Governor Ned Lamont, the incumbent candidate and eventual winner, lost about 10,000 New Haven voters in 2022 as compared to his 2018 race. Local election experts have a number of theories as to why.

“Democrats were going to crawl across broken glass to vote against Donald Trump, but they were hardly going to break a sweat to vote for Lamont,” said Aaron Goode, founder of the New Haven Votes Coalition. “Two rich guys from the suburbs [Stefanowski and Lamont] weren’t that exciting for New Haveners.”

According to the Office of the Connecticut Secretary of State, 15,822 New Haven Democratic voters turned out for Lamont this year —  a drop from when 26,902 Democratic voters turned out for Lamont in 2018.

But New Haven turnout for Republican gubernatorial candidate Stefanowski stayed around the same. 3,704 New Haveners voted for Stefanowski this year, and likewise 4,391 New Haveners voted for Stefanowski in 2018. 

Overall, statewide voter turnout for 2022 was 58.59 percent, somewhat lower than in 2018 when it reached 65.23 percent, according to current voter counts from the Connecticut Examiner.

Vincent Mauro, chair of the New Haven Democratic Town Committee, said that lower Democratic turnout was due to a combination of two factors — high polling and low excitement.

Mauro said that in 2018 the polls showed a narrow race between the same two gubernatorial candidates Stefanowski and Lamont. But 2022 polls consistently showed incumbent Lamont leading Stefanowski.

“There’s that ‘I got to get to the polls because every vote is going to count in this election’,” Mauro said. “When the polls keep showing ‘up 12, 13, 14 points,’ people see that and think, ‘Okay, it’s not imperative [I get to the polls]’.”

Mauro also said that New Haveners were more excited for the new candidates in the 2018 gubernatorial race, and less so with the same candidate running for a second term, as in this year’s race. 

“People just didn’t think it was going to be a close race,” Mauro said.

Still, New Haveners gave the largest plurality of Democratic votes to the incumbent governor and to Senator Blumenthal compared to any other area statewide. As the chair of New Haven’s Democratic Town Committee, Mauro said that he was generally satisfied with New Haven’s turnout.

“Maintaining that [Democratic] fidelity is very important to the city,” Mauro said. “It reminds people statewide that the path to a statewide victory still includes New Haven.”

Professor Gregory Huber, the chair of Yale’s department of political science, was also not surprised by this year’s turnout numbers in New Haven.

The most contested races in New Haven were for U.S. Senate and Connecticut governor, but both races had Democratic incumbents.

Generally, Huber said, turnout is lower in midterm races. This year’s lower turnout numbers, he added, likely reflected people’s lower interests in the senate and gubernatorial races relative to presidential races, and reflected less strong on-the-ground mobilization efforts by labor and other groups.

If either contest — for Senate or the governor’s office — had been closer, Huber said that he would have expected more efforts to mobilize the urban vote in New Haven.

Even with a New Havener on the statewide ballot, city Democratic turnout sagged. According to Goode, the office of state treasurer — the position that New Havener Erick Russell ran for and won last week — is too obscure to drive turnout for most people.

Goode also pointed to a great deal of turnover in the electorate — given that New Haven is a college town and home to Yale University — and the electorate’s low investment in local elections as factors driving low turnout in 2022.

But, other New Haveners were more concerned with opportunities for higher voter turnout in the future.

Sarah Miller, the New Haven alder for Ward 14, said that the early voting amendment that passed on Election Day was going to be a game changer for her ward.

Last week, voters were asked on Election Day ballots whether the state legislature should enact an early voting regimen. Connecticut was one of four states that currently does not allow early voting. Now, the state legislature will determine the specific rules and regulations surrounding Connecticut early voting.

Miller said that people in her ward and across New Haven have complicated lives, and the extra time given by the new amendment would allow more opportunities to vote, thus driving up turnout in the years to come.

Specifically, Miller said that the more time given to early voting, the better — and the better the turnout.

“You’ll see people in neighborhoods like ours that have concentrated poverty experiencing higher levels of engagement because they have more time and there’s just more accommodation for them,” Miller said.

Election Day in 2022 was Nov. 8.Charlotte Hughes

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Gov. Ned Lamont beat Republican challenger Bob Stefanowski once again, this time by nine points. The two first faced off in 2018, when the Democrat won by just three points.

In New Haven, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro marched to victory on Tuesday, beating her Republican opponent Lesley DeNardis — whose father was the last Republican to serve in Connecticut’s third district —  by 18 points. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, as well as the city’s nine-member state legislative delegation, all Democrats, also won re-election. 

New Haven voted for Democrats by a 4-1 margin across the board, but turnout dropped by a third compared to the 2018 midterms, according to the New Haven Independent.

“I am humbled and reenerged by the continued confidence New Haven has put in me,” DeLauro said at her victory party. “Thanks to the people of Connecticut I will continue to serve as Chair or Ranking member of House Appropriations and battle for hard working Americans, cutting their taxes and fighting to put money in their pockets.” 

“We celebrate tonight, but we go back to work tomorrow,” she added.

Statewide sweep

All four Democrats who sought reelection to statewide public office prevailed on Tuesday night.

The ticket with Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz is leading by 10.4 points, with 86 percent of the vote counted. Attorney General William Tong is leading by 17 percent, with 77 percent of the vote tallied. With 86 percent of the vote in, Blumenthal leads by 12 percent.  All three races have been called by the Associated Press. 

Lamont and Bysiewciz declared victory over Republican challengers Stefanowski and Laura Devlin at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night after Fox News called the race in their favor. The Associated Press had not called the election when Lamont spoke, but has since called the election. 

“Four years ago, voters showed up and chose progress over pessimism,” Lamont declared. “Tonight, they did it again, they showed that when you stand up to protect a woman’s access to healthcare, when you stand up to protect the middle class, and when you stand up to keep communities safe, you prevail,” said Onotse Omoyeni, spokeswoman for Lamont’s campaign.

Democratic candidate for Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas has prevailed in her election with a 9.8 percent lead with 86 percent of the vote, Sean Scanlon, Democratic candidate for comptroller, is expected to win with a lead of 10 points with 76 percent of the votes counted. 

Erick Russell, Democratic candidate for treasurer, is expected to win with a 7.8 point lead with a 79 percent of the votes counted. All three candidates are replacing retiring Democrats. 

Russell is the first New Havener elected to statewide office since 1986. That’s not his only historic accomplishment: Russell will be the first openly gay Black person to serve in statewide office in the nation’s history.

With the majority of votes counted falling in favor of the Question 1 ballot measure, most Democrats also have projected that Connecticut will become the 47th state in the union to permit legislators to enact policy authorizing early voting in the state. If the measure passes, Connecticut will leave behind only Mississisippi, Alabama and New Hampshire.

DeLauro dances her way to victory at the Shubert, cheers on fellow winners

Coming down the stairs dancing to Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary,” DeLauro declared victory Tuesday night at the Shubert theater. Her celebration acted as the New Haven Democratic Party’s de facto election night party for the city. 

Speaking to a crowd of more than 100 supporters and organizers, DeLauro thanked voters for the outpouring of support that she saw during this campaign.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen these many DeLauro campaign signs around the city before,” DeLauro said. 

DeLauro acknowledged the hyper-partisanship preceding the midterms on the national level, pointing to the Jan. 6, 2021 siege on the U.S. Capitol and the assault of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband two weeks ago. DeLauro vowed to continue to fight for Democratic values including raising the minimum wage, protecting Social Security and Medicare and defending reproductive rights.  

Sydney Perry, a longtime friend of DeLauro, told the News that she was honored to know DeLauro and was proud of all the work that she had done for the city. 

“Rosa leads with her mom at her core,” Perry told the News. “Her mom was her inspiration and with her in mind Rosa has served this city with dedication for the last thirty years.” 

Yalies were also in attendance at the party, with Quinn Moss ’24 telling the News that she came to support DeLauro and watch history unfold. Will Leggat ’25 added that he was there because he believed that DeLauro would fight for democracy, abortion rights, gay rights, union rights and a higher minimum wage. 

DeLauro also lauded Russell for becoming the first New Havener elected to statewide office in 36 years. 

Russell told the News that he was honored to serve in the statewide position and that he would be driven by New Haven’s values in the job. 

“New Haven raised me and its values are my own,” Russell told the News. “I will work to protect municipal and state workers and their pensions  in the city and to support labor across the state.”

While some Republicans concede, others are holding on until the morning

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski did not concede victory to incumbent Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday night, despite national media outlets calling the race for the Democrat. Instead, Stefanowski told the audience at his election night watch party at the Marriott Hotel in Trumbull that he would wait the race out until the morning. 

“We’re doing better than any poll predicted,” Stefanowski told the thinning crowd inside the Marriott ballroom. “We’re going to wait and see tomorrow morning. We owe that to Connecticut.”

Throughout the campaign cycle, Stefanowski’s team had stressed that the most pressing issue Connecticut residents face is “affordability.” 

“You hear about people filling up their oil tanks halfway,” Stefanowski said.  You hear about people not being able to afford food and prescription drugs at the same time.”

He added that he ran his campaign differently this year. In his unsuccessful 2018 gubernatorial campaign against Lamont, he was “a little tight.”

“I didn’t let people see I’m a normal guy,” Stefanowski said. “I grew up in New Haven. I went to the public schools. I worked hard, I built a family here. I built a career here. I just want to give back.”

Candidate for U.S. Senate Leora Levy conceded to incumbent Democrat Richard Blumenthal right before 11:00 p.m. 

Levy said that she and Blumenthal had “different visions” for America. 

“I will not stop fighting for you. I will not stop fighting for our state, our freedom, and our great country,” Levy said. “While this campaign has come to an end, we will continue to work for a more free, more prosperous and safer America, and most of all to preserve the American dream for future generations.”

Jamye Stevenson, the Republican candidate for Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives expressed in her speech a mistrust in the media and the democratic process of reporting elections — increasingly common talking points for Republican candidates.

“Don’t listen to the media when they call a race with only two percent tally in,” Stevenson said. “It’s not over until it’s over.”

Dominic Rapini, the Republican candidate for secretary of the state, projected confidence despite losing numbers. Rapini has ties to the organization Fight Voter Fraud, Inc, which filed unfounded claims of voter fraud to the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission.

“Right now we’re witnessing before our eyes how the sausage is made,” Rapini said. “I know the emotions are running the full range, but I’m very excited and very optimistic. Stay together shoulder to shoulder because of the big night ahead of us. Keep the faith.”

Turnout down from 2018 

Fewer New Haveners turned out during these midterms than in 2018. Those who did favored Democrats 4 to 1. 

Collected tallies revealed that New Haveners voted for Gov. Ned Lamont, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and fellow Democrats running for constitutional offices and probate court by more than a four-to-one margin, according to the New Haven Independent. 

Overall, turnout for the gubernatorial race fell significantly below numbers seen in New Haven during the 2018 midterm elections.

While roughly 34,000 New Haven votes were cast in the 2018 governor’s race, the New Haven Independent reported that only 21,721 were cast in 2022.

According to numbers from the city’s voting machines, 83.46 percent of New Haveners voted for U.S. Rep. DeLauro, who was seeking her 17th two-year term. State treasurer candidate, Erick Russell, received 83.14 percent of the New Haven vote. And 85 percent of New Haveners voted “Yes” in support of a referendum that would allow early voting in Connecticut.

Throughout the city on Election Day, alders and state legislators were out in full force, welcoming voters to polling places across the city and encouraging them to vote. At Roberto Clemente School, Long Wharf Alder Carmen Rodriguez stood and greeted voters before they headed in to cast their ballots.

“It’s so important for people in this ward to show up and make their voices heard, our vote is our voice,” Rodriguez told the News. “Almost every resident that me or my team has called has told me that they’ve already voted or are planning to come right after they get off work.”  

Taking advantage of Connecitcut’s same-day voter registration laws, Yalies and New Haveners lined up at City Hall to both register for and vote in today’s elections. 

As of the close of polls at 8 p.m., 660 people had same-day registered to cast their ballots  in New Haven. The line to register was more than 30 people long at approximately 6:40 p.m. and began spilling into the main lobby. 

“It took me only 10 minutes to register and vote,” Carigan McGuinn ’25 told the News. “They just asked for my YaleID. I was drinking my Jitterbus dirty chai the entire time.”

Edna Kripps, the moderator at the Ward 2 polling place, said that throughout the day she had helped a lot of inactive voters restore their active status; “everyone wants to voice their opinion or make their vote count.” 

New Haven voter Lydia Bornick, who cast her ballot at the Ward 2 polling place on Tuesday afternoon, said that the most important issue to her in the midterms was “everything. The concept of democracy, women’s rights, civil rights, voting rights. This is a very critical midterm, many people feel the weight of this midterm more than any other.”

Polls in Connecticut closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

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Key Democratic candidates for statewide office gathered at New Haven’s BAR Pizza to make their final call to action before Election Day.

Sean Scanlon, the Democratic candidate for Connecticut state comptroller, had three words for the audience of about 100. 

“Bring it home.”

Governor Ned Lamont, who is running ahead in polls ahead of challenger Bob Stefanowski, recognized the Elm City’s importance as a vote-rich blue stronghold.

“Nobody knows how to get out to vote like New Haven,” Lamont said. 

Also in attendance were Richard Blumenthal, the senior U.S. senator from Connecticut, and Rosa DeLauro, the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District and head of the appropriations committee. Both are slated to win by double-digits.

Rosa DeLauro acknowledged the difficulties that her constituents faced over the past two years.

“This has been a tough, tough election,” DeLauro said. “People are living paycheck to paycheck; they are struggling. It’s the cost of living that is killing them. Their choice could not be clearer. Democrats have tried to lower taxes for working families.”

Mayor Justin Elicker, who won his second term last year, thanked the assembled Connecticut leadership for their commitment to democratic values and elections. 

“The folks up here are fighting that crazy with common sense and compassion that we need so much more in our community,” Elicker said. 

State Senator Pro Tempore Martin Looney spoke next. Looney has spent 29 years as a senator for Connecticut’s District 11, which represents the communities of New Haven, Hamden and North Haven. In the Tuesday midterms, he faces Republican challenger Steve Orosco.

“We all believe in one thing,” Looney said. “We believe that government, when it’s well run, when it’s efficient and it has a vision … makes important changes for good in the lives of the people.”

Some top Connecticut Democrats were confident in the party’s success on Tuesday. 

“People know what’s at stake in this election,” said Jimmy Tickey, vice chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party. “People are energized. There’s not an enthusiasm gap this year. I feel great about what we’ve done in Connecticut and our candidates and how hard they’ve been working.”

Vincent Mauro Jr., the New Haven Democratic Town Committee chair, said that he thought Governor Lamont would have a “decent victory”, and that incumbent U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro would show a “sound victory” — if people headed to the polls on Tuesday. 

Mary Jane Kenley, a door-knocker for Governor Lamont’s campaign in Branford, Connecticut, echoed this confidence that Governor Lamont would defeat his Republican opponent. 

Other attendees were more doubtful, warning of closer-than-expected races.

“I’ve noticed more people I know shift more to conservative issues,” said New Haven-area resident Olive Smith. “Especially with Roe v. Wade being overturned and the anti-critical race theory crowd.”

In 2022, Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

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Statewide races in Connecticut

• Governor: incumbent Democrat Ned Lamont against Republican Bob Stefanowski and Independent Party Rob Hotaling and Green Party Michelle Bicking 
• Secretary of the State: Democrat Stephanie Thomas versus Republican Dominic Rapini
• State treasurer: Democrat Erick Russell against Republican Harry Arora
• Comptroller: Democrat Sean Scanlon against Republican Mary Fay 

Federal races

• U.S. Senate: incumbent Democrat Richard Blumenthal against Republican Leora Levy
• U.S. House of Representatives: Democratic incumbent Rosa DeLauro against Republican Lesley Denardis, Green Party candidate Justin Paglino and Independent Party’s Amy Chai

Also on the ballot

• Constitutional amendment: Allow early voting legislation
• All nine members of New Haven’s delegation in the state legislature

At stake in this election

Republicans argue that the almost absolute Democratic control of New Haven and Connecticut’s government as well as the federal government has precipitated a spike in inflation and crime. 

Democrats, meanwhile, say that stable COVID-19 fiscal governance of the state shows that they are the party capable of leading the state. Lamont and other down-ballot have also said they would unequivocally support reproductive and voting rights while claiming that Republicans threaten both rights. 

Connecticut is also one of only four states that does not allow early voting, alongside Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire. Proponents argue that since the state does not provide guaranteed time off or sick days to vote so early voting is required. Opponents argue that it is an “unfunded mandate” for localities that could complicate local registrar’s abilities to conduct a smooth election. 

Read more on the campaign issues, fundraising and polling information here.

When and where can you vote?

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can also check registration and confirm poll location online. 

Students in residential colleges or Old Campus can vote at one of these three locations, depending on their college: 

New Haven Free Public Library (enter through downstairs Temple Street entrance), 133 Elm St.

• Berkeley
• Grace Hopper
• Silliman
• Timothy Dwight
• Trumbull 

Wexler-Grant school cafeteria, 55 Foote St.

• Benjamin Franklin

• Davenport

• Ezra Stiles

• Morse

• Pauli Murray

• Pierson

New Haven Hall of Records room G2, 200 Orange St.

• Old Campus residents
• Branford
• Jonathan Edwards
• Saybrook colleges 

Not registered? You can still register at City Hall. 

The deadline to register online or by mail has passed; but, voters can register through the close of polls on the day of elections at City Hall, which is located at 165 Church St.

Yalies are eligible to register to vote in Connecticut using their current New Haven address. 

This address can be a residential college, hall on Old Campus or off-campus housing. To register, they are required to bring a proof of identity, including a driver’s license or a Yale ID,  and a proof of residence such as a piece of mail addressed to their residential college or Old Campus address. 

What you need to bring with you on Election Day

Poll workers may ask for you to show photo identification to vote. Acceptable forms include social security card or any pre-printed form of ID that shows name and address, or name and signature, or name and photograph. A driver’s license or Yale ID fulfill these parameters. 

If you register to vote by mail, you will be asked to prove residency. A copy of a current and valid photo ID showing name and address or utility bill, government check, paycheck or government document that shows name and address. 

The post Tuesday’s midterms: here’s who’s running and how to vote appeared first on Yale Daily News.

On the ballot are candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, New Haven’s representative to Congress, U.S. Senator, state senator, state representative, secretary of the state, treasurer, comptroller, attorney general and probate judge. Polls open at 6 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m.

“Democracy is not a spectator sport,” said Patricia Rossi, vice president of advocacy for the League of Women Voters of Connecticut. “We all have responsibility and obligation to ensure that functioning democracies are around for our kids and grandkids.”

The governor’s race is a rematch of the 2018 election between incumbent governor Democrat Ned Lamont against Republican businessman Bob Stefanowski. In 2018, Lamont won by 3.2 percent or roughly 50,000 votes. Polls currently have Lamont up from anywhere between 10-15 points. 

Stefanowski argues that Democratic governance at the state, local and federal level has led to a spike in inflation and crime. Lamont argues that his administration shepherded the state through the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining financial stability.

Lamont and Stefanowski have both spent large sums of their own money with Lamont having spent $14 million and Stefanowski spending $10 million.

Lieutenant governor Susan Bysiewicz is running on a joint ticket with Lamont. The Republican lieutenant gubernatorial candidate is Laura Devlin. 

Three candidates from New Haven are running unopposed – the Democratic incumbent state representatives Toni Walker in the 93rd District, Robyn Porter in the 94th District and Juan Candelaria in the 95th District. 

This year, Democrats face significant challenges to election success, with President Biden’s approval ratings sinking below 50 percent and persistent inflation driving pessimism about the state of the economy. 

“I definitely think that there is the possibility that Republicans could make gains in the state legislature, because of the broader national conditions,” Dancey said. “There are likely to be competitive races up and down the ballot in Connecticut, even if it’s historically a blue state.”

Incumbent Democratic state senators Martin Looney and Gary Winfield will face off against Republican opponents in Tuesday’s election. 

Looney, who has spent 29 years as a senator for Connecticut’s District 11, which represents the communities of New Haven, Hamden & North Haven, faces Republican Steve Orosco. Orosco is the founder and CEO of Smash Global — a company that organizes MMA fighting events.

Gayle Alberda, an assistant professor of politics and public administration at Fairfield University, told the News that she expects that Looney will win since incumbency increases name recognition, likely making Looney more well-known to voters. 

In District 11, Winfield faces Republican John Carlson, a fourth-grade teacher at John Winthrop School in Bridgeport. Last year, Mayor Justin Elicker defeated Carlson in the city’s 2021 mayoral election. Carlson was the city’s first Republican mayoral candidate in nearly 15 years.

For the Connecticut State House of Representatives, Democratic incumbent Roland Lemar faces Republican Eric Mastroianni for the 96th District, which represents parts of New Haven and East Haven.

Lemar was first elected to his seat in District 96 in 2010, and served on the New Haven Board of Alders prior to joining the Connecticut state legislature. Mastroianni, according to his personal Facebook account, is the CEO and owner of Alpha Recon Protective Service, LLC, a personal protection service, and the co-chair of the New Haven Republicans. 

Connecticut State House of Representatives races in the 92nd District and the 97th District are also contested. 

New Haveners will also be voting on if Connecticut will be joining the majority of states in allowing early voting come next year. 

“Expanding voting options is something that’s very positive for New Haven and given some of our experiences in the past with having long lines on Election Day, that having early voting will take some of the pressure off,” said Aaron Goode, founder of the New Haven Votes Coalition.

In the 92nd District, which represents parts of New Haven, Democratic incumbent Patricia Dillon faces petition candidate Lesley Heffel McGuirk, a data strategy manager for the Yale Alumni Association. In the 97th District, which represents parts of New Haven, Democratic incumbent Alphonse Paolillo faces Republican Anthony Acri. 

Connecticut’s secretary of the state is on the ballot — a position that has attracted newfound attention after the 2020 general elections. 

Alberda said that Connecticut’s secretary of the state election has particular significance in the current political climate since the secretary chiefly oversees election administration, including running the elections, supervising the counting of ballots and certifying results.

In the aftermath of the 2020 general elections, outspoken deniers of the results of the presidential election  have begun to run for secretary of state positions nationwide.

In Connecticut, Democrat Stephanie Thomas, a Connecticut state representative since 2021, faces Republican Dominic Rapini for Secretary of State. Rapini has connections to the organization Fight Voter Fraud, Inc, which filed unfounded claims of voter fraud to the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission. 

“This will likely work against Rapini as polls show that threats to democracy is a top three issue for Connecticut voters,” Alberda wrote in an email to the News. 

Incumbents dominating national races

New Haveners will also be deciding their representatives for U.S. Congress on Nov. 8. Similar to the state races, experts expect that incumbents will win most high-profile races on the ballot next week. 

“Republicans would really like to be able to say that they picked up a seat in New England this cycle, but there are other opportunities for that,” said Logan Dancey, an associate professor of government at Wesleyan University. “DeLauro has been in office for several decades. Blumenthal has won his elections for Senate fairly comfortably, historically.”

An Oct. 25 poll by Emerson University-WTNH-The Hill found that Democratic incumbent Gov. Ned Lamont leads his opponent, Republican Bob Stefanowski, by 11 percentage points. 

Dancey said it seems that Lamont is more popular in this current race compared to his 2018 gubernatorial race, when he also ran against Stefanowski. Lamont seems to be in a better position than in 2018, Dancey said. 

However, the national political climate will present challenges for other Democrats on the Connecticut ballot. 

Historically, the president’s party performs worse in midterm elections, according to Dancey. He said a similar outcome is expected for the Democratic party this year, given voter concerns about the state of the economy. 

Dancey does not expect any surprising results that significantly differ from what the polls show in this year’s races to represent Connecticut in the U.S. Congress. 

Incumbent Democrat Rosa DeLauro faces Republican Lesley Denardis, a professor of political science at Sacred Heart University, for the Connecticut 3rd Congressional District’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. If reelected, DeLauro would serve her 17th term in Congress.

Alberda said that DeLauro should be able to win her re-election. Dancey also agreed, pointing to DeLauro’s long tenure in office as an advantage.

“DeLauro has been in office for several decades. I think she’s built up a reputation,” Dancey said. “There isn’t the same level of investment from the party, the same level of campaign spending going on, which reflects the fact that it is seen as a much safer race for Democrats.”

For one of Connecticut’s seats in the U.S. Senate, incumbent Democrat Richard Blumenthal faces Republican Leora Levy. Alberda expects Senator Blumenthal to likely win reelection as well. She noted that Blumenthal won his previous election in 2016 by over 450,000 votes. 

Different time next year? 

Connecticut voters will also decide whether the state should allow early voting next year. Voters will be able to say “Yes” or “No” to the Early Voting Amendment measure. A “yes” vote supports amending the Constitution to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting.

If the amendment passes, the Connecticut state legislature will be able to determine the days, times and places for early voting in Connecticut next year. 

Currently, Connecticut is one of four states nationwide that do not allow for early voting. The other three are Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire. 

Though a similar effort failed in 2014, New Haven organizers are hopeful about this measure’s success. 

Goode said that proponents of the measure have been visiting community management teams, high schools and community forums throughout New Haven to spread the word about the measure. 

“The education effort has been pretty strong, pretty robust around the ballot question, and I think it will do very well in New Haven,” Goode said. 

Efforts to increase awareness of the ballot measure have mostly concentrated on small settings, like neighborhood and community meetings, and have met “very positive” responses from people, Goode said. He said that  many of the people were not aware that the question would even be on the Nov. 8 ballot. 

In 2014, almost 70 percent of New Haven voters supported the ballot measure, Goode said. He expects that an even higher margin will support the measure this time around. 

“Our position is that if people know to look for the question and understand what it means, that all it does is allow the Legislature to create a plan for Early Voting in Connecticut– no more than that–it will pass,” Patricia Rossi, the vice president for advocacy and public issues of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, wrote in an email to the News. “It makes sense to people that providing more than 14 hours on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in November to vote is a good thing.  Eligible voters want their voices to be heard and having more time to vote helps them do that.”

In 2022, Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 8. 

The post New Haveners head to the polls for local races, state early voting amendment appeared first on Yale Daily News.

46 states allow early voting. Connecticut is one of just four that bar the practice — for now.  Voters across the state will decide whether the state constitution should be amended in order for the legislature to permit early voting. 

The Connecticut League of Women Voters, along with other statewide voter advocacy organizations, has been working to promote this ballot measure. 

“We strongly believe that… every eligible voter should be given the opportunity to vote,” said Patricia Rossi, vice president for advocacy and public issues of the Connecticut League of Women Voters. “We live in a 24-hour world now. If you can get anything you want 24 hours a day, that means there are people working 24 hours a day, and those people might not know that, when they’re going to have to work and when they can get off.”

On Nov. 8th, voters across the state will see the question “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?” If more than half, or a simple majority, vote “Yes,” then the measure will pass, and Connecticut lawmakers will add proposed changes to the constitution to allow for early voting. 

Rossi and other League of Women Voters volunteers helped register voters at Q House Cityseed Farmers Market on Wednesday, informing them that the early voting referendum question would appear on the ballot and showing them where the question would be. 

A month out from the election, Rossi said that most voters still do not know about the referendum.

“It’s tremendously important for people to have an opportunity to think about whether they want to vote yes or no,” Rossi said. “And so we want everybody to know that it’s out there.”

To spread the word about the referendum question, the League has been using any means possible, Rossi said, from posting on social media to writing in neighborhood newsletters and attending community management meetings. In Rossi’s opinion, the group has so far been successful in spreading awareness at the Cityseed Farmers Market on Dixwell Avenue. 

If the referendum fails, the League of Women Voters, along with other advocacy groups throughout the state, is back at square one, and Connecticut, along with Mississippi, Alabama and New Hampshire, will continue to bar early voting. 

“It’s been a long effort to get to this point,” Rossi said. 

For this question to appear on the November ballot, two separate Connecticut legislatures – one in 2020 and one in 2021 – had to approve the referendum and its language. If the referendum fails on Nov. 8, then this multi-year process must start over from scratch. 

Currently, no organized Connecticut group opposes the measure. But when the Connecticut legislature decided whether to allow the referendum on the November ballot, a majority of Republicans in both the House and Senate opposed the question. 

Some Republicans have doubts about the associated costs and the effectiveness of early voting. 

Dominic Rapini, a Republican candidate for Connecticut Secretary of State, expressed concerns about early voting in an interview with Patch.com last April. He said that the wording of the question was vague and that if passed, early voting might place more strain on government officials. Overall, he told Patch.com that he was neither for nor against the measure. 

In a tweet directed at the official Connecticut Secretary of State Twitter account on Jan. 6, 2021, Rapini warned of “wide spread, systematic voter fraud” perpetrated by Democrats, calling into question the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election with the hashtag “#stopthesteal2021.” 

Rapini did not respond to requests for comment.

But Aaron Goode, the founder of the New Haven Votes Coalition and board member of the New Haven Democracy Fund, says the referendum’s most threatening “opponents” are a lack of voter turnout and awareness. 

A similar 2014 referendum that would have provided for early voting and no-excuse absentee ballots failed statewide by a margin of almost 8,000 votes. 

About 70 percent of New Haveners voted, but about 8,000 voters left the question blank — or didn’t vote on the referendum at all, Goode said. Those 8,000 voters could have led to the referendum’s success. 

“A lot of those people either couldn’t find it, they didn’t know where to look for it on the ballot, or it was too confusingly written with double negatives,” Goode said. “We don’t want that to happen again.”

To Goode, the constitutional amendment on the Nov. 8 ballot is perhaps more important than the names on the ballot. 

“Constitutional amendments, like the one on early voting, last longer than the terms of elected officials,” Goode said. While Connecticut gubernatorial candidates Bob Stefanowski and Ned Lamont will likely be gone in four to eight years, the Connecticut state constitution could be around for another 200.

“We want people to look past the horse race and the names on the ballot to some of these longer-term structural, institutional issues,” Goode said. 

“It’s not a partisan issue,” Rossi said. “It’s a living-in-the-21st-century-issue.”

On Wednesday, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker expressed his support for the ballot measure. 

He wrote to the News that he was optimistic voters would support the statewide referendum in November. 

“We are a stronger democracy when more people vote, and one of the best ways to increase voter participation is by providing people with multiple accessible and convenient options to cast their ballots,” Elicker added. “Early voting is a proven way to help accomplish this, as people live busy lives and often have to balance work, childcare and other responsibilities.”

A 2016 Gallup poll found that 80 percent of Americans support early voting, with 85 percent of Democrats and 74 percent of Republicans in support.

The post Connecticut to decide on early voting in November referendum appeared first on Yale Daily News.

The Board of Alders on Monday passed an amendment to the city’s tax assessment deferment program, which previously allowed buildings with only either market-rate or affordable housing to qualify under an abatement program. 

Alders also approved a development on Dixwell Avenue with one affordable unit and four market rate units that will be able to benefit from this new abatement regime. Both were sponsored by Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison.

“Today is just one affordable unit, tomorrow we’ll have 100,” Morrison said. “We’ll make sure that residents have the opportunity to stay in their communities, and developers have the incentive to make sure that their market rate is also protected.”  

The Assessment Deferral Program was originally created in 1975 and allows for developers who increase property value by 35 percent to freeze property taxes and pay it over a period of five years. 

The program was originally targeted at market-rate developments without any affordable units, since affordable housing has its own abatement program —  the Low Income and Supportive Housing Tax Agreement (LISHTA). Under previous ordinances, only one building in the entire city could claim one of these programs.

However, with the city’s recent enactment of an inclusionary zoning ordinance which requires 20 percent of housing units to be affordable, the abatement program has become harder to use, Morrison said.

One example —  a catalyst for Monday night’s action — is the new five story 176 unit apartment on 176-186 Canal St and 291-309 Ashmun. Its developers hoped to claim both abatement programs benefits. 

The developers hope to include 59 affordable housing units; however, deputy director of economic development Steve Fontana informed Morrison in a letter on Monday that the developers would not be able to do so without a change to the program.

“The developer came with inclusionary zoning in mind,” Morrison said. “They were not eligible in the assessment deferral program because the language was archaic and that needs to be clarified.” 

With Monday’s amendment, this program will now include multi-use lots where one building might have both affordable and mixed-use housing. 

This language update falls under the policy goal of “quality affordable housing,” as outlined in the Board of Alders’ most recent legislative agenda. 

“We’ll make sure that residents have the opportunity to stay in their communities, and developers have the incentive to make sure that their market rate is also protected,” Morrison said.

Dixwell Ave to see new construction, affordable housing unit

A city-owned abandoned garage on Dixwell Ave. is now one step closer to getting a new look after the owner of Brick Oven Pizza, who plans to build five apartments on the site, received official approval. 

The new development plan that the city and developer have agreed to includes five apartments, of which at least one will be an affordable housing unit with rents that are accessible to a tenant who makes 60 percent of the area’s median income. This rent level must be maintained for the next 20 years.

Morrison, who has represented this ward for 11 years, says that the city has been trying to sell the lot since before his election, adding he is excited for the chance to allow for its development.

Kadir Catalbasoglu, who owns Brick Oven Pizza and another housing complex at 59 Dixwell, has been trying to buy the lot and develop it since 2017. 

“I’m buying the property because it is an eyesore right now and I want to develop it up since I own the lot right next door,” Catalbasoglu told the News. 

According to Morrison, the lot has gone through multiple bids but some issue has always prevented its sale. 

The original agreement that alders approved in 2017 would allow for Catalbasoglu to convert the space into two apartments and a commercial building.

However, the owner of the lot right next to 55 Dixwell, Yehoshua Rosenstein, sued to prevent the deal, saying that he owned part of the driveway that was in the lot. The suit has now been resolved.

Morrison explained that inclusionary zoning laws, which would have required affordable units to be built in any new development, did not exist in 2017 when the agreement was first approved, thus necessitating Monday’s amendment. 

The zoning laws were passed earlier this year and require a fifth of all new residential units built downtown must be affordable. 

Caption: Ward 22 Alder Jeannette Morrison spoke for both property based issues Monday night. 

Also at the meeting

• Alders rubber-stamped a proposal to boost a handful of senior positions eligible for high pay and pension, hoping to boost retention of city employees.
  • “This will enable the administration to hire new employees for these positions at salaries more commensurate with their experience and more competitive with other municipalities in the state and region.” said finance committee chair Adam Marchand.
• Alders plan to further scrutinize contracts granted by the Board of Education after BOE member Darnell Goldson raised concerns over a lack of competition in the current bidding process. 
  • “Over my tenure at the board I have seen the process get much less competitive especially in busing where one company receives the contract every time because they are the only company that fits the city’s parameters,” Goldson told the News. “More eyes on contracts like this will help ensure that the process will be fair.” 

The post Alders approve expanding tax abatement to include multi-use housing appeared first on Yale Daily News.

In a citywide outcry, teachers, officials, community members and clergy demanded answers — and a plan. School officials presented their new strategy to the Education Committee of the Board of Alders on Wednesday night, soliciting feedback and answering questions from the alders. 

“Many people have had conversations about our test scores,” said Keisha Redd-Hannans, the New Haven Public Schools assistant superintendent for instructional leadership. “What some may see as a problem we see as an opportunity to help students realize their full potential and for the whole community to galvanize together.”

The new reading plan includes five points — a comprehensive core program, systems of assessment for grades pre-K through 12 including process monitoring, professional development, partnerships with parents and an intervention plan.

The comprehensive core program includes seven points of instruction: oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, letter name fluency and reading comprehension. 

Before, teacher trainings and reading programs were inconsistent throughout the district. The district will use one phonics-based reading program now, as opposed to two before. 

At the meeting, the NHPS officials all emphasized that professional development, or training teachers adequately, would be key to improving reading scores.  

“If teachers improve their quality of instruction, the outcomes for students will automatically improve,” Redd-Hannans said. “Students are acclimated to being in school… We need to shift our focus on instruction.”

But debate surrounds what the contents of this reading instruction should be — balanced literacy instruction or structured literacy instruction. 

Balanced literacy teaching focuses on stories, themes and the association of words with pictures and sounds. On the other hand, structured literacy teaching focuses on phonics, or sounding out letters and words, and grammar and syntax. 

New Haven’s public schools primarily use “balanced literacy” approaches, Alder Sarah Miller told the News.

Lynn Brantley, the supervisor of literacy for New Haven Public Schools, recalled one experience helping a child read through a “balanced literacy” method. When the student found a connection with a book, “The Boy in the Black Suit,” he began reading with more fluency.

However, advocates and researchers nationwide have embraced the more research-backed structured literacy approach to reading. 

In turn, Connecticut passed a “Right to Read” measure in 2021 that mandated school districts switch to structured literacy curriculums by July 1, 2023. Meanwhile, wide reading gaps remain in the state, especially for students from marginalized backgrounds. In 2019, the Nation’s Report Card found a 33 percentage point gap in reading proficiency between white and Black and Hispanic fourth graders. 

At the Wednesday meeting, Alder Sarah Miller, an advocate for the structured literacy approach, was concerned that the school district’s plan did not seem to include “broad, deep systematic professional development” in teaching phonics. 

Miller said that as a child, she learned to read through the balanced literacy method. But balanced literacy instruction did not work for her sister. And Miller said that the school reading crisis was in part due to this lack of structured literacy instruction. 

“Most kids need that explicit instruction, and we’ve been providing it a little bit, but we haven’t been providing explicit instruction in all the elements of language for a very long time,” Miller said. “That is a big part of why our literacy outcomes overall are so atrocious.”

Leslie Blatteau, the president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, expressed optimism about the district using one standard program for phonics instruction under this new reading plan in an interview with the News after the meeting. 

However, it is unclear overall how much this new “enhanced reading plan” will emphasize structured reading, and how much of a curricular change it will cause, Miller told the News. 

The alders at the Wednesday night meeting also raised concerns about the district’s plans to provide more professional development for teachers, as a part of their attempt to raise reading scores. 

Dr. Iline Tracey, the New Haven Public Schools superintendent, said that training needed to — and would — shift to the needs of teachers. 

Alders asked how that would happen.

“I know professional development is important,” said Alder Sal Punzo, a retired New Haven Public Schools principal. “But it’s an hour there, two hours there. The real support happens inside the building. We have to be realistic about that.”

And Alder Avshalom-Smith raised questions about how professional development would happen, amid a teacher shortage in New Haven and the nation. 

Tracey said that the nationwide shortage was out of the district’s control. 

“I do continue to worry about the actual implementation of these things,” Blatteau said. “The ongoing kind of collaboration that’s necessary, and time for professional development that’s necessary, we can’t have that because of underfunded education and ongoing staff issues. It’s going to be hard to implement this plan.”

The New Haven Public School District includes almost 19,000 children. 

The post New Haven Public Schools plan to “enhance” reading to address city reading crisis appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Before her stood Salsa’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant. The Grand Avenue building in Fair Haven was divided between the Italian DiSorbo’s Bakery and Milano’s Meat Market in the 1980s. Miller pulled out a black-and-white image of the two old stores posted in the “Fair Haven Memories” Facebook group.

Even as Ward 14’s demographics have changed from majority-Italian and Eastern European to majority-Latino, it has retained its identity as a neighborhood of immigrants, Miller said.

Born in New Haven in 1980, Miller grew up in the neighborhood of Westville. She majored in literature during her time at Yale and went on to work as an acquisitions editor for the Yale University Press specializing in Latin American literature. For the past two decades, she has lived in Ward 14 with her husband, who grew up in the neighborhood, and her two children, now aged 6 and 11.

Like many, she quit her day job during the pandemic, leaving her role at the Yale University Press in the summer of 2020. She could not work at home with “everything happening all around the world,” she explained. 

In her new job as a manager of strategy and planning for Clifford Beers Community Care Center, the oldest outpatient mental health clinic in the United States, Miller has been able to bring her ongoing passion for community advocacy into her day job.

When her children started attending school at the Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration, or FAME, in 2014, Miller co-founded the group NHPS Advocates, a coalition that aims to improve New Haven public schools. 

“You get in the schools, you see something that’s not quite right,” Miller said. “You try to fix it at the school level, you kind of keep going up, looking at systemic issues around curriculum and how we spend money and just the culture of the district and the way decisions are made.” 

When the Ward 14 Board of Alders seat became vacant in spring of 2021, Miller began campaigning for the role, hoping for a chance to tackle some of these greater structural issues that she had noticed during her activism work. She was elected and began her new position this January. 

Miller has been a familiar figure in the neighborhood for decades, but she had not set out to represent her neighbors in City Hall, referring to herself as “more of a back-of-room person than front-of-room.” 

Ward 14 in particular has needed an advocate, and serving on the Board of Alders is a uniquely difficult job that not everyone wants to take up. The past four alders in Ward 14 either resigned mid-term or were largely absent. 

From fielding calls to meeting with neighbors and attending multi-weekly meetings, being an alder requires over 20 hours of work each week. However, the city pays a salary of only $2,000 dollars a year, Miller told the News.

“You’re asking someone to do a part-time job for no money,” Miller said. 

Miller found it “weird” to mail out pamphlets and flyers plastered with her face, she said. But she had door-knocked in the Ward for multiple other campaigns, and for her own campaign, she knocked every door in Ward 14 at least once — or twice. 

Dave Weinreb, a Ward 14 resident and former board member of the Fair Haven Community Management Team, said that Miller “puts in the time” to do this type of grassroots work. Miller estimated that she has personally interacted with about half of the ward’s 4,000 registered voters. 

As alder, she needed to make sure that city money came to Ward 14.

First up, Miller wanted some of New Haven’s $115.8 million dollars in American Rescue Plan funds to go towards renovating the neighborhood’s Quinnipiac River Park. Miller has also been working on plans to renovate the Strong School, a century-old brick school building that has been a vacant break-in hazard for the district since 2010. The new proposal includes apartments as well as a potential nonprofit community youth and arts center and commercial space. A developer for the project will be chosen in October, Miller estimates, and then the construction will take three to four years. 

“That’ll be a real win,” Miller said. 

At the Yale University Press, Miller’s work had a clear beginning, middle and end. She would commission and edit a book manuscript, then publish the finished copy. Though her work in Ward 14 is a distinctly different line of work, the world of ideas has shaped how she approaches her work as an Alder in the public sphere. 

She pairs concrete projects — “things you can do right now” — with longer, more complicated projects like the Strong School renovation that take more time. 

Bold, geometric posters designed by local artist Daniel Pizarro will soon be displayed on panels throughout Grand Avenue, depicting sailboats, drums and ladders, among other icons. Miller said the ladder symbolizes how Ward 14 is a place that “kind of helps people get going,” while the sailboats and drums reflect different elements of the district’s diverse Latino culture.

The public art is only one facet of the Grand Avenue Main Street Development project, which is in collaboration with the city’s Economic Development Administration. The plan includes renovating the facades of properties on the street and installing walkways and more lighting, benches, plants and garbage cans. 

But Miller’s job is not all art projects. 

Community engagement is low in the area, and Miller wants to change that. Even though Ward 14 has the highest voter turnout compared to the other districts, rates are still objectively low, she said. Out of some 4,000 registered voters, 400 to 600 will turn out to vote depending on the race.

“The people who participate in the community are often the people who are not struggling as much,” Miller said. “And so you always try to figure out how you get the information from people who are struggling. And there’s not an easy answer to that.”

Ward 14 has its fair share of challenges. Martin Torresquintero, a co-chair of the New Haven Democratic Town Committee, said that Miller has been a “beacon of hope” for the ward, working to resolve drug dealing and crime-related issues in Fair Haven.

But Miller wants to focus on what the neighborhood has to offer. Her children feel at home in Ward 14, running to the deli for a snack or going to the barbershop where “everybody knows everyone.” 

Two of this year’s former candidates for Connecticut statewide offices also call Ward 14 home – Karen Dubois-Walton, who lives two blocks down from Salsa’s, and Maritza Bond, who lives “over the river and up the hill.”

“It was great to have two women of color running for state office from not just New Haven, but our corner,” Miller said.

As the lunch ended, Alexis Ramirez, whose mother Juana Ramirez owns Salsa’s, stopped by the table to ask about a litter cleanup Miller was organizing at the Quinnipiac River Park on October 8. He said that he himself spent a lot of time at the park, and whenever he went, he tried to pick up a few pieces of garbage from beside the overflowing trash cans near the water. 

“That’s a great example of a staffing issue,” Miller said. “You can only have as many trash cans as you have the capacity to empty.”

And right now, with the city understaffed, that job goes undone. 

Ramirez said he would be there at the cleanup. 

The Friends of Quinnipiac River Park meets for their stewardship work every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the summer months. 

Charlotte Hughes | Charlotte.hughes@yale.edu

The post Fair Haven Alder Sarah Miller ’03 is a “beacon of hope” appeared first on Yale Daily News.

On Monday morning, Elicker announced $200 million in climate resiliency funds for the city. Eight hours later, the city’s Board of Alders — its legislative council — retroactively approved his ability to announce the funding. 

New Haven’s municipal legislative process is said to have been the blueprint for the modern day federal legislative process. In fact, it was chartered 150 years before the United States Congress was founded.

In one of their bimonthly meetings on Monday night, the Board of Alders met to discuss moratoriums on city construction, climate investment and disability-inclusive language. 

An Alder may be a title from a time long past, but today, in New Haven, a set of 30 elected Alders help determine the city, Yale’s and New Haveners’ future. 

For new and old Yalies, this is what you need to know about your city’s system of government. 

What is the Board of Alders?

New Haven has a mayor-council form of government where Mayor Justin Elicker is the chief executive of the city, but he must cooperate on almost all budget and personnel issues with the city’s legislative council called the New Haven Board of Alders.

“Think of the President of the United States and Congress,” Al Lucas, director of legislative staff for the Board of Alders, told the News. “Actually, Connecticut is the Constitution state. Cities like New Haven were the forebears of the congressional system we have today.” 

Alders create, pass and amend New Haven laws as well as review and approve the city’s annual budget. They vote on all major appointments to city staff and ensure that the city budget and ordinances are adhered to by city officials. 

“Alders are integral to the functioning of the city,” Elicker told the News. “They amend and create city ordinances to improve public safety, transportation, make housing more important while also approving my candidates for city jobs. Without a strong relationship between the alders and mayors, the city could not function.” 

How many alders does New Haven have?

The Board of Alders has 30 geographic districts which represent roughly 130,000 New Haven residents. Each of the 30 districts represents close to 4,500 residents with redistricting occurring every 10 years in conjunction with the federal census. 

Who are you represented by? 

Yale students who live on Old Campus or in one of the eight original residential colleges are represented by Ward 1 Alder Alex Guzhnay ’24. Ward 1’s representative has traditionally been called the Yale Alder because they represent the oldest part of the University’s campus in New Haven. 

Guzhnay is the sixth Yale student to serve as Ward 1 alder, according to Sabin, with a Yalie representing the seat for the last 40 years.

Yale students who live in Timothy Dwight, Silliman, Stiles, Morse, Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin Colleges are represented by Ward 22 Alder Jeanette Morrison, while students who live in Rosenfeld Hall are represented by Ward 7 Alder Eli Sabin ’22. 

How does a proposal become law in New Haven? 

Just like Congress, almost all legislation is initially referred to the President of the Board of Alders, Tyisha Walker-Myers, who then assigns it to one of the 10 aldermanic committees. 

This committee will then hold a hearing on the bill, called the bill’s first reading. During the first reading, alders on the committee can amend the legislation, ask city officials to testify on the feasibility of the bill and invite members of the public to also testify on the bill’s necessity.

Once the committee votes on the legislation, it goes to the full Board of Alders for a second reading and final vote. If passed, the mayor can approve or veto the legislation. 

The 10 standing committees include the Aldermanic Affairs Committee, the City Services and Environmental Policy Committee, the Community Development Committee, the Education Committee, the Finance Committee, the Health and Human Services Committee, the Legislation Committee, the Public Safety Committee, the Tax Abatement Committee and the Youth & Youth Services Committee. 

Anyone can propose legislation. According to Ward 14 Alder Sarah Miller, a large portion of the actionable items alders vote on originates with New Haven residents. Residents can direct ideas or legislative text to either their alder or the Director of Legislative Services Al Lucas. 

What are New Haven’s biggest priorities right now? 

The city currently has a five pronged legislative agenda that was unanimously approved in March 2021: jobs for New Haven residents, a safe city for everyone, quality affordable housing, health equity and vibrant communities and environmental justice. 

“My two biggest priorities have been and continue to be housing and transportation,” Sabin told the News. “We’re trying to make New Haven more affordable. More and more students are living off campus, and we’re trying to make sure that there’s more housing and more affordable housing getting built.”

In January, the Board of Alders passed an inclusive housing ordinance for the city’s center that requires any new housing in the central city to include affordable housing for people that make 50 percent of the median income of the area, according to Sabin. 

According to Guzhnay, the city has also added new bicycle routes downtown including on Wall Street. He hopes to make New Haven’s streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. 

“Yale students can provide a lot of helpful information on things like safer streets and bike paths,” Guzhnay told the News. “But, at the end of the day Yale can support its students so a lot of my work is supporting non-affiliated constituents and also giving more opportunities to people who frequent downtown to work, eat or go out.”  

Sabin and Guzhnay also both spoke of deepening the university’s relationship with New Haven. They both acknowledged that the university had increased its contributions to the city, but pointed to the wide disparity between the support system Yale has for its students while many New Haveners do not have the support or help they need. 

During their most recent meeting, the alders approved an amendment to the New Haven Code of Ordinances that would update city law with language that is more respectful and inclusive of people with disabilities. 

The new “person-forward” language will change references throughout the code from “handicapped person” to “person with a disability,” and remove all language around  “mental retardation.”

Budget woes

Each year, the Board of Alders passes a budget for the next fiscal year. According to Lucas, city departments first determine their fiscal needs. Then, the Mayor presents a budget to the Board of Alders in February. 

The Board of Alders and Finance Committee mark up the bill — running through the text of the bill line by line making edits — as well as hold two public hearings for New Haveners to testify on the budget. The budget is then traditionally passed in May. 

Yale’s role in the city has historically been a problem during the annual budget season.

In 2021, New Haven was on the precipice of fiscal collapse. Haunted by the specter of unsustainable pension payments and a drop in tax revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Elicker made the unprecedented move of unveiling two budgets. The first was a crisis budget with a 7.25 percent increase in property taxes, millions in cuts through layoffs and the shuttering of city buildings. The second a more optimistic budget that banked on an increase in state and Yale funding. 

By the end of the 2021 budget negotiations, the city was able to pass a budget that did not make severe cuts but relied upon a $51 million increase in funding from the state and Yale. 

The city’s bet paid off with New Haven State Senator and Senate Pro Tempore Martin Looney shepherded through a bill redistributing funding from the Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, program which more than doubled the state’s contribution to the city from $41 million to $91 million. 

The state provides a large chunk of funding through PILOT since Yale takes up more than half of the city’s property without paying taxes to the city. Yale instead pays taxes to the state which then distributes the money to cities like New Haven where large portions of the property tax base cannot be accessed. 

Moreover, in 2021 after years of New Haveners advocating for Yale to provide more funding to the city, Yale increased its voluntary contribution by $10 million.

Combined, these two funding sources have now alleviated most budgetary concerns in the city according to Elicker. 

How to get involved

The Board of Alders meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday of every month in the Aldermanic Chambers in City Hall, on 165 Church St. During the summer, they meet only on the first Monday of the month.

Residents — including students — are encouraged to attend and raise suggestions, questions or concerns.

“Yale students should be good neighbors to try to contribute and be part of the community,” Sabin said. “Respect the city and community that will be your home for at least the next four years.” 

Elicker invited students to attend Aldermanic meetings and to apply for the city commission if they will be in New Haven during the summer. However, he cautioned students to not sign up for city responsibilities for the novelty, but only if they can truly commit to serving the city. 

Yalies can also work through the Presidential service fellowship to work as an intern in the Board of Alder’s office, city departments or for an Alder, according to Lucas. 

“Get out of the Yale Bubble,” Guzhnay advised his fellow students. “Yale has at times helped craft a problematic narrative that the city is dangerous, but go out of downtown to explore all of our beautiful communities. That will help you better give back to the city.”  

Specific committee meetings are outlined on the City of New Haven’s website.

The post Here’s what you need to know about the Board of Alders, New Haven’s legislative council appeared first on Yale Daily News.