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City of New Haven Statement Concerning Tweed New Haven Airport and new working group established to explore the feasibility of a CAA-Tweed partnership

New Haven – Wednesday the Connecticut Airport Authority (“CAA”) approved a process to explore a deeper partnership between CAA and the Tweed Airport Authority. Both authorities were established by state statute in order to advance commercial and general aviation travel in the State of Connecticut.

Today’s resolution calls for the establishment of a working group to explore the feasibility of a CAA-Tweed partnership. Driven by the need for infrastructure improvements at Tweed, along with enhanced commercial air service in New Haven, the working group will study how best to coordinate efforts this legislative session to obtain funds for capital improvements, such as enhancing the main runway and continuing to deliver benefits to residents of the surrounding neighborhood. All these efforts are designed to reach a consensus of all community stakeholders.

The working group’s first task would be to understand the needs of the New Haven business community. The group would then develop a strategy for coordinating efforts during the legislative session to further advance the Tweed development initiative.

“This is a positive sign that state and local leaders are moving toward consensus about the overall importance of Tweed and the need to support the greater New Haven business community with commercial air service,” said New Haven Mayor Toni N. Harp. “In the coming months, my administration looks forward to this important dialogue. We all agree a viable commercial airport will help attract and retain world class talent and to grow as a city and as a region.”

“The CAA’s interest in Tweed is indicative of the central role that New Haven plays in driving the economic engine in Connecticut. We look forward to embarking on the next chapter of Tweed’s redevelopment with CAA,” said Michael Piscitelli, City of New Haven interim economic development administrator. “It is in the collective interest of the City, State, and business community that Tweed’s capital improvements and air service development program be overseen by a measured and balanced group of state and local leadership. Today’s actions are the kind of positive collaboration that promises to move New Haven and Connecticut forward.”

The Greater New Haven Region is one of the most underserved air-travel markets in the country. More than 4 million passengers live closer to Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport than any other airport. Half of the air travelers in the region fly out of New York City or New Jersey area airports to travel by air and 38% go to Bradley. These passengers generate much needed tax revenues that could be kept in the State of Connecticut rather than leaking to neighboring states.

The new jet service to Charlotte, North Carolina and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  clearly demonstrates American’s confidence in the greater New Haven market, but there is still more work to be done to strengthen Tweed and make it the economic engine that our region so desperately needs.  In no uncertain terms, Tweed’s growth is critical to helping businesses stay in Connecticut and to helping attract new businesses from outside of Connecticut.

Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport (airport booking code HVN) is located just 15 minutes from Downtown New Haven. With free Wi-Fi, no waiting, no lines, no hassle and a matter of minutes between parking in front of the terminal and reaching the gate, Tweed is Southern Connecticut’s preferred airport. For more information visit www.flytweed.com.

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Officer Involved Shooting

New Haven | On Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at 5:44 PM, officers of the New Haven Police Department were working in the Hill neighborhood when they observed a wanted suspect in the area of Greenwich Avenue and First Street.

The suspect attempted to flee on foot and during the encounter, a New Haven Police Officer discharged his firearm striking the armed suspect.  Medical attention was summoned and the suspect was transported to a hospital.  The suspect was listed in critical but stable condition.  A firearm was seized at the scene.

Per the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office, the Connecticut State Police (CSP) will conduct the investigation of the officer involved shooting.

Several streets are closed as NHPD officers are holding the scene for investigation.

Additional updates may be forthcoming from NHPD

John Gress/Getty Images .

Mayor Harp, Transportation, & Development Officials Welcome Inaugural Flight between Tweed & Charlotte, Launching Non-Stop Service to North Carolina Hub

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. HarpJohn Gress/Getty Images Airport Authority are pleased to welcome American Airline’s new scheduled service between Tweed-New Haven Airport and Charlotte-Douglas International.   The new weekly service begins Saturday, December 22, 2018. 

Tweed has a longstanding partnership with American Airlines, which features regional jet aircraft for both its existing service to Philadelphia and this new service to Charlotte.  A newly refurbished jetbridge and gate facilities at Tweed will further improve the customer experience. 

“This new service to Charlotte will help underscore Tweed’s viability as a potential airport of choice for 1.4 million area residents,” Mayor Harp said. “The city enthusiastically welcomes all airlines and travelers, ready to enhance the passenger experience at Tweed through a convenient, no hassle, accessible airport fifteen minutes from its thriving, world class downtown.”  

“We are thrilled with this expanded service to Charlotte, thus linking New Haven to hundreds of destinations within the United States and abroad and thereby improving the economic competitiveness of the entire region,” said Ginny Kozlowski, Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation of New Haven.

Tomorrow’s inaugural flight, launching American Airlines’ new weekly service is scheduled to arrive at Tweed at 9:20 a.m.

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14 December, 2018 – DUI CHECKPOINT ANNOUNCEMENT

The New Haven Police Traffic Division will conduct a DUI/ Traffic Safety Checkpoint, beginning on Friday, December 14^th at 7:00 PM and concluding on Saturday, December 15^th at 3:00 AM. The checkpoint location will be on College Street at George Street.

11 December, 2018 – BANK ROBBERY

At 6:51 PM, Officers were dispatched to the People’s Bank at 112 Amity Road, regarding a bank robbery.

The teller had been threatened by the robber, who stated he’d shoot the teller if he wasn’t given the bank’s cash. The robber passed a note to the teller. She told police it was illegible and alerted the branch manager, who also couldn’t decipher the note. The frustrated robber told them he had a gun. A gun wasn’t seen.

The teller handed over the cash from her drawer and the crook took it and left the bank.

Bank employees described the thief as a white man with a medium build (neither fat, nor thin), standing between 5’10” and 6’00” tall. He wore a brown jacket over a grey hooded sweatshirt. His eyes are blue/ green. His knuckles were bloodied with cracks in the skin and he “smelled bad”.

Detectives are investigating similarities to recent bank robberies in nearby towns – though there is no certainty it’s the same guy.

9 December, 2018 – COPS DEESCALATE A VIOLENT SITUATION

At 7:59 PM, Officers were dispatched to a reported fight at a home on Adeline Street. Dispatchers told responding officers that one of those involved was said to have a knife. Someone may have been stabbed.

Officers met with the twenty-one year old victim. He said he’d been looking after an emotionally disturbed woman while her care-taker was away. He said the woman became violent, took hold of a knife and attacked him. His lip was sliced open. He said he left to treat his wound and returned moments later to try to calm the woman down. She cracked him across the face with her crutch. The impact split open his forehead. He retreated and phoned police.

Officers Christian Carfora, Matthew Curran and Jonathan Caron entered the apartment. The woman was hole up in her bedroom. They knocked at the door and asked her to open it. She barricaded it instead, using a metal chain. The cops spoke to her, again asking her to open the door. She told them she wouldn’t because she was asleep. The officers managed to open the door. The woman was in bed. She took all of her clothes. She had nothing in her hands but reached beneath a pillow and retrieved the knife. Officer Carfora had his Taser at the ready and promised the disturbed woman he’d use it, should she not put down the knife. She eventually did.

The officers handcuffed the woman. Both she and the victim were taken to the hospital – the victim for treatment of his injuries, and the perpetrator, for an evaluation. The woman had two outstanding warrants. She was placed under arrest – charged with breach of peace in the second degree, assault in the third degree, threatening in the second degree and interfering with police. Her detention was continued under police guard at the hospital. The victim was not related to or in a relationship with the perpetrator. His injuries are not considered serious.

Police supervisors expressed great praise for those officers in how they handled this volatile situation and the restraint they used in dealing with a violent situation involving someone who’s emotionally disturbed.

8 December, 2018 – NEW HAVEN MAN UNDER ARREST – CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC ASSAULT

At 3:21 AM, Officers were dispatched to an assault in progress at an apartment on the double-digit block of Donna Drive. When they pulled up and went inside, a bloodied woman met them in the rear staircase. She told Sergeant Louis DeCrescenzo and Officer Ruben Para that she’d been

The victim told them she’d been stabbed by “Desohn” and that he was still inside. The victim, who’s injuries were minor cuts to a nostril and finger, was sent to the hospital for treatment.

Officer Nicholas Gogliettino and company went inside and grabbed the suspect. He said he was Desohn Wilson (4-3-1989) and he lived there with the woman. Officer Brendan Hawley found a knife – believed to have been used in this crime, on the floor. It was entered into evidence.

A four year old boy and one year old girl were at the home during the alleged assault. Cops got in touch with relatives who came to pick up the kids.

The officers heard the fight started with a couple punches and escalated. Later on, at the hospital, the victim’s story changed. She said she hadn’t been assaulted and had cut herself accidentally.

Desohn Wilson was arrested and charged with third degree assault, second degree threatening, second degree breach of peace and two counts of risk of injury to minors. He was also served with an outstanding warrant for violating a protective order in 2017. His bond on the warrant is $35,000.00 He was sent to lock-up.

Officers contacted the state of Connecticut Department of Children and Families and the Yale Child Study Services to look into the best needs of the involved children.

New Haven Community, Clergy, and Politicians to hold Press Conference Calling for Good Jobs in New Haven

New Haven - Pastor Kelcy G.L.  Steele of Varick Memorial AME Zion Church and State Representative Toni Walker will gather a press conference calling on the the New Haven board of Alders to  hold a public hearing regarding the employment opportunities that Yale University is providing to New Haven residents. They will be joined by a group of New Haven residents, job seekers, and Yale Undergrads.

WHAT: Press Conference with Sen. Toni Walker and Pastor Kelcy Steele

WHEN: 10:00am, Wednesday December 12, 2018

WHERE: 1 Prospect Street, Corner of Grove and Prospect

Community Leaders Call for a Public Hearing on Yale Jobs in New Haven

On December 12^th, elected leaders, clergy, and other community leaders called on the President of New Haven’s Board of Alders, Tyisha Walker-Myers, to hold a public hearing regarding the employment opportunities that Yale University is providing to New Haven residents.  The speakers called for this hearing to better understand the University’s progress on the hiring agreement that it signed in 2015.  In that agreement, the University committed to hiring 1,000 New Haven residents with 500 of those residents coming from neighborhoods of need.  Neighborhoods of need are seven neighborhoods that have consistently had the highest rates of unemployment in New Haven: The Hill, Dwight, West River, West Rock, Newhallville, Dixwell, and Fair Haven.  The University must hit these goals by April 1, 2019.

Speakers noted that the recent gubernatorial campaign and current gubernatorial transition made this hearing even more urgent.   State Representative Toni Walker, who is also serving as a Co-Chair for Ned Lamont transition team, provided the context for the hearing, “I have been fighting to uplift Connecticut families my entire life.  Yale deserves praise for committing to its hiring agreement, and I always believed that the agreement could be an important model for our city.  So, I was encouraged to see Lamont and other state leaders recognize the importance of this agreement during campaign events this fall.  As Lamont’s transition team focuses on expanding job opportunities in our cities, we need New Haven’s Board of Alders to hold a public hearing that can help our city understand the opportunities that Yale is providing for our neighborhoods of need.”

Pastor Kelcy G.L. Steele of Varick Memorial AME Zion Church said, “I supported Ned Lamont’s campaign for governor because he shares my vision that large employers must do more to provide opportunities for all neighborhoods in our city. At a public hearing, Yale can show us that it is credibly committed to helping the people of New Haven end decades of economic and racial inequality in our city

NEW HAVEN POLICE, YALE NEW HAVEN HOSPITAL & THE NEWTOWN FOUNDATION SEEK SUPPORT AHEAD OF DECEMBER 15th CITY GUN BUY-BACK EVENT

Every day, 96 Americans are killed with guns and hundreds more are shot and injured. The effects of gun violence extend far beyond these casualties—gun violence shapes the lives of millions of Americans who witness it, know someone who was shot, or live in fear of the next shooting.
- Everytown For Gun Safety

New Haven |Six years after the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, The New Haven Police Department, the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of New Haven, Yale New Haven Hospital and The Newtown Foundation will again host a sponsored Gun Buy-back event on Saturday, 15 December, 2018 from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM at the New Haven Police Academy, 710 Sherman Parkway.

This program is a determined effort to make New Haven safer by taking dangerous weapons off the streets and potentially out of the hands of those who perpetrate crimes, are the unfortunate souls lost to suicide and those victimized by accidents.

The Buy-back will provide Gift Cards to those who turn in any working firearm.

 $25 – Single and double-shot (Derringer style) Handguns
 $50 – Rifles and Shotguns
 $100 – Pistol and Revolver Handguns
 $200 – Assault Weapons (to be determined by NHPD)

Guns must be delivered unloaded in clear plastic bags, and any ammunition must be delivered in a separate bag, police said. The person dropping off the gun will not be charged with illegal possession of that specific firearm.

MAYOR HARP, CITY OFFICIALS TO UPDATE PLANNED WINTER WX RESPONSE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp will be joined by city officials Wednesday afternoon to provide an update of revised, upgraded winter weather response, street clearing, and snow removal operations. New Haven has new equipment and new strategies ‘ready to roll’ at the next sign of winter weather.

Wednesday’s update will be provided in the city’s Emergency Operations Center – 200 Orange Street – beginning at 1:30 p.m.; 

City officials will once again place a special emphasis this year on communication and cooperation with residents and business owners.

• Who: Mayor Toni N. Harp and city officials.

• What: Update for new parking, street clearing, and snow removal strategies.

• When: Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.

• Where: New Haven’s Emergency Operations Center – in the basement at 200 Orange Street in New Haven.

• Why: To ensure familiarity with revised and enhanced snow clearing and snow removal strategies for winter 2018/19.

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MAYOR HARP TO HELP CELEBRSGwatFIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH AT MENORA  H LIGHTING ON N.H. GREEN 

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp will be among those on the New Haven Green Sunday evening to welcome the start of Hanukkah and light the shamus and first ‘candle’ of the large menorah there. Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, officially begins at sunset Sunday; the ceremony on the Green is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

In Judaism, the Hanukkah festival celebrates two miracles: 1) the victory of a small, outnumbered army of Jews – the Maccabees – over the Greeks who had occupied the Holy Land, and 2) the subsequent miracle in which a one-day supply of lamp oil burned for eight days while new oil was purified.

Jewish tradition calls for an additional light to be lit on each of seven nights following; members of the press are invited to cover Sunday’s festive, first night celebration.

WHO: Mayor Toni N. Harp, leaders of New Haven’s Jewish community, and others.

WHAT: First night of Hanukkah celebration.

WHEN: Sunday, December 2, a2018 at 5:30 p.m.

https://youtu.be/W3BqoXR-SGw

WHERE: On the lower New Haven Green, near the corner of Temple and Elm Streets.

WHY: To acknowledge and celebrate the start of the popular, eight-day Jewish festival of lights.

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MAYOR HARP, CITY OFFICIALS ORDER COLD WX MEASURES AHEAD OF THANKSGIVING FORECAST

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp and the city’s emergency response, public safety, and social services officials today announced activation of special cold weather protocol ahead of a forecast for subfreezing weather Thanksgiving Day.

With that in mind, outreach workers have been visiting known encampments of homeless residents to warn them of the imminent freeze and direct them to emergency shelters. Beyond that, hours of homeless shelter operation have been extended; the city’s five facilities will be open all day Thanksgiving Day.

Details about New Haven’s cold weather preparations are also available by calling 211: the city’s Info Line.

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LEADERS OF DOZEN-PLUS DEPARTMENTS TO HOLD ‘CLEAN & SAFE’ TOUR OF HILL SOUTH WEDNESDAY

New Haven – In a continuing series of ‘clean and safe’ walking tours of city neighborhoods, Mayor Harp will join officials from more than a dozen city departments in the Hill South section Wednesday morning, to identify quality-of-life issues requiring a comprehensive, collaborative city response.

Last fall the first such ‘clean and safe’ walking tour took place throughout Newhallville; this past spring the Fair Haven section of the city was inspected. In July, department heads zeroed-in on The Annex, and the Hill North section was scrutinized in September.

Details about Wednesday’s ‘clean and safe’ walking tour are as follows:

• City officials will gather Wednesday, November 14 at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot of C-Town near the corner of Lamberton and Greenwich, just off of Kimberly Avenue. Parking is available on the street nearby but not in the customer lot of C Town.
• Two or three groups will cover at least the area in the rectangle that is West towards Morris Street, East to Cedar Street and North towards Spring Street.   
• Mayor Harp will arrive at 10:15 a.m. and a group will meet her at the Corner of Lamberton and Hulburt for a walk on Hulburt towards Spring.

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CITY STAFF: ACCESS ROAD TO EAST ROCK SUMMIT TO BE CLOSED FOR THE SEASON THURSDAY

New Haven – City officials announced today that the access road to East Rock Summit in East Rock Park will be closed for the season beginning this Thursday, November 15. Today’s announcement was made after considering a forecast for the city that includes the season’s first winter-like weather later this week.

Visitors are still invited to hike to the top of the park and access the summit by foot, but the road to the summit will no longer be open to vehicular traffic. Officials said the access road will re-open next April as weather conditions permit.

This week’s announcement reflects a later-than-usual closure of the East Rock Summit road. Access was extended a few days longer this year to accommodate a longer leaf-peeping season.

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MAYOR HARP, OTHER OFFICIALS TO CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING OF AUNTIE ROSE CHILD CARE, DEVELOPMENT CENTER TOMORROW MORNING

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp will be joined tomorrow morning by owners and operators of the Auntie Rose Child Care Development Center LLC and other officials at a grand opening celebration. A ceremonial ribbon-cutting is planned to memorialize the event.

Tomorrow’s event is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. at 126 Grand Avenue in New Haven. 

Affordable, reliable childcare is an essential component in the day-to-day lives of working families. This new business is meant to help meet that demand for New Haven families

In first trip as governor-elect, Lamont talks economic development in New London

NEWS 8 

This photo provided by the Harris County Democratic Party shows a group of 17 African-American women whom are part of an effort dubbed the "Black Girl Magic" campaign. It is the largest number of African-American women on any ballot in the history of Harris County, where Houston is located. In the photo are the 17 women who won election and two others who are currently judges in Harris County but lost bids on Tuesday to win seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Tuesday's election brings to 19 the number of African-American women who will be judges in Harris County. Front row, leaning against the podium from left, are Maria Jackson and Ramona Franklin. Back row, from left, are Lucia Bates, Erica Hughes, Sandra Peake, Cassandra Holleman, Germaine Tanner, Ronnisha Bowman, Linda Marie Dunson, Angela Graves-Harrington, Dedra Davis, Shannon Baldwin, Latosha Lewis Payne, Tonya Jones, Sharon Burney, Michelle Moore, Lori Chambers Gray, Toria Finch and LaShawn Williams. Maria Jackson and Ramona Franklin in front row are the two women who are currently judges but lost bids to win seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. (Christin Mcqueen/Harris County Democratic Party via AP)

'Magic' campaign lands 17 black women on Houston courts

DAY OF PRAYER EVENT ON NEW HAVEN GREEN SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON

New Haven – Leaders of the city’s faith community have organized ‘a day of reflection, prayer, faith, and gratitude’ to be held on the New Haven Green Sunday afternoon, November 11. Mayor Toni N. Harp, Chief of Police Anthony Campbell, and Fire Chief John Alston are among those planning to join the interdenominational clergy members and participate on Sunday.

The event is planned to encourage, ‘wisdom, direction, courage, and strength’ for city leaders, teachers and school administrators, nurses, doctors, other hospital and medical personnel, young people, all those who face daunting challenges, and those who suffer.

Sunday afternoon’s event is scheduled to be held from 3:00 until 5:00. 

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp today announced several noteworthy details regarding the city’s financial outlook as work continues toward a five-year budget overview. A complete, approximated five-year forecast is expected early in 2019.

Earlier this year Mayor Harp said, in the wake of state aid reductions made known midway through the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2018, that a projected, estimated five-year city budget might help protect the city from such ill-timed, damaging setbacks.

Research underway in the development of that five-year forecast underscores some of the unique challenges faced by the City of New Haven:

• The value of New Haven’s Grand List that is tax exempt under state law is higher than that of any other municipality: half-again as much as Bridgeport and more than twice that of Hartford.
• More than a half-dozen Connecticut cities and towns have mill rates higher than New Haven’s, including Waterbury, Bridgeport, New Britain, West Haven, and Hamden.
• New Haven’s current mill rate is less than it was in FY2007, FY2011, and FY2012, and remains just 1.43 mills higher than when Mayor Harp was first sworn-in.
• New Haven’s current budget expenditures increased about 1.5% over the previous year; its four-year mill rate increase of 1.43 represents a cumulative increase of about 3.4%.
• State aid for public education though Education Cost Sharing has been the same since FY2010 despite rising enrollment and increasing costs for supplies, utilities, and maintenance.

Mayor Harp points to several ongoing, positive economic trends as rationale to be optimistic about New Haven’s bright fiscal future. Its unemployment rate has dropped from 10.7% in 2014 to 5.4% in 2018: the city’s employers have added 3,100 jobs in that time. And in that same time approximately 1,000 market rate housing units have been added along with nearly as many subsidized housing units.

Connecticut Big 3 Ballout 2018 http://www.ctb3b.com/

MANHUNT EXPANDS – REWARD RISES TO $30,000

WHEN: Friday, July 6 at 11:00 AM
WHERE: Police Headquarters, 1 Union Avenue, FL3 Atrium
WHO: Chief Anthony Campbell, Command Staff and invited guests
WHAT: To provide information on the nation-wide manhunt for alleged murderer Tramaine Marquese Poole (7-5-1976). The reward for information leading to Pool’s capture and conviction has risen to a combined $30,000.

Tramaine Marquese Poole is suspected in the 7 May, 2018 shooting assault of his thirty-six year old wife and the 31 May, 2018 shooting death of a twenty-eight year old mother of two. Her murder was perpetrated with the victim’s two young children, ages six and eleven, present.

The $5K reward is being offered by The U.S. Marshals’ Violent Fugitive Task Force to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of Poole.

States Attorney Pat Griffin has asked, on behalf of the New Haven Police Department, for Governor Malloy to approve a $25,000 reward to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of Poole. That request was granted, bringing the total reward offering to $30,000.

Anyone who witnessed either crime or who may have information valuable to investigators is urged to phone police at 203-946-6316 or Text-A-Tip. Text “NHPD plus your message” to 274637 (CRIMES) Calls may be made anonymously

MAYOR HARP TO HOST HILLHOUSE STATE CHAMPS AT CITY HALL CEREMONY THURSDAY MORNING

BOYS TRACK, GIRLS TRACK TEAMS ARE BEST IN CONNECTICUT

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp will host athletes from Hillhouse High School at City Hall Thursday morning to celebrate the school’s two most recent state athletic championships. The Hillhouse boys’ and girls’ track teams will be honored by Mayor Harp at tomorrow’s event.

This Morning celebration will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Floor 2 of City Hall – 165 Church Street.

RANDY SALVATORE CEO & President

(New Haven, CT – April 30, 2018)- Mayor Toni N. Harp will be joined tomorrow afternoon by state Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne Klein, members of the New Haven Board of Alders, representatives from the city’s Livable Cities Initiative, & principles of the RMS Companies for a ceremonial groundbreaking to start the first phase of the Hill-to-Downtown Community Plan.

Tueday event is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at 22 Gold Street in New Haven.