20-Something Takes On Established Pols
by | Sep 8, 2021 7:49 am | Comments (17)
Paul Bass Photo
Hamden mayoral candidate Peter Cyr at WNHH FM.
You know those social-media addicted millennials? Peter Cyr doesn’t count himself among them.
Campaign
Hamden Campaigns Go To The Dogs
by | Sep 7, 2021 2:43 pm | Comments (4)
Nora Grace-Flood Photo
Leonard Young, founder and director of “Gimme Shelter,” as well as bartender and dog walker. He said dogs have served as quietly communicative therapists for him after 30 years working in the noisy and oppressive food and beverage industry. He took in his own dog, Goober, after Goober’s owner received a “life changing diagnosis” and could no longer care for him. Because Young adopted her, the owner’s teenage daughters have been able to stay in touch with their dog.
“If we can’t agree on the puppies, what can we agree on?”
Independent Hamden Legislative Council candidate Jay Kaye posed that question while standing outside of a bar where animal rights advocate organization “Gimme Shelter” was hosting a fundraiser. A political fundraiser.
Newhallville Primary Candidates Vow To Boost Homeownership
by | Sep 6, 2021 12:41 pm | Comments (4)
Tom Breen Photos
Ward 20 primary candidates Shirley Lawrence, Devin Avshalom-Smith, Addie Kimbrough.
Devin Avshalom-Smith is living the way Newhallville once lived — and the way he and his competitors for a seat on the Board of Alders vow to help make it live again.
Continue reading ‘Newhallville Primary Candidates Vow To Boost Homeownership’
Hamden Crew: Yes. Elicker: No, But ...
by | Sep 2, 2021 12:18 pm | Comments (18)
Jack O’Melia photos
Rev. Andal at Hamden, New Haven candidate forum: “It is our faith that compels us to build a better world.”
“Yes.” “Yes.” “Yes*.”
“No.”
Four Hamden and New Haven Democratic mayoral candidates consistently offered that litany of answers to policy demands posed by a grassroots organizing group at a public health and safety forum.
Brackeen Steps Toward Statewide Run
by | Aug 20, 2021 8:20 am | Comments (27)
Paul Bass Photo
Darryl Brackeen announcing “exploratory” secretary of the state run.
Speaking up for Brackeen’s candidacy (clockwise from top left): Alder Richard Furlow, State Rep. Robyn Porter, (Hillhouse classmate) Jayuan Carter, emcee Frank E. Brady, Rev. Kelcy Steele, Mayor Justin Elicker.
A hundred friends and affiliated politicos poured into a newish downtown bar to wish Darryl Brackeen a happy 33rd birthday — by boosting his “exploration” of seeking the office of Connecticut’s guardian of democracy.
“Biden Dems” Face “Warren Women”
by | Aug 18, 2021 4:16 pm | Comments (22)
All politics is … national? Leng, political soul mate Biden (above); Garrett, political soul mate Warren (below).
The latest intramural contest between “Biden” and “progressive” Democrats has come to our shores, at least in the view of candidates competing in a hotly contested local primary.
Absentee Ballot Boxes To Stay Downtown
by | Aug 17, 2021 7:47 am | Comments (3)
Thomas Breen photo
Two of city’s four absentee ballot drop boxes, outside 200 Orange.
The city’s four absentee ballot drop-boxes will remain downtown — even as the city’s only primary election in September will take place in Newhallville.
GOP Presses Parks Preservation
by | Aug 16, 2021 12:08 pm | Comments (15)
Maya McFadden Photos
Candidates John Carlson, Steve Orosco, and Anthony Acri talk with neighbor Carol Landino (left) at meet-and-greet.
Republican candidates seeking to reenergize their local party this fall gathered in a Morris Cove open space not for a picnic — but to promote a platform that includes protecting New Haven parks.
Garrett Blasts Leng On Contracts, Reval; Backs Gov’t Vax Mandate
by | Aug 13, 2021 2:46 pm | Comments (12)
Paul Bass Photos
Hamden mayoral candidates Lauren Garrett, Curt Leng at WNHH FM.
Should Hamden mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for town employees?
Was the 2020 property reassessment racist?
Would revisiting politically-connected town contracts save needed money?
Frontrunners diverged on those questions on the first official day of an historic mayoral primary campaign.
Continue reading ‘Garrett Blasts Leng On Contracts, Reval; Backs Gov’t Vax Mandate’
Candidates File Petitions For 4-Way Hamden Mayoral Primary
by | Aug 11, 2021 7:52 pm | Comments (8)
Sam Gurwitt file photos, Facebook, Paul Bass file photo
Primee for 4-way primary: Lauren Garrett, Brad Macdowall, Peter Cyr, and Curt Leng.
After two full weeks spent searching for signatures, three Democratic mayoral candidates filed the minimum of 946 voter signatures on petitiions Wednesday, bringing the town one step closer to a slowly solidifying a four-way Sept. 14 primary.
Continue reading ‘Candidates File Petitions For 4-Way Hamden Mayoral Primary’
Newhallville Alder Race Will Be City’s Only Primary
by | Aug 11, 2021 4:23 pm | Comments (6)
It’s official. New Haven will have only one contested primary this September: a three-way race for the Democratic nomination for Newhallville alder.
Continue reading ‘Newhallville Alder Race Will Be City’s Only Primary’
Frenemies For A Night: Opponents Unite For Petition Party
by | Aug 9, 2021 8:54 pm | Comments (10)
Contributed Photo
Frenemies for one night: Marc Steinberg, Jim Pascarella, Jacob Pudlin, Avi Schwimmer, Brad Macdowall, David Lindsay, Kathleen Schomaker, Melinda Saller at Side Street Grille Sunday.
Political opponents did something unusual in Hamden — instead of arguing and fighting, for one night they held a joint party to help all of them qualify for spots on the Sept. 14 Democratic primary ballot.
Continue reading ‘Frenemies For A Night: Opponents Unite For Petition Party’
4-Year Mayoral Terms Back On Agenda
by | Aug 9, 2021 3:11 pm | Comments (19)
Staff Photos
(From left) Abdussabur, Macdowall: Yes to 4-year mayoralty; Bonadies: Voters deserve more chances to weigh in
Mayors might have four years instead of two before facing voters again, if a Hamden charter change goes through this year and New Haven follows suit.
Newhallville Alder Hopefuls Petition Onto Primary Ballot
by | Aug 9, 2021 2:49 pm | Comments (1)
Thomas Breen photos
Newhallville alder candidates Shirley Lawrence, Devin Avshalom-Smith, and Addie Kimbrough.
Newhallville Democrats will have three alder candidates to pick among on Sept. 14 — in what may turn out to be the only contested primary in town this year.
Continue reading ‘Newhallville Alder Hopefuls Petition Onto Primary Ballot’
DeLauro Endorses Elicker
by | Aug 5, 2021 6:03 pm | Comments (8)
Paul Bass Photo
Rosa DeLauro, center, endorsing the reelection of Justin Elicker, at left, as State Rep. Juan Candelaria, who introduced her, looks on at right.
With his Democratic nomination path cleared, Mayor Justin Elicker picked up a reelection endorsement from U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro.
GOP Pick Pursues Public Financing
by | Aug 5, 2021 3:39 pm | Comments (6)
Emily Hays Photo
Carlson: $75k’s plenty.
John Carlson is running to become New Haven’s first Republican not only to win a mayoral election since 1951 — but also to campaign with the help of public dollars.
Indy Slate Files In Hamden; Kaye Bolts GOP
by | Aug 4, 2021 10:10 am | Comments (4)
Sam Gurwitt photo
Jay Kaye: From Republican to Independent.
• 3rd-party mayor, council ticket.
• Centrist platform.
• 2019 GOP mayor candidate found George Floyd response “disappointing.”
Continue reading ‘Indy Slate Files In Hamden; Kaye Bolts GOP’
Carlson Backs Neighbors On Parks, Airport
by | Aug 3, 2021 2:13 pm | Comments (20)
JANE COMINS PHOTO
Kensington Playground (for now).
New Haven’s Republican mayoral candidate Tuesday came out in support of neighbors organizing to save a neighborhood playground and to kill a deal to expand Tweed New Haven Airport.
Continue reading ‘Carlson Backs Neighbors On Parks, Airport’
Principal Punzo Suits Up For Alder Run
by | Jul 29, 2021 3:33 pm | Comments (7)
Thomas Breen photo
Endorsed alder candidate Sal Punzo at Tuesday’s convention.
Retired former New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) principal and teacher Salvatore Punzo has a new public service job on the horizon: Annex alder.
Hamden Mayoral Hopefuls Start Petitioning
by | Jul 29, 2021 3:20 pm | Comments (7)
Brad Macdowall with Joanne Germe: Everyone deserves to be on the ballot.
Peter Cyr with Kellie Loftus, talking gun violence.
“Everyone deserves to be on the ballot,” Meadowbrook resident Joanne Germe stated matter-of-factly from her doorstep.
Then she added her signature to mayoral candidate Brad Macdowall’s petition to participate in September’s Democratic primary, which is shaping up to be a four-way race.
Continue reading ‘Hamden Mayoral Hopefuls Start Petitioning’
Democratic Mayoral Challenger Becomes A Republican
by | Jul 29, 2021 2:52 pm | Comments (9)
Zoom
Torres, at a Westville Democratic Ward Committee meeting in May.
Mayce Torres is still running for mayor — but now as a Republican, not as a Democrat.
That means that New Haven will likely not have a contested Democratic primary this September, but could have a contested Republican primary.
Continue reading ‘Democratic Mayoral Challenger Becomes A Republican’
Avshalom-Smith Petitioners Hit Streets
by | Jul 29, 2021 9:05 am | Comments (6)
Avshalom-Smith making his campaign pitch to Sheila Harris and Evette Brown.
More speed bumps. Cleaner streets. And a safe space for children to play without the threat of violence.
Newhallville alder hopeful Devin Avshalom-Smith heard those quality-of-life calls Wednesday as he and campaign supporters collected signatures in a bid to petition his way onto the Democratic primary ballot.
Greens Endorse Kane For Alder Run
by | Jul 28, 2021 3:47 pm | Comments (5)
Maya Mcfadden photo
Alder candidate Patricia Kane at campaign launch last week.
All five attendees at the Green Party’s Nominating Convention Tuesday voted to back Patricia Kane’s run for Fair Haven Heights alder.
Joyner Endorsed For Reelection To Ed Board
by | Jul 28, 2021 10:29 am | Comments (23)
Thomas Breen photo
Ed Joyner at Tuesday’s convention.
“I never let go of my students. And they never let go of me.”
Continue reading ‘Joyner Endorsed For Reelection To Ed Board’
Mixed Reactions To Mayoral Race Shakeup
by | Jul 28, 2021 10:00 am | Comments (10)
Thomas Breen photo
Outside the Democratic Town Convention Tuesday night.
Karen DuBois-Walton’s sudden departure from the mayoral race left supporters crestfallen, critics relieved, and many local Democratic Party stalwarts dismayed at the effective end to a hotly contested bid for the city’s top elected office.