THE INNER-CITY NEWS

Emergency Food Fund Launched; SNAP Recipient Readies For Hard Month

by Mona Mahadevan

Over the last six years, Angela Roman has only needed to pick up food from St. Bernadette’s Food Pantry towards the end of the month. Without the federal food assistance that she and her two young daughters rely on, starting on Saturday, she’ll have to go at the beginning.

Friday morning, she spoke at a press conference about how she and another 42 million Americans are bracing for the federal government suspending the nation’s largest food assistance program during its ongoing shutdown. The conference also marked the launch of United Way’s Neighbors United Emergency Response Fund: a coordinated donation campaign aimed at supporting the 30,000 Greater New Haven families now facing food insecurity.

Just a few hours after the press conference at Wooster Square’s Loaves and Fishes, two federal judges ruled in separate decisions that the Trump administration must tap into a multi-billion-dollar emergency reserve to continue paying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The decisions, which came from U.S. District Courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, insisted on the administration sending out SNAP benefits as quickly as possible, though neither specified the exact amounts required to be disbursed. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins declined to confirm whether the administration would comply with the orders, so it’s still not clear whether or when SNAP recipients will receive their November benefits.

New Haven was one of the 20 plaintiffs awarded a win in the Rhode Island decision.

Mayor Justin Elicker, who spoke about the lawsuit at Friday’s press conference, celebrated the ruling in a separate press release.

“The federal court’s decision affirms what every New Havener and American of good conscience knows to be true: the Trump Administration’s attempt to withhold SNAP benefits and food assistance from our most vulnerable residents is as illegal as it is immoral. I applaud the court’s decision and join with our fellow plaintiffs in urging the Trump Administration to abide by the judge’s ruling and immediately distribute funds to continue the SNAP program,” wrote Elicker.

On Friday, Roman, a single mom to a two year old and six year old, discussed how she’s preparing for November.

She’s been receiving SNAP benefits — formerly known as food stamps — for six years. Over that period, she’s

gotten between $500 and $700 per month, some of which she uses on her elderly parents.

Already, said Roman, it’s been “a stretch” to afford enough fruit and meat to make healthy meals. One added cost comes from making sure her older daughter, a picky eater, eats enough during the day, since she’ll opt to “sit at school for seven hours” with an empty stomach instead of eating a free cafeteria meal. Roman’s dad, she added, recently had a heart attack and lost his job, which has taken a tremendous mental, emotional, and financial toll.

To get food on the table, Roman is trying to find a job with hours flexible enough to accommodate her kids. She said she’ll continue applying as widely as she can over the next month.

As stressed and anxious as she feels, Roman said her heart is with the parents who need SNAP to afford formula for their very young children.

If she could speak to President Trump, she’d tell him, “Think of the children and the elders. You’re taking away a lifeline–the only source that they have for food.”

Roman, a resident of Fair Haven Heights, is one of 30,750 individuals in New Haven that received SNAP benefits in September 2025. In 2024, 42,930 individuals in New Haven were registered for SNAP at least once during the year.

That level of need, said United Way of Greater New Haven CEO Jennifer Heath, has prompted the formation of an emergency response fund. During the press conference at 57 Olive St., she said the fund would support local

pantries and provide direct assistance to qualifying families. The goal is to raise $1 million, which is enough to feed 15,000 people.

“We cannot replace federal funding,”

Heath acknowledged, but “we must do what we can.” Already, 43 percent of Greater New Haven is “struggling to make ends meet” — a proportion that is climbing as “the gap between what people earn and what it costs to live continues to grow.”

She urged neighbors to donate shelf-stable foods, money, and volunteer time. More information about the

State Rep. Pat Dillon clarified that Lamont and legislators are in the midst of getting more aid, including a $10 million check currently bonded with the state Department of Agriculture.

In a press release sent Friday, state Rep. Josh Elliott, who’s running against Lamont for the Democratic nomination for governor, criticized the governor for taking less action than states in worse financial positions.

“Right now, Ned is the only person in the state standing between a family in need and the security of their next meal,” wrote Elliott. “I’m calling on our governor to take a stand and dig into our surplus and reserves to shield our most vulnerable communities in this manufactured crisis.”

He named Rhode Island and Colorado, both facing budget deficits, as states allocating more emergency food aid than Connecticut. He credited Hawaii for launching a $100 million relief program for vulnerable families, as well as New York announcing $30 million in fasttracked aid.

Lamont’s Director of Communications Rob Blanchard shot back, arguing that Lamont has made clear that the $3 million is only the “initial, immediate” response to the suspension of SNAP.

“The Governor has had constructive and encouraging conversations with legislative leaders on ways we can support SNAP beyond the $3 million, and we will share details of that relief soon.

“We understand Rep. Elliott is trying to get traction for his campaign and appreciate the ideas, but the Governor has always said no one will go hungry on his watch and we’re working to deliver on that commitment.”

Also on Friday, the Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) announced a temporary emergency food assistance program for patients that rely on federal SNAP benefits. FHCHC will distribute 100 vouchers, each worth $75, per day from Monday through Friday. More information can be found here.

fund can be found here.

In addition to criticizing of the federal government, nonprofit leaders called out the state, especially Gov. Ned Lamont, for only authorizing $3 million in emergency food aid.

Coordinated Food Assistance Network (CFAN) Co-Chair Steve Werlin pointed out that Connecticut has a $4 billion rainy day fund and $380 million budget surplus. “The cash is there, and it is pouring,” said Werlin.

He called on Lamont to “exercise the political will” to close the gap immediately, while applauding a “bipartisan coalition” of state lawmakers working to find more money.

During Friday’s press conference, New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Madeline Negron recalled relying on food stamps when growing up in Puerto Rico. Even with benefits, “the last week before the next contribution got rough,” she said.

Negron said NHPS would continue providing free meals and after-school snacks to students, as well as “assist[ing] where we can” in the collection and distribution of food.

In an average week, she said, NHPS serves 37,000 breakfasts and 61,000 lunches. Around 75 percent of NHPS families qualify for free or reduced meals.

“I’m grateful to keep our kids feed,” said Negron. “At least for now.”

Dozens of CFAN partners lined up behind Steve Werlin, as he called for Gov. Ned Lamont to take more action immediately.

Lorrice Grant, who heads up Loaves & Fishes: After Halloween, a day that’s “usually about candy,” kids will be asking themselves where they’re getting their next meal.

The New Haven independent

Co-Op Does The Monster Mash

Lucy Gellman

As a kid, Jay Anderson was so afraid of Halloween that looking at their own costume made them cry. By four or five, they were tepid on the holiday at best.

But Friday morning, no one would have guessed it as they joined the ranks of the fashionable undead, strutted to the corner of College and Crown Streets, and became part of the Monster Mash all before 10 a.m.

Anderson, who transformed into a fierce looking, laced-up zombie with a steampunk twist, is a senior at Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School, where they are studying choir. Friday, they joined peers outside the College Street school building for Co-Op’s inaugural Halloween pop-up, an hour-long concert that featured students in the band, strings, and choir programs.

In that time, it became many things, including a celebration of Thelonious Monk and a reminder of the magic of weird art (and the people who lovingly make it), cult classics and camp, from Frank-NFurter and a Zombified Julius Caesar to a spin on Barbie that RuPaul would have been proud of. By the end of it, even Nosferatu, Mr. Potato Head, and a half-inflated Barney were dancing along.

“For us, the idea was with Thelonious Monk’s music, it is very reflective of this time of year,” said band teacher Matt Chasen, who had dressed as the Mad (or Matt, he suggested) Hatter before heading into his classroom that morning. There’s a spectral, paranormal quality in particular, he explained. “His music is very unusual — when you study it, it’s very angular … But everything that needs to be there is there, it’s just orchestrated in a different way.”

The pop-up, inspired partly by Co-Op’s long-running tradition of Parking Day, was born earlier this year, when choir teacher Jaminda Blackmon suggested a series of pop-up concerts between April and June, in the quiet weeks after the choir’s final concert of the year. Chasen, who has been at Co-Op for the last six years, realized that those lulls happen multiple times during the year. In the fall, there’s one between October, when the school celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, and December, when the band holds its winter concert.

Monk, whose larger-than-life persona and discography is inextricably bound to a Halloween day visit to Columbia Records in 1962, seemed like the perfect intersection. That was especially true when Chasen realized that Halloween—which Co-Op’s vibrant student body generally does not pass up—fell on a Friday.

Outside, that spirit of spooky season filled the sidewalk, which just past 9 a.m. became clogged with dinosaurs, animals, superheroes and a few ghosts all standing shoulder to shoulder with each other. At the center of the action, Blackmon raised her hands, and prepared to strike up the choir. Beside her, Principal Paul Camarco, unrecognizable in a Mr. Potato Head

costume, did the same. For a moment, his comically large, inflated white hand hovered close to Blackmon’s face, then lowered itself as the music started.

From behind the choir, the keys came bouncing in, bobbing to the lyrics of “Ghostbusters.” In the front row, a bespectacled catwoman stood next to a miniskirted skeleton, both rocking at the hips and shoulders in time with the music. A pair of glittery red antlers, perched atop two dainty doe ears, seemed to fit right in beside a half-dressed pink and white bunny. Back at the end of the front row, a student turned the fearsome idea of Lucifer on its head, with small devil ears and a sparkly red cape.

Anderson, covered with layers of scaly skin and painted-on blood that they’d applied before school that morning, was waiting for their time to shine. As they rocked in place, a sign perched in their hands, Blackmon shouted directions back at the students, competing with the rise and fall of chatter and the rumble of passing cars.

Unlike Chasen, who asked students to learn 20 Monk compositions this fall, Blackmon focused on the day itself, choosing spooky-scary selections with her students’ input. For her, it’s a way to put her own imprint on the program, which Harriett Alfred ran for decades, while adding fun new songs to the repertoire. While students initially resisted choreography, “I think they had a good time,” she said.

In part, it was because they let themselves remember how to be silly. When the class settled on Bobby Pickett’s “Monster Mash,” Blackmon tapped senior Max Hoffman to do the voiceover, and then folded in a few dance steps to keep students on their toes. Friday, it seemed to work: they eased into Pickett’s 1962 "Monster Mash,” and then winged it a cappella when the music unexpectedly cut out.

At the front of the group, Hoffman emerged in a bloodied toga, a bright red sash fastened in the front. Delicate gold ribbon ran down one fold of the toga; fishnet stockings and thick platform boots emerged from another. Hoffman haughtily tipped back his head, revealing a cut that was part David Bowie, part Patricia Quinn as Magenta, and raised his voice over the two dozen conversations that had already started.

“I was working in the lab, late one night/ When my eyes beheld an eerie sight,” he started, and glided across a few feet of sidewalk, his hands cutting through the air in choppy motions. Behind him, the chorus sprang to life, ready to shimmy on the hook. “For my monster from his slab, began to rise/And suddenly to my surprise—”

“He did the mash!” members of the choir announced with what felt like genuine surprise. Hoffman’s arms pumped through the air, with the mechanical air of something not quite human. “The monster mash!”

“I feel like when you’re doing something at a performing arts school, you can’t half-ass it,” he said after performing, one arm slung casually around a streetlight as he and Anderson traded Halloween anecdotes. Besides, “it’s really fun.”

Hoffman is, by his own description, very much a theater kid: he’s acted in Elm Shakespeare’s Teen Troupe and CoOp’s musicals for years, and wants to study music and composition in college. He’s obsessed with cult classics like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, including a past Halloween costume as Frank-N-Furter. His Doc Martin platform boots, which give a femme and punk edge to everything they touch, are everyday footwear. When that world intersects with Halloween, it’s almost too much excitement to bear.

For Anderson, the day is now also about reclaiming the sheer dread that once haunted them at the end of October, as the holiday drew near. Raised between New York and New Haven, they used to balk at costumes, afraid of even their own reflection the year they tried to dress as a zombie. Now that “I think it’s a time to hang out with friends,” they committed fully to the role, doing a little line dance as the lyrics slipped over the choir.

“Honestly, I came to an arts school to perform my art,” they said. “I think this was great. We had a lot of fun.”

Back beneath Co-Op’s overhang, dozens of students listened to strings—conducted by a caped, wizard-like Henry Lugo complete with a dramatic blue hood—dive into the score for “The Phantom of the Opera,” violin and viola plunging through the space. As Lugo’s cape flapped in the wind—and Mr. Potato Head lifted another imaginary baton—strings trembled, as if they too were quaking at the sight of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masked man for the first time.

As students flowed into Allen Silva’s “The Evil Eye and The Hideous Heart” slightly later in their set, it was as if the sidewalk sensed the music’s rising tension, and decided to play along. Inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell Tale Heart,” in which a narrator begins to go insane—and become murderous because of it—the piece sounds almost cinematic, as if a listener can see the action playing out in real time. When strings lift and swirl around each other, the stakes suddenly feel higher in real life, too.

On College Street, a sudden gust of wind lifted a knot of purple and black balloons from a costume, sending them flying toward the crosswalk. When a pair of hands rose into the air and caught them in one motion, a cheer went up from the crowd, and several student musicians turned to track the commotion, even as they continued playing.

In an alcove near the school’s art gallery, visual arts instructor Zach Chernak had transformed into the fearsome Nos-

Arts Council of greater New Haven

Assistant Principal Talima Andrews-Harris.

Grief, Love, And Questions Surround Newhallville Father’s Death

by Mona Mahadevan

A 57-year-old man from Newhallville died while staying in a transitional housing program on Edgewood Avenue last month. His family is still searching for answers about how the nonprofit that runs the home handled the moments before and after his death.

On Oct. 25, more than 100 people celebrated the life of Michael “Chubby” Vega during a memorial service at The New Trinity Temple Church of God in Christ, located at 285 Dixwell Ave. Vega’s friends and family donned white clothing, sparkly jewelry, and screen printed hoodies, featuring a smiling Vega seated behind a DJ stand.

Vega’s eldest son, Antoine, 37, cried when speaking about his father. He was “the life of the party,” said Antoine. The loss of his “smile,” “laugh,” and “energy” leave behind a “void that can’t be filled.”

Vega’s family described him as a prolific DJ and chef. His nephew, Kuron, 29, credited Vega as “the reason I love music.”

Vega “pushed me to try new things,” said Kuron, helping him record albums at a music studio and network with industry giants. Kuron returned the favor by showing Vega new music during family get-togethers at Vega’s mom’s home.

“He always made me believe in myself,” said Kuron.

Vega’s daughter, Jewel, 34, fondly remembered Vega’s devotion to his family. Jewel described Vega as a “very involved” dad, always the “go-to person for any problem in my life.” As a grandfather, he was “supportive” and took pride in his grandchildren.

She was heartbroken by the loss of Vega. Through tears, she said, “I’m taking it one day at a time.”

Jeannette Glenn, Vega’s sister, described Vega as “the funniest person in the world.” He was also “a big planner,” “very responsible,” and “always made things happen.”

Gary Tinney, who grew up near Vega, remembered Vega as a young man with a curly afro, always squinting in his futile attempt to see without his coke-bottle glasses. Tinney looked back fondly on their childhood on Division Street, recalling how they’d “eat,” “laugh,” and “have fun” in their friends’ homes. Amidst this celebration of life, Vega’s family is continuing their search for answers around the circumstances of his death at 380 Edgewood Ave.

I n an email sent to the Independent, Pepe, Vega’s brother, described his suspicions around what he framed as the “[s]uspicious death and robbery of [a] cancer patient.”

According to Pepe, his brother Michael began living in a home owned by the nonprofit Continuum of Care after being

released from Yale New Haven Hospital. He had stage four cancer but, said Pepe, “was not at end-of-life as of early October 2025.”

After visiting his family in Springfield, Mass. on Oct. 4, wrote Pepe, Michael’s family urged him to move out of Continuum. That same day, Pepe notified staff that he’d pick up Michael’s belongings on Oct. 5.

Early on Oct. 5, Michael ended up returning to the Continuum facility. Pepe said he called the facility multiple times that day with no answer.

Between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., said Pepe, his nephew called and told him that “facility staff had phoned him to ask permission to perform CPR on Michael — a move that seemed inappropriate, as Michael did not have a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order.”

Later that night, “My niece informed me Continuum had called her back to report Michael had died and was still at the facility,” wrote Pepe. When he arrived at the house, Pepe said Michael, deceased, had “his eyes open and no jacket on.”

Pepe found the missing jacket suspicious because his family claimed Michael had been keeping “several thousand dollars in cash” in one of the pockets.

“Staff could not account for the jacket, only producing it minutes later after repeated questioning,” wrote Pepe. “The jacket contained Michael’s wallet and debit card but no cash.”

Along with the jacket, staff brought out some of Michael’s recent purchases, raising Pepe’s suspicions about potential theft, as those items hadn’t been “voluntarily presented or inventoried until after insistent questioning.”

Given their concerns about why staff allegedly delayed CPR and where Michael’s belongings had gone, Pepe and his family requested security camera footage of Vega’s last day from the facility. A month later, Pepe said they still haven’t received any video evidence.

More broadly, said Pepe, he’s found facility staff to be “unresponsive or evasive,” only producing “inconsistent and unsatisfactory” updates.

Pepe and his family filed a formal police report about Vega’s death on Oct. 13.

When reached for comment, Deborah Cox, Vice President of Marketing & Fund Development for Continuum, said Continuum, “as a healthcare organization, are unable to and will not comment on any details related to anyone’s care, treatment, or circumstances before or after their passing” due to “applicable privacy laws and ethical obligations.”

“We are deeply sorry for the family and loved ones’ loss,” she said. “Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.”

Thomas Breen contributed to this report.

John P. Thomas Publisher / CEO

Babz Rawls Ivy Editor-in-Chief Liaison, Corporate Affairs Babz@penfieldcomm.com

Advertising/Sales Team

Keith Jackson Delores Alleyne

John Thomas, III Editorial Team

Staff Writers

Christian Lewis/Current Affairs

Anthony Scott/Sports Arlene Davis-Rudd/Politics

Contributing Writers

David Asbery / Tanisha Asbery

Jerry Craft / Cartoons / Barbara Fair Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur

Michelle Turner / Smita Shrestha William Spivey / Kam Williams Rev. Samuel T. Ross-Lee

Contributors At-Large

Christine Stuart

www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass www.newhavenindependent.org

Memberships

National Association of Black Journalist National Newspapers Publishers Association Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Greater New Haven Business & Professional Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.

The Inner-City Newspaper is published weekly by Penfield Communications, Inc. from offices located at 50 Fitch Street, 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06515. 203-3870354 phone; 203-387-2684 fax. Subscriptions:$260 per year (does not include sales tax for the in State subscriptions). Send name, address, zip code with payment. Postmaster, send address changes to 50 Fitch Street, New Haven, CT 06515. Display ad deadline Friday prior to insertion date at 5:00pm Advertisers are responsible for checking ads for error in publication. Penfield Communications, Inc d.b.a., “The Inner-City Newspaper” , shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad or for typographical errors or errors in publication, except to the extent of the cost of the space in which actual error appeared in the first insertion. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The entire contents of The Inner-City Newspaper are copyright 2012, Penfield Communications, Inc. and no portion may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher. 10

The New Haven independent

Antoine and Pepe Vega during the memorial.

Vega’s son Antoine, with Antoine’s daughter Ayla: Vega’s death leaves a “void that can’t be filled.”

As tearful as the ceremony was, church staff reminded attendees that it was also "celebration" of Vega's life Credit: Mona Mahadevan photos

50,000 Drug Deactivation Kits On The Way To CT Homes As Part Of Red Ribbon Week Anti-Opioid Campaign

by Donald Eng

HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont learned firsthand the difficulties of disposing of unwanted medication when he had a hip replaced several years ago.

“They asked me if I wanted opioid drugs just in case the pain was too much,” Lamont said at a media briefing Wednesday morning.

Lamont said he declined the medication, but later faced the problem of disposing of the dozen pills.

“I knew enough not to throw them down the toilet,” he said, citing the potential contamination dangers in the water supply. Throwing them in the trash is also not ideal.

The problem is common enough that the state, as part of Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 23 – Oct. 31, is distributing 50,000 Deterra drug deactivation pouches by mail in about 40 communities. The pouches, targeted at households with children, are billed as a simple, environmentally safe way to prevent prescription drug misuse.

“This project shows what’s possible when state agencies, legislators and prevention partners work together toward a common goal — keeping our children and families safe,” said Kelly Juleson, copresident of the Governor’s Prevention Partnership. She called the pouch campaign “a simple but powerful way to make prevention part of everyday life.”

The pouches deactivate prescription and over-the-counter medications, liquids, patches and creams. Users simply place the unwanted substances in the pouch and add warm water. The sealed pouch can then be tossed in the trash.

The program, in which about 50,000 pouches will be distributed each year until 2029, is part of a $2 million prevention program funded through the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services through the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. Juleson estimated as many as 90% of pouch recipients will use the pouches, most within 24 hours of receiving them.

Last year, she said, a similar distribution in greater Hartford and New Haven corresponded with a 26% decrease in overdoses in Connecticut.

“We don’t think that’s a coincidence,” she said.

Jason Sundby, CEO of Verde Technologies, which makes Deterra, said he expects the bags to remove about 2 million pills from circulation each year of the program.

Programs like the Deterra pouches are part of the reason why Connecticut is a leader in combating the opioid crisis, said state Sen. Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield. He said the issue was not a Democratic or Republican problem.

“Every individual in the state, unfortunately, is touched by this crisis,” he said.

Lamont agreed, saying that preventing prescription opioids like fentanyl from getting into the hands of youths was a cost-effective, simple means of battling drug addiction and overdoses.

“We’re not going to stop this by interdiction,” he said. “We’ll stop it by killing the demand.”

CT Looking At Legal Options As Trump Administration Partially Funds SNAP Program

by Donald Eng

The decision by the administration of President Donald Trump to partially fund SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown is a continuation of a cruel strategy to weaponize hunger for political gain, according to Attorney General William Tong.

A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts ruled Friday that U.S. Department of Agriculture must use its contingency funds — estimated at about $5 billion — to provide benefits during the shutdown. USDA had until the end of the day today to report to the court whether it would partially or fully fund the SNAP program, using additional available funds that have been tapped during prior shutdowns.

The court decision came after a coalition of 26 states sued to restore the benefits. “Donald Trump is purposely and illegally starving American families for political leverage,” Tong said Monday afternoon. “We sued to force him to release these contingency funds — paid for by taxpayers and obligated by Congress to

help Americans buy food at a time when grocery prices are already out of control.

Because of our lawsuit, these dollars now will make their way to EBT cards, and that is important relief for the 366,000 people in Connecticut relying on these funds to eat. But this is not close to good enough.”

The USDA plan for the contingency funds is to partially fund the program, providing about half of the normal benefits. The total SNAP benefit varies based in household size and income, but for a family of four averages about $715 a month.

Tong said he and other state attorneys general were evaluating their options to force the administration to fully fund the program that helps feed about 42 million Americans.

Earlier Monday Tong, Gov. Ned Lamont and Sen. Richard Blumenthal had joined advocates at the Hands on Hartford Manna Food Pantry to highlight the pain that the suspension of SNAP benefits would cause the 366,000 state SNAP recipients.

“People are really hurting as a result of this shutdown,” Blumenthal said. He add-

ed that the administration’s withholding of SNAP funds was intended to put more political pressure on Democrats to end the shutdown, but also simply to inflict pain. “He has stopped the SNAP program even though he has both the authority and the funding to provide it,” Blumenthal said. Tong was more blunt.

“What the hell are we doing here?” he said. “We should be here feeding people right now. We should have clients, customers, the people that you (food pantry officials) serve getting food so they can feed their families and their children and going on with their day, and most of them (going) to work.”

Lamont, noting the sparsely stocked shelves at the food pantry, said help was on the way as a result of $3 million in assistance the state released to CT Foodshare last week.

“Those shelves will be filled with fresh produce,” he said. “Starting at 4:30 this morning, at Foodshare, eight new trucks loaded with fresh produce, going out and serving hundreds of shelters across the state because the need is real.”

Gov. Ned Lamont speaks about Deterra drug deactivation bags at a media briefing in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, CT on Oct. 29, 2025. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie

Gov. Ned Lamont speaks about SNAP funding while Sen. Richard Blumenthal looks on at the Hands on Hartford Manna Food Pantry on Nov.

2025 Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie

CTNewsJunkie

CTNewsJunkie

Elicker Crushes Orosco, Wins 4th Term As Mayor

by Paul Bass, Tom Breen and Maya McFadden

Democrat Justin Elicker cruised to a fourth two-year term as New Haven’s mayor Tuesday after a campaign that focused on both his record on housing and public safety as well as the city’s opposition to Trump administration policies. He had over 84 percent of the vote with only absentee ballots remaining to be counted, of which there were far too few to change the outcome.

Elicker defeated Republican challenger Steve Orosco in all 30 wards across the city, based on preliminary results the Independent collected from polling places. (Final official results including absentee ballot votes and same-day-registration votes may come later tonight or this week.) Elicker also ran on the Working Families Party line, Orosco on the Independent Party line.

The Independent tally showed Elicker with 12,002 votes. Orosco had 1,673 votes. Click here for a ward-by-ward breakdown of the vote (not counting absentee ballots and same-day registration votes) collected by the Independent Tuesday night.

If past trends hold, the counting of absentee ballots would only increase Elicker’s margin of victory. Tuesday night’s victory showed him building on his 2023 victory, when he won 79.7 percent of the vote.

Elicker’s term will run through 2027. After that mayors (and alders) will serve

four-year rather than two-year terms.

Elicker’s fellow Democrats also swept races for alders seats, seven of which were contested. Democrats have won 29 of the 30 races as of 8:53 p.m. Ward 3, where incumbent Democrat Angel Hubbard faced a repeat challenge from Republican/Independent Miguel Pittman, was too close to call: Hubbard was leading, but by a small enough margin that absentee ballots and same-day votes could change the outcome.

Elicker addressed supporters at an election party at Nolo on State Street. He said the results showed his campaign on track to earn the most votes he has ever gotten in an election.

He attributed his large margin of victory sent two messages.

One: “We do work in our community to ensure New Haven residents are walking toward a future when everyone can thrive.”

Two: “When Donald Trump attacks

our community, we fight back.” The mayor cited lawsuits his administration has filed against the Trump administration to release money and challenge its policies.

Over at Armada Brewery in Fair Haven, Orosco’s team gathered after the polls close. Orosco did not give a speech. He told the Independent he considers his run as having been worthwhile, “to challenge the machine.”

“I don’t understand why people don’t vote” given the city’s potential, he re-

marked.

Michael Smart won an eighth term as city/town clerk with over 86 percent of the vote. Incumbent Democrat Ed Joyner, who has served on the Board of Education for 10 years, won another two-year term (which he said will be his last) with over 80 percent.

That means Democrats occupy all competitively elected offices in New Haven city government as well as New Haven’s state legislative delegation. The Republicans last elected a New Haven alder in 2011, a New Haven mayor in 1951. New Haven has 38,057 registered Democrats, 3,801 Republicans, 19,238 unaffiliated, and 628 voters registered with other parties, with 61,814 registered voters overall, according to the most recent city statistics. The number of Republicans has risen 43.6 percent over the past four years. This story will be updated.

Thank you to our volunteers, who make our election night reporting possible: Maggie Grether, Jabez Choi, Claudette Kidd, Brian Slattery, Norma Rodriguez-Reyes, Kevin McCarthy, Christina Lee, Caitlin Lutsch, Marc Gonzalez, Allan Appel, Suzanne Boorsch, Karen Ponzio, Meesha Vullikanti, Japhet Gonzalez, Diana Robles, Dave Weinreb, Jisu Sheen, Anne Tubis, Lisa Reisman, Abby Roth, Jeanette Sykes, Max Chaoulideer, Crystal Gooding, Jessica Tubis, Lesley Heffel McGuirk, Liz Grace-Flood, Amy Marx, Carl Goldfield, Karen McIntosh, Steve Hamm, Abiba Biao.

Hartford Leaders Announce Planning Grant To Reimagine Opportunity Academy For Disconnected Youth

by Karla Ciaglo

HARTFORD, CT — City and state leaders gathered Friday at Our Piece of the Pie, a Hartford nonprofit that helps youth ages 14-24 overcome barriers to education and employment, to announce a new state-supported planning grant to redesign OPP’s Opportunity Academy.

Operated with Hartford Public Schools, the academy serves over-age, under-credited students through personalized learning, workforce training, and wraparound supports. The grant, which is part of Connecticut’s effort to expand alternative-education options but for which the amount has not yet been disclosed, will help OPP craft a blueprint that can be replicated statewide. OPP President and CEO Hector Rivera called it “a scalable model for helping young people who need different ways to succeed.”

Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said Hartford is working with nearly 50 nonprofits, including OPP, on a five-year plan to cut youth disconnection in half by addressing chronic absenteeism, justice involvement, and other systemic barriers.

About one in three Hartford students was chronically absent in the 2023-24 school year — more than 10 points above the state average, according to Arulam-

palam.

He said those numbers show why Opportunity Academy and the Youth Service Corps are vital to re-engaging students through hands-on learning and paid work experience.

“We’re not just talking about kids who

missed a few classes,” he said. “We’re talking about young people who have been left out of systems that were never designed for them.”

House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, who helped secure the funding, said the project reflects the government’s respon-

sibility to expand opportunity and recognize that the path to success for today’s youth is changing and diverse.

“Some students thrive in large schools, others in smaller settings or with different mentors,” he said. “Our job is to make sure each one has access to a path that works for them.”

Ritter, who noted his own two children, aged 10 and 12, learn in very different ways, said the grant underscores the need for flexibility within public education.

State Rep. Bobby Gibson, D-Bloomfield, also an educator, reinforced the need for flexible programs that reach students when traditional schools don’t.

“Everyone learns differently,” Gibson said. “Not every school or path works for every student, and not everyone goes to a four-year college — and that’s okay.”

Opportunity Academy Principal Tamika Grant-Mack said the redesign will focus on hands-on learning, workforce preparation, and individualized plans.

“Our goal is to equip students with the skills and confidence to succeed in a changing world,” she said.

Founded more than 50 years ago, OPP serves about 1,500 young people annually through education, job training, and

mentoring. Rivera said the redesign aims to strengthen links between education and employment while creating a model that can be scaled statewide.

“This is about taking what we know works and building a model that can be replicated,” he said.

About 119,000 Connecticut residents ages 14 to 26 are disconnected from school or work, or they are at high risk of becoming disconnected, according to a 2023 report by the Boston Consulting Group and Connecticut Opportunity Project, commissioned by Dalio Education. Hartford has the state’s highest concentration of disconnected youth, and the new planning grant builds on a $1.2 million Opportunity Youth Collaborative launched earlier this year.

The effort also aligns with Public Act 24-45, which took effect in July 2024 and established Connecticut’s first statewide system to track and support disconnected youth through the P20 WIN data network. The law requires annual reporting on education and workforce outcomes for young people who are disconnected or at risk. 2025, in Hartford that the redesign of her school will focus on hands-on learning, workforce preparation, and individualized plans. Credit: Karla Ciaglo / CTNewsJunkie

State Rep. Bobby Gibson, D-Bloomfield, who is also an educator, talks to reporters Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Our Piece of the Pie in Hartford about helping young people with different learning styles who don’t necessarily fit into traditional schools. Credit: Karla Ciaglo / CTNewsJunkie

Take that D.C.: Elicker at his victory party Tuesday night on State Street. Credit: Tom Breen Photo

CTNewsJunkie

“Black Out” Gala Honors 8 Community Champs

by Christina Lee

The statement piece of Kica Matos’ gala outfit, a clean-cut blazer paired with black dress pants, was her shoes: Converse sneakers with “Barrio!” — the Spanish word meaning neighborhood or community — written on them.

On Thursday night, the immigrant rights activist and Fair Havener was honored for her longstanding contributions to the New Haven community, as one of eight awardees at the 14th annual Board of Alders Black and Hispanic Caucus gala.

The gala was held at Anthony’s Ocean View in Morris Cove, and saw hundreds turn out to raise money for a variety of beneficiaries, including the Super John Williamson Youth Empowerment Initiative, City Angels Baseball Academy, and Upright Ministries Youth Excursions.

“In the moment that we are in right now,” Matos said about being honored at Thursday’s gala, “it’s more important than ever to both be in community and find joy, and events like this encourage people to find joy.”

Matos is the president of the National Immigration Law Center and the Immigrant Justice Fund. She’s long been on the front lines of the city’s — and, now, the nation’s — fight to uplift immigrants.

She was one of eight recognized for their efforts in advocacy, education, and mentorship at Thursday’s gala. In addition to Matos — who received the Heritage Award for her devotion to immigrant rights and racial justice — fellow awardees included retired Probate Court Judge Clifton E. Graves, Jr., Dr. Chaka Felder-McIntire, coaches Michelle Moore and Gary Moore, City Angels Baseball Academy, Black Wall Street, and the New Haven Police Activity League.

The gala, themed “Black Out: An All Black Affair,” saw the Anthony’s Ocean View ballroom decked in black tablecloths, politicos dressed to the nines in all-black outfits, a live band filling the hall, and even a 360 photo-booth. Against this backdrop, attendees praised the night’s honorees for their contributions to the community.

“Kica Matos continues to be a strong advocate for the immigrant community,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. “She’s been a strong voice to make sure that we’re continuing to be a welcoming city.”

Another attendee, Westville Alder Adam Marchand, said that Matos being honored felt “timely.” Marchand said, “Right now, we’re all thinking about immigrants, so Kica Matos has played a really important role, a leadership

role. Not just here in New Haven, but nationally, for immigrants’ rights.” But alongside the caucus’ shared concern for the immigrant community was hope in progress. The black-out theme was also about optimism for the future, said East Rock Alder Anna Festa. “It’s about trying to bring light into the darkness that we are in,” Festa said. “It’s all positive.”

“I love this theme black-out,” added Newhallville/Dixwell/Prospect Hill Alder Troy Streater, “because Black is beautiful.”

Of the charities that the gala supported, Streater singled out praise for those that work with the city’s youth. “I tend to lean towards the ones that are doing things for the kids. The kids are our future… I believe in training a child and showing them the correct way… We look at the fruit that you bear.”

“I think it’s a great event,” said Newhallville/Prospect Hill Alder and Black and Hispanic Caucus Chair Kimberly Edwards. “You bring people, community together and we do great things. … All of the honorees tonight, we love, and they hold a place in our hearts.”

In his acceptance speech, Judge Graves also pointed out the importance of supporting the city’s youth. He was the recipient of the Legacy Award for his work as a judge for the New Haven Probate Court, and as the manager of Project Fresh Start, a city program aimed at integrating formerly incarcerated people back into the community.

“I say to you, all of you here, don’t give up on our children,” he said.

“Show respect for them.”

The evening’s emcees included Hillhouse High School student Amelia Tamborra Walton. Walton, who was offered the opportunity for her work on the Q-House advisory board, called speakers to the podium.

In addition to acceptance speeches from the night’s honorees, the gala featured opening remarks from Alder Edwards, Mayor Elicker, and City Clerk Michael Smart, among others. Across the opening remarks, another message was especially clear: no work talk. “I appreciate the Mayor saying no business tonight,” said Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers. Just before Walker-Myers spoke before the podium, Elicker encouraged attendees to avoid discussing work affairs.

The Gala, was, more than anything, a celebration.

At Anthony's Ocean View for the 14th annual Black & Hispanic Caucus gala, fundraiser, and award ceremony. Credit: Christina Lee photo

Judge Graves (center). Alder Prez Walker-Myers. Mayor Elicker and Fire Chief Alston.

Kica Matos and her “barrio!” shoes. Credit: Contributed photos

The New Haven independent

CitySeed Steps Up Amid SNAP Lapse

by Christina Lee

Abel Sauri traveled from East Haven to Wooster Square Saturday to buy fresh produce with the help of a CitySeed-boosted benefit for food stamp recipients. He was one of more than 130 customers who turned to the farmers market nonprofit for help amid a government-shutdown-induced lapse of the nation’s largest food aid program.

Sauri is a beneficiary of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. He and roughly 130 other SNAP recipients visited CitySeed’s Wooster Square farmers market on Saturday, which was the first day of the food aid program’s lapse.

CitySeed Executive Director Sarah Miller, who is also an alder representing Fair Haven’s Ward 14, said that was well over the number of SNAP users who typically visit CitySeed’s farmers markets.

“We had a line down to the corner at 9 o’clock,” said Miller. “It’s a lot of new people we haven’t seen before.”

Sauri, who heard of CitySeed through his sister, was there with his children.

Though CitySeed has operated year-round farmers markets throughout the city for nearly two decades, Sauri was visiting the market for the first time.

The uptick in market-goers followed CitySeed’s promise to continue to provide $50 in market tokens to SNAP users, despite the ongoing pause in the program.

Last Tuesday, Miller issued an emergency response to the SNAP crisis, announcing that CitySeed would continue to support SNAP benefits. Starting Saturday, CitySeed shoppers received $50 in non-expiring market tokens upon presenting their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. The $50 tokens can also be doubled for up to $100 worth of produce bought at CitySeed’s farmers markets.

The tokens will continue to be distributed through the month of November, until SNAP benefits are fully reinstated.

CitySeed initially stated that $50 in SNAP tokens would be given to 50 people at the Wooster Square market. The organization wound up giving tokens to all SNAP users who visited the market on Saturday, hoping that people would donate to cover the costs.

“It’s nice. It’s been helpful because everything is going crazy right now,” Sauri said about CitySeed stepping up. “It’s very simple to work with. … A beautiful experience. The kids enjoy it.”

Asked about the ongoing shutdown and uncertainty around the SNAP program, Sauri said, “It’s frustrating and it’s stressful, especially when you’re counting on that extra food around the house. Especially when you have kids.”

Although CitySeed has offered SNAP benefits before this shutdown-induced lapse, Farmers Market Manager Alison Ping-Benguiat said that the current SNAP crisis drew new shoppers to the market, as well as potential new donors. According to Ping-Benguiat, around 20 community

members who visited the market on Saturday donated or inquired about making donations to CitySeed.

“It’s been great exposing people to our organization and the market,” she said.

“It’s been really amazing to be able to offer this in such a time of need, and we only assume that for the coming weeks it will get busier and busier, and we’re going to try to accommodate.”

Currently, the organization has a private donor who is funding the token program for as long as the shutdown lasts through the month of November, according to Miller. If CitySeed needs to go beyond November, the organization will have to raise additional dollars, Miller said.

“There’s no way to fill the gap of the federal government. But it’s what we can do, and so we’re doing it.” Miller said.

The markets’ 25 vendors also appreciated the busy weekend due to the tokens.

Daren Hall, the vendor running the George Hall Farm stand, estimated a 300 to 400 percent increase in the customer base on Saturday at the Wooster Square market.

“I would say probably that for 90 percent of the customers here today, it was their first time at the market,” Hall explained.

Another vendor, Marissa Sang, representing Sugar Maple Farms, also said that the weekend ushered in many new customers taking advantage of the tokens offered by CitySeed. Seeing nearly triple the amount of usual customers, Sang said that she will

A Sleepy Start In Ward 16

be bringing more supply for her stand next week.

One concern as a vendor, Sang noted, was “panic shopping” among customers. Sang said that she had people buying two to three honeys and four to five dozen eggs, which she described as “more than the average person will go through in a week, two weeks.”

CitySeed will be offering SNAP tokens at both weekend markets. The Wooster Square Market is open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and their Edgewood Park Market is open on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Make that Fair Haven’s Ward 16, where between 6:00 and 7:30 a.m. only 13 people had voted Tuesday morning according to the moderator Caleb Negron, who sat inside the John Martinez School’s cozy gymnasium off of James Street in Fair Haven, while outside the cold if sunny weather might have kept people away from the polls.

Negron said he expected more at noon and an influx in the later afternoon when people may be better able to come after work.

But there was another kind of sleepiness: Of the ten voters this reporter spoke to all referenced Mayor Justin Elicker, the three-term incumbent Democrat whom they voted for in his race against Republican challenger Steve Orosco. When asked, about half of the voters the Independent spoke to were not even aware of the race between Democratic candidate Magda Natal and Independent Party candidate Rafael Fuentes to fill the aldermanic seat of incumbent Jose Crespo, who is not running this year.

For those who were aware of the aldermanic race, however, Nadal elicited enthusiasm for her years of helpfulness to people in the Fair Haven community.

“I was a single mom,” said Germaine Lyde, “and she was involved in housing things and helped me with resources.

She’s always for the community.”

Likewise Ed Rodriguez and his daughter Lindsey were proud of their votes for Natal. “We made the right choice,” he said. “She’s a person who answers my calls.”

But there was more: Rodriguez has lived

in the Fair Haven neighborhood for 58 years and knew Natal’s father. “I liked the father, and the daughter,” he said

Of the issues particular to Fair Haven that he would like his candidate to work on, Rodriguez struck a theme that several other voters echoed: “Fair Haven has been neglected,” he said. “We need the city to be more aggressive to bring cleanliness to this area.”

He clarified that he not only meant cleaning the streets of litter, physically. He referenced unwanted behaviors especially late at night: prostitution and “running bikes in the summer at two in the morning. That’s no good.”

It may be of interest that neither the Rodriguezes or the other voters this reporter spoke to appeared to be even aware of the city’s current proposal to convert English Station, which literally looms over the voting location, into a public park and pool.

When apprised of it, however, Ed Rodriguez was enthusiastic. It addresses, he said, another of the issues that matter to him: more and better activities for Fair Haven’s kids.

Voter David Feliciano said he actually would not have voted in this election at all had he not, as it turned out, been driving his mom to cast her vote.

He, however, was glad he did. His vote for Mayor Elicker was enthusiastic, he said, citing the manner in which the mayor has been “standing up to Trump, who is taking away SNAP.”

Regarding the aldermanic race, he said, “I don’t know who they are. I’m not a political person.”

Con’t on page 13

One of the CitySeed farmers market SNAP tokens. Credit: Christina Lee photo

CitySeed’s SNAP announcement, on Instagram.

Customers line up before the 9 a.m. opening of the Wooster Square market Credit: Contributed photo

Rafael Ramos (center) with Ed Rodriguez and his daughter Lindsey. Credit: Allan Appel photo by Allan Appel

The New Haven independent

Co-Op Does

feratu, his skin white with a fish-like, silvery sheen. As he listened, he opened his mouth just slightly to reveal two terrifying buck teeth, and there was momentarily the sense that a vampire might strike at any time.

In rows of seats set up for musicians, band students were settling in, ready to play close to 20 selections from Monk (they got through 11 before the next period, some finishing with goosebumps and shivering shoulders in a midmorning cold). By the time they got to “Bolivar Blues” off the album “Monk’s Dream,” they were grooving, with solos loud and smooth enough to stop conversations in their tracks. Camarco-as-Potato-Head, who had retreated to the art gallery inside, gave a thumbs up as he danced from the window.

When they flowed into “Bright Mississippi,” one of the last songs before students packed up and hurried off to the next class, it felt like listeners could close their eyes, and travel across time and space. As keys and trombone entered a near-growling, undulating back and forth that made it hard not to dance, the other instruments built a world around it, from percussion to guitar to woodwinds that came triumphantly back in. Every time a student rose to solo, it became a chance to celebrate the morning all over again.

After playing, senior Maya Gonzalez looked around and savored the moment. Before taking the makeshift stage—Gonzalez plays the trumpet and has also gotten into tech theater during her time at Co-Op—she dressed up with Batman face paint and a matching black sweatshirt, worried that the full costume would weigh her down. As she packed up, she praised Chasen for helping the band find more chances to perform, especially outdoors in the community.

“I love Halloween,” she said. “I’ve been dressing up ever since I was born.”

While her first costume (a bumblebee, she remembered with a smile) may have been the most endearing, it was Friday’s that may have been the most true to her in this moment. As Chasen yelled “Maya!” over the group, trumpet roared into a solo, smooth as butter and deep-lunged and brassy all at the same time. When asked about the pop-up, she beamed.

“I’m really excited that he’s [Chasen] trying to do something” that helps the band get its name out there, she said.

Cruz Castillo, a junior who rocked a guitar solo, agreed. Friday, he’d come out with Bowie-esque clown eyes, drawn in bright, dripping diamond shapes around his eyes. Since Castillo was 10, he’s found routine and rigor in the guitar, which Chasen draws out of him. When the class started learning Monk’s music a few weeks ago, he was inspired by the rhythm of the music, and the propulsive way it moved forward while keeping a groove.

“It feels pretty good” to be out playing for classmates, he said. “It’s pretty fun.”

DeLauro: Even With Gov’t Shut, Food Stamp Funds Must Flow

by Jonathan D. Salant

WASHINGTON — On the 28th day of the federal government shutdown, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro said the only thing stopping the Republicans from funding food stamps is themselves.

DeLauro, a New Haven Democrat and the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, said President Donald Trump has all the power he needs to ensure that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pays out its November benefits to 42 million Americans as scheduled, including to 366,000 people in Connecticut.

“He can do this now,” DeLauro said in an interview. “He doesn’t have to reopen the government. We passed a law, we passed a bill, we can go. We should move forward. Get the money out.”

The salvo over SNAP funding was the latest skirmish between the two parties over who is to blame for the shutdown which began Oct. 1 after Senate Democrats refused to support a Republican-drafted bill temporarily funding the government and the GOP refused to include any Democratic priorities in exchange for their votes.

“The contingency funding that we set aside for SNAP is not optional spending,” DeLauro said Tuesday at a U.S. Capitol press conference with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, and Angie Craig, a Minnesota Democrat and ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. ”It is required by the law. We appropriated that money for this purpose. The White House must spend it.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said that because of the shutdown, it will not provide SNAP funding in November, continuing to falsely claim that the dispute is over Democratic demands to provide health care subsidies for unauthorized immigrants who are banned from receiving such support under federal law. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has shut down his chamber, while the Senate continues to meet

daily and regularly falls short of the 60vote threshold to pass either the Republican spending resolution or a Democratic alternative.

Johnson accused the Democrats Tuesday of catering to its most leftist supporters by refusing to support the Republican-written legislation.

“Simply put, it’s the profound fear in the Democratic Party that drives this shutdown,” he said. “It is not principle, it’s not policy.”

But voters see things differently. In a recent Quinnipiac University poll, more registered voters blamed Republicans (45 percent), who control both houses of Congress and the presidency, than Democrats

(39 percent). Another 11 percent blamed both sides equally.

Among independents, 48 percent blamed Republicans, 32 percent blamed Democrats, and 14 percent said both. Even without reopening the government, USDA has the funds to pay the benefits next month, DeLauro said. It’s already written into federal law, she said. In addition to a contingency fund, USDA can transfer funds from other programs to make sure all of the benefits are provided, she said.

“It’s not up for debate,” DeLauro said. “This is an administration that is lawless at its core. The money is there.

Don’t let them get away with it.”

Also on Tuesday, 22 state attorneys general — including William Tong of Connecticut — and three governors sued USDA, claiming the agency violated the law by refusing to pay out the November SNAP benefits.

“Trump is stealing food from hungry Connecticut families,” Tong said. “Trump has no right to block these funds and we’re not going to let him use our families as political bargaining chips.”

Trump and congressional Republican leaders have rebuffed Democratic efforts to work out a solution to the dispute.

Democrats want to roll back Republican

cuts in federal subsidies for health insurance and Medicaid.

Without congressional action, a family of four earning $129,800 a year in Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes New Haven, would see annual health care premiums rising by $18,170, a 180 percent increase, according to DeLauro’s office. For the same family earning $64,000, premiums would increase by $2, 571, a 530 percent boost. At the press conference, DeLauro mentioned a woman in her congressional district who found out her health care premiums would rise $24,000 a year.

“Can anybody here pay for that? She can’t,” DeLauro said.

Democratic demands also include ensuring that the Trump administration funds the programs Congress has allocated money for. The administration has refused to do so, an action that the Government Accountability Office says violates federal law.

DeLauro issued a report Tuesday accusing the Trump administration of taking advantage of the shutdown to cull the federal workforce, kill projects in Democratic states, and cut programs he opposes despite congressional approval of the expenditures.

Examples cited included laying off 5,500 federal employees; cutting public transportation projects in Chicago and New York City, including the Gateway Tunnel project that affects Amtrak trains from New Haven to Philadelphia and Washington; freezing $11 billion in Army Corps of Engineers contracts; ending $8 billion in energy projects in Democratic-led states; and refusing to provide $3.6 billion in Low Income Energy Assistance Program funding to help residents in Connecticut and elsewhere pay their home heating bills in winter.

“Have we been able to trust this administration on anything since January?” DeLauro said in the interview. “They have confiscated funds, they have done pocket rescissions, they have moved money around, they have done all sorts of things.”

U.S. Rep. DeLauro (center), at a Capitol press conference in Washington, D C., flanked by Minnesota U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Credit: Jonathan D. Salant photo

“Communo-ween” Brings Candy, Cheer To Fair Haven Women’s Shelter

by Lisa Reisman

Monya Saunders, clad in a witch’s hat, pulled into the parking lot of Life Haven women’s shelter in Fair Haven. All around were kids costumed as NASA astronauts, policemen, ballerinas, and princesses, and carrying orange buckets packed with candy.

“I’m here to support women who don’t have the money to buy their children outfits and treats,” said Saunders, popping her trunk and revealing a crate full of mini Kit Kats, Snickers, and Reese’s, as Tim Burton’s “This is Halloween” ominously boomed across the space in the crisp autumn air.

That was the scene at around 2:30 p.m. Saturday for the first annual “Communo-ween” Candy Giveaway. Saunders, a community health worker with Yale’s Transitions Clinic, is on the team of Marcus Harvin’s Newhallville Fresh Starts, which sponsored the event.

Since early 2024, Fresh Starts has been using the excess dining hall food of area universities to feed anyone in need based on its belief that the first step toward realizing one’s aspirations is nutritional sustenance. Among the area shelters and warming centers it provides meals is Life Haven, a 40-bed Ferry Street facility, which provides temporary shelter to homeless pregnant women and female heads of household with young children. Harvin’s wife Diamond came up with

the idea of the giveaway. With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits set to expire, “she wanted to do something for kids who might not have a Halloween experience, so this became an opportunity for us to show these women and children that every day, holiday, and in between, they are in the forefront of our minds,” Harvin said.

He told Derek Bacon, owner of Nolo, which has recently partnered with Fresh Starts with Friday pizza deliveries to Life Haven and West Haven’s Surfside Veterans, among others. “He had 12 pies ready for me earlier today,” Harvin said, as a young girl, sporting a crown, wandered through the lot, studiously sucking on a lollipop.

TASTE THE BEST OF GREATER NEW HAVEN!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 | 11:30AM - 1PM

RESTAURANTS

INCLUDE:

Communing with kids in the open trunk of a car beside a happy-looking green inflatable T Rex was Lisa Puglisi, a Yale School of Medicine internal medicine doctor and addiction specialist, as well as director of the Yale Transitions Clinic. She and Harvin met when he was a community health worker intern there. “She was here with a neighbor setting up when we got

here,” Harvin said.

“We’re out of pepperoni,” Fresh Starts team member Adam Rawlings, a community specialist with Neighborhood Housing Services, was telling a ballerina at a picnic table. “Are you okay with cheese?” She nodded.

A car horn sounded on Ferry Street.

“It’s simple,” said Saunders, joining Harvin and his wife. “Holidays separate the poor from the rich.” Life Haven’s clients are among those caught in the staggering increase in the number of families experiencing homelessness—up 41 percent since January 2024. Because Life Haven lacks the resources to meet the growing food insecurity its clients face, groups like Fresh Start help fill the gap.

“We wanted to change that, wanted them to feel cared for.”

At that moment, Miriam Walker, a resident at Life Haven, approached them, smiling broadly.

“Today is a blessed day for all of us,” she said. “We are so grateful for what you do for us.”

“Kids dancing around and enjoying themselves at a party—what’s not to love?” she said, as a small girl with pink fairy wings chased a boy in a shark mask, squealing with delight.

A Life Haven staff member with a young Halloween celebrant at the first annual "Communo-ween." Credit: Lisa Reisman photo

Monya Saunders with Lisa Puglisi.

The New Haven independent

Immanuel Missionary Baptist Turns 200

Lisa Reisman

When, in the 1980s, most were afraid of touching people living with AIDS or HIV, Elsie Cofield hugged them. At Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church, she helped create a soup kitchen, a 60-bed homeless shelter, as well as other programs to decrease the strain of poverty, drugs, and crime in New Haven.

Cofield, who died in 2016, was the wife of the late Rev. Dr. Curtis McKinley Cofield, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Missionary Church, the venerable Chapel Street religious institution that commemorated 200 years of faithful service with a gala affair at Anthony’s Ocean View on Saturday.

The oldest African American Baptist church in Connecticut represents “the light in this darkening world,” mistress of ceremonies Elicia Pegues Spearman told the 200 in attendance — one, she said, that’s known for its “service, spiritual leadership, and transformative impact in the city of New Haven and beyond.”

After Tiffany Smith’s stunning rendition of “Destiny,” Rev. Samuel Ross-Lee, who succeeded Cofield as pastor of Immanuel Baptist in June 2001, discussed the legacy of Cofield and his wife.

“My predecessor more than anybody instilled a spirit of community outreach in this church that continues to this day, and his wife had the AIDS Interfaith Network,” he said, amid the animated chatter of guests. That’s heady praise, considering Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., who would go on to become a leading civil rights figure and community activist, leading relief campaigns for the poor during the Depression, served as pastor from 1893 to 1908.

Ross-Lee referred to the Clothes Closet open on Tuesdays for donations of new

and gently used clothes, coats, and accessories, with pick-ups each Thursday. There’s also the elderly services ministry focusing on the needs of senior members with transportation services, companionship, and home care. And scholarships to support young people in the church going to college.

There are the Sisters of Hagar, with their diaper drives, school supply drives, and their work in a women’s shelter.

“They’re a very important ministry for us,” said Ross-Lee. “They tell me what they’re going to do and I announce it to the church.”

There are the hot meals served each Sunday at the soup kitchen. And the food pantry offering fresh meat and vegetables. Ross-Lee said the church recently qualified for a grant from the Connecticut Food Bank. With SNAP benefits ending on Nov. 1, “we’ll be able to continue to do what we’re doing with the food pantry and the soup kitchen,” he said.

“I grew up in this church,” said Spearman, the emcee. “I was baptized in the church, married in the church, and I was queen of the debutante ball.” She described Immanuel as “welcoming and embracing to all,” then offered another reason for the way it has continued its long tradition of service and its role as a model for social action.

“We have a very intelligent pastor who does not shy away from taking on the issues in the world,” she said of Ross-Lee, a graduate of Morehouse College and the Harvard Divinity School, as well as a voice of conscience in New Haven.

Not only that, said Vera Esdaile, a deacon at the church. “We have a pastor who challenges us every day on our role as Christians and what we’re supposed to be doing to uplift our community,” she said.

Con’t from page 08

A Sleepy Start

Another Elicker voter told this reporter — and a disappointed Natal — that she only voted the mayor line (and for Elicker) and skipped whatever else was on the ballot.

After about a half an hour Natal and her helpers moved their table across Wolcott Street right by the route where people must pass from the parking lot to the entrance to the school. She was now in a better position (although still the required 75 feet away) to hand out her flyers and try to make sure that the voters who would be coming over the next long hours of voting up until 8:00 p.m. would at least know there’s an aldermanic race in play. The low turnout was a disappointment to Rafael Ramos, who was also on hand Tuesday morning. The long-time activist, housing code enforcer, and former deputy director of LCI said he and Natal, who is his partner, had knocked on at least 700 doors in the campaign.

“She’s always been involved in [Fair Haven] issues. In my summer camp, in Junta, and she’s on the board of the Fair Haven Community Health Center. I’d vote for her,” he said, not surprisingly, “if I could.” (He lives in another ward). “I’d vote for her ten times if it were legal!”

Correction 3:29 p.m.: A former version of this article stated that Rafael Ramos used to be director of the Livable City Initiative. In fact, Ramos was once deputy director of LCI. The article has been updated to reflect this.

Mistress of ceremonies Elicia Pegues Spearman; Rev. Samuel Ross-Lee, pastor of Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church; and Deacon Vera Esdaile at the church's 200th anniversary celebration. Credit: Lisa Reisman photo by

The New Haven independent

It’s why we’re here.

To help you enroll in health and dental coverage.

Count on our free, expert guidance — online, in person, through licensed Certified Brokers and over the phone — to help you find a plan that works for you and your family.

We can also help you maximize the financial assistance you qualify for, now that some federal financial help is no longer available.

We’re here to help you discover the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have health and dental coverage.

Open Enrollment is going on now.

Enroll by December 15 for coverage that begins January 1. Enroll by January 15 for coverage that begins February 1.

Learn more, explore your options and enroll at AccessHealthCT.com.

Questions about your bill?

Yale New Haven Hospital is pleased to offer patients and their families financial counseling regarding their hospital bills or the availability of financial assistance, including free care funds. By appointment, patients can speak one-on-one with a financial counselor during regular business hours. For your convenience, extended hours are available in-person at Yale New Haven Hospital once a month.

Dates: Nov. 17, 2025, Dec. 15, 2025, and Jan. 20, 2026

Time: 5 - 7 pm

Location: Children’s Hospital, 35 Park St., 1st floor, Admitting

Parking available (handicapped accessible)

An appointment is necessary. Please call 855-547-4584. Spanish-speaking counselors available.

Hundreds Line Up For SNAP-Gap Help

by Mona Mahadevan

Michelle Robertson spent two hours in Fair Haven on Monday morning waiting for a $75 grocery voucher, as she needs to free enough cash to pay for the medications that treat her osteoporosis and cancer.

She was one of hundreds of food stamp recipients who turned to the Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) after the nation’s largest food assistance program lapsed. To support their patients through the crisis, FHCHC is offering $75 grocery vouchers to 100 people facing food insecurity every weekday.

FHCHC is one of dozens of nonprofits across the city stepping up for the 30,750 New Haveners who receive benefits from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps.

After two federal courts ruled that the Trump administration is legally obligated to fund SNAP through the shutdown, the administration said they’d make partial payments through November but declined to say when the funds would be disbursed.

Mayor Justin Elicker issued a press release following the news, describing the step as positive but insufficient.

“It’s critical that SNAP benefits are fully funded — not only for this month, but in perpetuity. The Trump Administration needs to stop weaponizing hunger and threatening to starve children, seniors, and families,” he wrote.

Elicker said that $215,000 had been raised through the Neighbors United Emergency Response Fund, launched on Friday. “I continue to encourage individuals, organizations and businesses who have the means to donate and volunteer,” wrote the mayor. “It’s making a real difference.”

On Monday, hundreds of people lined up for a voucher at FHCHC’s clinic, located at 374 Grand Ave. Staff handed out 65 more vouchers than planned, or 165 in total, to meet the need. Even with the extra vouchers, said CEO Suzanne Lagarde, FHCHC had to turn away dozens of people and ask them to return later in the week.

Until SNAP benefits are reinstated, Lagarde said FHCHC would continue distributing vouchers — so long as they have the resources to do so.

Robertson, a born-and-bred New Havener, feels “scared” when she thinks about her finances. Her Social Security payments are usually sufficient to cover her medications, but without SNAP, she’s wondering if she’ll have to allocate some of those funds towards groceries.

She’s planning to spend her voucher at Fair Haven’s Key Foods. She’ll need to buy calcium-rich products for her osteoporosis, with the rest of her money split among inexpensive meats, vegetables, and breads. To help the money stretch, she’s planning to eat a simple soup with crackers for multiple days. Robertson, tearing up, said, “It’s getting rough.” She wishes she could tell the gov-

ernment to “make peace, whatever the problem is,” or at least to “stop taking it out on us.”

After standing in line for two hours, Robertson’s body ached with pain.

A few dozen people ahead of Robertson on Monday, Katrina Tate described the “struggle meals” that she’s planning to make: spaghetti, empanadas, Chef Boyardee, and anything with rice.

She’s hopeful that she can stretch the $75 through the week, but “prices are high,” and she’ll need enough food to feed her 10-year-old godson and elderly husband.

It “helps a lot” to get relief from the voucher, she said, but she’s still facing an impossible question: “What’s more important? Paying a bill or buying food?”

The “shutdown is affecting everybody,” said Robertson, but the government “doesn’t care.” To the 42 million Americans facing food insecurity, she emphasized, “There’s no shame in asking for help.”

Amarilys Perez was one of the last people to receive a voucher on Monday. In Spanish, she said she has two children, including a four-year-old daughter with severe autism. Because of her daughter’s medical appointments, she’s only able to work three days per week.

Ready. Set. Read!

by Maya McFadden

Second-grade teacher Sydney Cervero knows her students well — she’s been with them since first grade.

So when they came back from King/Robinson School’s latest outdoor “kindness march” still full of excitement, she channeled their energy into a reading challenge. That was the scene in Cervero’s second-grade classroom at King/Robinson Friday morning. After Cervero’s 18 students returned from the school’s kindness march, she was met with the task of getting the class to repurpose their morning of cheering and chanting to focused page-turning.

Cervero did so by immediately challenging her students with adding a minute to their sustained silent reading (SSR) time.

Each day, Cervero tasks her students with reading independently for longer and longer periods of time, with the end goal of 30 minutes of uninterrupted independent reading in class. If the students are able to reach that goal, Cervero plans to host a pizza party for them.

She usually receives over $500 in food stamps per month, rarely enough to feed her family given how expensive groceries have become. Her living expenses have also risen, she said, now that she has to heat her home.

She pointed out that local grocers in Fair Haven, where the voucher is valid, tend to be on the expensive side — especially at the start of the month, when they jack up prices to take advantage of customers having just received their benefits. Several other people in line said they’d observed the same pricing pattern at local grocers.

While the whole situation is “horrible,” she said she’s trying to have a good attitude. “We’ll just wait and see what happens.” But if the shutdown lasts through the winter, she’s not sure how she’ll find the time and transportation to keep lining up for vouchers and food pantries.

“Even at the baseline,” said Lagarde, there’s “food insecurity” in Fair Haven. For her and the FHCHC, it was a “no brainer” to fund a voucher program after food stamps lapsed.

Maggie Moffett, FHCHC’s Chief Advancement Officer, agreed. “For so many of our patients,” she said, “SNAP is the difference between food and no food.”

The routine challenge helped the class to return back to using their inside voices.

“They’re committed to getting to 30 minutes so it felt like a good thing to return to after the parade,” she said.

The day before the class independently read for six minutes, meaning on Friday they had to read for seven minutes without interruptions.

As Cervero handed students their individual reading bags with books of their liking, students also grabbed “reading finger” props and plastic phones to use while reading.

“Find a comfy spot where you can read for seven minutes,” she called out to the students.

Cervero, a third-year teacher, looped into second grade this year to stay with her students who were first-graders last year. “I saw how much growth they made this year so I wanted to stay with them,” she said.

Cervero introduced the class SSR challenge because while she could get her students to read she said she felt students weren’t doing so intentionally. So the class went book shopping and filled their reading bags with books they looked forward to reading.

Now Cervero’s goal is to improve her students’ comprehension and reading fluency.

“I love how Chloe was reading so nicely,” Cervero called out as students turned their book pages.

While reading, students used a hollowed-out finger to point to their respective books’ words as they read. Others used plastic phones to silently read aloud to themselves because “when they hear themselves, they recognize more words and improve their fluency,” Cervero said.

During Friday’s SSR time Cervero had to add a minute to the seven-minute timer after students headed off to the reading spots they had selected.

After the class’s SSR time, students went through a math refresher on adding two-digit numbers like they learned in first grade.

Cervero set her clock timer on her white board for ten minutes and some students found a place on the classroom rug while others chose to remain in their seats.

Before starting the lesson, the class took a moment to listen to the school’s announcements for its “jag-tag” raffle on the loud speaker. Two students from each class are picked for the raffle and receive their prize from school admin in the front office.

On Friday, Cervero’s second-graders Alexa and Julian won the raffle and each picked up a sensory toy of their own. Cervero then returned to the day’s math lesson. She asked the class what a two-digit number is. One student answered, “A number with tens in it.”

The class then read aloud the problem: “Maria reads for 38 minutes. Then she reads for 45 minutes. How many total minutes does Maria read?”

The students looked to the back of the classroom where a poster hung helping them to identify key words for knowing when to add versus subtract. Once spotting the word “total,” under addition on the poster, they quickly agreed addition was the way to go.

They then worked through the word problem by breaking the numbers down the three tens and eight ones in 38 and four tens and five ones in 45. They then added them each together to find their answer. Not only were Friday’s core lessons ones that extend beyond Cervero’s classroom, but last month, the class did a spotted lanternfly project after second-grader Bryce discovered the school’s courtyard was home to the invasive flying bug. The students worked in groups to create different bug traps, some using vinegar, water, and dish soap. They tested which of the traps caught the most.

Second-grader Chloe, classroom reader.

Elizabeth Parraga and her one-year-old daughter, Chloe Bravo, waited in line.

Michelle Robertson and Felicia Bouknight spent hours in line Monday morning. Credit: MONA MAHADEVAN PHOTO

The New Haven independent

• Cremation (Choose to be cremated at Evergreen.)

• Columbarium in the Most Beautiful Cremation Garden

• Reserve your Niche in a secure location pre-need.

• Reserve a Niche for family and friends or purchase at-need to safely place your Loved One in the Columbarium.

• Burial Lots (infant, single, two-grave, or four-grave)

• Monuments & Markers (black, gray, or pink granite)

• Flower placement (single or multiple placement)

• All orders can be placed at the Evergreen office or the website.

Teachers Rally For Fair Contract At School Board’s Door

by Maya McFadden

More than 200 city teachers rallied for lower class sizes, well-maintained and safe schools, and fully resourced classrooms now that union contract negotiations have begun.

That rally took place Monday afternoon in the King/Robinson School parking lot, right before the latest regular full Board of Education meeting, which was also held at King/Robinson.

Teachers represented by Local 933, the New Haven Federation of Teachers (NHFT), joined with students, parents, the New Haven Immigrants Coalition, retired educators, and neighbors to ask the school board to help “deliver worldclass schools.”

NHFT President Leslie Blatteau said in order to deliver world-class schools, educators need a fair contract because “teachers want what students need.”

The union’s current contract is set to expire on June 30, 2026. That deal included a nearly 15 percent pay hike over the term of its three years, and saw starting salaries for new New Haven teachers who have a bachelor’s degree rise to $51,421.

With a megaphone in hand Monday, High School in the Community teacher Ben Scudder chanted, “1,2,3,4,” and the crowd called back, “We won’t take it anymore.” Scudder continued with, “5,6,7,8,” which prompted the response, “Come on board, negotiate.”

Speaker after speaker declared that Monday’s rally for a fair contract is a fight to protect and improve the public schools. While not all attendees signed in Monday, 249 people did.

Scudder listed off the union’s requests for contractual language that will lower class sizes, require school buildings to be safe and well-maintained for staff and students, support fully resourced classrooms, and implement safety protocols for immigrant students.

New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) spokesperson Justin Harmon told the Independent that the district has no comment on the teacher contract negotiations.

Mayor Justin Elicker, who is also a voting member of the Board of Education and appoints four of the seven fellow voting members, joined Monday’s crowd to listen for several minutes as speakers like Vandy Esposito, who works as a library media specialist at Nathan Hale, described feeling like the school district sees her as expendable

Esposito has worked in New Haven for 20 years. She said she was devastated when she and her colleagues were almost on the chopping block last year when the superintendent considered plans to cut all district librarians. Her husband is also an educator and her daughter is an NHPS graduate who plans to come back and work in New Haven after college. “We took it very hard,” she said. “It made it very clear to me and to those others in

my position that the city and the district do not feel the commitment toward us teachers or to our students as we do to them.”

She added that when the school district hosted a gathering at Lighthouse Park for teachers to kick off the start of the school year, it should have first considered what teachers preferred to spend their time doing instead. “The vast majority of people voted that we wanted to be in our classrooms” instead of going to a kickoff event at 9 in the morning, she said.

Several community members brought complaints to the Board of Education about how money should have gone toward classrooms and school buildings rather than towards the Lighthouse Park event. The superintendent later clarified that NHPS did not spend any of its funding on the back-to-school teacher event, and that it was funded through community partners.

In response to Monday’s rally, Elicker told the Independent that he agrees that teachers should be paid more, class sizes should be smaller, and buildings should be maintained. “We really want our salaries to be higher for all New Haven public school employees, it’s the same for paraprofessionals. The question is, how do we pay for it?”

He recalled last year’s work done by city leaders, unions, and the school com-

munities to push the state to increase public school funding. He also spoke about the city’s allocation of funding to NHPS increasing by over 50 percent over the past five years. “We need to continue to work on the state and Yale University to contribute more to the city. Ultimately, taxes are quite high in New Haven, and these are about hard decisions. We’d love to pay people more, but it’s hard to.”

He concluded that the school board cares about each of the goals set forth by the union but noted that they all take funding, with the exception of the request for contractual language immigrant students. “It takes more funding to have smaller classrooms. I don’t just see that as mayor, I see that as a parent of two daughters that go to New Haven public schools.”

Blatteau set the scene Monday that not only are educators having to rally for a fair contract while grades are due and after working all day long in classrooms and in meetings, but also while “working people are under attack by an authoritarian federal government.”

Since January, Blatteau said, the union has been identifying members’ problems that impact the schools in order to present solutions during the negotiation process. She said problems arose over the summer with educator salaries that “lessened” because of increased insur-

ance costs. She said dozens of educators reported receiving less this year than they did last year because of insurance increases that the city or union cannot control. “We are sick and tired of doing a job that costs us money. We are buying our own supplies, we have to get master’s degrees, and now our insurance costs so much it takes away our raise,” she said.

The solution, Blatteau said, is the Connecticut Partnership Plan. “We are worth it. We are very excited to continue to work at the negotiating table to secure this and get a quick TA [tentative agreement] tomorrow and lock it in that New Haven is going for the state partnership plan so that teachers can feel the respect and feel the security and not feel like, ‘Oh my God, am I going to get a raise?'” she said.

Other speakers at Monday’s rally called for the district to make a publicly available transparent school budget that is collaboratively created. They also called for fully staffed school buildings and competitive wages.

Gillian Lynch, a 14-year teaching veteran who teaches music at Nathan Hale, said she is tired of being told as an educator, “do it for the kids,” while also trying to make enough money to support her family. She called for educators to receive hazard pay to keep building maintenance addressed with urgency,

bereavement time, stipends for after hours work, caseload caps, and more planning time.

She added that cost-free proposals like unencumbered time at the start of the year to prepare for students and scheduled collaborative time, academic freedom to supplement curriculums, and language in contracts that protect LGBTQ and immigrant students.

“What is the message to the Board of Education? We need you to do it for the kids,” she said.

High School in the Community seniors Diana Robles, Japhet Gonzales, Justin Welch and sophomore Leo Moore agreed on Monday that they constantly see their educators fight for them and so they too want to fight for teachers to get a fair contract.

“Teachers are critical for this country,” Welch said. “It’s the building blocks for someone to become an adult. And if teachers don’t have the proper resources, then students themselves can’t grow to be the person they can be.”

Robles concluded, “We’re here because we want to be. A lot of people get that confused and think we’re here because our teachers force us to be here or because we get influenced by them. No, we are just simply educated and knowledgeable about what’s going on and that’s why we’re showing up because we truly care.”

Teachers union members who are part of the contract negotiating crew. Credit: Maya McFadden Photo

The New Haven independent

by Dollitta Okine, Face2FaceAfrica.com

Elizabeth Abunaw has found her purpose in a career she never thought she would have. She recently opened her business, “Forty Acres Fresh Market,” in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. She told the Chicago Tribune, “I didn’t dream of becoming a grocer, I wanted to be an MTV DJ.”

“But I think a good business should solve a problem.”

Forty Acres, an extension of Abunaw’s community-focused initiative, now provides fresh produce through home deliveries and pop-up markets. This new brick-and-mortar establishment stands as Chicago’s sole Blackowned grocery store, a fact Abunaw is keen to emphasize.

“Anyone can shop at Forty Acres, but make no mistake about it, I created this store as a Black woman for a Black neighborhood,” Abunaw said.

She specifically chose a name that meant something special to Black communities, nodding to “40 acres and a mule.” This phrase reminds people of the U.S. government’s broken promise to give land to formerly enslaved people after the Civil War, a decision that left Black Americans without land and pushed many into sharecropping. Over time, the phrase became a strong symbol of unfairness and missed chances. A local art student even designed the store’s logo, which features a mule.

“Ultimately, the beginnings of food come from the earth. So the name Forty Acres is rooted in agriculture, which is the basis of food, and it is a very specific reference for a very specific people,” she said.

The New York native went to Cornell University and then spent ten years at General Mills before moving to Chicago. While there, she went to business school at Booth, and that’s when she started thinking about her grocery store, Forty Acres.

During her studies, Abunaw also worked for Microsoft and lived in the South Loop, where she noticed tons of grocery stores like Target, Trader Joe’s, and Jewel. But when she visited the Austin neighborhood, she needed cash and couldn’t find a bank. She tried to find a grocery store where she could buy something and get cash back, but there just weren’t any in the area.

“That’s when the ‘wheel started to turn’—something that I thought would be simple, wasn’t simple. What is this?” Abunaw said. “When I live in these predominantly white

areas, I can find whatever I want, but now in a Black neighborhood, I can’t? It’s just harder.”

After being laid off from Microsoft, Abunaw revisited a concept she first explored in Austin in the fall of 2016. Leveraging her grocery expertise, she launched Forty Acres’ initial pop-up market in 2018 at the Sankofa Cultural Arts Center, bringing affordable fresh produce to the West Side.

“I always say, ‘When the only tool in your tool belt is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.’ And the only tool in my tool belt seems to be grocery,” Abunaw laughed, joking that she came to Chicago “to get the (expletive) out of grocery.”

The building on Waller and Chicago Avenue took about five years to be converted into a grocery store after a Healthy Food Financing Initiative Grant kicked things off. Many factors delayed the opening, but between zoning issues, permits, designing, and redesigning, it wasn’t anything she hadn’t expected, Abunaw said. Some community members later assumed that city officials were delaying its opening.

“We bought the building in 2020, and like an idiot, I announced, ‘Oh, look at this building that we just got, in one year it’s gonna be a grocery store!’

When I posted that in November 2020, a year later, nothing had happened,”

Abunaw said. “But there’s nothing the mayor or the alderman can do about the condition of this building.”

Construction began in late 2023.

Forty Acres secured $750,000 from an Illinois program whose aim is to bring grocery stores in food deserts. Abunaw used the funds for operational costs like labor and inventory.

The building, a former Salvation Army center jointly bought by Abunaw and Westside Health Authority, required

extensive renovations—including adding windows, reconfiguring entrances, opening walls, relocating the pump room, building a loading dock, and creating a landscape island—all necessitating permits.

“It took long because it took long,” she said with a laugh.

Forty Acres Fresh Market officially opened its doors on September 27 after a successful soft launch earlier in the month. This initial period allowed the team to refine operations and understand customer preferences.

Abunaw stressed that the store’s main objective is to improve access to fresh, healthy food in an underserved

area with limited choices. She noted that the goal is not to completely eliminate food insecurity in Austin or the West Side.

“Food insecurity is different than food access, and I think that people flip the two all the time,” she said. “I think that people exaggerate that Austin has no grocery stores; (people) not liking them is a different thing.”

Abunaw’s store prioritizes both food and nutrition access, featuring a dedicated nutrition corner near the checkout. This initiative, in collaboration with Foodsmart (a national tele-nutrition and foodcare platform), provides customers with nutrition guidance,

HEAD START PROGRAM

ENROLLMENT

Available spots for Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 at Dr. Reginald Mayo, John S. Martinez and other neighborhood schools, for the 2025-2026 school year. To apply visit 54 Meadow Street New Haven or online at nhps.net.

seasonal recipe cards, access to registered dietitians, and information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“If customers don’t have SNAP, or they don’t know if they’re eligible, they can literally just walk two feet and come to us and learn,” said Ellie Logue, Foodsmart’s director of community engagement, who managed the nutrition corner’s build-out.

Forty Acres, according to Abunaw, is a business-driven initiative rather than an idealistic endeavor to “solve hunger.” She claimed to be filling a market void intensified by racial disparities among Chicago’s neighborhoods.

“If Forty Acres is successful, yes, there will be a social impact to it,” she said.

Elizabeth Abunaw

Black Women for Wellness Action Project Pushes ‘Yes on Prop 50’ as California Decides Its Future

By Niele Anderson, BPUSA Contributor

Black women are disproportionately impacted by healthcare due to systemic inequities, resulting in higher maternal mortality rates, disparities in accessing care, and negative experiences with providers.

This is why the California-based Black Women for Wellness Action Project (BWWAP) exists. The organization's commitment to understanding and elevating the health needs of Black women has earned it a reputation as a policy expert in California.

Each year, they sponsor several pieces of state legislation and collaborate with activists and elected allies to secure the passage of these bills into law. They hold elected leaders accountable for addressing the health needs of Black women while also advocating for equity and representation.

The organization's website states, "Systemic racism and sexism have deep roots, showing up in the policies that influence Black women's health. BWWAP challenges these systems of oppression by shifting the power dynamics that routinely disadvantage women and Black people."

BWWAP's goal is simple, to use policy, electoral advocacy, and the power of narrative to reimagine a just new future

where Black women and girls thrive.

This is why BWWAP supports California Governor Gavin Newsom's endorsement of ‘yes’ on Prop 50. The proposition is a response to what the state claims is Donald Trump and Texas Republicans' attempt at an unprecedented power grab to steal congressional seats and rig the 2026 election before voting even begins.

"California is acting in a moment of urgency," according to BWWAP leadership. "A time when the rules of engagement have changed and our court systems are compromised by lawsuits that should never have been our only recourse. The United States is in a moment where the federal government is being dismantled from public health, education, and jus-

tice departments to experienced public servants being sidelined in favor of loyalists to a person who has not earned that loyalty."

Prop 50 proposes new lines for many of California's 52 congressional districts, which would negate the five Republican seats drawn by Texas. Democrats could gain up to five additional seats in the U.S.

House of Representatives under the proposed lines. With a majority in the House, Democrats can effectively oppose Trump and the MAGA agenda of the Republicans.

The current government shutdown is a direct result of Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress. A major reason for the shutdown is the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Republicans aim to dismantle it, and Democrats seek to preserve what many affectionately call Obamacare.

The ACA is former President Obama's historic legislation, and it helps Black women by expanding insurance coverage, increasing access to no-cost preventive services, and protecting against pre-existing conditions.

It has led to a significant decrease in the uninsured rate for Black women, a reduction in cost-related barriers to care, and improved access to essential services like cancer screenings and contraception. Between 2010 and 2014, the uninsured rate for Black women dropped by 36 percent. This is why BWWAP says yes on Prop 50. Over the weekend, the organization is intensifying its efforts to educate and engage voters to ensure that California is fully informed about the measure and has a voting plan for Nov 4.

Co-Host BPUSA—Let it Be Known News Multimedia Journalist / Culture Curator niele@plbmediainc.com

Keke Palmer’s KeyTV Sparks Debate With ‘Southern Fried Rice’

Written by Hype Hair, courtesy of HBCUNews.com

When Keke Palmer’s digital network, KeyTV, premiered the new series Southern Fried Rice, the trailer immediately sparked online conversations. The show follows KoKo Johnson (played by Page Yang), a Korean-American woman raised by Southern Black parents, as she begins her freshman year at Wright University, a fictional historically Black college (HBCU) in Atlanta.

The series was created and written by Nakia Stephens, a graduate of Savannah State University, and directed by Shayla Racquel, an alumna of Florida A&M University. The cast includes Kordell Beckham, Love Island Season 6 Winner (in his scripted debut), Choyce Brown, Ashley India, Jada Lewis, and Shaun Rose. The project is streaming on Palmer’s KeyTV, which aims to elevate underrepresented voices and new creative talent within the Black entertainment industry.

Only two episodes of Southern Fried Rice have been released so far, streaming via KeyTV’s YouTube channel.

The HBCU Experience and Why It

Matters

For many, the HBCU experience represents far more than a college education. It’s a cultural community. Historically Black Colleges and Universities have

long been spaces where Black identity is celebrated, protected, and redefined, creating environments where students can thrive without the additional pressures of racial marginalization.

That’s why, when a new show sets its story at an HBCU, the expectations run deep. Classic series like A Different World, starring Lisa Bonet, set a high bar for authentic and respectful portrayals of HBCU life. It amazingly captured the look, feel, and cultural significance of HBCUs. A Different World also explored the non-black experience at HBCUs through Marisa Tomei’s character, but her storylines were often secondary to the central narratives focused on the Black students. Audiences continue to seek the same balance between storytelling that honors the aesthetic and the emotional truth of the HBCU experience.

Why People Are Having An Issue

The premise of Southern Fried Rice centers a non-Black character raised in a Black family and attending an HBCU, and has subsequently drawn mixed reactions. Some viewers have voiced discomfort, wondering if such a narrative might unintentionally shift the focus away from the Black experience within a space built to affirm it.

Others wonder if the show will fully explore HBCU life or simply place the story there without reflecting its real meaning and community. The critique isn’t just

about the storyline; it reflects the question of representation: when stories depict Black spaces, who gets to tell them, and through what lens?

Why Others Like It

Supporters argue that Southern Fried Rice offers a fresh, layered approach to themes of belonging and cross-cultural identity. By showing a Korean American woman raised in a Black household navigating an HBCU community, the se-

ries has the potential to explore universal questions of self-identity and where home is.

Creator Nakia Stephens shared that her goal was to reflect the complexity of existing between cultures:

“I wanted to tell a story that speaks to what it feels like to exist between cultures — to love where you come from while still figuring out where you belong.”

Stephens also responded directly to criticism on X (formerly Twitter) before

deleting her account amid backlash. On October 22, she wrote:

“It’s literally a Black show produced by Black people. You call to ‘cancel’ an indie show that employed hundreds of Black filmmakers, stars 99% Black people, and [is] powered by Black women.”

While the tweet has since been deleted, her message underscored the show’s Black creative foundation and her frustration with calls for cancellation.

Keke Palmer similarly encouraged audiences to approach the project with openness:

“Look, what you like is subjective, but the support of Black creatives is not… So, whether you like it all or some or none, I say give these creators a chance to grow as we continue to grow in supporting them.”

The Creator’s Inspiration

Stephens, who attended Savannah State University, has described Southern Fried Rice as a decade-long vision. The story was inspired by the real-life experiences of non-Black students in navigating both cultural connections and differences.

“Southern Fried Rice is 10-plus years in the making,” she shared. “I saw how hard and challenging and fun and beautiful it was for them to do so, and that sparked my curiosity and honestly planted the seed for the show.”

She emphasized that many of the show’s cast and crew are HBCU alumni who

BWWAP, Healthcare, Obamacare, Prop 50, MOMNIBUS Black Women, Affordable Care Act, Redistricting, California, Texas, Democrat, Republican, Elections, GOTV, Black Women For Wellness Action Project

25 States Suing Trump USDA for Gutting Food Aid to 40 million Americans

By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Correspondent

Twenty-five attorneys general across the country and three governors have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Secretary, Brooke Rollins, after the agency moved to suspend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, which helps more than 40 million Americans buy food each month.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, argues that Rollins and the USDA unlawfully halted the program despite having billions of dollars in contingency funds that Congress specifically approved for emergencies like the current federal government shutdown. It names both the USDA and the Office of Management and Budget, led by Russell Vought, as defendants, accusing them of violating federal law and the Administrative Procedure Act by arbitrarily denying food assistance to millions of people who depend on it. “SNAP is the largest anti-hunger program in D.C., and if these cuts are allowed to go through, tens of thousands of District children, seniors, and families will be unable to afford food,” said District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb. “The adverse downstream impacts on public health, education, and public safety will be immediate, catastrophic, and irreparable. Additionally, the economic impact on our local business community will be severe as hundreds of SNAP retailers, including many that op-

erate in food deserts, will lose a vital revenue stream. If these stores are forced to close, even non-SNAP recipients will lose access to critical sources of food.”

According to the complaint, the USDA ordered states on October 24 to suspend all November SNAP benefit allotments until further notice, claiming insufficient funding due to the lapse in congressional appropriations. But attorneys general in 25 jurisdictions argue that the agency’s

position is both unlawful and immoral, as Congress has already provided two separate $3 billion contingency reserves specifically to cover such emergencies. The complaint further alleges that the USDA has tapped other emergency funds to reopen farm service offices and finance other programs during the shutdown, while refusing to use similar funds to feed families. For the District of Columbia and so many others, the impact will be dev-

astating. In fiscal year 2025, an average of 141,000 D.C. residents relied on SNAP each month, including 47,000 children and 24,000 elderly individuals. The suspension will also cripple the local economy. More than 420 local retailers, including over 320 small “mom and pop” stores operating in food deserts, depend heavily on SNAP purchases. Many already run on razor-thin margins, and without those sales, they risk permanent closure.

The coalition argues that the USDA’s decision defies decades of precedent. During every prior government shutdown, SNAP has continued to operate, and the agency has always used available funds to prevent hunger. This is the first time in history that benefits have been interrupted since the program’s inception in 1964. The 51-page lawsuit paints a dire picture. It notes that even as the USDA claims poverty, its contingency accounts hold billions of unused dollars, including a $23 billion “Section 32” fund drawn from customs receipts and agricultural tariffs. The agency recently used part of that fund to cover the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program through October, but refused to extend the same courtesy to SNAP recipients. The suit argues that this selective funding violates both federal law and the agency’s duty to act rationally and in good faith.

Food banks, many already overwhelmed, are bracing for surges in demand. Governors in several plaintiff states, including California and Minnesota, have already deployed emergency funds to keep families fed. Schwalb warned that the consequences go beyond hunger. “The ripple effects of this decision will reach every corner of our city,” he said. “Children who are hungry cannot learn, seniors will face life-threatening health risks, and small businesses will go under. This fight is about basic human decency and about keeping food on the table for those who need it most.”

California’s Proposition 50: A Quiet Rebellion Against the Rigged Game

By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Correspondent

In a political season defined by distrust, Californians did something rare on Tuesday night. They stood up for democracy. Proposition 50, approved by a wide margin, was more than a ballot measure. It was a statement of intent. Voters sent a message that when the system begins to fracture, citizens still have the power to restore it.

The initiative gives California’s Democratic-controlled legislature the authority to draw new congressional maps, replacing those crafted by the state’s independent redistricting commission. The goal is to counterbalance Republican gerrymanders in states such as Texas, Florida, and North Carolina. Analysts say the move could deliver as many as five additional Democratic seats in the U.S. House next year, a shift that could alter control of Congress. Gov. Gavin Newsom saw the fight over Proposition 50 as both political and moral. He warned that while one side manipulates the system, the other cannot simply play by old rules. “Donald Trump is trying to rig the midterm elections before one single vote is even cast,” Newsom said. He called on Democrats in other states to “meet this moment head on.”

Former President Barack Obama added his voice to the debate. “Republicans

want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years,” he said. The message landed with voters who have watched Trump’s party gain influence despite repeated national defeats. Opponents framed Proposition 50 as an overreach. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the

former Republican governor who championed California’s original independent redistricting system, accused Newsom of taking power away from voters. Republicans warned that Democrats were undermining the very process they once defended. Yet many Californians viewed the measure differently. They saw it as a

necessary countermeasure in a political landscape where fair play had already been abandoned.

Siddhartha Deb, a newly registered voter, captured that sentiment. “I don’t like the way the Republican Party is basically trying to rig elections by gerrymandering,” he said. “And this is the only way, to fight fire with fire.” For Democrats, the stakes could not be higher. Proposition 50 represents both a practical and symbolic stand against the erosion of representative government. “When Donald Trump started ordering his Republican lackeys to save his fading power by rigging the midterms, he didn’t realize he’d be up against a new Democratic Party,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said. “We don’t roll over when one team refuses to play by the rules. We fight back. Trump got his showdown, and tonight, we met him in the arena. Californians stood up, rallied together, and passed Proposition 50 to make sure voters, not Donald Trump, decide who represents them in Congress.”

Martin called the victory “a testament to the leadership of Governor Newsom and Democrats across California who refused to back down.” He said, “When we fight, we win, and from Day One, the DNC has been proud to stand right there alongside Californians to defend democracy and deliver a message that echoes nationwide.”

EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler praised the initiative and the women who helped lead it. “California voters sent a clear message. Republicans will not get away with manipulating the midterms in order to maintain their grip on power,” she said. “Strong women leaders will be key to flipping the House districts drawn by Proposition 50. EMILYs List is already working with the women best equipped to win these districts, take back the majority, and put a stop to Republicans’ barrage of attacks on Americans’ lives.” For Newsom and his allies, the passage of Proposition 50 represents a reassertion of democratic will in a time of democratic decay. It is not the work of idealists, but of pragmatists who believe the only way to preserve fairness is to confront those who manipulate it. It is also a reflection of how deeply voters have grown weary of the gamesmanship that dominates national politics. Californians voted not just to redraw maps, but to redraw the moral boundaries of the fight for democracy. The initiative may shift a few seats in Congress, but its real meaning lies in its message. It declares that the will of the people cannot be quietly rewritten by power.

In the end, Proposition 50 was less about partisanship than about preservation. Democracy, Californians decided, is still worth the fight.

SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is shown using the text . SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families in US

(Photo by Andrii Dodonov)

Sacramento California outside the capital building

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ELM CITY COMMUNITIES/HOUSING

AUTHORITY OF NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH)

MOVING TO WORK (MTW) FY2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Section II and Section VII of the Authority's Moving to Work Agreement {the "Agreement") requires that before the Agency can file its Approved Annual Moving to Work Report and Report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (the "HUD") that it must conduct a public hearing, consider comments from the public on the proposed amendments, obtain approval from the Board of Commissioners, and submit the amendments to HUD.

The thirty (30) days comment period begins on Monday, November 3, 2025, to Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Copies of the Moving to Work (MTW) FY2025 Report, will be made available on the agency website www.elmcitycommunities.org, via Facebook www. facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities or via Instagram, elmcitycommunities_hanh.

You are invited to provide written comments addressed to: ECC/HANH, Moving to Work FY2025 Annual Report, Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, Director of Compliance and Moving to Work Initiatives. 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 or via email to: eribeiro@ elmcitycommunities.org.

Pursuant to said Sections II and VII), a public hearing where public comments will be accepted and recorded is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, 2025, 3:00pm, via TEAMS:

Meeting ID: 265 634 263 754 1

Passcode: Ng6E4ny9 Dial in by phone

+1 872-240-4494,361153891# United States, Chicago Find a local number Phone conference ID: 361 153 891#

Any individual requiring a Reasonable Accommodation to participate in the hearing may call the Resident Compliance and Support Manager at (203) 498-8800, ext. 3170 or at the TDD Number (203) 497-8434.

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA PARA LA AUTORIDAD DE VIVIENDA/ COMUNIDADES DE ELM CITY DE NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) INFORME ANUAL DE TRABAJO (MTW) DEL AÑO FISCAL 2025

Las Secciones II y VII del Acuerdo de Trabajo de la Autoridad (el "Acuerdo") exigen que, antes de que la Agencia pueda presentar su Informe Anual Aprobado de Trabajo e Informe al Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos (el "HUD"), realice una audiencia pública, considere los comentarios del público sobre las enmiendas propuestas, obtenga la aprobación de la Junta de Comisionados y presente las enmiendas al HUD. El período de treinta (30) días para presentar comentarios comienza el Lunes 3 de Noviembre de 2025 y finaliza el Martes 2 de Diciembre de 2025. Se publicarán copias del Informe de Movilización Laboral (MTW) del año fiscal 2025 en el sitio web de la agencia, www.elmcitycommunities.org, en Facebook, www.facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities, o en Instagram, elmcitycommunities_hanh. Le invitamos a enviar sus comentarios por escrito a: ECC/HANH, Informe Anual de Movilización Laboral del Año Fiscal 2025, a la atención de: Evelise Ribeiro, Directora de Cumplimiento e Iniciativas de Movilización Laboral, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511, o por correo electrónico a: eribeiro@ elmcitycommunities.org.

De conformidad con las Secciones II y VII, se ha programado una audiencia pública para el Jueves 20 de Noviembre de 2025, 3:00pm, donde se aceptarán y grabarán comentarios del público, a través de TEAMS: ID de la reunión: 265 634 263 754 1 Código de acceso: Ng6E4ny9 Llamar por teléfono +1 872-240-4494,361153891# Estados Unidos, Chicago Buscar un número local ID de la conferencia telefónica: 361 153 891#

Cualquier persona que requiera una adaptación razonable para participar en la audiencia puede llamar al Gerente de Cumplimiento y Apoyo a Residentes al (203) 498-8800, ext. 3170 o al número TDD (203) 497-8434.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Request for Proposals

The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Proposals for Pay Per Use Laundry Services

A complete copy of the requirements may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Monday, November 3, 2025 at 3:00PM

360 Management Group

Invitation for Bids

Agency Wide Snow Removal Services

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

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

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Request for Proposals

Brokerage/Agent of Record Consulting Services for Insurance Benefits

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

November 3, 2025 at 3:00PM

Elm City Communities dba The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven (ECC/ HANH) is seeking quotes from qualified contractors to perform snow removal services. A complete copy of the requirements may be obtained from ECC/HANH’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

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

METERING SUPERVISOR

The Town of Wallingford, CT is accepting applications for Metering Supervisor. Wages: $115,203 to $144,003 annually. For additional information and to apply online be the November 4, 2025 closing date, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

PUBLIC WORKS MAINTAINER II

The Town of Wallingford Department of Public Works has openings for Maintainer II. Applicants should possess 2 years’ experience as a laborer in construction work involving the operation and care of trucks and other mechanical equipment, or 2 years training in one of the skilled trades and 1 year of experience in construction operations, or an equivalent combination of experience and training. A valid (CDL) Class B or higher is required. $24.87 - $29.16 hourly plus retirement plan, paid sick and vacation time, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, family medical & dental insurance, and promotional opportunities. To apply online by the closing date of September 12, 2025, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/de partments/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

Galasso Materials LLC,

a quarry and paving contractor, has positions open for the upcoming construction season. We are seeking candidates for a variety of positions, including: Scalehouse Dispatcher/ Equipment Operators and Laborers. NO PHONE CALLS. Please mail resume and cover letter to “Hiring Manager”, Galasso Materials LLC, PO Box 1776, East Granby CT 06026.

Galasso Materials is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status

The Glendower Group Request for Proposals

Project Manager 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, October 8, 2025, at 3:00PM.

Listing: Technician Apprentice

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

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

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Secretary 1 (Confidential) in the Office of Labor Relations.

Custodian

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

The Town of Wallingford, CT is accepting applications for Metering Supervisor. Wages: $115,203 to $144,003 annually. For additional information and to apply online be the November 4, 2025 closing date, please visit: www.wallingfordct.gov/government/departments/human-resources/. Applications are also available at the Department of Human Resources located in Room #301 of the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

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

CONTACT GUILLERMO BENDANA, PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST AT GBENDA@NORWALKHA.ORG PROPOSALS ARE DUE AT 2:00 P.M. ON 11/19/2025.

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

THE GLENDOWER GROUP, INC.

Invitation for Bids

General Contractor for University Row

The Glendower Group, Inc. is currently seeking bids for General Contractor for University Row. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Glendower’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday , October 27, 2025, at 3:00PM.

Listing: Commercial Driver

Full Time Class B driver for a fast-paced petroleum company for days and weekends. Previous experience required. Competitive wage, 401(k) and benefits. Send resume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email HRDept@eastriverenergy.com

Affirmative

VERSIÓN REVISADA

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

NOTICE

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA PARA

NOTICE

NOTICE

Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

LA AUTORIDAD DE VIVIENDA DE NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) INFORME ANUAL DE TRABAJO (MTW) DEL AÑO FISCAL 2024

Contact: Tom Dunay Phone: 860- 243-2300

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

La Sección II y la Sección VII del Acuerdo de Trabajo de la Autoridad {el "Acuerdo") exige que antes de que la Agencia pueda presentar su Plan y Informe Anual de Tra bajo Aprobado al Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los EE. UU. (el "HUD"), debe realizar una audiencia pública, considerar los comentarios del público sobre las enmiendas propuestas, obtener la aprobación de la Junta de Comisionados y presentar las enmiendas al HUD.

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks

:

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

El período de comentarios de treinta (30) días comienza el viernes 1 de noviembre de 2024 y finaliza el sábado 30 de noviembre de 2024. Se pondrán a disposición copias del Informe Moving to Work (MTW) del año fiscal 2024 en el sitio web de la agencia www.elmcitycommunities.org o a través de Twitter, www.twitter.com/ECCommunities o a través de Facebook www.facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities. Se le invita a enviar comentarios por escrito dirigidos a: ECC/HANH, Moving to Work FY2024 Annual Report, Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 o por correo electrónico a: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300

NOTICIA

NOTICIA

Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com

NOTICIA

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

De conformidad con las Secciones II y VII mencionadas, se ha programado una audi encia pública en la que se aceptarán y registrarán los comentarios públicos para el lunes 25 de noviembre de 2024 a las 3:00 p. m. a través de RingCentral: https://v.ringcentral. com/join/185686287?pw=d7db4e4f735df6289ed5adfb24f3f113

Union Company seeks:

ID de la reunión: 185686287

Contraseña: yaw6Zk28PK

O marque:

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

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

+12679304000 Estados Unidos (Filadelfia, PA)

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

Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, clean driving record, capable of operating heavy equipment; be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

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

Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com

Código de acceso/ID de la reunión: 185686287

Contraseña de acceso telefónico: 9296952875

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

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

NEW HAVEN

Construction

Cualquier persona que requiera una adaptación razonable para participar en la audien cia puede llamar al Gerente de adaptaciones razonables (203) 498-8800, ext. 1506 o al número TDD (203) 497-8434.mber (203) 497-8434.

NEW HAVEN

NEW HAVEN

242-258 Fairmont Ave

Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 621-1720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

242-258 Fairmont Ave

242-258 Fairmont Ave

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

Listing: Mechanic

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center

Immediate opening for a full-time mechanic; maintenance to be done on commercial diesel trucks and trailers. A valid driver’s license is required in order to run company errands efficiently and safely. Send resume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email hrdept@eastriverenergy.com

Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

Listing: Commercial Driver

***An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans***

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

Continuum of Care, New Haven, Connecticut –

Town of Bloomfield

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR

Senior Sales Representative Wanted

(MTW) FY2024 ANNUAL REPORT

(ECC/HANH)

241 Quinnipiac Avenue, New Haven which are two bedrooms and rent from $1,950-$2,000 and include heat, hot water and cooking gas, private entrance, off street parking and onsite laundry. I have a couple with washer/dryer which are $2,000. Please bill 241 Quinnipiac Avenue, LLC, 111 Roberts Street, Suite G1, East Hartford, CT 06108.

Also, I have a 3 bedroom unit at 254 Fairmont Avenue, New Haven. They rent for $2,050 and the tenant pays all the utilities. Off street parking and private entrance. Section 8 welcomed.

LEGAL NOTICE INVITATION TO BID

Full Time Class B driver for a fast-paced petroleum company for days and week ends. Previous experience required. Competitive wage, 401(k) and benefits. Send resume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 or email HRDept@ eastriverenergy.com

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

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

Also, I have a 2 bedroom at 248 Fairmont Avenue, New Haven. They rent for $1,950.00 and the tenant pays all the utilities. Off street parking and private entrance. Section 8 welcomed.

Advertising and the cultivation of existing and new advertising clients is key to the growth and continued success of The Inner-City News. The paper is delivered weekly to businesses, schools, shopping outlets and wherever newspapers can be found. This is a remote sales position.

Affirmative

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

and

Work closely with the Publisher and editor to create a successf

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

360 Management Group

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

Invitation for Bids

Please bill the Fairmont Avenue to 258 Fairmont Avenue, LLC at the same billing address as 241 Quinnipiac Avenue.

I will be the contact person for them to call at 860-231-8080, ext. 161.

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

Salary (base pay) + Commission to be discussed

Agency Wide Driveway Repair, Milling, Sealcoating and Striping

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

Potential local travel. Senior Sales Representative Qualifications and Skills: Communicates well and has strong written and verbal communicati

360 Management Group is currently seeking bids from qualified contractors to perform Driveway Repair ,Milling, sealcoating and striping on our property’s agency wide. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal. https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway/ beginning Wednesday,

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

LEGAL NOTICE INVITATION TO BID: CONTINUUM OF CARE, NEW HAVEN is requesting licensed and insured contractor bids for their property located at 979 Quin nipiac Avenue, New Haven. Complete first floor kitchen renovation. Scope to include new kitchen layout. Owner to supply new cabinets. Scope to also include new flooring of area. Job also includes complete first floor bathroom renovation. This includes a complete gut (down to studs) of the bathroom. Environmental testing will be conducted by the owner. Scope includes supplying and installing new step in shower stall, vanity, toilet, tile flooring and wall finishes, tile 4ft wainscot is desired, lighting, grab bars by toilet and showers, exhaust fan with motion sensor, and baseboard heating. The scope of work to include floor drain for the bathroom. Scope to include replacement of existing windows, entry doors. Owner to select tile style, colors, and style of faucets and light fixtures. Further detailed information will be given on the scheduled site visit. GC price should include dumpster and permit feeds. Minority/women’s business enterprises are encouraged to apply. A bidding site meeting will be held at 979 Quinnipiac Avenue, New Haven on 11/22/2024 at 1pm. All bids are due by 12/6/2024 at 10 am. All bids, W9, work scope timeline and copy of license and questions should be submitted in writing to Monica O’Connor via email moconnor@continuumct.org or delivered to 109 Legion Avenue, New Haven.

Listing: Technician Apprentice

encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress

http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372

Knows effective ways to market products and services and learns about new offerings quickly. Works well independently and has advanced time management and organization skills. Potential

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

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

November 5, 2025 at 3:00 pm

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

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

on

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

September 23, 2024, at 3:00

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

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

POLICE OFFICER POLICE

Historic Beatdown: Democrats Sweep Virginia as Speaker Don Scott and Jay Jones Make Histor y

By Lauren Burke

In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia. Democrats once again swept all three statewide offices as they did in 2017 during Trump’s first term.

Abigail Spanberger easily won the office of Governor, and State Senator Ghazala Hashmi won her race over John Reid to be the next Lieutenant Governor. The victories occurred against the backdrop of a historic win in Virginia by Spanberger that will give Virginia its first woman Governor.

Spanberger’s widely predicted win over Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears was called 17 minutes after the polls closed in Virginia at 7 pm.

Former Delegate Jay Jones won his race against incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares. His victory means Jones will be the first Black Attorney General in

Virginia’s history. Jones’ win was particularly noteworthy since the last month of his campaign was consumed by the issue of private text messages from 2022 to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner. Republicans ran a non-stop barrage of negative ads against Jones for a month.

Del. Coyner lost her bid for re-election to Delegate-elect Lindsey Dougherty. The Dougherty race was the number one target for House Speaker Don Scott and his campaign lieutenant, Delegate Dan Helmer. Coyner’s defeat was one of at least 13 victories for Democrats who have now added to their ranks in the Virginia House to historic margins. When the Virginia General Assembly returns to session in January, there will be at least 64 Democrats in the chamber. The widespread Republican defeat is a testament to a combination of historic fundraising, Democrats running in all 100 seats, dislike of President Trump’s policies, and an

ineffective top of the ticket featuring Lt. Gov. Earle Sears.

+13: Speaker Scott and Del. Helmer Hit Historic Numbers in Fundraising and Power

As the evening ended, a glaring historic fact became clearer: The Virginia House of Delegates will expand to a historic number. The change means the largest Democratic House chamber in the modern era. There were several notable wins by Democrats running for the Virginia House. They include Virgil Thornton, Lilly Franklin, and Kim Pope Adams. Speaker Don Scott and his campaign chair, Dan Helmer, undertook a record fundraising effort never before seen in Virginia’s history. The moment of success for Virginia Democrats will be viewed as a positive signal for Democrats moving into the 2026 elections.

FAMU’s Black Archives Secures $500,000 Federal Grant to Expand Digital Access

Written By Lexx Thornton, HBCUNews.com

Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Meek-Eaton Black Archives, Research Center, and Museum (MEBA) has been awarded a significant $500,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through its Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program.

This achievement marks MEBA’s second IMLS award in three years, cementing its position as a national leader in the preservation, interpretation, and accessibility of African American history and culture. Founded in 1976 on FAMU’s main campus, MEBA is one of only a handful of federally designated repositories for this vital history.

The grant arrives as welcome news, especially given the recent elimination of several federal funding sources for museums

and archives. MEBA’s repeated success in securing competitive national support underscores its resilience and growing impact as a premier cultural institution.

“We are deeply honored to receive this grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which allows us to advance phase two of our 21st Century Access Program,” said Timothy A. Barber, MEBA director. “This funding not only strengthens our ability to expand digital access to our collections and build the operational capacity needed to meet growing demands, but also ensures robust support for our students through a multi-year internship program designed to prepare the next generation of museum and archival professionals.”

Barber also credited the unwavering support of the FAMU administration for the Archives’ continued mission and long-term vision.

FAMU Provost Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D., emphasized the national significance of the

investment. “This investment underscores the national significance of the Meek-Eaton Black Archives, Research Center and Museum, and its role in preserving and advancing African American history,” she said. “As the No. 1 Public HBCU in the nation, FAMU remains committed to strengthening institutional resources that equip our students with the skills and experiences needed to lead in the museum and cultural heritage professions of the future.” With this latest award, MEBA will continue to safeguard and share the rich cultural heritage of African American communities. The funding will support crucial collection care, major digitization initiatives like MEBA Digital, enhanced educational programming, and expanded public engagement, ensuring the Black Archives remains a vital resource for scholars, students, and the broader public for years to come.

Mary Sheffield Makes History as Detroit’s First Ever Black Female Mayor

by BlackNews.com

In a landmark victory, Mary Sheffield has been elected as the first female mayor in Detroit’s 323-year history. The 37-yearold City Council President, known for her lifelong dedication to Detroit’s communities, defeated fellow Democrat and pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. in Tuesday’s general election. The Associated Press called the race at 9:20 p.m., projecting Sheffield to win with an overwhelming 77% of the vote compared to Kinloch’s 21%.

According to Michigan Advance, Sheffield’s victory marks a historic moment for the Motor City, long recognized as a center of African American culture and resilience. Her win not only shatters a gender barrier but also underscores a generational shift in leadership, as she prepares to succeed outgoing Mayor Mike Duggan, who is running as an indepen-

dent candidate for governor in 2026.

Born and raised on Detroit’s west side, Sheffield comes from a prominent family of activists and community leaders. She is the daughter of Reverend Horace Sheffield III, a noted civil-rights leader, and the granddaughter of labor icon Horace Sheffield Jr. In 2013, at just 26 years old, she became the youngest person ever elected to the Detroit City Council. Nearly a decade later, in 2022, she again made history as the youngest City Council President in Detroit’s history.

Throughout her tenure, Sheffield has championed issues like affordable housing, economic inclusion, and tenants’ rights. She has also fought for policies to ensure that Detroit’s redevelopment benefits residents in every neighborhood, particularly those in historically underserved Black communities. Her “People’s Platform” has earned her a reputation as a

voice for equity, transparency, and community-driven progress.

During her campaign, Sheffield promised to make Detroit “a city that works for everyone.” She has pledged to focus on expanding homeownership opportunities, improving public safety, and boosting small business growth across all districts. Her administration, she said, will reflect the spirit of Detroit—bold, innovative, and unapologetically inclusive.

As she prepares to take office, Sheffield’s victory represents more than a political milestone—it’s a powerful symbol of change and empowerment for women and African Americans across Michigan. Her leadership ushers in a new chapter for Detroit, one that honors its history while charting a path toward a more equitable future.

State Capitol Richmond Virginia On A Summer Day

Mary Sheffield

Black Female MAGA Supporter Who Trump Ignored Loses Election for Governor of Virginia.

By BlackNews.com

Abigail Spanberger, a 46-year-old former CIA operative and three-term congresswoman, is Virginia’s next governor — defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a vocal MAGA supporter who sought to make history as the state’s first Black woman governor. Spanberger’s win also makes her the first woman ever elected to Virginia’s highest office, according to Decision Desk HQ.

According to 19th News, throughout the campaign, Spanberger focused on lowering the cost of living, improving public education, and rejecting the “chaos” of President Donald Trump’s second term. Her calm, policy-driven approach resonated with voters weary of political division. Democrats not only captured the governor’s mansion but were also projected to sweep all three statewide offices, signaling growing voter frustration with the GOP’s direction under Trump’s influence.

Earle-Sears, a Jamaican-born Marine veteran and the state’s lieutenant gover-

nor, made national headlines as a proud Black conservative who embraced the MAGA movement. She ran on continuing the policies of outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and made the exclusion

Gayle King is Reportedly Leaving “CBS Mornings”

By BlackNews.com

Gayle King is reportedly preparing to leave CBS Mornings when her contract ends in May 2026, though CBS says no final decision has been made about her role or future with the network.

According to People, reports surfaced on October 30 claiming the longtime anchor plans to exit the morning show after more than a decade. Sources said that King, 70, could take on a new position within CBS News and might even produce her own programs under the network.

CBS quickly responded to the claims, saying the report was inaccurate. A network spokesperson told People, “There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026. She’s a truly valued part of CBS, and we look forward to engaging with her about the future.”

King joined CBS This Morning — now CBS Mornings — in November 2011. Over the years, she has co-anchored with Charlie Rose, Norah O’Donnell, Anthony Mason, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson. Her rumored departure comes amid major changes at CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, following its $8 billion acquisition by Skydance Media. The new ownership has already led to programming shake-ups and staff cuts across the network. In recent weeks, The Late Show with

Stephen Colbert was announced to end in May 2026, and CBS Evening News anchor John Dickerson revealed his exit after 16 years. The company also laid off about 1,000 employees, including CBS Saturday Morning anchors Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, as well as correspondents Lisa Ling, Debora Patta, Janet Shamlian, Nancy Chen, and Nikki Battiste. Despite uncertainty surrounding her future, King remains one of CBS’s most recognizable and respected journalists, having helped shape the tone and credibility of the morning news show for over 14 years.

of transgender individuals from women’s spaces a central part of her campaign. Despite her loss, Earle-Sears made history as the first Black Republican woman to win her party’s nomination for governor.

Spanberger’s campaign leaned heavily on economic issues, emphasizing the financial struggles facing Virginia families. She criticized Republican policies for raising costs on food, healthcare, and small businesses. Republicans, meanwhile, attacked her positions on immigration and education, but Spanberger — a mother of three daughters in public school — used her national security background to push back and appeal to suburban and independent voters.

In her victory speech, Spanberger celebrated the historic nature of her win, standing alongside her husband and

INSCRIPCIÓN AL PROGRAMA HEAD START

daughters. “It’s a big deal that the girls and young women I’ve met along the campaign trail now know with certainty that they can achieve anything,” she said, acknowledging the women who paved the way for her, including Mary Sue Terry, the first woman ever elected statewide in Virginia.

While Earle-Sears failed to secure an endorsement from Donald Trump, she maintained support from Virginia’s conservative base. Her defeat underscores the difficulty MAGA-aligned candidates face in swing states. As Spanberger and other Democrats like New Jersey’s new governor, Mikie Sherrill, prepare for the 2026 midterms, Virginia’s results may serve as a blueprint for how moderates can prevail by focusing on affordability and rejecting political extremism.

Hay cupos disponibles para Pre-K3 y Pre-K4 en las escuelas Dr. Reginald Mayo, John S. Martinez y otras escuelas del vecindario, para el año escolar 2025-2026 Para aplicar, visite 54 Meadow Street, New Haven o en línea nhps.net.

Los niños deben tener 3 años para septiembre 1,2025.

Plan de estudios de aprendizaje basado en el juego

Programa diario de 6 horas

Solo para residentes de New Haven

Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears

Gayle King

Back in the Day,’ Black Childhood Was Real, Raw, and Outside

By Stacy M. Brown Black Press Correspondent

The term “back in the day” is often used as nothing more than a throwaway line.

But for Black children growing up in the 1970s, 1980s, and even the 1990s, it was real life. It meant freedom, friendship, and community. It meant the smell of barbecue in the summer air, the sound of jump ropes hitting concrete, and the laughter of children echoing through the neighborhood.

“Back in the day” was not just a time. It was a feeling. The Root recently explored what Black kids once did for fun before the world went digital, but we’ve gone a little further.

From the East Coast to the West, the streets belonged to the children. They rode bikes in groups, jumped double-dutch for hours, and raced each other down the block until the streetlights came on. There was no rush to get home to scroll through a phone or play on a console. The fun was right outside the front door. “We didn’t stay inside unless it rained,” said Denise Porter, a D.C. restaurant hostess. “You’d eat breakfast, grab your bike or a jump rope, and you were gone all day. Everybody knew who you were and looked out for you. The whole neighborhood raised

you.” Before smartphones and streaming, imagination was the most powerful thing a kid could have. Children created their own games like “Red Light, Green Light,” “Mother May I,” and “Hide and Go Seek.”

They clapped their hands to rhymes like

“Miss Mary Mack” and “Down Down Baby,” singing in unison, laughing, and learning rhythm without even realizing it. Anthony “Tone” Rivers, who lived on Fordham Road in the Bronx all his 59 years, remembered how simple life was.

“We didn’t need gadgets to have fun,” he said. “A stick was a bat, a crate was a hoop, and the sidewalk was our playground. We made the best of what we had. That’s how we learned to be creative.” Every neighborhood had a corner store that was a rite of passage. A single dollar could buy enough candy for the day. Kids walked there in groups, joking, playing, and feeling independent. “You’d walk to the store laughing with your friends,” said Arlette Richardson, 54, whose father, Rodney Worthington, owned a bodega in Queens. “It wasn’t about the candy. It was about the freedom, the trust, and the fun of being with your people. You felt grown even when you weren’t.” Saturday mornings were for cartoons like Fat Albert, Super Friends, and The Smurfs. But once noon hit, televisions across America tuned into Soul Train. Don Cornelius’s smooth voice, the dancers, and the music gave Black kids something no other show did at the time—a reflection of themselves.

“You didn’t miss Soul Train,” said Marcus Hill, 61, who works for the MTA in New York. “You’d sit with your cousins trying to copy the dancers. It made you proud to see us shining like that. It was style, pride, and confidence all in one.” Community was everything. Family cook-

outs, block parties, and recreation centers brought people together. DJs set up turntables and filled milk crates with hit records while parents grilled ribs and chicken. Kids danced in the street barefoot while elders clapped and cheered. These were not just weekend events. They were celebrations of life. “Those cookouts brought everyone together,” said Aja Sledge, 53. “You could smell the barbecue halfway down the block. Somebody started the music, and everybody came out. You didn’t need an invitation. You just showed up and belonged.”

And when the sun went down, kids found new ways to keep the fun going. They played school, house, or store, creating entire worlds from cardboard boxes and old notebooks. It was creativity that built character and connection. Sledge said those days shaped the way people grew up.

“We learned how to lead, how to care, and how to look out for one another,” she said.

“That’s what ‘back in the day’ meant. We didn’t need Wi-Fi to be connected. We had pay phones and some of us had pagers, but we weren’t distracted by them like kids are today with cell phones. Most importantly, we had love, we had community, and we had each other.”

Why the “Next 1,000 Days,” After a Child’s First 1,000 Days, Are Critically Important for Health, Development

By National Institute for Early Education Research

The National Institute for Early Education Research reports that a robust and growing body of international research shows that too many children across the globe are not receiving nurturing care in their second 1,000 days of life.

A two-part international Lancet research series discusses the importance of investing in “the next 1,000 days,” from ages two to five. The research summarizes the positive short- and long-term child outcomes of high-quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs. The series also examines parent education programs, which have been shown to yield sizeable improvements in children’s developmental outcomes.

The first report in the series, The next 1,000 days: Building on early investments for the health and development of

young children, finds that, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), 181.9 million children ages 3 and 4 are not receiving nurturing care, thus jeopardizing their development.

The second report in the series, The cost of not investing in the next 1,000 days: implications for policy and practice, finds that failing to provide ECCE globally results in significant societal losses—potentially 8 to 19 times greater than the investment required for ECCE.

The authors shared details about the report series on a webinar hosted by the international Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), a global network of 350 partners and 30,000 individuals established by the World Bank and UNICEF in 2016 to exchange knowledge and catalyze collective action for greater impact.

“While much attention has been focused on the critical importance of a child’s first

1,000 days, our new research focuses on the next 1,000 days and how children across the globe are faring,” said Milagros Nores, Ph.D., a co-author of the new reports and co-director for research & associate research professor at the National Institute for Early Education Research. “Our new series demonstrates the need to help families across the globe provide adequate nurturing care to young children, including equitable access to high-quality early care and education, safe and supportive environments with adequate stimulation, protection from physical punishment, adequate nutrition, universal developmental screening, and financial support for vulnerable populations.”

The Lancet is a highly respected international scientific journal that addresses urgent topics in society, initiates debate, puts science into context, and influences decision-makers around the world.

Brother and sister playing basketball and having fun outdoors.

Shot of a mother bonding with her baby boy at home (Photo by Aj Watt)

IMAGINE THE NBA

Sports Zone

Every

Xfinity Fan View

Live

Multiview

Watch