Blogs

MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR THE WEEK OF

MONDAY, JANUARY 20TH, 2020 – MONDAY JANUARY 27TH, 2020

All meetings with an (*) indicate a public meeting

Monday, January 20th, 2020

*No Meetings Scheduled, City Hall Closed

Tuesday, January 21st, 2020

*Project Fresh Start, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3 9:00 a.m., (203) 946-7846

*Labor Relations, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3

10:00 a.m., (203) 946-7151

*Board of Alders-Democratic Caucus, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3. 5:45 p.m.; Public Information Caucus, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 1, 6:30 p.m.; Full Board Meeting, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Aldermanic Chamber, 7:00 p.m., (203) 946-6483

*Fair Rent Commission, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 2, 6:00 p.m., (203) 946-8157

*NH Peace Commission, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020 

*Project Fresh Start, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3 9:00 a.m., (203) 946-7846

*United States Census 2020, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 2, 3:00 p.m.

*Project Fresh Start, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 1 3:30 p.m., (203) 946-6572

*City Plan Commission, New Haven Hall of Records, 200 Orange Street, Ground Floor, G2-Hearing Room, 6:00 p.m.

*GNH Toastmasters, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 1 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 23rd, 2020 

*Project Fresh Start, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3 9:00 a.m., (203) 946-7846

*Youth Commission, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3, 6:00 p.m.

Friday, January 24th, 2020  

*No Meetings Scheduled

Monday, January 27th, 2020

*Project Fresh Start, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3 9:00 a.m., (203) 946-7846

Martin Luther King Conference 2020

Monday, January 20, 2020

Wexler Grant Community School

55 Foote Street, New Haven, 06511

9:30AM-10:30AM

The Greater New Haven Clergy Association Annual Dr. King Celebration

Monday, January 20, 2020

First Calvary Baptist Church

608 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven 06511

11:30AM-1:00PM

MLK Volunteer Event with Neighborhood Housing Services

Mayor Elicker will be painting at the renovation site

Monday, January 20, 2020

278 Newhall Street, New Haven 06511

1:30PM-2:15PM

MLK Day Call to Action – New Haven Rising

Monday, January 20, 2020

Varick Memorial Church

242 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven 06511

5:00PM-7:00PM

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New Haven Health Department Providing Free Home Radon Test Kits,

Encourages Testing for this Silent Killer

January is National Radon Action Month

NEW HAVEN, Conn.—The New Haven Health Department is distributing free radon home testing kits and educational materials to New Haven residents during the month of January. To receive a radon test kit, while supplies last, residents should contact 203-946-8174 or visit the department which is located on the ninth floor of 54 Meadow Street. The New Haven Health Department is working with the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a nationwide campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure and to encourage them to take action to protect their homes and families.

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that is dispersed in outdoor air, but which can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. Scientists have long been concerned about the health risks of radon, but there has never been such overwhelming evidence that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General’s office estimate radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. “However,” says Ms. Roslyn Hamilton, Acting Director of Health, “because you can’t see or smell radon, people tend to downplay the health effects and ignore the possibility that there might be a silent killer in their homes. Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive”.

The New Haven Health Department urges New Haven residents to take action during this year’s National Radon Action Month by testing their homes for radon. Radon poses a serious threat to our communities health but there is a straightforward solution. For more information on radon, radon testing and mitigation, and radon-resistant new construction, call the New Haven Health Department-Bureau of Environmental Health at 946-8174 or visit EPA’s National Radon Action Month Web site at www.epa.gov/radon/nram.

For more information on getting a radon kit please contact Brian Wnek, Senior Sanitarian at the New Haven Health Department: (203) 946-6760, or bwnek@newhavenct.gov

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NEW HAVEN Conn. – Today, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker announced his pick for the head of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Department for the City of New Haven: arts administrator and cultural equity leader, Adriane Jefferson.

Adriane Jefferson is an executive in arts administration and cultural equity with expertise in program design, event and media production, grantmaking, external affairs, community partnerships, and new program initiatives. She specializes in professional development programming for young creative professionals, people of color, and social change. Adriane is a thought leader, adviser, and educator about issues of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion. She has dedicated her career to creating programs that result in a more equitable, vibrant and sustainable arts landscape.

Ms. Jefferson released the following statement:

"I believe that to have a thriving landscape of arts and culture, it must be approached through a lens of cultural equity. The arts, when utilized to its fullest potential, is a tool that has the power to break down socioeconomic barriers, fight systemic oppression, and provide opportunities in education and employment. It provides platforms to curate meaningful conversations and action-oriented planning around issues of social justice, civic engagement, and cross-sector relationships. As the Director of Cultural Affairs for the City of New Haven, I will do as I have always done and lead with a people-first approach. I believe when you are a public servant, your role is to listen, to be accessible, mindful, and responsive to the needs of your constituency. I also believe as a public servant, your role is to inform, to provide resources so that no one gets left behind, and to ensure that everyone has the opportunity for growth. I am honored to join Mayor Elicker's administration and look forward to working with all of the constituents throughout this great city!"

"Ms. Jefferson brings a strong worth ethic, backed with real experience to elevate the arts here in the Elm City. Ms. Jefferson will join our talented, experienced, and diverse team tasked with serving all needs of Elm City residents.  I look forward to leading our city with a high moral standard for open and transparent government," stated Mayor Elicker.

Full biography below:

Adriane Jefferson is an Arts Administrator and cultural equity leader who has worked professionally in the Arts & Culture sector for over 16 years. For the past three years she has served as an Arts Program Manager for the State of CT, Department of Economic and Community Development/Office of the Arts where she has developed groundbreaking programs for the State of CT such as The Arts Workforce Initiative paid Employment Program which has placed over 100 young people between the ages of 18-40 in arts jobs across the State.

Adriane is the creator and innovator of signature state programs such as The READI Music Conference and The READI Talk professional development Series, which has provided access and opportunity to hundreds of young creative professionals across the State who are seeking careers in arts and entertainment. In addition, Adriane has served as the CT State Coordinator for the National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Out Loud program, Make Music Day CT, and The Regional Initiative Grant program. She manages a combined program budget of slightly over $450,000 to foster, support, and provide opportunities to the creative community through funding and professional development initiatives.

Adriane has expertise in program design, event & media production, grantmaking, development, external affairs, community partnerships, and strategic planning, which includes the development and implementation of new program initiatives. She particularly specializes in the areas of developing programs for creative entrepreneurs, programs that support people from historically marginalized groups, social change initiatives, and building cross-sector relationships between the arts and other business industries. Prior to her current position at the State, Adriane served as the Executive Director and Senior Director of programs for the Writers Block Ink in New London, CT. She also has served as a member of their Board of directors.

Adriane's professional career began in 2004, where she worked behind the scenes in local television & production and special event planning in the city of Miami, Florida. Simultaneously she was also pursuing her B.A in Popular Music from Florida Memorial University in Opa Locka, Florida. She graduated Cum Laude in 2009. Developing much of her professional career in Miami, Florida from 2004- 2015, Adriane has worked in arts education as an educator in both music and theater arts. Between 2008 and 2010, she helped to develop the drama program for Alonzo Mourning Charities' Over Town Youth center and The Gibson Charter School. Adriane Jefferson is known as a thought leader, adviser, and educator about issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Cultural Equity. Her unique approach to programming and her ability to think outside of the box  has created many opportunities for creatives, arts organizations and creative businesses within the State of CT and beyond. She has dedicated her career to creating programs that result in a more equitable, vibrant, and sustainable arts landscape. Adriane has an M.A in Arts Administration from Savannah College of Art and Design. She is a mother of one and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

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#SykesandSheffield

We believe in taking the initiative to get things done. Given the opportunity we would like to assist in making Newhallville Ward 20 a great place to reside in the City of New Haven. A place where our youth can thrive, a place where people feel safe, and all residents have a voice.

• Resilient New Haven: Continuously Improving Its Preparedness for

Adverse Weather and Climate Impact

NEW HAVEN. Conn. – The City of New Haven has experienced a variety of flooding events over the past few years. With at least 10 coastal flood warnings, 8 flood advisories, and a flash flood warning, the year 2019 was no exception. Flooding events, prompted by heavy rain and coastal and winter storms, were prevalent throughout the city and impassable roads, power outages, and property damage.

City officials are continuously preparing for natural disasters—specifically floods, hurricanes, and other storm events–through the installation of green infrastructure downtown, the repair of storm drain outfalls and tide flaps, catch basin cleaning, shoreline stabilization, and the construction of seawalls. They work to foster community resilience through various educational and public information efforts as outlined below.

City officials are steadily upgrading infrastructure and policies to mitigate the impact of these flooding events: specifically, through the installation of bioswales, the repair of storm drain outfalls and tide flaps, catch basin cleaning, and the construction of seawalls – and they work to foster community resilience through educational and public information efforts as outlined below.

The City has prepared a variety of citizen-oriented resources for flood resilience. First, the City is working to inform residents of localized flood risks and equip them with preventative resources. The City maintains a collection of flood maps available at City Hall (165 Church Street) in the City Plan Department or the Building Department. These maps include basic and advanced flood zone information, flood depth, and historical flood information.

Residents can also ascertain their specific flood risk by looking at maps at https://msc.fema.gov/portal, or in the main branch of New Haven Free Public Library (133 Elm Street). Residents are also encouraged to sign up for New Haven Alerts (at https://www.newhavenct.gov/gov/depts/emergency_info/alerts.htm) to receive informational emails, texts and/or phone calls during flood emergencies. These alerts may include safety information and other measures to be taken during a flood. The Emergency Management site also includes information about evacuation routes, basic preparedness strategies, and links to other informational sites. Information regarding hurricane preparedness can also be found on the City’s website.

To protect commercial and industrial properties, business owners can find a “Commercial Industrial Toolkit,” a preventative guide for business owners whose businesses are at risk for flooding at https://circa.uconn.edu/new-haven-commercial-industrial-toolbox/. Residents and business owners throughout the city should also visit the New Haven Office of Emergency Management webpage at https://www.newhavenct.gov/gov/depts/emergency_info/default.htm for additional resources on flooding and other weather related events.

New Haven maintains a Class 7 rating under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). This rating provides up to a 15% discount to most NFIP policies for properties in special flood hazard areas (SFHAs). Check with your realtor and/or insurance provider to ensure that the discount has been applied to your policy.

City officials will continue to take seriously, prepare for, and inform residents about the threat posed by flooding. For more flood information and additional tips on preparing for and staying safe during flood events, please visit https://www.newhavenct.gov/gov/depts/city_plan/flood.htm or contact the City Plan Department at (203) 946-6377.

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State Bureau of Investigation Conducting Officer Involved Shooting 

Charlotte, N.C. - (Friday, January 10, 2020) –

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit, working in conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigation, have arrested three additional suspects in this case.

• A 17 year old juvenile has been charged with two counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill, Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and Attempted Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon.  His name will not be released due to his age.  He was arrested without incident earlier today by members of CMPD’s Violent Crime Apprehension Team.
• Edwin Herrera, DOB: 3/13/2000, has been charged with two counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill, Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, Attempted Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, and 2^nd Degree Burglary.   Herrera was arrested without incident earlier today by officers from CMPD’s Steele Creek Division.
• Devin Clayton Jacobs, DOB: 09/16/1992, has been charged with two counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill, Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, Attempted Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, and 2^nd Degree Burglary.  Jacobs was arrested without incident earlier today by officers from CMPD’s Steele Creek Division.

All three suspects were transported to the Law Enforcement Center where they were interviewed by Homicide Detectives.  At the conclusion of the interviews the juvenile was transferred to the custody of a juvenile detention center.  Herrera and Jacobs have been transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Jail.

This is an ongoing, active investigation.  As further information develops it will be released by CMPD Public Affairs. 

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MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR THE WEEK OF

MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH, 2020 – MONDAY JANUARY 20TH, 2020

All meetings with an (*) indicate a public meeting

Monday, January 13th, 2020

*Board of Fire Commissioners, Fire Headquarters, 952 Grand Avenue, 1st Floor Conference Room

9:00 a.m.

*Project Fresh Start, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium Meeting Room 3 9:00 a.m., (203) 946-7846

*Commission on Disabilities, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 2, 6:00 p.m.

*Elm City Cycling, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 14th, 2020

*Board of Police Commissioners, Police Headquarters, 1 Union Avenue, 3rd Floor Chamber

6:00 p.m.

*Project Fresh Start, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3 9:00 a.m., (203) 946-7846

Wednesday, January 15th, 2020 

*Project Fresh Start, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3 9:00 a.m., (203) 946-7846

*NH Food Policy, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Rooms 1&2

5:00 p.m.

*My Sistah’s Circle, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3 6:00 p.m.

*GNH Toastmasters, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 1 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 16th, 2020 

*Project Fresh Start, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3 9:00 a.m., (203) 946-7846

*Downtown Crossing Project - Coordination, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 2, 1:30 p.m.

*National Veterans Council, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, 6:00 p.m.

Friday, January 17th, 2020  

*Health & Safety Blood Borne Pathogens Refresher Course, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 1, 9:00 a.m.

*Project Fresh Start, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 3 9:00 a.m., (203) 946-7846

*Downtown Crossing Project, New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor Atrium, Meeting Room 2, 10:00 a.m.

Monday, January 20th, 2020

*No Meetings Scheduled, City Hall Closed

Board of Education Cancels Meeting, will move to Thirteen Month Calendar

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The first New Haven Board of Education meeting on January 13, 2020 will be cancelled. Under the Freedom of Information Act, notice must be filed thirty days in advance of a regular meeting. The meeting on January 13^th would be deemed a special meeting; therefore, some of the planned agenda could not be accomplished.

New Haven Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Michael Pinto released the following statement:

“In order to appropriately conduct all the business planned for the January 13^th meeting, we must have a regular meeting. Unfortunately, our 2020 Board of Education calendar was released on December 23^rd, the January 13^th meeting would then be deemed a special meeting, and some decisions made in that meeting would potentially violate our bylaws. In order to correct this for future meetings, the Board of Education will move to adopt a thirteen-month calendar to give enough notice in the new calendar year to conduct business according to our bylaws.”

The next regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for January 27, 2020.

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How do you take your coffee? Please join The Mayor for a public, roundtable coffee discussion at Triple AAA Diner on Whalley Avenue on Tuesday, January 21st at 8:30AM.

In 2019 the City of New Haven closed out the year with twelve (12) homicides and seventy eight (78) shooting assaults. Of those shooting assaults five (5) were of victims under the age of eighteen, with two of those victims having been eight and nine years of age. Yes, the city saw an uptick in violent crime that we all need to be a part in addressing. This clearly shows that all of us, not just law enforcement, politicians, and those that serve second chance populations need to strive harder to decrease these numbers. To implement a decrease means that all of us, citizens, activists, service providers, and everyday folk need to work harder collectively to bring about this change. Let's put aside egos, personalities, and differences to make our streets safer for the young, the old, and those in jeopardy of being victims and perpetrators of gun violence. Contact Stacy R. Spell

New Haven project longevity

Mayor Elicker Transition Team Releases Transition Report

NEW HAVEN, Conn. ­– Today, Mayor Justin Elicker and the twenty-five-member Transition Team held a press conference to announce their transition report. The transition report will detail the transition team’s recommendations to Mayor Elicker of what his administration’s goals should be for his first one-hundred days in office, as well as goals in his first term in office. This report is a culmination of work over the past two months; the Elicker Transition Team gathered public input across New Haven using surveys and hosting two public meetings at High School in the Community ahead of finalizing the report.

The Elicker Transition Team was co-chaired by State Rep. Robyn Porter, Sarah Miller, and Kica Matos who worked with two facilitators: Elizabeth Nearing and Kia Levey. The co-chairs released the following statement: “This report is a labor of love, and we are not only proud of the content, but also the process that we adopted. Working with a diverse, smart and dedicated transition team, we have produced a document that presents an exciting vision for the city that we all call home. The recommendations are reflective of the views of a wide cross section of city residents, hundreds of whom came together in the spirit of community to share their ideas, hopes and dreams for New Haven. We look forward to seeing the Mayor and his team bring these recommendations to life.”

“This report is a result of hundreds of hours of hard work from our Transition Team, who all volunteered this time because we all have a shared vision of New Haven where everyone can thrive. I want to thank our hardworking co-chairs, facilitators and all staff that made this possible. This report will be a guide for all City Departments to focus their important work in my first-term in office,” stated Mayor Elicker.

Below is a complete list of Elicker Transition Team members and staff:

Members:

Mohit Agrawal

Alder Darryl Brackeen

Jayuan Carter

Luiz Casanova

Elizabeth Donius

Dr. Karen DuBois-Walton

Kiana Flores

Alder Richard Furlow

William Ginsberg

Rev. Bonita Grubbs

Kim Harris

Jonathan Hopkins

Adriana Arreola Joseph

Dr. Edward Joyner

Laurie Kennington

Melissa Mason

Kica Matos, Co-Chair

Sarah Miller, Co-Chair

Bruni Pizarro

Rep. Robyn Porter, Co-Chair

Judy Puglisi

Alice Rosenthal

Pierrette Comulada Silverman

Caroline Tanbee Smith

Pastor Kelcy Steele

Facilitators 

Kia Levey-Burden

Elizabeth Nearing

Staff and Support

Kevin Alvarez, Transition Coordinator

Ali Bauman, Transition Researcher

Gage Frank, Transition Manager

Patrick Hulin, Transition Researcher

Tovah Lu, Transition Intern

Monica Maldonado, Transition Intern

Sam Marullo, Transition Researcher

Dan McDermott, Transition Intern

Francesco Spirli, Transition Intern

The full Elicker Transition Report can be accessed. Report Here 

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This banquet is to assist college and college bound students . Also will help raise funds for the Antioch house which will serve as a home to reunite women and children

MAYOR HARP TO PRESENT STANDOUT COMMUNITY SERVANTS WITH ‘KEYS TO THE CITY’ AT CITY HALL CEREMONY MONDAY AFTERNOON

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp will recognize ten people for their extraordinary community service at a City Hall ceremony Monday afternoon. Each will receive a ‘key to the city’ at that time.

Monday’s presentation ceremony is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. in the second-floor atrium at City Hall – 165 Church Street – in New Haven. Members of the press are invited to attend and encouraged to cover this notable event.

Those scheduled to be recognized are:

• Bria Holmes
• NHPD Captain Anthony Duff
• Malcolm Welfare
• Clarence Boyd
• Veronica Douglas
• George Mention
• James Walker
• Roberta Hoskie
• Cynthia Beaver
• Dr. Tamiko Jackson McArthur

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Come To New Haven City Hall Monday December 30 2:15pm for a 2:30pm ceremony .
I will be honored with a Key to the City..

Thank you to the Honorable Mayor Toni Harp and City of New Haven..

My name will be apart of the City of New Haven History..

MOMMA, I MADE IT...

Javier Rubio Chavez

DOB: 12/3/1992

5’08” 170lbs

PID# 482179

Javier Chavez is wanted for (4) counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child, Statutory Rape, Statutory Sex Offense on a Child,  Damage to Property and Interfering with an Electronic Monitoring Device. Chavez was court ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device as a condition of his pre-trial release. On December 11^th 2019, Chavez cut off his electronic monitor and was last known to be in the area of 3900 Winterfield Place, Charlotte. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of  Javier Chavez, should immediately contact the Electronic Monitoring Unit at 704-432-8888, option #3 or call 911.

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