Thomas MacMillan Photo
Delphine Clyburn hands over the petition.
In the midst of a contentious campaign season, three aldermanic challengers marched on Science Park to demand that a burgeoning local tech company hire workers from Dixwell and Newhallville.
Delphine Clyburn, Brenda Foskey-Cyrus, and Jeanette Morrison — candidates for aldermanic seats in Ward 20, 21 and 22, respectively — Thursday led a group of 25 supporters on brief march to the offices of Science Park start-up Higher One. There they delivered a petition calling on the financial services company to hire local residents as it expands its operation into new multi-million dollar digs in the old Winchester rifle factory.
Andrew Rakaczki, head of government relations at Higher One, met the group in the lobby. He promised to help organize more discussions between the local community and Higher One’s leadership on the issue.
Clyburn, Foskey-Cyrus, and Morrison are gearing up for a Sept. 13 Democratic primary. They’ve teamed up to form a coalition they’re calling Dixwell-Newhallville Rising. The three said they’re working to address problems in the Newhallville and Dixwell neighborhoods.
Clyburn is running against incumbent Charles Blango, Foskey-Cyrus against Moses Nelson, and Morrison is taking on incumbent Greg Morehead and fellow challengers Cordelia Thorpe and Lisa Hopkins.
The three women are part of a group of 15 aldermanic contenders endorsed by Yale unions UNITE HERE Locals 34 and 35. It’s part of an election year that is shaping up to be a battle between the forces of an establishment Democratic party and an insurgent union-backed group of challengers.
Foskey-Cyrus, Clyburn and Morrison (left to right).
The candidates and their supporters gathered Thursday afternoon in a rainy parking lot on Winchester Avenue outside Science Park’s Building Four. Speaking under an umbrella hoisted by Morrison, Clyburn drew a connection to the old rifle factory that once employed much of the neighborhood.
“Winchester was a flowing river of life,” she said. At one time, the factory supplied paychecks to many people who lives so close they could walk to work. They enjoyed secure jobs that enabled them to support their families and buy their own homes, she said.
“Now that life is coming back. We need to be a part of it,” she said. “We are looking to be hired at Higher One.”
“We just want to work,” said Morrison. “We just want to eat.”
As the candidates walked down Winchester Avenue toward the offices of Higher One, Clyburn said that the petition has about 350 signatures on it.
In the lobby of 25 Science Park, Clyburn asked for Higher One’s three top executives by their first names. Instead she got Rakaczki (at left in photo below), who came down in jeans and a collared blue shirt to say the executives are away on business.
Clyburn read from a prepared statement. “We’re here because you’re here in our community.” Higher One has received $18.5 million in support from the government. (The company received a package of government benefits including $5.5. million towards rehabbing the Winchester factory and $18.5 million in tax credits over 10 years, contingent on how many jobs Higher One creates.)
“We have received no jobs,” Cyburn said. “We can work together to create a workforce.”
Two petitioners stood under a photo of the old Winchester factory.
Murmurs or “mm-hmm” erupted from the group as she continued. Clyburn said the community is willing to find the skills and education necessary to earn jobs at Higher One.
Rakaczki responded that Higher One has “reached out to the city” and “made efforts to create work-study program.”
“We’re grateful to have the opportunity to rehab the Winchester building and be a part of the community,” he said.
Essentially, Rakaczki said, “I agree with you.”
“Would you be willing to hold a forum in our community?” Morrison asked.
“Absolutely,” Rakaczki said. He said that sounded like a great idea. Direct communication with the community rather than with City Hall could end the “game of telephone,” he said.
“So it’s safe to say some of these jobs will be handed out to people in Newhallville?” Foskey-Cyrus said.
“I can’t make that commitment,” Rakaczki replied.
“We don’t want this ‘I’ll talk to you later. I’ll call you.’ We did that for a year!” erupted Patsy Rembert (at center in photo), a woman in the group who lives nearby. “Let us talk to the person who makes the decisions.”
Rembert later said she has eight children who she’s raised on Newhall Street. “Some of them need a job,” she said.
“Bottom line: We’re going to hold you accountable,” Morrison said to Rakaczki. “If we don’t hear from you, we’re coming back, probably with more people.”
“We appreciate you expressing your concerns,” Rakaczki said. “And we’ll take it to heart. You’re sending us a message. … We all have a vested interest in having a stronger community.”
Outside, Morrison said the operation was a success. She said she’d be following up with Higher One within a week.
“We’re helping these companies to remember us again,” she told the group.