THE INNER-CITY NEWS

176 New Apartments Come To Dixwell

by Mona Mahadevan

After 13 years of delays, a 176-unit, mixed-income apartment complex has taken root on the long-vacant lot at Canal, Ashmun, and Henry Streets.

More than 20 people gathered outside the new Dixwell building at 222 Canal St. to mark the grand opening of the new housing development, which is called Cadence on Canal.

“This building is uncompromising. It is Class A. It is top-of-the-line. It is highly amenitized. It is a luxury building,” said developer Yves Joseph of RJ Development & Advisors LLC.

The press conference celebrated the city’s growing housing supply, especially of affordable units.

“New Haven is hopping,” declared Mayor Justin Elicker. “We are leading the charge in the state to confront our housing crisis.” He said the city is “well on [its] way” to meeting its goal of adding 10,000 new units of housing over the next decade, with 7,000 already in the pipeline. According to a press release, the city aims to make 30 percent of those 10,000 units affordable.

Cadence on Canal is part of that effort, adding 176 units to the city’s housing stock 58 of which are income-restricted.

Of those 58 affordable units, 10 will be reserved for Section 8 voucher holders, 15 for tenants earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (for example, a two-person household making $45,500), and the rest for tenants earning up to 80 percent of the area median income ($72,800 for a family of two in 2025).

In exchange, a Development and Land Disposition Agreement (DLDA) for the project, approved by the Board of Alders in 2020, freezes local property taxes for the affordable units at $400 per apartment for five years.

On Tuesday, Joseph announced that even more units would be subsidized specifically, for artists who agree to provide cultural programming and educational workshops for the New Haven community. The Artist in Place (AIP) initiative, made possible through a partnership with the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition, will extend to all properties owned by RJ Development.

The building has been leasing since March and is already 60 percent occupied, according to Joseph. He said the tenant mix so far matches that of other apartment complexes in the city: a blend of Yale affiliates, Yale New Haven Hospital staff, and biotechnology professionals. Most of the affordable units remain available, he added, due to a city requirement requiring them to stay on the market for 90 days before being rented.

Though Cadence on Canal serves a mixed-income community, it offers amenities on par with the city’s newest luxury developments.

Located just off the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, the building’s facade mixes contemporary gray paneling with

rich red brick, marking it as a new but anchored presence in the Dixwell neighborhood.

The five-story complex boasts an entertainment kitchen, fitness center, co-working space, fire pit, outdoor lounge, and dog park. Each unit ranging from studios to two-bedrooms features stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and a full-sized washer and dryer.

Downstairs, construction is underway on Soulfully Vegan, a new restaurant owned by Calvin and Allison Vaughn. The menu concept “is to take classic American fare and make them so you almost forget they’re vegan,” said Allison. The couple already runs a restaurant in Berlin, which sells burgers, fries, and milkshakes. The Dixwell location will feature an expanded menu, including smoothies and salads.

While the crowd welcomed the long-awaited opening of Cadence on Canal, speakers repeatedly pointed to the many hurdles that had delayed the project over the years.

“Every bit of Murphy’s Law went into effect,” said city housing czar Arlevia Samuel. “If it could go wrong, it did go wrong.”

So why did it take 13 years for the building to finally celebrate its grand opening? According to Joseph, the delays began in 2012, when he lost a bid on the site to another developer. When that company was unable to complete its proposal, which was for a senior public-housing complex, the city reissued its request for proposals. RJ Development won the second round in 2016.

Progress slowed again when title issues surfaced. A sliver of the parcel was owned by the Housing Authority of New Haven, complicating the sale, but the city eventually resolved the issue and sold the 1.7 acre lot to RJ Development for $500,000. The project also needed approval from multiple city boards, including the Board of Zoning Appeals.

And then, there was Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison. Laughing, she admitted, “I was a big component in the challenge.” “We want development, but we want to be able to keep people in their homes, in their communities,” she said. Morrison pushed Joseph for at least 50 affordable units a significant increase from his original proposal of around 33.

“It’s not free to deliver mixed-income housing,” Joseph said Tuesday. “It’s not inexpensive to allocate affordable housing units in a Class A development.”

But Morrison told Joseph to “figure it out.” A few months later, he returned with an even better offer: 58 affordable units.

On Tuesday, John credited support from LISC Housing and 18 Squared with making that possible.

13 years and $60 million later, Joseph said he still hasn’t made a penny on the deal but he’s “well on the way.”

Housing czar Arlevia Samuel said this project was especially meaningful to her because it was her first RFP

MONA MAHADEVAN photos And the ribbon is cut, marking the official opening of Cadence on Canal.

THE BUILDING LOBBY INCLUDES TWO PIECES OF MODERN ART, INCLUDING THIS WALL HANGING.

The facade -- which blends red brick and gray paneling -- is described as "art-infused" on the Cadence on Canal website. The lounge is huge, filled with sun, and features an entertainment kitchen out of view.

The New Haven independent

42 Summer School Grads Celebrated

by Sonia Ahmed

“Yeah, Travis!” Nigel Warren shouted as his son crossed the stage to accept his high school diploma at a ceremony celebrating New Haven summer school graduates.

That was the scene at Metropolitan Business Academy at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The graduation ceremony, which lasted two hours, celebrated students from various New Haven public high schools who took their last 1 – 2 credits during summer school and graduated a little later than their peers.

Travis Warren, who graduated from Wilbur Cross, was one of 42 students who gathered in the Metropolitan Business Academy’s gymnasium to celebrate that achievement. Other schools represented among Tuesday’s grads included Cooperative Arts & Humanities, Hillhouse High, and more.

Mayor Justin Elicker, Supt. Madeline Negrón, and Asst. Supt. Keisha Redd-Hannans were also in attendance, and gave speeches before the graduates received their diplomas.

Redd-Hannans instructed the graduates to stand up, turn around to face the crowd, and thank their families for helping them achieve their goals.

“You were delayed, but not denied,” she told the graduates who sat before her.

“We are proud of you!”

Travis’s dad Nigel is also proud of him, joking that he’s excited for his son to “pay bills.” The Warren family said they are looking forward to enjoying the rest of

their summer and getting tan in the sun. Travis, who was the final graduate to cross the stage Tuesday, said his next steps are heading to Gateway Community College, with plans to transfer to Framingham State University in Massachusetts. He plans to major in sports management. His interest in the major stems from the sports he played in high school, which are football and baseball.

Travis said he is grateful for the extra

opportunity to graduate, and he wishes his fellow graduates luck in their future endeavors.

Many other speeches by attendees focused on the trait of perseverance the graduates possessed, with Mayor Elicker stating that summer school graduation is one of his favorites to attend because of that quality in the students.

“There are times you wanted to stop,

and you didn’t,” keynote speaker and Quinnipiac University professor Dr. Don McAulay Jr. said during his speech. “Don’t be late to your own party.”

Hillhouse graduate Maria Paz Moscoso is looking forward to attending Gateway Community college in the fall as well. She said her experience with summer school was “calm,” and she hopes for the

same in her future education.

“It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish,” Building Leader Rachele Thomas said during her speech. She commended the students for showing up throughout the summer even though it was hot out and they would rather be on vacation instead.

After the guest speeches, students were invited to the podium to make short speeches before crossing the stage and receiving their diplomas.

Many students thanked God, their families, and teachers who supported him.

Graduate Cristian Edwards thanked his mom for “believing in me when I didn’t believe in an alarm clock.” He also thanked Google because “high school doesn’t have a manual.”

Justus Davis Graham, a Co-op graduate who was the first to walk the stage, said that graduating feels like a “weight lifted off his shoulders.” Graham added that he wanted to give up all the time, and even thought he wouldn’t be able to complete his summer school requirements in time. But he did graduate, and now he’s planning to attend Gateway Community College before transfering to the Miami School of Film, where he hopes to achieve his dreams of becoming a director.

Justus’s mom Tiffany said their family is incredibly proud of him, and they plan to celebrate by going out to eat. She added that he also got a truck to celebrate his accomplishment as well. “He’s overcome a lot,” she said.

Graham’s advice to future students attending summer school is to “try to stay calm, keep going, and persevere.”

Sonia Ahmed photos Hillhouse graduate Maria Paz Moscoso with her mother, at Metropolitan Business Academy.

Wilbur Cross graduate Travis Warren addresses his peers.

Keynote speaker Dr. Don McAulay Jr.

The New Haven independent

Beaver Hills Dances, Grills, Face Paints Down The Block

by Alina Rose Chen

It was all smiles on Sunday afternoon as families and friends came together for the fourth annual Beaver Hills Block Party. From the bounce house on one end of a closed-off two block stretch of Glen Road all the way down to the bicycle obstacle course on the other, the neighborhood gathered for an afternoon of food and music, undeterred by the light drizzle that misted over the celebration.

Among the neighbors gathered along Glen Road between Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and Osborn Avenue were Zev Brummel and his family. For Brummel, the block party represented more than just food and fun: it was a moment of unity in one of New Haven’s most diverse neighborhoods.

“I think it’s really, really nice that the community comes together for one like-minded day we’re usually split into our cultures, our synagogues,” Brummel said. His family has lived in the neighborhood for five years, and Brummel noted how events like the block party help the neighborhood come together. “Everyone really knows each other we know our alder, our alder knows us. We’re all united by community.”

That sense of community was one of the central goals for organizers Ainissa Ramirez and Beaver Hills Alder Bri-

an Wingate, who teamed up to lead this year’s block party. While both had previously served as part of a larger planning group, this year they took the lead starting back in March to raise funds and coordinate logistics for the neighborhood’s fun, mid-summer tradition.

“I really want people to have a habit of saying hello to their neighbors,” Ramirez said. “I also want kids to know the resources available to them.” To open up those lines of communication, she saw the block party as an ideal way to bring

people together in a relaxed, welcoming space.

“If they build relationships where they go on walks together great! But mostly, it’s just about getting to know each other,” Ramirez said. “Putting together a block party really requires that. We borrowed a grill from one neighbor, a generator from another neighbor: It’s a cooperative effort.”

Wingate emphasized how important events like the block party are for building community within his ward. He has

represented Ward 29 for the past 14 years and recently committed to running for another two.

“For us, understanding that there are boundaries and different communities and cultures this makes things a little softer when you’re walking in the neighborhood,” Wingate said. “There’s a public safety piece as well, with knowing your neighbor!”

Organizers Brian Wingate and Ainissa Ramirez.

That welcoming energy was felt throughout the day, as neighbors mingled, danced, and caught up with familiar faces and a few new ones, too.

“It’s nice to meet neighbors and connect with neighbors we already know,” Shaindel Vail said. There with her family, she pointed out how the music, dancing, and the opportunity for the children to play and interact with each other contributed to the event’s atmosphere. “Everyone’s so nice and welcoming and friendly.”

For Ibrahim Diallo, attending community events and meeting his neighbors contributes to his sense of security in raising a family in the neighborhood.

“We’re intentional about building community,” he said, watching his son Agulbou get his face painted with a Spiderman mask. “We’ve spoken with people who have lived here for 50 years, raised kids here it’s really special.”

Deportation-Biz Plane Spotted At Tweed

by Thomas Breen

(Updated) One of the unmarked planes that Avelo has used as part of its deportation work for the Trump administration popped up at Tweed New Haven Airport Sunday to help commercial-airline passengers travel to Florida.

The all-white Boeing 737 scrubbed of any Avelo Airlines branding bore only a black aircraft registration number near its tail.

According to Avelo spokesperson Courtney Goff, this plane showed up in New Haven on Sunday to facilitate the airline’s passenger-travel commercial business, and not its deportation business as contracted with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“Due to an aircraft being down for maintenance and ATC/FAA issues with routing this weekend, we relocated this aircraft to do commercial service to alleviate cancellations and further delays for our Customers,” Goff wrote in a statement. “This was scheduled commercial service and unrelated to our DHS charter contract.”

Avelo, which began running deportation flights out of a base in Arizona on May 12, has been accused of painting its planes white to hide its name as it helps the Trump administration remove migrants. Local immigrant rights activists and city, state, and federal politicians not to mention advocates from across the

country – have pushed back on Avelo’s deportation work, with an online boycott petition now garnering more than 39,000 signatures. The airline, facing financial

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pressures, has defended its DHS partnership as necessary at a time of increased competition to its New Haven passenger-travel business.

According to the flight-tracking website FlightRadar, the all-white Avelo airplane with the tail number “N804VL” flew on Sunday from New Haven to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and then from Fort Lauderdale back to New Haven. That same aircraft is slated to fly from New Haven to Nashville on Monday.

And in late May, this plane traveled between El Paso, Guatemala City, Phoenix, and Alexandria, Louisiana, among other locations.

Update: On Monday afternoon, TweedNew Haven Airport Authority Board Chair Robert Reed sent the Independent the following comment: “We were not notified in advance of Avelo’s intention to use this plane at HVN, and we strongly disagree with their decision to do so.

Our primary focus is always our passengers and our community, who have made clear they are uncomfortable with Avelo’s role as a government contractor. Avelo has confirmed that the use of this plane at HVN has nothing to do with deportations, but we have urged Avelo to not use the plane in New Haven as it is incompatible with New Haven values.”

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The day's offerings ranged from face painting ...

Contributed photo An all-white Avelo plane spotted at Tweed on Sunday.

The New Haven independent

The New Haven independent

Cross Student Detained By ICE

by Maya McFadden and Laura Glesby

(Updated) An 18-year-old Wilbur Cross High School student is currently being held at a detention facility in Massachusetts after federal immigration agents seized him at work in New Haven last week.

That student, Esdras R., is an immigrant from Central America.

According to Mayor Justin Elicker, New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) Supt. Madeline Negrón, and Wilbur Cross High School Principal Matt Brown, Esdras was detained by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials last Monday, July 21.

In a joint statement provided to the Independent on Monday, Elicker and Negrón said that Esdras is a rising junior at Wilbur Cross and that he is being held at a detention center in Massachusetts.

An ICE spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment by the publication time of this article.

Esdras is a member of Connecticut Students For a Dream, an advocacy organization for the rights of undocumented students.

He submitted testimony to the state legislature’s appropriations committee this year advocating for the state to provide access to health insurance for all Connecticut residents up until the

age of 26, regardless of immigration status.

In that testimony, Esdras wrote: “This matters to me since I am an immigrant and I am one of the many people who do not have health insurance. We all deserve to live with well-being and without unnecessary suffering, and access to medical care is crucial for this.

“The concern we have in my family is that my uncle and I do not have health insurance. And we have had illnesses and we have not been able to go to a hospital due to the lack of health

insurance because as we know, going to the hospital comes at a great cost that we could not cover.

“It would help me a lot to have health insurance for me and my family. Because we will feel safer getting health insurance.”

In a joint statement provided to the Independent on Monday, Elicker and Negrón said it is “unconscionable” for ICE to detain Esdras, who they described as a “hard working student and a fine young man.”

They continued: “The city and the school district are working with community organizations Unidad Latina en Accion (ULA) and Connecticut Students for a Dream (C4D) to learn what we can about what happened and to engage legal support on Esdras’ behalf,” the mayor and superintendent said. “Esdras’ teachers are writing letters of support for him. We will provide whatever support we can to Esdras and to his friends and teachers in the school community.”

In an email sent to Wilbur Cross staff Friday evening, the school’s principal, Matt Brown, said that Esdras is a student in Cross’s International Academy. Brown said that Esdras is currently being held at a facility in Plymouth, Mass.

“It has taken us several days to Con’t on page 06

Connecticut Joins Planned Parenthood, 23 Other States In Fight Against Defunding

by Alina Rose Chen

Under the “Defund Provision” of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” an estimated 24,000 Connecticut residents enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program, HUSKY, could lose access to essential reproductive health services, such as cancer screenings, birth control, and STI testing.

Planned Parenthood and a coalition of 24 states and their attorneys general, including Connecticut’s William Tong are pushing back.

At a press conference Tuesday at the administrative offices of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) in New Haven, state and local officials joined PPSNE leaders in celebrating a legal victory: a preliminary injunction granted by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston. The ruling found that the Republican-passed, President Trumpsigned law likely violates the constitution by targeting Planned Parenthood in retaliation for providing abortion services by denying their patients Medicaid reimbursements.

As a result, patients across the country can continue using their coverage at Planned Parenthood health centers for now.

“This is a key victory, but the fight is far from over,” said PPSNE Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Gretchen Raffa during the press conference. “We will continue to fight this cruel law to ensure everyone can get the healthcare they need, when they need it. Planned Parenthood plays an irreplaceable role in our healthcare system.”

As several speakers emphasized, the Hyde Amendment—first enacted in 1980 already severely restricts the use of federal funds, including through Medicaid, for abortion care. Exceptions are allowed only to save the life of the pregnant person or in cases of rape or incest.

The “Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law on July 4, blocks Medicaid funding for services provided at “prohibited entities”—defined as a nonprofit healthcare provider or its affiliates which are “essential community provider… that is primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care” and has received more than $800,000 in Medicaid funds in the 2023 fiscal year while providing abortions that are not covered under the Hyde Amendment. These provisions nearly singularly apply to Planned Parenthood, and in effect serve as a “backwards abortion ban,” according to Raffa.

The consequences of the bill are particularly dire for vulnerable communities, including those across Connecticut. According to Raffa, over 52,000 patients came to PPSNE in Connecticut last year for their care, and 46 percent of those patients nearly 25,000 individuals were insured by HUSKY Health. According to state representatives, Connecticut is not equipped to absorb the full burden of reproductive healthcare if Planned Parenthood centers were to shut down across Connecticut. Many federally qualified health centers lack the capacity

to fill the gap, and the only alternative would be for the state to shoulder roughly $6 million in care costs.

“With all the draconian cuts happening across Connecticut in critical areas like healthcare, education, and public safety we don’t have $6 million just lying around to cover that,” Tong said. “We’ve filed this lawsuit because it’s unconstitutional for Congress and the President to force us to violate someone else’s constitutional rights.”

As the lawsuit progresses, PPSNE is working with state legislators to ensure that their operations will be able to continue in Connecticut. During the last General Assembly session, legislators worked to increase reimbursement rates for family planning services amid the backdrop of federal cuts. PPSNE remains hopeful, and promises to continue to fight for

healthcare access, citing the deadly consequences.

As the lawsuit moves forward, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) is collaborating with state legislators to ensure its operations can continue in Connecticut. During the most recent General Assembly session, legislators took steps to increase reimbursement rates for family planning services in response to looming federal funding cuts. PPSNE remains hopeful and committed to fighting for access to healthcare, warning of the potentially deadly consequences of reduced care.

“We know what will happen if this provision is allowed to take effect again,” Raffa said. “Cancers will go undetected, STIs will go untreated. Patients won’t be able to have the birth control or

confirm his whereabouts and make contact with him but we were finally able to do so this afternoon,” Brown wrote on Friday. “Esdras is over 18 and has asked that we provide whatever support for him that we can, including being public about our efforts. The exact details and strategies for this campaign are still emerging, but please know that we are actively working with a strong coalition of community organizations and advocacy groups to support Esdras during this time.”

He concluded that he is committed to keeping Cross staff informed as the district learns more and about ways the school community can support.

"It Broke My Heart"

Wilbur Cross educator Magda Natal, who teaches English writing to immigrant students who are learning the language, recalled having Esdras as a student in her class. “He’s just such a hard-working young man,” she said. “He’s phenomenal, he’s kind to others, he’s just always willing to help a classmate if they need help in his quiet way. He has a such a sweet demeanor.” When she found out the news, Natal said, “It broke my heart. I cried my eyes out when I found out. I just cried.” She thought about the classroom of students she’ll be teaching in the fall. “What is waiting for us when we return? And what’s waiting for us around the bend, as far as what’s coming for us within the school system? How will I be able to protect my students?”

In a separate interview Monday, Connecticut Students for a Dream Executive Director Tabitha Sookdeo said that while she does not know Esdras personally, she has heard from her team that he is “an extremely sweet and kind person. He’s a quiet guy, but just always wanted to be so helpful.”

abortion care they need, the care that they need to plan their families and their futures. The consequences would be nothing short of a public health crisis.”

In her statement, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro also pledged her unwavering support for protecting access to care: “I promise you and we don’t make a lot of promises in this political world I will do everything in my power to save this funding for 24,000 women and men who receive consistent health care from Planned Parenthood,” DeLauro said. “We need to fight, and we need to mobility and galvanize men and women across this nation to stand up and say, ‘No, no,’ over and over again.”

“It is absolutely heartbreaking to see high schoolers affected in this way,” Sookdeo said. One concern on her mind, she said, is that Esdras could end up in a detention center with inhumane conditions.

“The conditions in the South” are particularly bad, she said. “People don’t have beds. They’re eating moldy food. They’re going to the bathroom in overflowing toilets. To imagine anyone dealing with that is awful, but then to imagine one of our very own New Haven Wilbur Cross High School students facing those conditions it should keep us all up at night.”

Sookdeo added that there is currently a shortage of immigration attorneys in the state, and urged attorneys even those without any background in immigration law to volunteer with the CT Immigrant Support Network.

Alina Rose Chen Photos U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro: "I will do everything in my power to save this funding for 24,000 women and men who receive consistent health care from Planned Parenthood."

State and local representatives joins Planned Parenthood of Southern New England in decrying the federal government's efforts to limit access to essential reproductive care.

The New Haven independent

Paint, Hoops Replace Cars On Church Street

by Jisu Sheen

A basketball flew across a pop-up court Sunday afternoon, just grazing the net. It was an unusual sight not because it was a miss, but because the game was happening right in the middle of Church Street, between Chapel and Elm Streets in Downtown New Haven.

Spectators sat on benches on the blacktop and the stone steps of the district courthouse behind the players. No one had to worry about cars in the typically busy street; from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., the block was sectioned off as pedestrian-only. It was the second edition of the city’s “Open Streets” festival series, making its debut this summer.

Beyond the basketball, there were larger-than-life board games like Connect 4 and Jenga, art stations with paint and chalk, a face painting table, and enough bouncy houses to constitute a mini bouncy village.

Seven-year-old Amber Perez, who came with her mom, her big sister, and her sister’s boyfriend, chose “the big one,” a sprawling bouncy house with challenges throughout. First, Perez had to crawl between floppy pillars under a bouncy roof, navigating around the superhero-painted faces of the kids around her. Then she had to climb up a ramp using balloon footholds before sliding down to safety and putting her shoes back on. So, how was it?

“Good,” Perez said, giggling. It was an inflatable obstacle course; what else was there to say?

Festival-goers didn’t need to step off the block to get something to eat. Three food trucks lined up near the CVS on the corner of Chapel and Church Streets.

Mexican food fans could hit up the Genesis food truck for burritos, quesadillas, aguas frescas, and virgin piña coladas. For Jamaican food like jerk chicken, oxtail and patties, there was the Cool Runnings food truck. And for fried dough lovers, there was a stand simply titled “THE BEST FRIED DOUGH.”

Cita Park, the beer garden on the corner of Orange and Chapel, showed up to the party in their beverage truck, selling non-alcoholic fizzies for the family-friendly fun.

On a festival stage by the two pop-up basketball nets, singers, dancers, and instrumentalists switched off. Kenneth Jefferson played a smooth saxophone over music from the DJ booth.

A few tables away, Perez paused from her painting at the art station so she could look for a cup of paint in her favorite color: pink. She was making a rainbow, “because I love rainbows.” Big sis Kengli Perez found a cup of hot pink for her.

Irvin Rivas, Kengli’s boyfriend, dipped his brush in a cup of green. He filled in a solid green shape. Was it a green apple? Shrek?

After adding a head and arms, the reference became clearer. Rivas was making The Incredible Hulk, though one who was smiling instead of angry. Perhaps he

was inspired by the little Marvel heroes running around the festival, their masks painted on in delightful, bold hues.

“I don’t know how I got glitter on my hands,” Amber said, showing Kengli a sparkly palm. Kengli laughed. It was the Open Streets Festival; who knew if the glitter was from the arts station, the face

painting booth, or the other kids in the bouncy house?

Soon, the street would reopen and the stretch of pavement would belong to vehicles again. But in this moment, Amber could sit on a chair in the middle of Church Street, catching the hazy end-ofJuly sun in her shimmering fingers.

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Jisu Sheen photo Amber Perez making her masterpiece.

Kengli Perez, faithful art assistant to her little sis.

Rivas and his Hulk; the smile was just the first half of a roaring mouth, it turned out

The New Haven independent

State Officials, Educators Celebrate $300M Early Childhood Endowment

by Donald Eng

HARTFORD, CT — The campus of one of Connecticut’s most prestigious colleges may seem like an odd location to announce a preschool program, but according to the state and local officials who gathered Thursday at Trinity College, the connection is eminently logical.

“Preschool is where the foundations of lifelong learning begin,” said Catherine Wright, a preschool teacher.

Beth Bye, commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood, agreed. She pointed out that Gov. Ned Lamont’s staff includes employees who participated in Head Start and other early learning programs, and now have advanced college degrees.

“It doesn’t get better than that,” she said. “A good start is building future leaders and people who are making a difference.”

State officials and preschool educators touted the state’s new Early Childhood Education Endowment. The program, established in the recently concluded 2025 legislative session, will provide free early childhood care for those earning less than $100,000, and at reduced cost for those earning more.

The program is funded on an ongoing basis by a $300 million allocation from the state’s 2025 surplus.

Treasurer Erick Russell, whose office will be responsible for growing the allocation through investment to continue funding the program, said the endowment “marks a milestone in the state’s commitment to future generations in our state.”

Russell said the goal was to invest the funds to increase the endowment to create more childcare spots and expand the investment in the childcare workforce. In the long term, Russell said, the fund would be a sustainable source of funding that “would ultimately be immune from

some of the volatility of a general fund budget.”

State Rep. Mary Welander, D-Orange, who chairs the Early Childhood Caucus, called the endowment “a revolutionary investment in the future of Connecticut that will allow families to access the care that they need for their children, not just through available spots but for reasonable cost.”

Welander said underappreciated aspects of the endowment were its impact on the stability of the state’s families and the state economy.

“Access to quality child care is key to both,” she said.

Welander said studies showed women are more likely to be the at-home parent if child care is not affordable or available. This leads to a gender gap in things like employment and retirement savings. And with women on average living about five years longer than men, they need more retirement savings, not less, she said.

Although about 40% of small business owners in Connecticut are women, about 92% of early child care businesses are women-owned, she said.

State Rep. Kate Farrar, D-West Hartford, said for years legislators had heard from families and businesses that one of their top priorities was lowering the cost of child care.

“We are saying loud and clear that we listened and we took action on your behalf,” she said.

Gov. Ned Lamont acknowledged that early child care was expensive, but he said making Connecticut a little less expensive was a calling card of his administration.

“If we get this right, it’s going to be free of charge for all families earning up to $100,000, and capped at 7% thereafter,”

he said. “I want to make sure that no kid is denied access to the best early childhood education … due to income.”

Lamont also touted the benefits of an endowment.

“We’re building this endowment … growing that over time. It’s an endowment permanently dedicated to the kids,” he said.

Not everyone shared Lamont’s enthusiasm for the endowment. In a joint statement, Republican senators Ryan Fazio of Greenwich, Heather Somers of Groton, and Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding of Brookfield said the endowment amounted to an off-budget slush fund that would lead to future tax hikes.

“Republicans support pre-K investments, but it must be done the right way and within the confines of the state budget,” they wrote.

In supporting the measure, they said Lamont and Connecticut Democrats “thumb their noses” at state taxpayers.

“If the Governor and legislative Democrats really believed in investing in our future, they wouldn’t be doing it through slush funds. They would be doing it within the confines of our state budget,” they wrote.

House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, added he was concerned about the fund’s future.

“We must address the critical question of sustainability,” Candelora said. “Democratic leaders are making long-term promises to early childhood educators based on the assumption that budget surpluses will continue indefinitely.” He said parents and educators “deserve stability, not false hope.”

Motorists Can Show State Pride, Help Reduce Hunger With CT Pizza Plates

by Donald Eng

WALLINGFORD, CT — Those who like nothing more than a slice of pepperoni pizza on their plate can now show their state pride and help fight hunger by putting a slice of pepperoni pizza on their plate.

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles is partnering with Connecticut Foodshare — a statewide organization that partners with 650 local food pantries and meal programs — on a new license plate that shows off Connecticut’s status as “The Pizza State.” The $65 plate ($134 for a custom “vanity” plate) is available at www.ctfoodshare.org/pizzaplate.

As a benefit to the state and its independent pizzerias, Anthony Anthony, the chief marketing officer for the state Department of Economic and Community Development, said the new plates would take Connecticut’s pizza identity on the road. He said the department already had seen a significant return on its investment in a series of similarly themed signs.

“We put these really provocative billboards in New York City a couple months back,” he said. “In just six weeks, not only did we earn $13 million worth of … free media with a simple $220,000 investment. More importantly, what that did was it increased day trips to New Haven by 22% year over year. That has an economic impact.”

In his comments, Gov. Ned Lamont called the pizza marketing campaign and license plates “pretty clever” and said it

“The unfortunate reality is that even in a wealthy state like Connecticut, hunger is on the rise,” said Jason Jakubowski, president and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare at a public introduction of the pizza license plate Monday. “There’s about 515,000 Connecticut residents who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and it’s all across the state. We serve all 169 towns.”

promoted the state while also promoting a good cause.

“Here in this state, we’re trying to do everything we can … to help Foodshare,” he said.

Lamont, who declared the pepperoni slice on the plate as his favorite, said getting a plate and using the link to make a donation was a fun way to help reduce hunger in the state at a time when the federal government was making it more difficult for people to access food benefits.

“These are folks that need this desperately,” he said. “We’re providing hundreds of thousands of meals this summer. We’re trying to get free breakfast into our schools this school year. We’re trying to do everything we can to make sure people can get back on their feet.”

Still, despite rising food costs, Lamont said there was good news in that state residents were showing generosity.

“Get the license plate. Let everyone know that you care and make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

Gov. Ned Lamont greets staff at the Trinity College Community Child Center on July 24, 2025. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie

State Treasurer Erick Russell speaks about Connecticut’s Early Childhood Education Endowment on July 24, 2025 Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie

Gov. Ned Lamont chats with volunteers from Voya before a news conference on using pizza license plates to raise money for Connecticut Foodshare on Monday, July 28, 2025, at nonprofit’s main office in Wallingford. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie

CTNewsJunkie

CTNewsJunkie

Legislative Group Seeks Ways To Give CT Students Loan Relief

by Jamil Ragland

HARTFORD, CT — A bipartisan group of Connecticut legislators, state officials and advocates is seeking ways to provide relief for the more than 500,000 state residents burdened by student loan debt.

State Rep. Corey Paris, D-Stamford, co-chair of the Relief for Connecticut Borrowers Working Group, said the state had to step in to aid the half million student loan recipients in Connecticut, as the federal government has basically abdicated on the issue.

“We’re trying to not just gather ideas or understand facts and figures around the crisis as it is today, but we’re also working very diligently to try to identify policy matters in which we can continue to grow to help borrowers and working families and students across our state,” he said. “What we almost have to do is to stop the bleeding right now with the crisis as it is across the state of Connecticut. We are the last line of defense.”

According to a report published by the Office of Legislative Research in 2022, there were more than 540,000 state residents who held student debt, totaling $19.3 billion. The average debt for a member of the class of 2020 was $35,853, the 5th highest debt load in the nation.

Cristher Estrada-Perez, executive director of the Student Loan Fund, said the state had faced a student loan debt crisis even before the pandemic, but the fallout from the pandemic, along with policy

changes and staffing cuts at the Department of Education had exacerbated the problem.

“We know borrowers who have not been getting answers from their servicers, or

from the Department of Education,” she said. ”So we are witnessing over and over again how the goal post gets moved. Borrowers follow the instructions, they do what they’re supposed to do. They enroll in the programs that

they’re supposed to enroll in, and then the entire table is shifted on them.”

The state has taken some steps in recent years to address the student loan crisis. In 2023, the General Assembly created the Office of the Student Loan Ombudsperson, which has the independent authority to analyze and monitor laws and policies that impact student loan borrowers at the federal, state, and local level, and to make recommendations.

Last year, the General Assembly expanded the Mary Ann Handley Award program, which allows students to attend the state’s community colleges debt-free by covering the cost gap between tuition and federal financial and private sources.

Connecticut has also set up a student loan reimbursement program, where eligible residents who complete at least 50 hours of volunteer service a year can qualify for up to $20,000 in student loan payment reimbursement.

According to Tim Larson, commissioner of the state Department of Higher Education, only about 1,800 applications have come into the reimbursement program, and less than 600 of those were approved due to eligibility requirements. The program has so far dispersed just under $1.5 million of the $6 million it was appropriated.

Student Loan Ombudsperson Michelle Jarvis-Lettman said she expects that number to grow as loan forbearance programs end in the coming months. She also said

that in addition to addressing existing student debt, residents need to be given more information about lower cost options for pursuing higher education.

“I think it’s important to have the conversation about utilizing our state system, our community college system, pushing our students to use that free resource,” she said. “So we really need to come together and make sure we’re all on the same page and aligning up and working together in a cohesive state unit. I think that’s very important because we’re seeing students leaving the state because they can go at a lower cost.”

The group will pursue several goals, including:

• A debt data dashboard that tracks the statewide trends of student loan debt, repayment rates, delinquency, forgiveness, progress, and geographic disparities

• A statewide student loan borrower relief navigator that would fund and deploy trained borrower navigators statewide to help Connecticut residents better understand their options, repayment plans, consolidation of forgiveness programs.

• A pilot Connecticut student loan default prevention program that would partner with employers, schools, and community lenders to identify at-risk borrowers early, and offer emergency microgrants, deferment guidance, and one-time debt relief

• A borrower’s bill of rights.

33 Firefighters Graduate Academy

by Mona Mahadevan

Growing up in Fair Haven, Joemar Aviles thought firefighters were superheroes. He dreamed of one day being someone who, like them, could help New Haveners in need.

Aviles was one of 33 people in the 65th recruit class to graduate from the New Haven Fire Academy Friday morning, and among 20 who were born and raised in New Haven.

Hundreds of family members and friends filled the auditorium, located in Hill Regional Career High School on Legion Avenue, for the hour-and-a-half ceremony. The ceremony was replete with noisy whoops, giggling babies, standing ovations, good-natured teasing, and genuine gratitude for the new firefighters.

Led by three flag bearers and a bagpipe player, the new graduates marched in unison to their front-row seats. Retired firefighter Erika Bogan sung the National Anthem and then led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance.

You’re here because “you wanted to move from success to significance,” Fire Chief John Alston told the graduates. He noted that the department’s union contract requires 72 people to work each

The solemn-ness of the oath was followed by almost a full minute of whoops and cheers from the

shift, which means the station will have to sometimes ask firefighters to take on more hours.

According to Justin McCarthy, the department’s chief administrative officer,

42 of the 334 positions budgeted for the city’s fire department are vacant, even with the 33 new graduates.

Mayor Justin Elicker led the recruits in their oath of office and thanked them

for their willingness to make sacrifices for the New Haven community.

Then the graduates walked across the stage and had Alston, an academy instructor, or family member pin the official

silver badge on their lapel, marking their official welcome into the fire department. Alston encouraged the crowd to “whoop it up,” and they delivered: After each graduate’s name was announced, loved ones yelled, “That’s our baby!”, “Now we’re talking!”, or affectionate pet names which Alston joked would follow the graduates throughout “their entire careers.”

Explaining how she became a firefighter, Westville resident Andrea Emery said, “Honestly, I took a chance with it.” She added that her family is full of “dominant women,” including a police sergeant, so she knew from an early age that she wanted to “support [her] community” and “contribute to the public service.”

Lifelong New Havener Ayanna Bruno is a first-generation firefighter. She initially wanted to go into the medical field, she said. After realizing that college was not for her, she decided firefighting might be a better way for her to help others.

She described the six-month training process as “super intense,” particularly with learning how to skillfully and speedily climb ladders.

After taking her oath and receiving her badge, she said confidently, “It was worth it.”

State Rep. Corey Paris speaks during a meeting of the Relief for Connecticut Borrowers Working Group on July 29, 2025 Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsJunkie

The New Haven independent

S E P T E M B E R 1

L A B O R D A Y

20K National Championship

Post-race party featuring live music, great food, East Rock Brewing beer and the Yale Kids Fun Zone!

New Haven kids run FREE in the Town Fair Tire Kids Fun Run!

Hundreds Rally For Yale Contribution

by Laura Glesby

Nearly one thousand people rallied beneath the sweltering sun Tuesday evening to send a resounding message to Yale University: that as research funding cuts take effect and a substantial endowment tax looms, now is the time to invest further in New Haven not to retreat or withhold.

Affiliates and allies of New Haven Rising, the economic justice advocacy partner of New Haven’s UNITE HERE unions, filled Scantlebury Park in the 93-degree weather to call on the university to contribute more funding to New Haven.

Yale is facing an 8 percent endowment tax passed recently by Congress. In a July statement, Yale President Maurie McInnis wrote, “This is money that would otherwise support our students, faculty, staff, and local partnerships with the city of New Haven.”

On Tuesday, activists maintained that lost or threatened funding does not absolve the university from an obligation to contribute more to New Haven.

“Even in a moment of great funding cuts,” said New Haven Rising organizer Abby Feldman, “there is more than enough to go around.” She pointed out that the institution with an endowment amounting to more than $41 billion has raised over $6 billion in its ongoing “For Humanity” fundraising campaign alone. Attendees included hundreds of members of UNITE HERE Locals 33, 34, 35, and 217; a dozen New Haven Public Schools educators; a wide range of activist organizations advocating for tenant power, immigrant protections, climate interventions, and transgender rights; and politicians ranging from the mayor to state representatives to many members of the Board of Alders.

Over the course of an hour and a half, attendees called for more funding to address a wide range of needs in New Haven, including more affordable housing, more jobs that pay a livable wage, broader access to healthcare, and safer neighborhoods.

They cheered, raised signs, guzzled water, and at times found the energy to dance in the blistering heat.

Tuesday’s rally took place as a sixyear, city-Yale deal announced in November 2021 and approved by the Board of Alders in April 2022 enters its final years. That agreement saw Yale commit to increasing its voluntary payments to New Haven by $10 million per year during the first five years of the deal, and by $2 million in the sixth year. It also saw Yale dedicate $5 million to create a new Center for Inclusive Growth, agree to a phase-out property tax-payment schedule for properties Yale acquires and takes off the tax rolls, and commit to converting a portion of High Street downtown to a pedestrian and bicycle-only plaza. (Yale has subsequently

paused that last endeavor amid uncertainty around federal funding under the Trump administration.)

Local refugee advocate Jane Kinity said she stumbled upon the protest while on break at her job at Yale’s nearby student health center on Ashmun Street. Spotting several hundreds of people filling the nearby park, Kinity wondered “what was going on” then learned that New Haven Rising was advocating for Yale to contribute more funds to the city.

A proud Local 35 member, Kinity said, she decided to spend her break amongst the crowd.

“We have youth in the community” who need more resources, she said.

New Haven Federation of Teachers

President Leslie Blatteau reported that “only 8 percent of our members believe we have enough staff” in New Haven Public Schools, and “only 10 percent of our staff” believe they are sufficiently compensated for their work.

“The state of Connecticut has extreme wealth. Yale University has extreme wealth,” she said. She called on the state, Yale, and the “14 billionaires” living in Connecticut to redistribute some of their resources to public schools and to the people struggling the most. “Working people built this nation,” she declared to resounding cheers from the crowd.

High School in the Community student

Jonaily Colon, who is one of the two student representatives on the Board of Education, said that when she and her classmates return to school this fall, “We will see a devastating change. Many electives we have in our schools will no longer exist. Our class sizes will increase. …

We will be facing new challenges as our classrooms continue to get hotter and the mold continues to become hazardous to our health.”

She sketched a vision of the future in which “our fully funded schools will have basic school supplies” with well-resourced art and music education. “Our fully-funded schools in the future won’t have leaky roofs and moldy classrooms. They will be welcoming and well-maintained,” said Colon. “We won’t have to worry about our teacher finding a trash can or bucket to collect the water or numerous puddles in our school.”

These words resonated with several of the current high school students or recent graduates who attended the rally.

Reily Hosten, a student at the state’s Eli Whitney Technical High School in Hamden, noted that “my school was in danger of not having funding for summer school.”

Recent Wilbur Cross graduate Jordell Wynn recalled, “At Wilbur Cross, we suffered leaks in the ceilings, mold in the classrooms.”

He recalled attending classes at Yale through the university’s Shafer Scholars program for New Haven high school students, and noticing a stark difference in the quality and safety of the university classrooms compared to those in his school.

Meanwhile, another loss that Colon fears her classmates may encounter this fall is the absence of Esdrás, an 18-yearold Wilbur Cross student whom Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and detained last week.

“Esdrás made so many sacrifices. So we, students of New Haven, community members, and activists, are now willing to sacrifice what we can to bring Esdrás back to our community,” Colon said to a roar of support from the crowd.

Connecticut Students for a Dream Executive Director Tabitha Sookdeo, who has been advocating for Esdrás, led a call-and-response plea: “ICE out of Connecticut! ICE out of New Haven!”

Rev. Scott Marks, the director of New Haven Rising, urged attendees to consider their own freedom as intertwined with the freedom of their neighbors. He pointed specifically to LGBTQIA+ and immigrant community members as frequent targets of stigma who should be embraced by New Haven Rising’s movement. “I was upset when Yale New Haven Hospital cut out the [medication-based] healthcare” for transgender youth, he said. And immigrants are “not coming to take our jobs, they’re coming to help us make our jobs better.”

“My issue is our issue. Your issue is my issue,” echoed Feldman.

Correction: Yale is facing an 8 percent endowment tax; the article originally cited an initial proposal for a 21 percent tax.

Laura Glesby photo Scott Marks, Tabitha Sookdeo, and Ambar Santiago-Rojas help lead Tuesday's New Haven Rising rally.

Jane Kinity: Proud Local 35 member, drawn to the park by the large crowds.

Hill Alder Evelyn Rodriguez.

The New Haven independent

Flower Lady & Friends Celebrate 65

by Asher Joseph

Sporting a headband lined with felt candles, New Haven “Flower Lady” Annette Walton celebrated turning 65 in style on Thursday along with friends she makes vending on York Street including one who gave her a glimpse of China.

A New Haven celebrity, Walton has been selling flowers on the city’s sidewalks for nearly 34 years. Most often, she can be found on York Street, sitting near the entrance of Common Grounds coffee shop.

“I love to sell flowers to meet people. I like people. I’m just a people person,” Walton said. “I get to talk to different people from around the world, because I don’t have that kind of money to travel around,” she said.

One day, however, Walton hopes to visit “all of those beautiful palaces” in China. Without her even having to blow out a candle, her birthday wish came true for a brief moment.

A Yale Summer Session student, who wished to remain anonymous, ran over to Walton toting a folded Paper Source bag. “Yay, happy birthday!” she cheered, pumping her fists as Walton opened the present and produced a folded paper fan detailed with Chinese calligraphy.

“It’s from my family’s home in China,” the student explained. “I know it’s hot out here, so now you can stay cool.”

Taking Walton’s hand in her own, she demonstrated how to swiftly splay the fan

with a flick of the wrist.

“I’m going to be using this today,” Walton smiled, pulling the student in for a hug. “I was just saying that I want to visit Chi-

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a slice of chocolate cake. Walton could barely get a few words out without passersby wishing her a happy birthday.

“People tell me that I’m a famous lady out here,” said Walton, who has lived in New Haven for most of her life.

“This city has changed a whole lot. The buildings the whole downtown changed.” Gesturing up York Street, Walton reminisced about the past. “We used to have caramel corn used to be right there on the corner.”

Looking down, she stomped her foot.

“This sidewalk wasn’t always brick. It used to be concrete, like that,” she said, pointing across the street towards the walkway outside Yale’s Trumbull College.

“You don’t even see the pigeons no more on the Green!”

It wasn’t long before Aerin O’Brien, another student in Yale’s Summer Session pre-college program, stopped by to share a mini-vanilla cupcake with her new friend. Since moving onto campus in late June, O’Brien has often passed Walton on her daily walk to class.

“Yesterday was my birthday, so my friends actually bought flowers for me and I have them in my room,” O’Brien shared as she picked two bouquets from Walton’s flower cart.

“It was your birthday? Happy birth-

day!” Walton wished the 17-year-old. “Go ahead, take another one.” This was quite the gift, seeing that Walton sources the flowers from Milford via public bus and often stays up past 1 a.m. arranging the bouquets, which usually sell for $10. When asked if she had any advice to share with O’Brien, Walton waved her hand and said: “She’s also a Leo, she already knows everything.”

When she first met Walton, O’Brien “could sense her Leo aura and amazing personality” and knew instantly that they would be fast friends. The flowers from their first meeting are still thriving, according to O’Brien.

Erin Sommers, a residential college fellow for this summer’s Yale Young Global Scholars program, said it was “wonderful” to be celebrating with Walton as the pair snapped a selfie.

Although she’s reached retirement age, Walton said she has no plans of stepping back from selling flowers any time soon. “It’s not that tiring, and I love talking to people. I believe if I stopped selling flowers, people wouldn’t know where I’m at and people would be worried.”

“They might hire a lawyer if I stopped coming down here,” she chuckled. “But I’m not worried about that right now. 65 I made it!”

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The birthday girls swap advice, Leo sign to Leo sign.

The New Haven independent

Paras Finally Get A Contract

by Maya McFadden

New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) paraprofessionals will get $1.8 million in retroactive pay, raises for extra duty, and step increases under a new four-year contract that recently finished undergoing state arbitration.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the Board of Education voted to ensure that the contract’s back pay provision only applies to employees who were active as of June 30 or who had retired by that date.

That decision boxes out one paraprofessional who resigned from her job on April 25 two days after the state arbitration panel issued its award.

Such is the latest with the new contract for the city’s paraprofessionals union, AFSCME Local 3429.

The district’s 364 paraprofessionals, who serve as assistants to classroom teachers, had been working without a contract since July 1, 2023. A state arbitration panel held hearings on the disputed contract between April and September 2024, and then issued its decision on April 23 of this year. Click here to read the full arbitration award.

The new contract covers the time period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2027. The award does not include any annual salary increases by percentage; however, it does ensure that every para be advanced one salary step for each year of the contract.

That means that Group I assistant teachers who are currently making $23,524 per year at step 1 will be advanced to step 2, where they’ll make $24,921 per year. And paras who are currently at step 2 will be advanced to step 3, and thereby make $26,318 per year.

There are six steps in total for this group, with the top step paying $30,508. Paras who are already at the max step will get paid an extra annual lump sum of $2,000. In addition to affecting current wages, these step increases will be retroactive to July 1, 2023, and will result in additional back pay. So, paras who were at step 1 on July 1, 2023 will receive a payment as if they were at step 2 at that time, and then as if they were at step 3 in July 2024, etc.

The panel’s ruling notes that paras have testified that they find it “difficult to maintain adequate life styles due to low wages,” to afford health care, and to meet the costs of raising children. The ruling also notes the need to balance that concern with the public interest of maintaining a “financially stable” city government that can afford to pay its bills.

The arbitration panel reviewed a total of ten issues that were disputed between the city and the union. The main issues concerned retroactive pay, wages, extra duty pay, and employee cost sharing for health insurance.

• The union argued in favor of having the terms of the contract apply retroac-

tively to when the previous contract expired in 2023. The school district changed its initial tentative agreement offer of providing retroactive payments due to budget pressures. The arbitration panel ruled in favor of the union on this issue, thereby allowing for payments retroactive to July 1, 2023.

• The school district submitted a last best offer of spending $1,845,293 more for para wages over the next four years.

The union’s offer for total wage costs came to $3,019,479. The arbitration panel sided with the school district, meaning the paras will not see percentage salary raises through 2026 – 27 and instead will move up a step annually.

• Another issue was extra-duty pay for paras who do supplemental work, like summer support. The arbitration panel settled in favor of the union’s request for increasing the hourly wage from $14.50 to $25 for that work. The district had argued for a smaller increase in line with the state’s minimum wage rate.

• Under the arbitrated contract, paras will continue to contribute 9 percent or 24 percent of the cost of health insurance premiums, depending on the plan. The union’s last best offer was to cut that rate.

• The panel also sided with the district against a union request to establish a sick bank for unused sick time for employees, as well as against a union request to arrange a monthly meeting between the union and superintendent to discuss workplace conditions and concerns.

Union President Hyclis Williams told the Independent that the union was willing to negotiate a middle ground on all issues without the cost of going to state arbitration, but the district refused.

“It’s a shame the district went this far.

A union has a right to turn down a TA [tentative agreement], and we begged to go back to the table for months after,” she said. “It cost them more money to go to

ated the Tentative Agreement, we believe the terms of the Award are fair and reflect the mutual best interest of the City and the bargaining unit. We regret the substantial time lost between the Union membership’s rejection of the Tentative Agreement and the receipt of the Panel Award.” Board Vote Means No Retro Pay For One Ex-Employee

While the arbitration panel issued the paraprofessional union contract award in April, the Board of Education took a vote on Monday related to the back pay portion of this new contract.

The school board discussed the matter in executive session, and then emerged to vote 5 – 0 in support of a motion to “implement the arbitration award and only retroactively compensate active employees who are members of local 3429 and those employees who were retired on or before June 30, 2025.”

They took that vote after hearing during the meeting from one para, Natalie Ellis, who resigned on April 25, two days after the arbitration award came out on April 23.

Ellis said she resigned due to a lack of job support and because she struggled to support her family while working up to three jobs at once.

She spoke up during Monday’s meeting about how she had yet to receive any retroactive pay, which was due to paras by July 3.

Ellis started working as a para in 2015. She said she was required to step into a full-time substitute teaching role for English, math, and social studies starting in 2022 until her last day working for NHPS on April 25.

She said while on the job “no one helped me do anything.” She struggled to pay bills with the para wages as a single parent. “I made no money, but I stayed,” she said.

After Monday’s meeting, this reporter asked Supt. Madeline Negrón, Board of Education President OrLando Yarborough, and NHPS attorney Elia Alexiades for clarification on the board’s decision to provide back pay only to certain active or retired employees. The arbitration award itself does not appear to include wording to that effect.

Negrón and Yarborough did not respond to the Independent’s question. Alexiades said that nothing needed to be clarified, so he wouldn’t provide a clarification.

arbitration than it would’ve cost them to negotiate something better for the paras.”

The school district has yet to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request from the Independent submitted in May asking how much the district spent on the arbitration process with the paras union.

In response to a request for comment for this article, NHPS spokesperson Justin Harmon said, “As when we first negoti-

Hyclis Williams, the paraprofessionals union president, also spoke up Monday in support of Ellis and requested that the district share what legal services cost to bring the union to arbitration.

Ellis said she was advised by Council 4 staff that she is eligible for the payout because of her years of work as the arbitration process occurred.

As of Tuesday, Ellis said she’s been informed that Council 4 will file a grievance and if that doesn’t resolve the issue, she plans to get a lawyer of her own.

Maya McFadden Photos Union President Hyclis Williams: This should not have gone to arbitration.

City attorney Elia Alexiades: Asked by this reporter for clarification as to why the Board of Ed voted to limit who is eligible for back pay under the new paraprofessionals union contract, Alexiades replied that nothing needed to be clarified and refused to otherwise comment.

The New Haven independent

HYPERLOCAL

Kids Slime Mayor, Police Chief

by Asher Joseph

5, 4, 3, 2, 1!” 115 campers in the Police Activity League’s annual summer program chanted as Mayor Justin Elicker and Police Chief Karl Jacobson braced for impact against a bucket of green slime, courtesy of PAL Director Sgt. Ron Ferrante. That was the scene Thursday afternoon at John S. Martinez School in Fair Haven, where PAL has been hosting its annual five-week summer camp for New Haven children ages 8 to 11. This summer, the camp has grown to serve over 100 campers, guided by 34 youth counselors hired through the city’s Youth@Work program. PAL hosts programming year-round, including classes on flag football, jiujitsu, boxing, hockey, chess, reading, and even video games.

Ferrante, who has served as the program’s director since 2019, came up with the idea of Slime Day to celebrate the end of this summer’s camp. “We do athletics, but we also try to be hands-on. And, the thought was, I’m retiring this year, and if you start making some slime, you’ve got to slime an officer.”

Ferrante said that, the second he asked his campers, “Who wants to slime a police officer?,” everyone’s hands went up. Ferrante stressed the importance of breaking down barriers between officers and the kids they serve. “They get to see that human side of us acting like kids.”

In preparation for the sticky situation, Elicker swapped his button-down for a blue jersey. “Apparently I’m going to get slimed along with [Chief Jacobson]. It’s about community service, man,” he laughed.

Elicker echoed Ferrante, recognizing PAL’s influence on the New Haven community’s relationship with the police department: “Oftentimes, in today’s world, there’s a lot of rhetoric about police offi-

were eager to slime their counselors.

cers that is just not true. And this is an opportunity to show that our police officers are also parents, our police officers are also members of our community, they’re our neighbors.”

Aside from building connections between police officers and New Haven’s youngest constituents, Jacobson has no-

ticed other benefits to PAL’s structure.

“We have 34 teenage workers from the city working with us, so we’re not just building relationships with the young kids, we’re giving the teenage kids jobs that they need, and their jobs are learning how to lead younger people,” said Jacobson. “This is a win-win for the city.”

He also shared that PAL was not only empowering its counselors, but inspiring its campers: “I have a lot of kids here talking about being cops one day. We need that. We need officers from this city diverse groups of officers from this city and we’ve been doing that already, and it’s working out.”

You Define Your Success

By Dr. David Asbery, President of Fixing Fathers, Inc.

Fellas, have you been measuring your success by someone else’s yardstick? It’s an easy trap to fall into. From social media to societal expectations, it can seem like there’s a universal formula for success. But here’s the truth—there isn’t. Success isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personal, and more importantly, it’s yours to define.

Think about it. Does being a high earner at work matter as much to you as being a present and loving dad? Or maybe, for you, success means breaking through personal barriers—overcoming challenges that once felt insurmountable. It

could even be something as simple and profound as showing up for yourself every day, making small, steady strides toward becoming the person you’ve always wanted to be.

No one else can decide that for you. Yet, too often, we allow other people’s definition of success to cloud our thinking. We see the job titles, cars, bigger homes, or applause others receive and wonder if we’re falling behind. But here’s the thing—you don’t have to chase someone else’s dream. If it isn’t aligned with your values, it’ll never feel like a win, even when you achieve it.

Take time today to reflect. Ask yourself, “What does success look like to me?” Is it about building strong rela-

tionships? Creating something meaningful? Achieving a balance that lets you enjoy life? Whatever it is, own it. Once you shift your focus to your own goals, you’ll find a deeper drive to pursue them. Remember, success is fluid. What mattered to you five years ago might not hold the same weight today, and that’s okay. Life is about growth, and your definition of success should grow with you. Chasing someone else’s vision of success will leave you spinning in circles, but chasing your own dreams? That’s where the magic happens. Define your success, go after it unapologetically, and celebrate it every step of the way. You’ve got this.

After waiting for their slime victims to arrive, the campers cheered as Ferrante amped up the crowd. “Raise your hand if you’ve ever wanted to slime a police officer.”

“Now, raise your hand if you ever wanted to slime the mayor.” Campers gasped as they stretched their fingers higher. “There’s one more, even better! Raise your hand if you ever wanted to slime the chief of police.” The excitement was palpable.

Before taking his seat, Elicker asked the campers for mercy: “I’ve never done this before, so I’m a little nervous, but I’m still going to get slimed. Are guys going to be nice to me?”

The campers answered with a bucket of fluorescent slime powder and water, according to Ferrante that might as well have been radioactive. Resounding cheers echoed through the gym as the campers rubbed the slime onto the heads of Jacobson, Elicker, and Ferrante, ensuring that they got the full effect of the slime.

As the slime squad toweled off, the campers headed outside to enjoy a cold treat from the Ice Cream Emergency truck.

“I really like making the slime, so this was my favorite part of camp. It was so fun!” shared Mimi, 7, who was debating ice cream flavors with her friends. “Can you imagine ice cream that tasted like slime?”

Evan and London, ages 11 and 12, found that they had not outgrown the fun. “I mean, I didn’t know if I’d like it at first, but it was great!”

“I’ve never seen the mayor before, so this was a pretty funny first time,” said London. When asked about what it was like to see counselors get slimed, she laughed. “Now, that was even funnier.”

Campers

The New Haven independent

Qua Wins A Pilates Class, As Night Market Fills Chapel

by Sonia Ahmed

Qua Popkin was shuffling around downtown with longtime friend Cassidy Palifka when he won a free Pilates class with Club Pilates one of the vendors at a fair that brought thousands of people out to Chapel Street Friday night.

“Are you into doing Pilates? You wanna do a free class?” A Club Pilates staff member asked Popkin, waving him to the stall. “The answer should be yes!” Popkin, though hesitant at first, proceeded to spin a wheel with various prizes, from free grippy socks to a free Pilates class. Surprisingly, he landed on a free class.

Club Pilates was one of several vendors the two visited Friday evening at the New Haven Night Market. The night market, which is in its sixth iteration, according to a night market staff member, was expected to see around 7,000 people over the course of the night, and included over a hundred vendors on Chapel Street between College and York. It was hosted by the Town Green District and was free to attend. When asked if he would go to that free class, Popkin said he’s never tried Pilates but would be up for a new experience.

“I don’t really care for Pilates that much,” Palifka chimed in, adding that she prefers core workouts more.

The smooth sounds of saxophone, along with cowbell clanging from

pro-Palestinian demonstrators highlighting starvation in Gaza, filled Chapel Street as Palifka and Popkin made their way through the vendors.

The two had just come from Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant on Whitney Ave-

nue, where they tried beef tibs and other Ethiopian dishes for the first time. They had stumbled upon the night market on their walk back, and decided to check it out.

Palifka, 19, and Popkin, 20, said they met at Hillhouse High School. The pair have been friends for over three years.

Palifka, who is originally from Middletown but now resides in New Haven, is studying psychology at Gateway Community College, and Popkin works at Amazon. Palifka said she was inspired to choose her major because of her own experiences having ADHD, and the “lineage of mental illness” in her family she descends from.

After stopping at the Club Pilates stand, some pins from Evol-Eye caught Popkin’s eye. A sign read that they were $10 each, or a customer could buy three for $25. Popkin grabbed a pink rabbit and a green fingers-crossed pin, while Palifka chuckled as she picked out a UFO that read “Fuck this shit I’m out.”

They continued walking along Chapel Street, before finding the stand for Escape New Haven, an escape room. Palifka explained that other than exploring the city, the two also enjoyed gaming in their free time, specifically playing Roblox. On Roblox, they like to play

escape room simulators, so the vendor naturally captured their attention. The two scanned a QR code for a chance to win $100 to redeem at the escape room before making their way through the rest of the market.

The duo was then unsure of where to go next, but they had plenty of options. They stumbled along a coloring sheet on a large canvas, complete with a table of markers and coloring pencils laid out nearby.

“I’m, like, artsy,” Palifka said.

“Is he artsy?” this reporter inquired, gesturing towards Popkin, who was coloring a ghost with heart shapes. “Uhh… he…” Palifka burst into laughter. “He’s into games and stuff, but I think he does like colorful things.”

The artsy and non-artsy pair were ready to wrap things up, but not before checking out one of the food vendors. Popkin headed to Auntie Sheelah’s Cheesecakes stand where, instead of buying dessert, he purchased a ginger iced tea for $4.

After cooling off, the pair headed home. The night market continued to buzz with a steady stream of people until 10 p.m.

Sonia Ahmed photos Qua Popkin and Cassidy Palifka at the New Haven Night Market Friday evening.

Waste Treatment

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (Attendant II): Operates and maintains equipment and processes in a municipal sewage treatment plant. Requires an H.S. diploma or GED. A State of Connecticut DEEP Class II Operator or higher certification; or a Class II Operator-in-Training or higher certification. Wages: $28.44 to $33.89. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, individual and family medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. The closing date will be August 12, 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

60 Management GROUP

Request for Proposals

Owners Representative Services for Design Review and Construction Administration 360 Management Group is seeking proposals from qualified firms to serve as an Owner’s Representative to assist in the oversight of design and construction for one or more of its affordable housing and mixed-use real estate development projects.. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, July 28, 2025, at 3:00PM.

Engineer II

The Town of Wallingford Water and Sewer Divisions is seeking a highly qualified engineer to provide responsible engineering work in the preparation and maintenance of accurate, utility design drawings, specifications and location records. Applicants should possess a B.S. degree in civil, mechanical, or environmental engineering plus 2 years of responsible experience in the water and sewer utility field or underground design and construction of pipelines (storm drain or gas mains), or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. You must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Driver’s License. An Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Fundamentals in Engineering (FE) certificate is desirable. Salary: $75,890 to $96,227 annually. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes a pension plan, generous paid sick and vacation time, medical/dental insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and a deferred compensation plan. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 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

Ducci Electrical Contractors, Inc. seeks a friendly, organized, and professional Front Desk receptionist. Must be reliable, have strong communication skills, and able to multi-task. Ability to answer multi-line phones system. This is a full-time position. Send resume to Ducci Electrical Contractors, Inc. 74 Scott Swamp Rd. Farmington, CT 06032 or via email athumanresources@duccielectrical.com. An affirmative action equal opportunity employer.

BUYER

Performs tasks in facilitating the purchase of a wide variety of materials, supplies, equipment and professional services. The position requires an associate’s degree in business administration and 3 years purchasing experience. A bachelor’s degree in business administration may substitute for 2 years of the work experience. $32.08 - $38.98 hourly, (contract currently under negotiations). The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes a pension plan, generous paid sick and vacation time, medical/ dental insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and a deferred compensation plan. To apply online by the closing date of August 4, 2025, 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 Glendower Group

Request for Bids

ELECTRICAL RENOVATIONS AT McCONAUGHY TERRACE

The Glendower Group is soliciting sealed bids for the Electrical Renovations at McConaughy Terrace. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems. com/gateway beginning on

Monday, July 21, 2025, at 3:00PM.

Assistant Superintendent of Wastewater Pumping Stations and Collections System

The Town of Wallingford Sewer Division is seeking a skilled manager to provide responsible technical, administrative and supervisory work involving the operation and maintenance of wastewater pumping stations and the sanitary sewer collections system. Applicants should possess a B.S. degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering or environmental science, mechanical engineering or other engineering plus 4 years of experience in wastewater collection and in the repair and maintenance of mechanical and motorized equipment (pump stations), or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class B at the time of appointment. Must possess and maintain, or be able to obtain in the probation period, CDL tanker and air brake endorsements. Must possess and maintain, or be able to obtain in the probation period, a NEWEA certification as a Collection System Operator Grade II or higher. Salary: $87, 357 to $110, 894 annually plus on-call pay when assigned. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, generous paid sick and vacation time, medical/dental insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and a deferred compensation plan. To apply online by the closing date of July 29, 2025, 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

Please register here to obtain Bid Package: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/ requests.html?company_id=49968 SCOPE:

The Housing Authority of the City of Danbury and its affiliates hereby issue this Request for Proposal from qualified Proposers to provide Modernization Management and Planning Services and act as the agency Modernization Specialist.

Housing Authority of the City of Danbury, 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Envelope Must be Marked: RFP No. P25003 Modernization Management

x1421

Waste Treatment

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (Attendant III): Operates and maintains equipment and processes in a municipal sewage treatment plant. Requires an H.S. diploma or GED. A State of CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Class III Operators License or higher certification; or a Class III Operator-in-training or higher certification plus three (3) yrs. of experience in the operation of a class II or higher wastewater treatment facility, with one (1) yr. in a supervisory capacity of foreman level or higher. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license. Wages: $ 32.24 to $ 36.79 hourly. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, individual and family medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. The closing date will be July 22, 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

360 Management Group

Invitation for Bids

Replacement

of On-Demand Water Heaters at Twinbrook Development

360 Management Group is currently seeking bids from qualified and licensed contractors to replace 20 wall hung on-demand water heaters at Twinbrook Development. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, July 14, 2025, at 3:00PM.

Listing: Dispatcher

Extremely fast paced petroleum company is looking for a full time (which includes on call and weekend coverage) detail oriented experiencedDispatcher. 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

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

The Glendower Group

Request for Proposals

Project Management Consulting Services - 64-66 Wasson Avenue, Lackawanna, New York. (Section 141,43, Block 2, Lot 20,21,22,23,24,25,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,1)

The Glendower Group is seeking proposals from firms for project management services for a Project located at 64-66 Wasson Avenue. New York. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 3:00PM.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NORWALK, CT IS REQUESTING PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFIED CONSULTANT FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING SERVICE. 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 08/18/2025. NORWALK HOUSING IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ADAM BOVILSKY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

The Glendower Group

Request for Qualifications

Architectural Services-64-66 Wasson Avenue, Lackawanna, New York., (Section 141, 43, Block 2, lot 20,21,22,23,24,25,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,1,)

The Glendower Group is currently seeking qualifications from qualified firms for Architectural Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 3:00PM.

Ducci Electrical Contractors, Inc. seeks a friendly, organized, and professional Front Desk receptionist. Must be reliable, have strong communication skills, and able to multi-task. Ability to answer multi-line phones system. This is a full-time position. Send resume to Ducci Electrical Contractors, Inc. 74 Scott Swamp Rd. Farmington, CT 06032 or via email athumanresources@duccielectrical.com. An affirmative action equal opportunity employer.

Trump Administration Releases FBI Records on MLK Jr. Despite Family Opposition

BlackNews.com

The Trump administration has released over 240,000 pages of FBI surveillance records related to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from his family and the civil rights organization he once led. These files, previously sealed by court order since 1977, were made public on Monday by the National Archives, marking what federal officials call an “unprecedented” release. The disclosure comes amid controversy, with critics accusing the move of being politically motivated rather than an act of historical transparency.

According to AP News, King’s surviving children, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, responded with a heartfelt statement urging the public to approach the files with care and compassion. They acknowledged that their father’s assassination has long drawn public fascination, but emphasized the personal pain that remains for their family. “This has been a devastating loss for our family for over 57 years,” they wrote. “We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect.”

The newly unsealed documents cover a broad array of FBI intelligence, including tips received after King’s death and records of the CIA’s concerns over his

anti-war and anti-poverty activism. It remains unclear whether any of the files contain revelations about the assassination or King’s broader legacy. Nonethe-

less, the family restated their long-standing belief that James Earl Ray, the man convicted of the murder, was not the sole perpetrator—if he was involved at all.

President Trump had previously ordered the release of classified records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, as well as King’s. While the Trump administration and some allies, like King’s conservative niece Alveda King, praised the release as a gesture of transparency, others saw it as a distraction from recent scrutiny surrounding Trump’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Rev. Al Sharpton criticized the release, calling it “a desperate attempt to divert attention from the Epstein files and the erosion of Trump’s credibility.”

The King Center, founded by Coretta Scott King and now led by Bernice King, issued a separate statement describing the release as untimely, given the urgent civil rights issues still facing the country.

“This righteous work should be our collective response,” the Center said, urging the public to focus on King’s mission of peace, justice, and equality. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference also op-

posed the release, citing the FBI’s illegal surveillance and efforts to discredit the Civil Rights Movement.

The FBI’s harassment of King under J. Edgar Hoover’s leadership is well documented. The bureau wiretapped his phones, bugged his hotel rooms, and attempted to damage his reputation through leaked information, including personal details about alleged affairs. King’s children described the FBI campaign as “an intentional assault on truth and justice,” and warned against using the files to smear their father’s legacy.

Although James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to King’s murder, he later recanted and insisted he had been framed. In 1999, a civil trial brought by the King family concluded that King had been killed as part of a larger conspiracy. While the Justice Department under Janet Reno later found no new evidence to overturn Ray’s conviction, the King family has never accepted that conclusion. As they now review the newly released records, Martin III and Bernice said they would consider whether any new insights emerge that support their family’s longstanding beliefs.

Trump Claims Obama ‘Owes Me Big’ After Accusing Him of ‘Treason’

Following his repeated attacks against Barack Obama, Donald Trump is now claiming that the former president “owes” him.

Trump made the comment in reference to last year’s Supreme Court decision that granted former presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts. The ruling came in a case related to Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

“He owes me, Obama owes me big,” Trump said Friday (July 25) while speaking to reporters outside the White House before leaving for Scotland, per USA Today.

Trump has taken aim at Obama and his administration officials amid mounting criticism over his handling

of the Jeffrey Epstein case. In a press briefing, Trump’s National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard claimed the Obama administration promoted a “contrived narrative” about Russian interference in the 2016 election. Gabbard also released declassified documents that she said support her claims of Obama’s “treasonous conspiracy” to undermine Trump.

However, Russia’s 2016 election interference in support of Trump was confirmed by both Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s 2019 report and a 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee review.

“Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to in-

fluence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes,” Obama’s office said in a statement. “These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.”

On Friday, Trump again accused Obama of “criminal acts,” but said “he has immunity.”

“It probably helps him a lot, probably helps him a lot the immunity ruling.” The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.

Opinion | 60 Years of CHEFA: Investing In Connecticut’s Future

by Jeanette W. Weldon, CHEFA

This year, the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) celebrates a milestone — 60 years of helping Connecticut’s nonprofits grow stronger so they can better serve

Connecticut residents. But what does six decades of impact look like in today’s terms?

According to a new economic impact study by IHS Markit, from 2019 through 2024, CHEFA facilitated more than $2.06 billion in tax-exempt financing for capital projects at Connecticut’s nonprofit healthcare and educational institutions. These projects generated an average annual impact of $900 million to the state’s gross domestic product and supported an average of 9,486 jobs each year, over half of which were in the construction sector.

However, CHEFA’s impact goes beyond the numbers — it’s seen in the construction teams bringing Yale New Haven Health’s Neuroscience Tower to life, the educators and researchers shaping the future at Sacred Heart University’s expanded Health & Science Center, and the families who now have greater access to high-quality care at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

These projects not only create jobs but also foster long-term economic resilience. CHEFA-financed facilities attract talent, drive research and innovation, and offer essential services that uplift

entire communities.

Notably, these economic benefits are realized without placing a burden on Connecticut taxpayers. As a self-sustaining organization, CHEFA enables institutions to pursue essential improvements in healthcare, education, and community services. By offering access to affordable financing, CHEFA helps mission-driven organizations act when it matters most by supporting long-term investments that strengthen Connecticut’s future, even in times of economic uncertainty.

As we reflect on CHEFA’s 60 years

of service, we do so with pride in what we’ve helped make possible — and with a deep sense of responsibility for what lies ahead. Connecticut’s needs are evolving, and so is CHEFA. Whether it’s helping fund pediatric hospitals, student housing, or mental health facilities, CHEFA’s mission remains clear: to advance a healthier, more educated, more resilient Connecticut.

The numbers tell one story. But the real impact of CHEFA is measured in stronger communities, greater opportunity, and a better future for all.

Ice Cube Explains Why Caitlin Clark Was Offered $5M To Play in BIG3 League Instead Of Angel Reese

BIG3 cofounder Ice Cube recently revealed to TMZ that the reason he offered millions to Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark, rather than her rival, Chicago Sky player Angel Reese, came down to the financial impact on the league.

When Clark (and Reese) was gearing up to play for the WNBA, Cube reportedly extended an offer of $5 million to lure her into the BIG3 league, where she would play a total of eight games for the season. She eventually turned it down and went on to make a name for herself in her rookie season in the WNBA.

Cube was asked about offering Reese a contract to play in the summer 3-on-3 basketball league. He did acknowledge that Reese is a “great player,” but then he went on to explain why Clark was offered the deal instead of Reese.

“The thing with Caitlin Clark, it was just to unlock millions for the league because of her stardom. What our sponsors [were] telling us, they didn’t tell us the same thing about

Bubba Wallace Becomes First Black NASCAR Driver to Win Major Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

BY BlackNews.com

Bubba Wallace made history as he became the first Black driver to win a major race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval. He won the Brickyard 400 after a rain delay, two overtime restarts, and a close battle with Kyle Larson.

The win marked Wallace’s third career NASCAR Cup Series victory and his most significant yet. It snapped a 100race winless streak dating back to 2022 and secured him a spot in the playoffs, according to CNN.

The race took a dramatic turn in the final laps. Larson was gaining fast when a yellow flag came out for rain with just four laps to go. Cars stopped on the pit

lane, giving Wallace nearly 20 minutes to think through his next move.

When racing resumed, Wallace held the lead through the first restart. But another crash behind the leaders triggered a second overtime, stretching the race even further. With his team unsure if he had enough fuel, Wallace stayed out and once again held off Larson at the restart.

The win came one day after Wallace nearly secured pole position in qualifying but lost it late in the session. His Sunday comeback gave a major boost to 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and driver Denny Hamlin, as it continues its legal fight over NASCAR’s charter system.

Angel Reese, so I don’t know if we can make that same offer.”

After being asked if the league could make a different offer to Reese that wouldn’t pay her as much as what Clark was offered, Cube shook his head and said, “I don’t think we can make that same offer because it won’t have the same impact on the league.”

Cube showed that he is always thinking about business and how to grow the BIG3 league, and made one last statement on Reese’s involvement in the basketball league. Although he seems to have respect for her skill level, he stated that the decision isn’t personal.

Meanwhile, the business of actor Ice Cube continues as he stars in a remake of the classic movie War of the Worlds, which will be available on Prime Video starting July 30, according to Deadline. In the modern-day version of the film, Cube plays the role of a top cybersecurity analyst for Homeland Security, who uncovers a threat that could destroy the world.

Deion Sanders Reveals He Was Diagnosed With Bladder Cancer

By BlackNews.com

Hall of Fame NFL cornerback and current University of Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has revealed that he was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer, a serious disease that begins in the tissues of the bladder—the organ responsible for storing urine. In a candid press conference, Sanders shared that he underwent a complete removal of his bladder and is now cancer-free, thanks to early detection and aggressive medical intervention. He said the cancer was discovered during a routine vascular scan, one of many that he receives regularly due to previous health complications.

According to NBC Sports, Bladder cancer is most commonly caused by exposure to harmful substances over time, such as tobacco smoke, industrial chemicals, or chronic bladder infections. It tends to occur more frequently in older adults and affects men more than women. Each year, roughly 82,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with bladder cancer, and the disease leads to approximately 17,000 deaths annually. However, when detected early—especially non-muscle-invasive types—the five-year survival rate can be as high as 77%, according to the American Cancer Society.

Since 2021, Sanders has endured 14 surgeries, many tied to circulation issues in his legs that nearly led to amputation. Still, he explained that undergoing bladder removal was among the most difficult procedures he’s faced. During the NFL Draft weekend, he kept the situation private from his sons, telling them it was related to a foot issue to avoid alarming

them. His honesty now, however, reflects a renewed mission to advocate for early detection and proactive health care.

Despite the physical and emotional toll of bladder cancer and its treatment, Sanders appeared upbeat and composed during his media appearance. He stressed the importance of taking health seriously and urged the public to get regular checkups: “Get. Checked. Out.” His message emphasized how critical routine screenings can be, even for those who feel healthy, as early detection often makes the difference between life and death.

Sanders also spoke openly about the ongoing challenges he faces, including urinary incontinence—a common side effect for bladder cancer survivors, especially those who have undergone bladder

removal. Rather than avoid the topic, he used his platform to destigmatize it: “Let’s stop being ashamed of it, and let’s deal with it. And let’s deal with it head on,” he said. His transparency could be life-changing for others silently battling similar issues.

Now cancer-free, Deion Sanders appears ready to take on a new role: that of a survivor and advocate. His story is not only one of medical triumph but also a reminder that even the most seemingly invincible athletes face deeply human struggles. His openness may help save lives by encouraging more people—especially men, who are less likely to seek medical help—to take their health seriously and speak up when something doesn’t feel right.