Blogs

MAYOR HARP SAYS CITY’S INDEPENDENCE DAY

FIREWORKS DISPLAY ‘NOT TO BE MISSED’

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp today invited city residents and others from throughout the region to attend this year’s Independence Day fireworks display, set for next Wednesday evening, July 4. A dazzling pyrotechnics display will be launched over East Rock starting just after 9:00 p.m., weather permitting.

The City maintains a viewing area at Wilbur Cross High School, where Mayor Harp is scheduled to officiate at the countdown to the launch. Other, informal viewing is available wherever a sightline to East Rock exists.

City officials are grateful this year to MGM Resorts International for its sponsorship and generous financial contribution to help underwrite the expense of the fireworks display, which serves as the capstone to one of the most vibrant Fourth of July celebrations in the region.

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MAYOR HARP: CITY IS PREPARED TO PROVIDE RELIEF THROUGHOUT FORECAST EXCESSIVE HEAT

Formal Heat Advisory already in effect for New Haven County

(NEW HAVEN)--Due to extreme temperatures forecast throughout the region for the coming days, including the 4^th of July Holiday, the City of New Haven will activate “cooling centers” for the public to provide relief from the heat.

If high temperatures and humidity continue after Tuesday, these “cooling centers” will remain open. Please check local news outlets for additional updates and the City’s website atwww.newhavenct.gov.

Everyone attending a cooling location is advised to bring lunch or snacks as no food will be served at these sites. Seniors are reminded that senior centers require 24-hour notice for senior meals.

The following locations will serve as “cooling centers” for seniors in New Haven and will stay open today until 4:00 p.m.:

• Atwater Senior Center at 26 Atwater Street, New Haven
• Dixwell / Newhallville Senior Center at 255 Goffe Street, New Haven (People with wheelchairs will need assistance to help travel up ramp)
• East Shore Senior Center at 411 Townsend Avenue, New Haven

The following locations will serve as “cooling centers” for the general public:

• New Haven Free Public Library Main Building is located at 133 Elm Street; Open Mon-Thurs 10-8, Fri & Sat 10-5
• Fair Haven Branch Library is located at 182 Grand Avenue; Open Mon & Tues 10-6, Wed & Thurs 12-6, Sat 10-5
• Mitchell Branch Library is located at 37 Harrison Street; Open Mon 12-8, Tues 12-6, Wed & Thurs 10-6, Sat 10-5
• Stetson Branch Library is located at 200 Dixwell Avenue in the Dixwell Plaza; Open Mon & Tues 10-6, Wed 12-8, Thurs 12-6, Sat 10-5
• Courtland Seymour Wilson Branch Library is located at 303 Washington Avenue; Open Mon 12-6, Tues 12-8, Wed & Thurs 10-6, Sat 10-5

The following public pools are open with extended summer hours: Mon-Fri from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.; Sat 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• Hill Regional Career High School, 140 Legion Avenue

• Conte West Hills, 511 Chapel Street
• John Martinez School, 100 James Street
• James Hillhouse, 480 Sherman Parkway
• Wilbur Cross High School, 181 Mitchell Drive

The following City Parks have ‘Splash Pads’ that can be used for cooling off daily from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.:

• South Genesee Park, located on South Genesee Street
• Cedar Hill Playground, located at View Street and Rock Streets
• Edgewood Park located, located on the corner of Chapel Street & Ella T. Grasso Blvd
• Kensington Street Park, located between Edgewood Ave & Chapel Street (Closed for repairs)
• Jocelyn Square Park, located on the corner of Humphrey & East Streets
• Ann Street Park, located between Kossuth & West Streets
• Trowbridge Square Park, located at Cedar & Portsea Streets
• Galvin Park, located at Greenwich Avenue & First Street
• Lighthouse Point Park, located at 2 Lighthouse Road
• Scantlebury Park, located at Ashmum Street & Bristol Street 
• Edgewood Park, located at Ella T. Grasso Blvd & Stanley Street
• Dover Beach, located on Front Street

The following homeless shelters are open during the day:

• Liberty Safe Haven Drop-In Center-  210 State St
• The 180 Center Drop-In Center – 793 Grand Avenue
• Taking Initiative Center Drop-In Center 514 Whalley Avenue
• Fellowship Place Drop-In Center – 441 Elm Street
• Youth Continuum Drop-In Center (youth) – 924 Grand Avenue
• New Haven free Public Libraries  (families and individuals)

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3 June, 2018 – 6:25 PM

GUN BUY-BACK RESULTS

New Haven |The New Haven Police Department and its partners, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, the Injury Free Coalition for Kids and the Newtown Alliance are pleased to announce the results of their recent successful New Haven Gun Buy-back event.

The GBB was held on Saturday, 23 June at the NH Police Academy. It was scheduled from ten until till three o’clock.

In all, 45 operable firearms and three that could have been made operable were turned in. One assault type weapon was part of the cache. Those are scheduled for destruction per state protocol and means they will never be able to fall into the hands of children, suicidal people and criminals.

Our safety team gave out free gun locks and provided gun safety information to those who wanted it.

There are many people who deserve our thanks but none more than the driving forces behind this and all of our past GBB events, Pina Violano, a manager at Yale New Haven Hospital in injury prevention, community outreach and research in emergency medical services for children and co-director of the Injury Free Coalition For Kids of New Haven and Steve Yanovsky of the Newtown Alliance. Officers Omar Thomas of the NHPD’s Firearms Division and Detective Josh Kyle, Officer Joshua Smereczynski and Sergeant Mary Helland catalogued each weapon – completing vast amounts of paperwork that assures the guns will disappear once and for all. Detectives and Officers from the NH Police Academy, armorers and Bureau of Identification personnel were responsible for making safe the weapons turned in and test-firing them.

Thank you to the YNHH injury prevention staff.

In all five years of Buy-back events here in New Haven, we’ve taken in over six hundred guns. We are encouraged by this recent buy-back and hope to keep our momentum.

In the next months leading toward our larger GBB event in December, the NHPD and our YNHH partners have pledged to research and hopefully secure funding for future events. We’re optimistic there are community partners out there who want to help provide for such important and worthwhile events.

Let us stay focused on keeping guns out of the wrong hands.

23 June, 2018 – SHOOTING DEATH INVESTIGATION

At 12:28 PM, Officers were dispatched to 128 Henry Street to investigate a reported assault. Officers located a twenty-three year old New Haven man who’d suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. He was rushed to Yale New Haven Hospital. At 1:00 PM, he was pronounced deceased.

The shooting likely occurred inside the residence and not on the public street.

Detectives from the department’s Major Crimes unit and the Bureau of Identification are at the scene investigating.

Anyone who witnessed this shooting 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.

22 June, 2018 – SHOOTING INVESTIGATION

At 10:31 PM, Officers were dispatched to ShotSpotter® reported gunfire in the area of 66 Lilac Street (near Newhall Street). They located ballistic evidence there.

Two shooting victims were located at a home on Bassett Street. Neither suffered life-threatening wounds and were treated at local hospitals. Jermaine V Lee (9-28-1988), of New Haven was shot in the leg. Richard S Davis (5-26-1993), of Hamden, CT, was shot in the buttocks and thigh.

Detectives recovered a High-Point 9mm handgun at the scene.

A short time later, gunfire was reported nearby on the five-hundred block of Winchester Avenue. A parked Jeep Cherokee sustained gunfire damage. Detectives recovered a 38 Special revolver from that scene. Three men were seen fleeing the scene. One was heavy-set with glasses.

Anyone who witnessed this crime or who may have information valuable to those 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.

(WASHINGTON, DC) — The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) condemns the Administration’s continued “zero-tolerance” policy, which prohibits both attempted illegal entry and illegal entry into the United States. This policy has caused the inhumane separation between thousands of immigrant children and their parents in the last couple of months alone. According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 2,300immigrant children were separated from their parents between April and May of this year.

“Our actions, laws, policies, and regulations should all reflect our common values. Americans value family. Americans value humanity,” said Mayor Gilbert.  “We desire and promote these values not only for ourselves but for all people everywhere.”

“While the new executive order may halt some of these proceedings, thousands of families and children have already endured enough trauma and anguish for a lifetime.  I stand with mayors across the country in calling for an immediate plan for reunification of the over 2,000 children already separated from their families, and immediate action from Congress to ensure such abhorrent treatment of children never happens again.”

CITY OFFICIALS SAY CHURCH STREET SOUTH HOUSING DEMOLITION TO BEGIN MONDAY

New Haven – Demolition of the former Church Street South Housing Complex is set to begin Monday morning, June 25. Mayor Harp, Building Official Jim Turcio, and other city officials will be on hand as the first use of heavy equipment begins to bring down the now-vacant, gutted buildings. at 9:00 a.m. Monday

Over the next eight to 12 months the parcel will be cleared and cleaned, allowing Mayor Harp and other city officials to continue working toward its redevelopment.

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This is what the News Media and the New Haven Board of Alders ARE NOT telling you regarding Mayor Toni Harp's decision to give raises to her executive and confidential staff:

1) The Mayor's executive and confidential staff raises amounts to 1/20 of 1% of the city budget.

2) Some city employees had not received a raise in the last 20 years.

3) The Mayor's executive staff never received a raise in the last 4.5 years (this was the first raise given since she has been mayor).

4) Local Union 3144 . . . and the New Haven Board of Alders . . . and the mayor's staff received the SAME raises. The Question is: Why was no one upset when the Board of Alders gave it's staff a 12% raise last year (that the union stopped)?? . . . and why is the Board of Alders saying that they are conducting an investigation when it's staff also received the same raise??

The Media is trying to sell newspapers and advertisements . . . The New Haven Board Of Alders is trying to point it's fingers at someone else. What you should know is that only the Board of Alders can raise taxes. They are trying to say that the mayor scared them into doing it. No one believes that. IT IS NOT TRUE! They are not afraid of the Mayor.

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.

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.

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.

MAYOR HARP ISSUES STATEMENT CONDEMNING ‘SPITEFUL’ TREATMENT OF MIGRANT CHILDREN

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp today issued the following statement condemning the inhumane actions of U.S. government officials in their treatment of migrant children along the nation’s southern border:

“Any aspirations still held by Americans for this nation to be the world’s proud, moral authority are utterly dashed by the spiteful, malicious treatment of these migrant children,” Mayor Harp said. “Forceable separation from families, confinement, and the resulting trauma will permanently scar these young people and could literally shorten their lives: it stains the idea of the United States worldwide.”

“That the Trump objective seems to be to hold these children hostage in exchange for funding a nonsensical border wall compounds the shame all Americans should feel,” Mayor Harp added.

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A child receives a meal at the Casa Padre shelter in Brownsville, Texas, in an undated photo released by the Department of Health and Human Services

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MAYOR HARP, TEAM LEADERS, & ORGANIZERS

TO DESCRIBE SUMMERTIME ‘ONE CITY’ INITIATIVE

AT CITY HALL PRESS EVENT TOMORROW6

60 EVENTS IN 60 DAYS SCHEDULED

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp will be joined at City Hall tomorrow by management team leaders and other organizers of this summer’s ‘One City’ initiative, to describe the innovative, community-building series of events citywide, meant to bring residents closer through shared experiences.

Tomorrow’s announcement is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Floor 2 of City Hall – 165 Church Street – in New Haven, and will feature samples of the creative talent that’ll be on display this summer. 

New Haven’s ‘One City’ initiative features 60 events on 60 consecutive days – organized cooperatively by members of all 12 management districts, with events planned in each of them – beginning June 28. It, ‘combines the full scope of all New Haven has to offer, share, and celebrate,’ Mayor Harp said.

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Camp Easy Breezy Offers Six Weeks of Fun for New Haven Children Suffering from Asthma
New Haven’s asthma hospitalization rate is more than 5 times higher than the state average

What: Children in New Haven are exposed to secondhand smoke frequently and adults report using tobacco products around them. As a result, New Haven has an asthma hospitalization rate that is five times higher than the state average.
To combat this, the New Haven Department of Parks and Recreation and New Haven Health Department are holding the third annual Camp Easy Breezy for children with asthma and their siblings this summer. Campers will learn how to use their asthma medications, identify asthma triggers and better control their asthma while enjoying traditional camp activities and field trips. Registered nurses will be on-site during normal camp hours, as well as field trips.

Recently, New Haven’s Asthma Alliance Program was named a finalist in the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge, an initiative sponsored by the American Public Health Association, the National Association of Counties and the Aetna Foundation. Camp Easy Breezy is a component of the Asthma Alliance program — a coordinated effort to reduce the impact of asthma on low-income children in New Haven.

Interview Opportunities:
Dr. Byron Kennedy, Health Director, New Haven Health Department

When: The camp is held June 25, 2018 – August 3, 2018
Where: To register or to find out more information about Camp Easy Breezy visit, https://www.newhavenct.gov/gov/depts/parks/default.htm, or call 203-946-8020.

About the New Haven Asthma Alliance
New Haven Asthma Alliance is a member of the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge, a multi-year initiative launched by the Aetna Foundation, the American Public Health Association and the National Association of Counties, and designed to create economically competitive, inclusive and equitable communities. New Haven Asthma Alliance was one of 50 cities and counties selected to receive a $10,000 seed grant to help them launch their program.

CITY’S TAX, ASSESSOR’S OFFICES TO BE CLOSED FROM 11:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. THURSDAY

New Haven – The city’s tax collection and assessor’s offices will be closed from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 for systems upgrades and staff development.

MAYOR HARP, PARKS ‘N’ REC OFFICIALS TO EXPLAIN CITY’S SUMMERTIME ‘PARKS PASSPORT’ PROGRAM IN ROSE GARDEN TOMORROW

New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp will join park rangers and other officials of the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Trees tomorrow to announce, explain, and promote this year’s ‘Parks Passport’ program.

The initiative is meant to encourage active engagement by residents to visit each of ten city parks, selected for their historical and cultural significance as well as their aesthetic appeal.

Tomorrow’s announcement is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the parks ‘n’ rec rose garden – 180 Park Road (just off State Street) in New Haven. Members of the press corps are invited to cover this event and help spread the word about this educational, recreational, family-friendly scavenger hunt.

Participants with successfully completed ‘passports’ will be awarded prizes.

U.S. Attorney John Durham to join Mayor Harp at Graduation of Career Pathways Technology Collaborative Students

Unique After-School Training Program

Preparing New Haven Students for Technology Careers

(NEW HAVEN, CT) - US Attorney John Durham and Mayor Toni Harp will be joined by federal, state and local leaders, educators, families and friends to celebrate the work of New Haven students who are graduating from a unique after-school technology program operated by the Career Pathways Technology Collaborative at Eli Whitney Technical High School, 100 Fairview Ave, Hamden, on Wednesday, June 6th, from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. with the formal program beginning at 3:45 p.m.

Career Pathways provides students with hundreds of hours of technolory training in state-of-the art machinery thanks to its partnership with the State Department of Education and the Connecticut Technical High School System.

“This graduation marks the end of the third year of the Career Pathways Technology Collaborative at Eli Whitney Technical High School. It takes real commitment to finish the regular school day, travel to Eli Whitney, and embark upon a  second round of classroom and hands-on training opportunities. Their extraordinary hard work and dedication deserve to be recognized and celebrated and I look forward to

seeing the studentspresent samples of their work.”, said Mayor Harp.

Career Pathways students attend the after-school program from traditional and alternative education high schools throughout New Haven.  In addition to receiving high school credits toward graduation, they are trained in the following technologies: carpentry, plumbing, culinary arts and manufacturing.  They receive credentialing in OSHA 10 which are health and safety standards and ServSafe which are safety and sanitation standards in the culinary arts.  Students also receive First and CPR certifications.

The Office of the United States Attorney has supported Career Pathways since its inception. “Our Office is committed to creating opportunities for Connecticut youth, particularly those who have faced adversity and want to turn their lives around”, said US Attorney Durham. “I am honored to be here to recognize and applaud these graduates for their hard work and tremendous success.”

The Career Pathways Technology Collaborative is a public/private partnership  developed and operated by The Justice Education Center, Inc., and is supported by the Department of Justice, City of New Haven and its YouthStat initiative, the Connecticut General Assembly, and the New Haven Board of Education. 

“The Career Pathways Collaborative provides dedicated students the opportunity to match their aptitudes and interests to projected growth industries in Connecticut”, said State Representative Toni Walker.  “We are able to work hand-in-hand with all of our partners to make these opportunities a reality for our youth”, she said.

For more information about the Career Pathways Technology Collaborative, contact Sherry Haller, Executive Director of The Justice Education Center, Inc., at 860-231-8180 or justiceeducation@aol.com.

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HOMICIDE & SHOOTING CASE UPDATE

New Haven| the New Haven Police Department is holding a press event at 11:00 AM tomorrow, 6 June, 2018 to update the public on the May 7th Henry Street shooting and the May 31st Wilmot Road homicide.

WHEN: Wed, June 6th, 2018 at 11:00 AM
WHERE: Police Headquarters, 1 Union Avenue, 3rd floor atrium
WHAT: Case updates & public plea for assistance
WHO: Mayor Toni N Harp, Chief of the Department Anthony Campbell, Chief of Detectives – Assistant Chief Herbie Johnson, NHPD Case Officers and command staff, Representatives from the US Marshals, CT States Attorney’s Office