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JAY-Z, Yo Gotti and Team Roc have taken action for the Mississippi State Penitentiary inmates amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yo Gotti, JAY-Z Sue Mississippi Officials Amid COVID-19 Outbreak In Prison
August Alsina Goes On Rant After Jada Pinkett Smith Admits Past Affair
101 College Street–the Newest Element of New Haven Downtown Crossing Project Reaches Major Milestone Tonight
New Haven Board of Alders Approve Together, We Grow–Development and Land Disposition Agreement
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Tonight, as the City of New Haven works to create a resilient economy in light of the impacts of COVID-19, a Development and Land Disposition Agreement was presented for a second reading and approved by the New Haven Board of Alders. 101 College Street, a proposed 10-story, 400,000-500,000 square foot development consisting of lab, research, and incubator space in support of New Haven’s burgeoning bioscience economy, was passed unanimously.
“Planning for New Haven’s future amid the challenges associated with the COVID-19 public health crisis is difficult but vital for our future,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. “Our foremost priority continues to be managing and mitigating the devastating effects of this pandemic; however, we must continue to move forward to further establish New Haven as a significant bio-cluster hub in the State and innovation is the key to spark growth and create a significant rebound for our local economy,” he concluded.
At tonight’s meeting, the Alders had a second reading of the Together, We Grow Agreement, accepted the conveyance of land from the State of Connecticut and approved a Development and Land Disposition Agreement among the City of New Haven, the New Haven Parking Authority and Winstanley Enterprises 101 College Street LLC for the disposition and development of 101 College Street.
The terms of the agreement, all outlined in the Together, We Grow document discussed the number of new jobs the development will create, its impact on the City’s tax base, community benefits associated with the deal, and the construction timeline. The Board of Alders put forth important amendments, designated funding for scholarships. Career High School in the Hill neighborhood will be the feeder program to the BioPath initiative in conjunction with Gateway Community College and Southern Connecticut State University.
101 College Street is proposed to be built on a parcel of previously unusable land that was recently freed for development by Downtown Crossing’s extensive infrastructure work.
“We are grateful for the thoughtful work of the Board of Alders and City staff in the midst of these unprecedented times and in particular the Board’s efforts to connect New Haven residents to jobs and training in science and technology,” said Michael Piscitelli. “We are very excited to break ground on 101 College Street in the near future, and we look forward to working with our partners at the state and federal level to see the project through to completion in 2022.”
Highlights of the Community benefits package included in the “Together, We Grow” agreement:
Community Access
- Plaza is a public space available for outdoor programming, mentorship, and collaboration
- Dedicated Classroom for New Haven Public Schools
- Developer shall endeavor to create an incubator supporting community-based entrepreneurship
Workforce Ladders & Permanent Jobs Supports
- Mentoring program for New Haven students interested in construction-related jobs
- An innovation workforce pipeline to foster life science and technology career pathways for New Haven Public Schools
- A new support program designed to connect New Haven residents to various support service jobs at 101 College Street (in partnership with New Haven Works)
- Establishment of new pilot program, SOURCE NHV, designed to connect small local businesses to middle-markets through a brokerage service
Workforce Utilization for the Construction of 101 College Street
- Per City of New Haven Ordinance, the developer will be required to meet workforce utilization goals including hiring minimums of 25% New Haven residents, 25% minority, & 6.9 % women
- The developer will undertake a mentoring program for MBE/SBE contractors
- Members of the public are encouraged to learn more about the development, provide input and follow the approval process via online resources and virtual meeting links provided by the New Haven Department of Economic Development on the Downtown Crossing website: http://downtowncrossingnewhaven.com
About Downtown Crossing:
Downtown Crossing is a long-term, multi-phase public/private redevelopment project seeking to reconnect the City’s medical district and Hill neighborhood with the City’s central business district by converting a portion of Route 34–a limited-access highway connector–into urban boulevards and new city streets. Phase 2 is currently under construction, funded by a $21.5 million grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic Development (DECD) and $7 million from a $20 million TIGER 8 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Phase 2 primarily involves the construction of new intersections at Orange Street at MLK Boulevard and Orange Street at South Frontage Road. The public infrastructure improvements and other planned enhancements coordinate with the private redevelopment of the old New Haven Coliseum site at 275 Orange Street.
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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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New Haven Police Investigate Homicide
New Haven| New Haven Police are investigating a homicide. The deceased is an adult male who was found in a parking lot several hundred feet behind a business near 301 Sargent Drive.
On Sunday, June 28, 2020, at approximately 6:22 a.m., New Haven Fire and Police responded to a report of an unresponsive person. Arriving emergency responders found a gunshot victim in a commercial parking lot. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene.
NHPD Major Crimes detectives, NHPD Bureau of Identification forensic detectives, and personnel from the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner responded to the location. Medical Examiner personnel removed the victim.
Crime scene detectives remained on scene during the day.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304. Callers may remain anonymous or submit tips anonymously by calling 1-866-888-TIPS (1-866-888-8477). Tips can also be texted. Text “NHPD” plus your message to short code 274637 (CRIMES).
New Haven Parks Dept. Officially Removes Christopher Columbus Statue
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Just one week after the Parks Commission voted for the removal of the Columbus Statue in Wooster Square Park, the City has announced it has been removed as of this afternoon. The statue will remain in custody with the City, ahead of planning for it to reside at the Knights of Columbus Museum. The statue holds deep ties to the Italian-American community, as it was first erected in 1892, and later recast in bronze in 1955. Prior to the statue’s removal this morning, protesters for and against the statute removal demonstrated, and some altercations broke out.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker released the following statement:
The decision to remove the statue of Columbus today was one that was spearheaded by a group of leaders in the Italian community. While this decision for those leaders was not easy, they courageously did the right thing. I support this decision. I want to take a moment to thank those leaders for their support in recognizing the history of colonialism and its negative effects on many cultures, and their help to identify a place where the statue can reside. I know that there are some people who strongly disagree with the decision to remove the statute. People have the right to protest and express their opinions peacefully. We will work collaboratively to ensure we honor New Haven’s Italian Heritage and immigrant history. I look forward to the many community conversations surrounding what we would like to see replace the statue of Christopher Columbus, and how we can highlight other cultural icons for the many Italian-Americans that have made New Haven their home. It is disappointing that some at the protest incited fighting. New Haven has a long history of lively dialogue, but violence has no place in our city. We face a very challenging moment in history. We must work as a community to listen, understand, and have respectful dialogue with each other. This moment, while challenging, is also an opportunity to bring people together.
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New Haven| On Thursday, May 21, 2020, just before 4:30 p.m., New Haven Police and Fire responded to 911 calls of a bicyclist struck by a motorcycle on Grand Avenue at Ferry Street in the Fair Haven neighborhood.
Arriving emergency responders found a severely injured male lying in the roadway. Officers learned a motorcycle traveling through the intersection had collided with the bicyclist. The bicyclist was ejected upon impact. The motorcycle operator fled the crash scene on an unknown motorcycle and was last seen traveling east on Grand Avenue toward Front Street.
An ambulance transported the 80 year old New Haven man to Yale New Haven Hospital where he remains in critical condition.
The NHPD Accident Reconstruction Team, Major Crimes detectives, and Bureau of Identification forensic detectives responded to the scene.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304. Callers may remain anonymous
One Man Dead After Yesterday’s Triple Shooting
New Haven| A 34 year old man struck by gunfire yesterday at Lloyd and Exchange streets has been pronounced deceased. The victim is Roberto Rivera of New Haven. His death is being investigated as a homicide.
In addition to the man who was fatally wounded, two other men were injured in the shooting just after 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2020. The investigation began with multiple 911 callers reporting a shooting in the area of Lloyd and Exchange streets in the Fair Haven neighborhood.
Arriving officers found one gunshot victim, now identified as Roberto Rivera, with a life threatening head injury. A second victim came forward with a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the hand. An ambulance transported both New Haven men to the hospital.
Around 9:25 p.m., a third victim, a 20 year old Waterbury man with a gunshot wound to the leg, arrived by private vehicle at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Investigators believe prior to the shooting, the men had been outside near a corner convenience store or walking in the area when an unknown gunman began shooting.
- The deceased was a 34 year old Fair Haven resident.
- The second victim is a 28 year old Fair Haven resident who suffered a hand wound. He has since been discharged from the hospital. (Note: the second victim is 28 years of age and not 36 as previously listed.)
- The third victim is a 20 year old Waterbury man who was shot in the leg. He has since been discharged from the hospital. Following the shooting, it is believed the victim went to a residence prior to having someone drive him to the hospital.
Friday afternoon at a community press conference at Lloyd and Exchange streets, NHPD Chief Otoniel Reyes said the shooting was not a random act but a targeted act of violence. Assistant Chief of Investigations Karl Jacobson encouraged the public to continue calling the police department with information about the incident.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304. Callers may remain
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz to Honor EMS Workers
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – On Monday morning New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, members of the Board of Alders and State Delegation will join with the New Haven Fire Department and Police Department to honor EMS workers. May 17th through the 23rd is the annual National EMS Week, and the theme this year is Ready Today. Preparing for Tomorrow. The group will plan to drive by the American Medical Response building to salute EMS workers.
EMS Week Salute with Mayor Elicker and Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz
Joined with Members of the Board of Alders, State Delegation and the New Haven Fire and Police Departments
American Medical Response
58 Middletown Avenue, New Haven, CT 06513
Monday, May 18, 2020
10:00AM
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Pistol Permit Holder Injured in Exchange of Gunfire
New Haven| New Haven Police are continuing to investigate a shooting incident which occurred yesterday, Wednesday, May 13, 2020, in the area of Sherman Parkway and West Division Street in the Newhallville neighborhood.
Just before 7:00 p.m., patrol officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert of gunfire. Arriving officers located evidence of gunfire on Sherman Parkway. A short time later, officers were canvasing the area when a gunshot victim approached them. The 26 year old East Haven man had a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg.
Officers learned that prior to the incident, the victim was standing in front of a West Division Street residence. Investigators believe the victim, a valid pistol permit holder, was shot during an exchange of gunfire with the occupant or occupants of a motor vehicle which was last seen traveling north on Sherman Parkway toward Hamden.
An ambulance transported the victim to the hospital where he has since been discharged. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304. Callers may remain anonymous
