Almost to the day of its 52nd anniversary, Mandy Cohen MED ’05, the new director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many of Connecticut’s top elected officials attended a groundbreaking celebrating the center’s expansion. 

The center now has over 300 staff members who treat patients regardless of their ability to pay. More than 90 percent of the center’s 32,000 patients are Black or Hispanic, and the vast majority are at less than half the federal poverty line. 

Joining Cohen, Governor Ned Lamont, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the state’s Department of Public Health, urged Connecticut residents to get updated COVID-19 booster shots — asking for patience following reports of vaccine shortages across the nation. Lamont and DeLauro also received their vaccines during the press conference. 

“With today’s groundbreaking we are poised to face the next 52 years of providing high-quality care,” Suzanne Lagarde, the CEO of Fair Haven Community Health Care, said. “We know that the task is a big one, but we stand on the shoulders of our predecessors. They were the true giants and we are emboldened by their energy and their mission.”

Center plans for significant expansion

The center’s expansion is its first capital project since its founding. In preparation for the project, the clinic bought and tore down adjacent properties in late 2022, including three Woolsey Street houses, five apartments and a pizza shop. 

In their place, the center plans to build a new neighborhood clinic and community space, which will merge existing exam rooms and build 18 new ones to create a total of 27 more spacious patient rooms. The center will also add a pharmacy and laboratory to the space. 

After the new building opens in 2025, the clinic hopes to expand the number of patients it sees from 32,000 to more than 65,000 per year.

Thursday’s groundbreaking was also attended by state attorney general William Tong, state senator Martin Looney, state comptroller Sean Scanlon and New Haven mayor Justin Elicker. The officials lauded Lagarde for her ability to secure funding and approval to expand the site. 

“A lot of busy people are here today and only Christine Lagarde can gather people like this,” Elicker said. 

Center touts long history of care for vulnerable populations 

The center was founded after a group of Fair Haven activists came together to provide culturally sensitive health care for Fair Haven’s historically underserved population.  

Fair Haven has a majority Hispanic/Latino population and had a median household income of $45,966 in 2022, far below the U.S. median of $74,850. 

Growing from a school room with an original budget of $5,000, the center moved into its current buildings in the 1980s, after hiring their first staff. Now, the clinic is a Federally Qualified Health Center that receives federal funding and has been heralded as a national model by Xavier Bercerra, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Maria Melendez, one of the center’s founding members and a speaker at Thursday’s groundbreaking, described the clinic’s early days to attendees. 

“Day after day we worked with many agencies and groups and community representatives to achieve the goal we had of treating people in a new way,” Melendez said. 

Cohen, the CDC director, also spoke about the national importance of federally qualified health centers like the Fair Haven clinic. Since the nation’s first Community Health Center opened in 1965, these federally-funded health centers now serve more than 30 million people across 1,400 centers. 

Cohen added that the center was an important resource during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to be an important location for people to receive their COVID-19 boosters. 

Lamont, DeLauro receive booster 

At the conference, Cohen told Connecticut residents to get the most recent versions of the COVID-19 vaccine, following their approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September.

Four million people have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine, Cohen said, following a surge of cases in August and September. Even after a previous COVID-19 infection or vaccine, the body’s protection against the virus wanes. Getting the booster, Cohen said, is important to keep the body’s defenses up-to-date.

She also emphasized the importance of receiving routine flu shots. And after the FDA’s and CDC’s green-light earlier this year, she highlighted the importance of new vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus — known also as RSV — for older adults above the age of 60. 

“This fall and winter, we’re going to have three viruses circulating, if not more — respiratory viruses that we didn’t know we’d be dealing with,” Cohen said. “By getting this updated vaccine, it allows your body to be in the best fighting shape it possibly can be.”

To boost confidence in the vaccine, Lamont and DeLauro received their booster shots during the press conference. They also emphasized that the vaccine is now free for all, regardless of insurance status. 

Cohen, Lamont and Juthani acknowledge booster rollout hiccups in the state 

In the past, the federal government purchased and distributed vaccines in bulk, making them free for everyone. Now, that is no longer the case: vaccine coverage is handled through the private sector, much like doses of other immunizations. 

Even without government buyouts, however, the vaccines will still be free for everyone. According to Blumenthal, private insurance companies are required to cover COVID-19 boosters for individuals not on government healthcare plans like Medicare and Medicaid. Out of pocket, the shots can cost over $100.

“Insurance companies should be reaching out to people who were denied coverage, because they’re entitled to reimbursement,” Blumenthal said. “If you got the shot, and you’ve had to pay anything for it, you should go back to your insurance company and get reimbursed.”

For those without private insurance, Cohen highlighted the CDC’s Bridge Access Program, which covers free vaccines at retail pharmacies, such as CVS or Walgreens, and at health centers for uninsured or underinsured individuals. 

The state also covers vaccinations for children. 

“There is a vaccine for free with your name on it,” Cohen said. “Go out and get it today to protect yourself.”

The officials also addressed reports of vaccine shortages and canceled appointments. Juthani said that she had her booster appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine canceled before it was rescheduled a few days later. 

DeLauro and Cohen cited the transition from government to private healthcare providers for the current set of boosters as a potential cause for delays.

“They are learning a lot of lessons about the challenges of distribution,” Cohen said. 

However, Juthani clarified that the situation should be improving as “kinks get worked out.”

Juthani said that supply is increasing daily and estimated that the state should have adequate supply and distribution by the end of October.

The first COVID-19 vaccines were released on Dec. 11, 2020 through an FDA emergency-use authorization.  

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Negrón currently serves as the Interim Assistant Superintendent at Hartford Public Schools and previously as the Director of Education for NHPS under former Superintendent Carol Birks. When she takes office, she will become the first Hispanic Superintendent of a district that now has a plurality Hispanic population. 

Board of Education Member Darnell Goldson released the name of Negrón as the new Superintendent on Monday ahead of the official confirmation against the wishes of other city officials. 

“Dr. Negrón knows New Haven and its schools very well,” Board President Yesenia Rivera told the News. “At the same time, her experience in Hartford has encompassed many of the same issues we face here in New Haven. She can bring a fresh perspective and a strong leadership voice to our ongoing conversations about strategy in all aspects of our mission.”

During her tenure in New Haven Public Schools, she served as the principal of the Hill Regional Career Magnet High School and Director of Instruction as well as Director of Early Childhood for NHPS. Under Birks, Negrón served as the Director of Education. Prior to serving in New Haven, Negrón worked as a middle school teacher in Willimantic where her family moved to from Puerto Rico. 

After leaving New Haven during Birks’ tenure, Negrón worked as the Acting Deputy Superintendent of Academics and School Leadership for the Hartford Public Schools where she also served as the Chief of Academics, Teaching, Learning and Student Support. 

“I am eager to start meeting, listening and learning from the entire community to hit the ground running as there is no time to waste in affording our students access to equitable opportunities to realize their hopes and dreams,” Negrón told the News. “I am grateful for the foundation that has been established by Dr. Ilene Tracy and her cabinet, which will serve as my springboard to lead the New Haven Public Schools to its next chapter of excellence.”

Tracey informed the community of her decision to retire at the end of the 2022-2023 school year after almost 40 years of service in New Haven Public Schools. She retired amid a wave of controversy following high levels of chronic absenteeism, a fall in test scores and a debate over the district’s reading education methods. 

Tracey was originally tapped in 2019 to serve as an Interim Superintendent after her predecessor, Carol Birk’s, contract was bought out by the Board of Education. Tracey was confirmed as non-interim Superintendent for the 2020-2021 school year. 

Birks resigned mid-year following controversy related to her management style, which relied heavily on consultants and data analysts. Birks’ stint was also tainted by claims that she tried to hide payments to strategic planners through the use of purchase orders. 

According to Rivera, Negrón was one of 31 candidates who applied for the job after the consulting firm McPherson and Jacobson, Board of Education members and community members developed a search criteria for the district. 

After the candidates applied, they interviewed with the Board of Education’s personnel search committee and also spoke with community members through organized stakeholder meetings. 

“The search committee narrowed the field to three finalists, including an internal candidate, Viviana Conner,” Rivera told the News. “Each of the three finalists were interviewed by the committee, as well as panels of students, parents, teachers, administrators and staff, community and business leaders.” 

Search parameters for the district included a focus on providing a strong academic program that facilitated student engagement and achievement, building opportunities for students to increase graduation rate, working to retain teachers and staff and advancing a culture of fiscal responsibility. 

Members of the community who spoke at the meeting spoke in favor of the nomination thanking the district for choosing someone who represents New Haven. 

“Thank you thank you thank,” Mita Diaz told the Board of Education. “I have seen Negrón and how passionate she is about New Haven, our schools, our kids. Gracias…I can’t even speak English right now.” 

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker told the News that Negrón is an “inspiring choice” for the district whose “personal lived-experience” and “professional experience” will help students and the district thrive. 

New Haven Public Schools serves 19,000 students. 

The post Board of Education confirms Madeline Negrón as next New Haven Superintendent appeared first on Yale Daily News.

State harm reduction advocates and government officials hope that the United States Food & Drug Administration’s March 29 decision to authorize over-the-counter distribution of Narcan — a nasal Naloxone spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose  — will help save the lives of people who are overdosing.

As opioid overdoses continue to rise in New Haven, Narcan remains unavailable over-the-counter without a prescription. While naloxone is currently distributed at community-based organizations and health departments, New Haven city officials, Connecticut state legislators and harm reduction advocates believe that Narcan will reach local store shelves — on an over-the-counter basis — by the end of the summer.

“I want to emphasize that New Haven experiences some of the highest numbers of drug-related overdoses in Connecticut, which should be a prioritized concern for the Yale community,” wrote Winnie Ho, co-chair of the Yale Addiction Medicine Collaborative. “Narcan’s prescription-only nature has been a persistent barrier towards getting it out quickly and in adequate amounts, to the people who need them.” 

Due to its ability to rapidly save the life of an individual who has overdosed, the FDA has approved Narcan use without a prescription — opening up avenues for Narcan to be purchased locally in grocery stores, convenience stores and other such locations.

“Naloxone saves lives,” Kathryn Hawk, an associate professor of emergency medicine and a specialist in addiction medicine, wrote to the News. “It provides an important opportunity to discuss strategies to reduce harm, including infections and overdose risk, the increasing presence of fentanyl in the street opioid and cocaine supply, and an opportunity to discuss treatment options if patients are ready.”

However, even as the official over-the-counter rollout begins, advocates have also raised ongoing questions about the pricing and availability of Narcan.

According to Hawk, it is “critically important” that over-the-counter naloxone availability does not lead to a reduction in existing channels of the medication to drug users, especially since, even with OTC status, cost and stigma continue to be ongoing barriers to naloxone access.

Frederick Altice, the director of the Yale Center for Clinical and Community Research, noted that making Narcan OTC has “potential pitfalls.”

Altice expressed concerns over the price of the OTC medication, which, without insurance, can reach $120 for two intranasal doses. High prices over the counter, Altice warned, could reduce the overall distribution and availability of Narcan.

Altice also told the News that Narcan plays a key role as a medium of drug education. Obtaining naloxone from a clinic, for instance, is often accompanied by education on recognizing an overdose and how to administer the medication. 

“Naloxone works best as part of a package of overdose education and NLX distribution,” Altice wrote. “We lose the overdose education aspect.”

Ho told the News that she still remains concerned about the price point and potential logistical issues surrounding access to Narcan as it becomes more widely available. 

According to Ho, the generic forms of Narcan have not yet received authorization, and there have also been reports of supply chain issues with the brand name drug. 

“Some concerns that I have heard include: What’s the price of Narcan going to be, if only one formulation of naloxone, by one company, is approved for OTC, if this form of naloxone is no longer prescription-status … and what will the implementation of this new authorization look like?” Ho wrote to the News. “Will it help or hurt community distribution?” 

Advocates in the city are also already reporting issues with shortages of naloxone, which has further raised concerns about the feasibility of ensuring that the over-the-counter drug continues to be easily accessible. 

Julia Einhorn, the New Haven Health Department’s programs director, expects Narcan to “hit store shelves” by late summer. She noted that the delay between FDA authorization and widespread Narcan availability was due to “extra steps” that medication manufacturers need to complete before distributing Narcan to stores.

“We’re committed to expanding access to harm reduction services by connecting them to substance use treatment and other supports and services,” New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker told the News. “A critical part of that effort is providing naloxone training and free access to naloxone, which is available through both the city’s health department and our community partners — and that will continue irrespective of Narcan’s availability at pharmacies.”

Altice, however, described the delay as being driven by a shortage of availability. In his experience, there is “not enough [Narcan’] to go around.”

In the meantime, according to Einhorn, the city plans to continue distributing naloxone and  providing naloxone training even once the medication becomes available over-the-counter. The city aims to use social media and partnerships with schools and community organizations, Einhorn said, to raise awareness for these initiatives. 

For harm reduction advocates, however, over-the-counter authorization is just one step in the fight against overdose-related deaths.

“While over-the-counter status for Narcan is a step in the right direction towards reducing barriers to access, I personally believe that the ultimate goal is to ensure that naloxone is free and readily available for all,” Ho told the News. “We’ve lost too many people to still have this many barriers to a life-saving medication.”

The first patent for naloxone was issued in 1961. 

The post New Haven plans for late summer distribution of Narcan appeared first on Yale Daily News.

The Yale Foreign Policy Initiative hosted Chen, Yale Law School visiting fellow Jason Hsu and Rear Admiral Hope Yuan in Linsly-Chittenden Hall on Apr. 18 to discuss the future of U.S.-China-Taiwan relations and the economic, military and societal factors at play in ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Chen, a former Vice Minister for Policy of Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, told the roughly 30 attendees that Taiwan is much more vulnerable to a naval blockade than an amphibious invasion because the western coast of Taiwan does not have suitable beaches for a large-scale naval landing.

“Taiwan is highly vulnerable to a blockade,” Chen said. “We need to cooperate with all the surrounding countries, not only sharing the risk, but also sharing energy support and making sure critical infrastructure is safe.” 

Chen explained that a potential Chinese blockade could cut off much of East Asia from global supply lines that run through the Taiwan Strait. As a result, Chen said, “nobody is a winner” if China blockades the Strait — including China itself.

Chen argued that Taiwan therefore needs to increase its current stockpiles of energy, food, defensive weapons and medical supplies in preparation for this contingency.

“I think it’s important to assess the Taiwan contingency realistically instead of worrying about an amphibious landing… We need to focus 95 percent of our resources on developing Taiwan’s resiliency and energy sustainability, as well as our mentality and will to fight,” Hsu said. 

He added that in the event of a blockade, Taiwan would have to plan for operational support from the United States to support morale and force China to end the blockade. Chen argued that China would “not be able to compete” against the U.S. Navy in a blockade since the Chinese Navy has far fewer experienced naval aviators.   

Chen warned that governments and commercial organizations across the globe would be forced to respond to the potential closing of a strait through which roughly half of the world’s container ships pass. 

According to event organizer Ethan Chiu ’26, the Yale Foreign Policy Initiative invited Chen to share his perspective on China and Taiwan after Hsu arranged for the admiral to work on semiconductor and AI governance projects in New Haven.

Howard Shi ’25, who attended the event, told the News that the talk was an important space to hear informed perspectives on the China-Taiwan relationship. 

“It’s really cool to meet someone like [Chen] in person,” Shi said. “I took the course ‘The Rise of China’ last semester and found a lot of shared perspectives between the class and Admiral Chen’s presentation,” Shi told the News. 

Nearly 24 million people currently live in Taiwan.

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Mayor Justin Elicker, New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson and Chief Administrative Officer Regina Rush-Kittle announced the police arrest warrant one week after it was issued. The warrant was issued on April 6 against the employee for a one felony count of first-degree larceny. 

“Unfortunately, like in every workplace, there are some individuals who fail to meet their professional responsibilities and expectations that we have for them,” Elicker said at the press conference announcing the arrest warrant. “That is true in city government as well.” 

When the press conference occurred on Friday, the employee, 57-year-old New Havener Dennice Pair, had not been located. The press conference was called to encourage the employee to turn herself into the NHPD. 

At 4:39 p.m. that same day, NHPD Spokesperson Rose Dell sent out a press release stating that the employee had turned themself into the NHPD. The release stated that a court bond was set for $5000. 

“On December 5, 2022, NHPD was informed that an employee had allegedly improperly and fraudulently entered unauthorized overtime for herself into the City payroll system,” Dell wrote to the News. 

A criminal investigation conducted by NHPD revealed that Pair collected over $11,485.39 in overtime pay in the first four months of the fiscal year — July through October 2022. 

The city’s accountants took note, identifying a disproportionate amount of overtime being paid to Pair. According to Elicker, Pair was then placed on administrative leave in November, leading to a police investigation and the issuing of an arrest warrant. 

Elicker explained that the grift was possible due to a previous timesheet system where each city employee would fill their own timesheet before October. A department supervisor would sign off on those timesheets and pass them to a point person in the department, who would then input the information into a municipal employee accounting system. 

In this case, the Building Department’s point person, Pair, was responsible for the alleged grift. After the supervisor would sign off on the timesheets, the employee would allegedly increase their own overtime before entering the information into the system. 

Last October, Elicker told the News, the city’s Budget Office placed strict parameters on overtime oversight which included breaking down overtime amounts for review by both departments and individual employees. 

After this new process was instituted, the budget office identified the grift. City administrators will now also be required to oversee overtime filings and confirm records after they have been entered into the payroll system, according to Elicker. 

Prior to moving to the Building Department in 2013, Pair worked for the Transportation Department. Over their 12 years of employment with the city, she made $145,000 in overtime, which Elicker believes may have also been fraudulently earned. 

Elicker’s opponents in the upcoming mayoral race this November have used the arrest to criticize the current administration. 

“This is just the latest incident that calls into question the administration’s managerial competence,” candidate Liam Brennan told the News. “From schools to parks, the police department to the Civilian Review Board, the city is in need of new leadership.”

Candidate Tom Goldenberg told the News that this instance was another example of “Mayor Elicker failing to live up to his promise of a well-run city hall.” 

Goldenberg added that the city has not had a confirmed city controller since March of 2020. The city controller in the Department of Finance is responsible for overseeing the City’s funds and account,  reporting directly to the Mayor. 

“When this same incident happened in Mayor Harp’s administration, Justin Elicker told the city to vote her out of office,” Goldenberg told the News. 

Former city police sergeant and Beaver Hills alder Shafiq Abdussabur told the News that the alleged theft represents “yet another testament to a poorly run, top-down government at City Hall.” 

Responding to jabs from his opponents, Elicker told the News that his administration is “working to hold people accountable with new financial controls.” 

“It’s easy to talk and throw rocks from the outside,” Elicker said. “It’s another thing to take action.” 

NHPD is located at 1 Union Ave. 

The post City Hall employee arrested for alleged $11,400 overtime pay grift appeared first on Yale Daily News.

On April 13, elected Board of Education member Darnell Goldson told the News and the New Haven Independent that Madeline Negrón had been chosen by the district’s Superintendent Search Committee as the next superintendent for the district of roughly 19,000 students. If confirmed, Negron would be the first Hispanic superintendent in the history of a district that now has a plurality Hispanic population. 

After the Personnel Search Committee voted to select Negrón as superintendent, they authorized NHPS’ counsel to negotiate a contract. Goldson said that the contract has been negotiated and is slated to be presented at the Board of Education’s special meeting on Wednesday — when the Board of Education had planned to announce Negrón’s appointment.

“We have followed a long and rigorous process to come to this decision, and this is a decision I stand by,” Goldson told the News.  

Goldson, who is a member of the Superintendent Search Committee, decided to release the information before it was officially made public by the committee or the Board of Education. 

He told the News that he believes this move was necessary so that both Negrón and stakeholders had time to be informed before the announcement and ratification of her contract occurred on Wednesday. 

“There’s no reason for secrecy,” Goldson told the News. “I’m a true believer of transparency. … I can not in good conscience support keeping something secret that’s been the worst kept secret in New Haven.” 

According to Goldson, the Board of Education and district have followed a process that began through the employment of McPherson and Jacobson as the headhunting firm for the search. Teachers, parents, students and other community members were invited to share their thoughts on the new superintendent. 

Board of Education president Yesenia Rivera did not respond to requests for comments to confirm the identity of the new Superintendent or the matter that will be voted on during the Wednesday meeting.

“By all means cite Mr. Goldson as your source,” New Haven Public Schools Spokesperson Justin Harmon told the News. “A vote such as Wednesday’s is not pro forma, and the board as a whole has chosen to respect the process it put in place.” 

Board of Education Vice President Matt Wilcox neither confirmed nor denied Goldson’s announcement, telling the News that as a member of the personnel search committee he had agreed to a process that prevents him from commenting on the superintendent that has been selected. 

The members of the Search Committee are not listed on the New Haven Public Schools website, nor are the names of members or stakeholders involved in the decision making process listed on the website designed to provide members of the public information on the superintendent search process. 

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker stressed his faith in the selection and his excitement for the district’s new leadership.

“The search process for a new superintendent has been a thoughtful and deliberative one that has spanned several months, considered many well-qualified candidates, and included input from students, parents, teachers, administrators, support staff, and other community members,” Elicker told the News.  

Dave Cruz-Bustamante, a Board of Education representative and senior at Wilbur Cross High School, expressed less optimism in the selection of a new superintendent. Regardless of who holds the position, he said he hopes they consult parents and New Haveners more to better the city’s education system. 

“To me, revitalizing this school district is much bigger than appointing a new big-wig at the top,” he said. “I hope that the new superintendent is willing to listen and act as a co-conspirator in the demands and frustrations of students, teachers, and community.”

Cruz-Bustamante added that he has faith in the board’s selection and trusts this decision was made with “honesty” and “integrity.” 

The current superintendent, Iline Tracey, informed the community of her decision to retire at the end of the 2022-2023 school year after almost 40 years of service in New Haven Public Schools. 

Tracey announced her retirement around a cloud of controversy with the district releasing test scores that showed a precipitous decline during the pandemic and a debate over phonics-based education. 

Tracey was originally tapped in 2019 to serve as an interim superintendent after her predecessor, Carol Birk’s, contract was bought out by the Board of Education. Tracey was confirmed as non-interim superintendent for the 2020-2021 school year. 

Carol Birks resigned mid-year following controversy related to her management style, which relied heavily on consultants and data analysts. Birk’s stint was also tainted by claims that she tried to hide payments to strategic planners through the use of purchase orders. 

Throughout the current process to choose Tracey’s successor, community members have raised concerns, including at the Board of Alders’ Education committee, about the process not sufficiently including the voices of the community. 

“There were people in the community that felt that the process was not inclusive of I was more than willing to fight for their cause,” Goldson told the News. “I was never approached by any groups. I didn’t see any groups arise to oppose the process.” 

With looming teacher shortages, absenteeism, rising student homelessness and low test scores, Madeline Negrón faces an uphill battle. 

The superintendent’s office is located at 60 Putnam Avenue. 

The post Negrón leaked as NHPS superintendent pick ahead of Wednesday confirmation vote appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Incumbent Mayor Justin Elicker, former Beaver Hills alder and police sergeant Shafiq Abdussabur and former Hartford Inspector General Liam Brennan raised $102,470.50, $47,200.82 and $31,788.56 respectively. Since each of these candidates have abided by the city’s Democracy Fund’s requirements — to not accept donations over $440 or take PAC money and to raise donations from at least 200 New Haven voters — their donations will be matched in part or in full by the fund. 

“Candidates have an incentive to get small donations because they get amplified and doubled,” New Haven Democracy Fund administrator Alyson Heimer told the News. “So this changes who people are willing to talk to and it changes the power of every contributor to make a meaningful impact on the mayor’s race. Candidates are no longer shopping for $1,000 contributors. They’re shopping for local New Haven residents who are registered to vote in order to win over those hearts.”

Former McKinsey consultant Tom Goldenberg has raised $39,562.57 but is not a participant in the Democracy Fund and has thus been able to accept contributions of up to $1000. 

Elicker leads the pack amongst Democracy Fund candidates

For every contribution made between $5 to $35, the Democracy Fund doubles the contribution, while donations ranging from $30 to $445 receive a flat $60 matching grant from the fund. The fund will provide matching grants of up to $125,000 total — a threshold that has never been exceeded since its founding in 2007. Once they raise a requisite amount of funding from New Haveners, each candidate also qualifies for a base $23,000 grant. 

After including the Democracy Fund’s matching grants, Elicker’s campaign has raised a total of $210,000; this includes $158,000 in individual donations, a $20,000 Democracy Fund base-level grant and $29,000 in matching funds since he declared his run in December 2022. 

Elicker has been a proponent of the Democracy Fund since its inception and has participated in the program for all four of his Mayoral campaigns. His predecessors John DeStefano Jr. and Toni Harp also initially supported the Democracy Fund, but later chose not to participate when they faced challengers. 

“We’ve proven that a mayoral candidate can work within the clean money limits and raise money to win as a challenger and an incumbent,” Elicker told the News. “Democracy Fund is proof that New Haven is not for sale.” 

Contributors to Elicker’s campaign include a range of developers, city employees, Yale New Haven Hospital executives and Yale professors. This list features New Haven Corporation Counsel Patricia King, Yale political science professor Stephen Latham and property developers Yves Joseph, Carter Winstanley and Lynn Fusco. 

In total, Elicker’s campaign has received 1000 individual contributions, including 638 from New Haveners. 

“I’m humbled by the outpouring of support the campaign has received,” Elicker told the News. “New Haven residents are supporting my campaign so we can continue working toward our shared vision of New Haven’s future by building on the progress we have made in affordable housing, public safety and education.”

Brennan’s campaign has raised $31,000 in donations from 362 unique donors, of whom 226 are New Haveners, with an average contribution of $86.19. 

Brennan was the first challenger to meet the requisite number of local donations to qualify for the Democracy Fund and has claimed that reaching the threshold represents support for him in the city. 

“Our campaign is proud to be the first challenger to have reached this milestone, and, by doing it in less than three weeks since our launch, we’re especially proud to have reached it faster than even the Mayor’s campaign,” Brennan told the News. “Residents from every part of our great city are joining our campaign, because they believe that we can build a better New Haven together.” 

His donors include 26 people who have maxed out the Democracy Fund’s $445 cap, including 22 New Haveners who are largely in government or public service roles. These contributors include New Haven Federation of Teachers president Leslie Blatteau, Fair Haven alder Sarah Miller, SeeClickFix founder Ben Berkowitz, Quinnipiac professor Shawna Reed and federal Department of Energy official Mary Sotos. 

Brennan also acknowledged that since he only declared his candidacy six weeks ago, he is at a “deficit” compared to other candidates. However, he vowed to close the gap, arguing that his campaign has raised funds at the fastest pace for a challenger. 

“Our support from small dollar donors across the city shows that we are gaining

Momentum,” Brennan told the News. “Everyday residents are calling for change, and I’m the candidate who can push our city forward.”

Abdussabur has raised $47,200 from 420 individuals, of whom 274 are New Haveners, with donors ranging from current and former police officers to members of Abdussabur’s mosque. 

Other supporters include regional NAACP president Dori Dumas, Police Commissioner Tracey Meares, State Rep. Gary Winfield, ex-mayor Toni Harp and Alders Sarah Miller and Frank Douglass. 

“We’ve already raised the most money besides the incumbent and our donors represent this city,” Abdussabur told the News. 

Goldenberg has argued in the past that he did not want to participate in the Democracy Fund, since he believed that it might hamper his ability to successfully challenge Elicker in the race. 

Since Goldenberg launched his campaign in the last filing quarter of 2022, his campaign has raised a total of $72,966 from 277 donors. He has received 17 donations of $1000 with fifteen of the seventeen donors living outside of New Haven. 22 of his total donors are individuals who have at some point worked at McKinsey. 

New Haven mayors have a two-year term. 

The post Mayoral candidates report first quarter campaign fund hauls appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Under the newly-announced collaboration, the Tobin Center will work with New Haven Public Schools to study different metrics of educational performance, the Department of Energy and Environment Protection Commissioner to identify ways to better fight climate change and strengthen Medicaid coverage in the state. 

“Here in Connecticut, we are fortunate to have leading academic researchers like those at Yale’s Tobin Center who we can partner with to ensure that the policies we are implementing are efficient, methodical, and produce the best results for the residents of our state,” Governor Lamont said. “I appreciate their willingness to partner with us, and academics at the state’s other great universities, on these efforts.”

The announcement last week came on the heels of Yellen’s visit to Yale last week as part of her national tour to discuss President Joe Bidens’s “Investing in America” agenda. 

Lamont announced that senior members of his administration — including Chief of Staff Jonathan Dach, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes and Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Beth By — and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro met with Yellen at Yale University’s Tobin Center for Economic Policy to discuss Biden’s plan  for expanding economic opportunity and boosting productive capacity in Connecticut.

Yellen also highlighted the latest investments that states will receive from the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act. These investments, according to Yellen, are aimed at building a clean energy economy, rebuilding crumbling infrastructure, strengthening supply chains, spurring manufacturing and creating well-paying jobs across the United States. 

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, states play a critical role in implementing these new investments and research universities are integral to deploying skills and talent in support of essential public policy goals. 

To further these efforts, the Lamont administration and the Tobin Center announced a series of new steps that respond to Secretary Yellen’s call for states to implement inclusive and green policies and for academic economists to utilize their skills in support of state efforts.

“I am grateful to Secretary Yellen for providing thoughtful perspectives regarding the federal administration’s economic priorities in the context of the Yale Tobin Center’s research and policy work,” University President Peter Salovey said. “By convening leaders such as Secretary Yellen and working collaboratively with faculty members across the university, the Tobin Center is helping to set the national agenda and informing domestic public policy through evidence-based research.”

Local officials hope that the collaboration with the Tobin Center will empower them to improve their education policy through scientifically driven findings. According to Elicker, increasing access to high-quality childcare and early education will have significant impacts not just on students and their outcomes but will also free parents to participate in the workforce, thereby boosting the New Haven economy. 

New Haven Public Schools’ Director of Communications and Marketing Justin Harmon, echoed Elicker’s sentiments, hoping that the research of the Tobin Center would allow access to education to be improved, benefiting both students and their parents. 

“We know based on the experiences of our families that high-quality childcare and early childhood education are essential to parents’ full participation in the workforce, as well as to the wellbeing of our children,” Harmon told the News. “We are pleased to partner with the Tobin Center to provide longitudinal data on school choice outcomes that can contribute to a formal assessment of those linkages.”

The Tobin Center is located at 87 Trumbull St. 

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Texas US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled on Apr. 7 that he is ordering a suspension of Mifepristone’s FDA approval. The drug, which has been approved for 23 years, is used for roughly half of all abortions in the US. He also immediately suspended his ruling for seven days for an appeal that the Department of Justice filed on Monday. On the same day, District Judge Thomas O. Rice in Washington State ruled that the FDA approval of Mifepristone was legal and should be maintained. 

Following the conflicting decisions, state leaders are working with the Federal Department of Justice to appeal the Texas decision while also ensuring that pregnant people in Connecticut have continued access to abortion. 

“This case is not about safety. This is about controlling medical decisions that should be between patients and their doctors,” Governor Ned Lamont wrote to the News. “We will not let this decision derail our fight to defend and strengthen abortion rights. In Connecticut, we remain committed to expanding access to reproductive healthcare.”

On April 10, Attorney General William Tong signed an Amicus Brief with 17 other state Attorneys General  to the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit calling for the court to stay the Texas district court decision revoking the FDA’s approval of Mifepristone. 

“The coalition is urging the appeals court to continue to stay the lower court’s unprecedented and legally erroneous decision pending the appeal, given the decades of clinical research and studies that have confirmed Mifepristone’s safety and the critical role medication abortion plays in reproductive health care, particularly in low-income, underserved and rural communities,” Tong told the News.

Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, who recently launched a Reproductive Freedom Caucus with 22 other Lieutenant Governors, told the News that Connecticut’s executive leaders as well as other Lieutenant Governors are working to appeal the decision and are also preparing to take the decision to the Supreme Court. 

Bysiewicz told the News that although the Supreme Court has taken decisions to restrict abortion access in the past, this case is “about federal regulation.” She said she is hopeful that the Supreme Court will uphold FDA approval. 

“This is a matter of federal regulation,” Bysiewicz told the News. “If the court looks at this as more generically as a regulatory issue it is possible they give a positive result, because here’s the thing; 55 million women over 20 years have used this drug. And it would be a huge impediment to reproductive health care and access if this ruling stands.” 

Proponents of revoking the FDA’s approval argue that the FDA rushed to approve the drug without properly considering harmful side effects the drug may have. 

Since the FDA approved Mifepristone in 2000, there have been five deaths associated with the drug for every one million people who have used it, according to the FDA. 

“This is a politically motivated attack on Mifepristone to curtail abortion access nationwide,” Gretchen Raffa, vice president of public policy, advocacy and organizing at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England told the News. “Judge Kacsmaryk based his decision on junk science and ignored all of the 22- plus year medical evidence.” 

Mifepristone’s safety is on par with those of common over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen according to research published by the National Institute of Health. 

The pill has also been approved for usage in more than 60 other countries.  

“This is really damaging because it limits access for people in rural areas and states like Maine and Vermont in the Northeast will be heavily hit if this decision stands,” Health Policy Fellow with the Reproductive Rights Caucus Sydney Perlotto, MPH ’ ‘24 told the News. “From the broader Public Health perspective, the attacks that we have seen crawl out of the woodwork against the FDA is incredibly problematic.” 

Bysiewicz told the News that the state is also studying ways to ensure that access to abortion remains unfettered. According to Bysiewicz, this will involve planned discussions with the suppliers of the other abortion drug called Misoprostol. 

According to Raffa, the Southern New England Planned Parenthood, which is the abortion provider for Yale, has a supply of abortion medications and the resources to provide abortions without delay even if Mifepristone is banned on April 14. 

The Texas and Washington decisions have also brought advocacy by the State Legislature’s Reproductive Rights Caucus to the forefront. In light of the decisions, Governor Ned Lamont, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Attorney General William Tong and State Representative Matt Blumenthal hosted a press conference on April 10. At the press conference, they discussed the decisions and legislation proposed by Blumenthal and Rep. Jillian Gillchrest to expand access to reproductive healthcare. 

“This decision is another reminder for all of us to work to get these bills passed to protect the right to choose in Connecticut,” Bysiewicz told the News. “The speaker, the President of the Senate, has been very clear that women’s reproductive rights are extremely important. We’re going to do whatever it takes. And so I know that their legislation will be heard and will be successful.” 

Parts of the bills put forward include funding for a safe harbor fund for pregnant people out of state to use to come to Connecticut for abortion care, expanding Medicaid and HUSKY to fully cover abortions, solidifying funding for training for abortion providers and protecting data privacy of people who receive abortions. 

The Connecticut legislature is currently hearing the set of bills as they move through committee and the legislative process. 

Texas Judge Kacsmaryk was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017 and his nomination was approved by the United States Senate in 2019. 

The post Connecticut, Southern New England Planned Parenthood make contingency plans for Mifepristone ban appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Morton announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in this November’s Hamden mayoral election on March 26. Incumbent Lauren Garrett is also running for re-election. Speaking to roughly four dozen supporters at the Friday night fundraiser in the Playwright Irish Pub,  Morton made his pitch for improving the city’s economic development, school system and public safety.

“I want to help bring Hamden back to what it used to be,” Morton told the News. “I remember growing up here and this was a place where people were proud to raise their families and settle down here.”

Born and raised in Hamden, Morton served as former Mayor Curt Balzano Leng’s legislative liaison, advocating for Hamden priorities in Hartford, Connecticut and Washington, D.C.

Prior to his current term as a member of the Hamden Public Schools Board of Education, Morton also served in Eastern Africa with his National Guard unit. He had to resign his position as a Board of Education member in May of 2021 when his Guard unit was called up for service. However, after he returned from his 10-month tour he was appointed to a vacant seat by the Board of Education. 

During his time on the BOE prior to deployment, Morton served as the finance and personnel chair for almost seven years.

“Over my almost ten years of public service as well as my military service, I have learned how the government works and how to get things done,” Morton told the News. “From advocating for our town’s priorities in Hartford and DC as well as on the Board of Education I have made connections with people across the state and will use what I’ve learned to get things done.” 

One of Morton’s main campaign priorities is economic development. According to Morton, Hamden needs to bring more business to the town, as well as expand the property tax base to allow for a lowering of property taxes. 

Hamden has one of the highest tax rates in the state, which, according to Morton, has disincentivized people from staying in the city. He plans on studying ways to rezone parts of the town to allow for more favorable tax rates and draw more business to Hamden. 

“Administration after administration have promised tax relief and we still have some of the highest taxes in the state,” longtime Hamden resident and former city councilman John Flannagan told the News.  “Walter is promising real change.”  

On education, Morton plans on helping to increase funding for schools and ensure that the district is able to maintain a strong set of teachers after the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a national teacher shortage crisis. 

“A lot of my friends from Hamden High are here with me today,” Morton said. “Hamden High was a great school to go to and we need to make sure that it stays that way.” 

In terms of public safety, Morton plans on working to “provide more resources for the police department” while also encouraging community policing and increasing opportunities for local youth to be more involved in the town. 

The Friday fundraiser was also attended by members of the Quinnipiac Democrats, including current president Paul Cappuzzo and president-elect Nick Fizzano. 

Cappuzzo told the News that he was looking to hear from all candidates in the race about how they would better integrate Quinnipiac into the town and advocate for the university to have one unified state legislative district. The current system splits the university’s campus across two districts. 

While Quinnipiac Democrats have not endorsed a candidate yet and follow an endorsement process that includes panels and deliberations, Cappuzzo told the News that the organization did not endorse Lauren Garrett when she was running for mayor because of her attitude towards the university. 

“The town generally frowns on the university and a lot of the time the problems of the city are blamed on Quinnipiac,” Cappuzzo told the News. “We’re excited to hear from Walter because we need a strong advocate who will work with us. 

Hamden’s Board of Education has nine elected members. 

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