of dignity,” said Harvin, as the group neatened up after the party. “It’s another way for us to show people that we see them and we’re looking out for them. This was a good start.”

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

Barbados’ Mia Mottley, six African women recognized as part of Forbes’ 2025 world’s most powerful women by Dollita Okine, Face2FaceAfrica.com Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has once again demonstrated her global impact, being named one of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes in 2025. At No. 99, she joins a select group of powerful political, business, and humanitarian leaders who are actively shaping the future globally. Forbes’ choice of Prime Minister Mottley comes from her ongoing and extensive international influence. Her Forbes profile points to her smart diplomacy and her key role in guiding Barbados through its historic change to a constitutional republic in 2021 as reasons for her high ranking. Her political career, which would eventually bring her to regional and international prominence, began in 1994 with her first ministerial appointment as Minister of Education, Youth Affairs, and Culture. Her short biography in the Forbes piece also repeats her political success as Barbados‘ first female Prime Minister after her 2018 win. More recently, she has become a key world leader on the urgent issue of climate change, getting international notice. Her important role is clear from her “powerful speech” at the 2021 United Nations Gen-

eral Assembly, calling for urgent action. The United Nations Environment Programme recognized her as a “Champion of the Earth for Policy Leadership” in that same year. Moreover, Forbes highlights her involvement in the significant constitutional change Barbados underwent. “Under her leadership, in November 2021, Barbados officially became a parliamentary republic and removed the Queen of England as its head of state.” Mottley’s inclusion places her among a global cohort of women shaping economies, diplomacy, technology, philanthropy, and cultural influence. Political figures dominate the 2025 Power Women list, with the top three spots occupied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (No. 1), European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde (No. 2), and Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi (No. 3). Additionally, Forbes acknowledged six influential African women in its 2025 ranking, according to Africa News. Judith Suminwa Tuluka – Democratic Republic of Congo Judith Suminwa Tuluka became the DRC’s first female Prime Minister in June 2024. An economist and public finance expert, she previously served as Minister

of State and Planning, with a background at the UNDP. Her expertise covers budgeting and national coordination. Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah – Namibia Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Namibia’s first female president on

21 March 2025. The veteran politician and former Vice President has held major roles, including minister of foreign affairs. Since taking office, she has worked to stabilize policies and reduce public debt. Mpumi Madisa – South Africa

Mpumi Madisa is the first Black woman CEO of a Johannesburg Stock Exchange top-40 company. She became CEO of Bidvest in October 2020, having advanced through sales and marketing roles. Under her leadership, the company restored profitability, expanded globally, and manages about 130,000 employees. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala – Nigeria Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a prominent economist, is serving her second term as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). She was the first woman and first African to lead the WTO, starting on 1 March 2021, and has held senior roles at the World Bank and chaired Gavi. Mo Abudu – Nigeria Mo Abudu, founder of EbonyLife Media, is a major African cultural leader. Named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in 2025, she recently launched the $50 million Afro Film Fund and expanded her media presence to the United Kingdom with EbonyLife Place London. The 22nd annual Forbes ranking assessed 100 women from 17 countries based on four key metrics: money, media, impact, and spheres of influence. Collectively, these women wield an estimated $37 trillion in economic power and affect the lives of over a billion people.

The Voting Rights Act Is Under Threat. So Are Workers’ Rights By Fred Redmond, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer In our workplaces, in our communities and in our government, the right to vote is how working people make our voices heard. The late Rep. John Lewis (Georgia) proclaimed, “Your vote is precious, almost sacred.” The Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing Texas to use a racially discriminatory congressional map threatens that precious right once again— and with it, the foundation of worker power itself. A challenge out of Louisiana may soon make matters worse, threatening to further limit the strength of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965—the nation’s most powerful tool for correcting historical racial discrimination in voting, including the violence and suppression once used to keep Black voters from the polls. The VRA was brought to life by courageous civil rights and labor leaders who risked everything to end racial discrimination at the ballot box. The law transformed American democracy by dramatically increasing Black political participation, expanding representation at every level of government and giving working people a real chance to shape the decisions that affect their lives. This fight is part of the labor movement’s history too. In 1963, labor leaders were key architects of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and labor unions mobilized 40,000 union members and provided resources. We of-

fered critical lobbying support and testimony in support of the Civil Rights Act and the VRA—the passage of which in 1965 led to the filing of thousands of successful cases against workplace discrimination and eliminated many of the racist voting restrictions in the South. When Black voter turnout surged, so did worker power, especially in the South, where the VRA helped create a diverse coalition of working-class voters. According to research from the University of California San Diego, the VRA narrowed the wage gap between Black

and White workers by 5.5% between 1950 and 1980. Another study found that high-turnout communities saw more paved roads and streetlights; better access to city and county resources; and easier entry into public sector jobs such as police, firefighters and teachers. The lesson is clear: A strong democracy gives working people space to thrive. When democracy is weakened, workers pay the price. In 2013, the Supreme Court issued its Shelby County v. Holder decision and gutted the VRA, ruling that states with

histories of racial discrimination no longer needed federal approval to change voting laws. Almost immediately, a race to the bottom began. States wasted no time closing polling places, shortening early voting hours and passing restrictive ID laws. The targets were clear: young people, shift workers and communities of color—the same groups driving today’s organizing momentum. In the years since Shelby, wages for Black teachers, city workers and health care aides have fallen, while corporate power has only grown stronger.

The Texas congressional map offers a glimpse of a future without the VRA: diluted working-class voices in a system that answers only to the wealthy few. These attempts to roll back the clock on racial progress should sound an alarm. When politicians get a green light to manipulate voting maps and take intentional steps to block representation on the basis of race, they can use that power to dismantle protections for union power, fair wages and retirement security. Democracy depends on rules that keep it fair. Those in power understand this— and some are working overtime to erase the rules entirely. But America’s unions have never accepted a world where working people are silenced. We fought for the Voting Rights Act because this movement knows our fight for fair pay, safe jobs and dignity at work is the same fight as the struggle for the ballot box. Workers built this democracy, and we will defend it. We will continue to push Congress to do its job and pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to fully restore and permanently protect voting rights and ensure access to free and fair elections. Voting rights are a labor issue—because when democracy breaks down, worker power breaks down with it. Fred Redmond, the highest-ranking African American labor official in history, is the secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation, representing 64 unions and nearly 15 million workers.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 17, 2025 - December 23, 2025

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