The City of New Haven Announces Wooster Square Monument Committee
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Today the City of New Haven announced that it will be forming a committee to formally decide what will succeed the Columbus statue at Wooster Square Park. This past Wednesday, the New Haven Parks Department removed the 4,000-pound bronze statue from its pedestal at the Wooster Square Park. The Christopher Columbus statue is being retained by the City after suffering multiple incidents of vandalism before its removal by the Parks Department. For historical preservation purposes, the City plans to maintain the base of the statue at Wooster Square Park, and the City is currently maintaining the Christopher Columbus statue in a secure location.
The Wooster Square Monument Committee will be comprised of members of the community representing the following organizations: Downtown/Wooster Square Community Management Team, Historic Wooster Square Association, New Haven Parks Commission, New Haven Cultural Affairs Commission, Arts Council of Greater New Haven, City of New Haven, Christopher Columbus Parade Committee, two New Haven Board of Alders members selected by the President, American Italian Women of Greater New Haven, St. Andrew Society, St. Andrew Ladies Society, Santa Maria Maddalena Society, Santa Maria Maddalena Ladies Society, St. Paul and St. James Episcopal Church, St. Catello Society, Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, Connecticut General Assembly and the Office of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. The Wooster Square Monument Committee will coordinate with the City of New Haven to match public and private dollars and determine an appropriate monument to honor Italian-American heritage in New Haven.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker released the following statement:
The removal of the statue of Christopher Columbus was emotional for many people in the Italian community in New Haven. While I believe it was the right decision to remove the statue, I also understand the importance of Columbus to the Italian community as a symbol of Italian heritage. We are forming the Wooster Square Monument Committee to decide how to appropriately honor the contributions to Italian-Americans in New Haven through a collaborative community process. I am looking forward to the many conversations surrounding how we can respectfully highlight Italian-American culture and do so as a community.
The Wooster Square Monument Committee will be co-chaired by two committee members. Below is a full list of the Wooster Monument Committee members:
Carl Babb, Member, New Haven Parks Commission
David Belowsky, Member, New Haven Parks Commission
Frances Calzetta, Member, American Italian Women of Greater New Haven
Frank Carrano, Member, Wooster Square Historian, Branford Resident
Elsie Chapman, Member, Historic Wooster Square Association
Andrew Consiglio, Member, Santa Maria Maddalena Society
Paul Criscuolo, Member, St. Catello Society
Rheta DeBenedett, Member, Santa Maria Maddalena Ladies Society
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Member, U.S. House of Representatives
Frank Gargano, Member, St. Andrew Society
Sarah Greenblatt, Member, Wooster Square Resident
Bill Iovanne, Member, Wooster Square Business Owner
Adriane Jefferson, Member, City of New Haven Director of Arts and Cultural Affairs
Laura Luzzi, Member, Italian Heritage Committee of Greater New Haven
Vin Mauro, Member, New Haven Resident
Charles Murphy, Member, Wooster Square Resident
Dan Onofrio, Member, CT State President Sons and Daughters of Italy in America
State Rep. Al Paolillo, Jr., Member, Connecticut General Assembly
Michael Piscitelli, Member, City of New Haven Economic Development Administrator
Cindy Rosarbo, Member, St. Andrew Ladies Society
Aleta Staton, Member, New Haven Cultural Affairs Commission
Two Representatives from the New Haven Board of Alders selected by President Walker-Myers
Neil Thomas Proto, Advisory Role, Historian
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