City Will Require Covid Booster Shots
by | Jan 25, 2022 3:01 pm | Comments (27)
“Fully vaxxed” for city workers will now mean three shots, not two.
Labor
5 Weeks Later, City Starts Search For Police Chief Search Consultant To Start Planning Search
by | Jan 24, 2022 4:06 pm | Comments (14)
Mayor Elicker on Monday: Police chief search process should take at least four months to complete.
The search firm RFQ posting on the city website.
The Elicker Administration has formally begun searching for a search firm to help find a new permanent police chief, over a month after the mayor first committed to taking a nationwide look for a new leader of the local police department.
With Ranks Slim, 17 Cops Top $200K In Pay
by | Jan 20, 2022 5:47 pm | Comments (40)
City of New Haven
Paul Bass File Photo
Pressed into extra duty: Top earner Raul Pereira (center) at hostage scene.
With the police department understaffed amid surging violent crime and demands for walking cops, New Haven paid 17 cops more than $200,000 in 2021.
Continue reading ‘With Ranks Slim, 17 Cops Top $200K In Pay’
Doors Open At Town Hall
by | Jan 20, 2022 4:30 pm | Comments (7)
Nora Grace-Flood Photo
Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett, Deputy Chief of Staff Alexa Panayotakis and Chief of Staff Sean Grace at new round table.
Out went the plush purple couch in the mayor’s office. In came a round table with four chairs and a Purell centerpiece.
Hamden Expands Business Incentives, Requires Community Contracting; GOP Questions Wording's Wiggle Room
by | Jan 19, 2022 9:00 am | Comments (0)
Paul Bass photo
Erik Johnson: "Put residents and businesses in Hamden first.”
Hamden’s Legislative Council gave final approval to a new ordinance tying business incentives to local hiring .
Labor Takes Victory Lap At MLK Celebration
by | Jan 18, 2022 2:59 pm | Comments (2)
Monday's livestreamed MLK Day event. Clockwise from top left: Ron Hurt and Barbara Vereen; Rosa DeLauro; Kelcy Steele; Jaime Myers-McPhail.
“When we move mountains, we must celebrate.”
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Hamden Ties Tax Breaks To Local Hiring
by | Jan 13, 2022 9:31 am | Comments (9)
Paul Bass photo
Erik Johnson: Show us you're doing your best.
Developers looking to build in Hamden with financial breaks from local government may now have to show proof of a plan to help the town back in return — by hiring and contracting locally and equitably.
Firebirds Build New Nest In Hamden
by | Jan 12, 2022 2:40 pm | Comments (7)
Samod Rankins and Gary Tinney: New Haven firefighters sounding the diversity alarm in Hamden FD.
Two “Firebirds” who pressed the fight for racial justice in New Haven’s fire department have set their sights across municipal lines — in hopes of using their lived experience to help Hamden’s department reflect the increasingly diverse town it serves.
Reborn Ethics Board Tackles Wedding Quandary
by | Jan 11, 2022 4:44 pm | Comments (7)
Thomas Breen file photo
Couple picks up marriage license at Vital Statistics office.
Zoom image
Monday night's Board of Ethics virtual meeting.
Should a city staffer whose job it is to process marriage certificates be allowed to perform weddings for pay during or after work time?
Or does that double duty as a for-hire justice of the peace create a conflict of interest — since the clerk’s City Hall job could give them an unfair advantage and a private financial incentive to use their public role to boost private clientele?
Continue reading ‘Reborn Ethics Board Tackles Wedding Quandary’
Cop Dies From Injuries Suffered In 2008 Crash
by | Jan 11, 2022 4:16 pm | Comments (5)
Officer Diane Gonzalez.
New Haven cops are mourning the loss of a fellow officer who was injured in a 2008 car crash.
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Teachers Press State For More Masks & Tests, & Short-Term Remote Option
by and | Jan 11, 2022 1:40 pm | Comments (16)
More masks. More tests. The option to go remote — just for a few weeks until the Covid-19 Omicron-variant surge passes.
Teachers are pressing those requests at a statewide “wear-black” event planned for Wednesday. Some students and board members joined in those requests at Monday night’s New Haven Board of Education meeting. And New Haven teachers union President Leslie Blatteau went into depth on the issue — and its place in the current national political dialogue — during a Tuesday radio appearance.
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Teachers Get Help With Omicron Duties
by | Jan 10, 2022 2:40 pm | Comments (3)
New Haven and Hamden teachers got help dealing with the extra duties and health hazards brought on by the Omicron-fueled Omicron surge.
Omicron Couldn't Keep This School Down
by | Jan 7, 2022 3:03 pm | Comments (8)
Nora Grace-Flood photos
Social worker Glenn Xavier: Without us, where would the kids be?
Upon learning that his colleague had tested positive for Covid-19, Matt Tremper did double duty: He taught history to his seventh-graders on one side of the library while overseeing a science experiment for another class assembled across the stacks.
Learning continued — even though the Omicron variant was doing its best all week to render schools inoperable.
Teacher Tests Positive, Packs Up Fast
by | Jan 5, 2022 5:04 pm | Comments (14)
ESUMS's Aron Meyer.
Aron Meyer received the text Tuesday at 9:54 a.m. In 11 minutes, students would return to his classroom.
He decided to move fast.
Mad Dash Materializes For Covid Tests
by | Jan 5, 2022 9:41 am | Comments (5)
Cars lined up for Tuesday distribution.
Nora Grace-Flood Photos
Pablo Colon, daughter Angelica with tests they needed last month.
Desperate Amazon workers, exposed family members, and hundreds of others jammed the streets outside a shuttered Hamden High School late Tuesday afternoon in hopes of getting their hands on the last batch for now of town-provided at-home Covid-19 tests.
Auguring New Direction, Hamden Cop Commission Nominations Advance
by | Jan 4, 2022 1:48 pm | Comments (3)
Paul Bass photo
Nominee Rhonda Caldwell at a 2019 rally calling for the firing of Hamden Police Officer Devin Eaton.
A new day for Hamden’s police commission has come into view after five nominees won the first of two needed votes to take over — and promised to bring heightened transparency and a more diverse outlook on public safety.
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Schools Hustle, Improvise To Stay Open
by , and | Jan 3, 2022 6:49 pm | Comments (15)
Nora Grace-Flood Photo
Principal Dan Levy: This isn't March 2020.
Administrators filled in to keep classrooms running and lunches served Monday, bus routes were combined, and teachers all received masks, as the New Haven and Hamden school districts resolved to remain open even as some suburban districts temporarily pulled the plug.
The hope remained by day’s end that kids can remain in schools despite the fact that Connecticut posted a record 21.5 percent Covid-19 test-positivity rate.
Meanwhile, New Haven’s teachers union president applauded the efforts to fill gaps but questioned whether they’ll prove “sustainable” — or if Connecticut should allow some remote learning to count as official school days.
Schools Suggest Parents Drive Kids, If Possible
by | Jan 3, 2022 10:53 am | Comments (1)
New Haven’s public schools reopened from winter break Monday morning with 18 percent of bus drivers calling out sick as the Omicron variant swept through the state.
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Schools Gird For Reopening Amid Omicron
by | Jan 2, 2022 6:46 pm | Comments (10)
Paul Bass file photo
Sonia Clubb and Supt. Iline Tracey Sunday handing out test kits outside King/Robinson.
Iline Tracey handed out the first batch of Covid-19 rapid at-home tests to nervous teachers Sunday as the school system prepared to reopen Monday amid a surge of cases.
Acting Chief Dominguez Will Retire
by | Dec 10, 2021 2:44 pm | Comments (68)
Thomas Breen photo
Acting Chief Renee Dominguez at Friday's presser.
The Elicker administration’s quest to install Renee Dominguez as the next permanent chief of police ended Friday, as Dominguez removed her name from consideration and the mayor moved toward a national search for the position instead.
2 Hamden Detectives Promoted To Sergeant
by | Dec 9, 2021 9:20 am | Comments (3)
Nora Grace-Flood photo
Mansfield and Dunham, both detectives and both named Robert, now titled Sergeants.
Hamden’s Police Commission continued a promotional streak during their final meeting of the year Wednesday evening, moving Detectives Robert Dunham and Robert Mansfield up to sergeant status.
Teacher Departures Up 59%
by | Dec 8, 2021 4:00 pm | Comments (52)
Lisa Mack: Teachers want to work closer to home.
The number of teachers leaving New Haven’s school district has grown so far this year, leading to a call for stepped-up retention efforts.
Challengers Sweep Teacher Union Election
by and | Dec 7, 2021 9:32 pm | Comments (13)
Maya McFadden Photo
Victorious teachers slate members Stephen Siena, Mia Comulada Breuler, Leslie Blatteau, Kirsten Hopes-McFadden, Rachael Parrott, and campaign manager Nataliya Braginsky outside teachers union hall Tuesday evening after ballots were counted.
Cicarella: "It was probably time for change. They're smart & energetic."
A 31-member slate of challengers promising a new day for educators toppled the teachers union’s 15-year incumbent president along with the rest of his team.
Garrett Hires New Public Works Director, Nominates 3 Cop Commissioners
by | Dec 6, 2021 5:45 pm | Comments (13)
Nora Grace-Flood Photo
Assistant Director Mike Siciliano with newly appointed Director Matthew Kott, Mayor Lauren Garrett, and her Chief of Staff Sean Grace.
On her second Monday morning in office, Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett and Chief of Staff, Sean Grace arrived at Public Works’ headquarters on Shepard Avenue at 7 a.m. with pastries from Whitney Donut and 54 unionized employees’ new boss: Matthew Kott.
Continue reading ‘Garrett Hires New Public Works Director, Nominates 3 Cop Commissioners’
Hamden Teachers Contract Features 9% Raises Over 3 Years, Gender Neutral Lavs
by | Dec 3, 2021 9:32 am | Comments (2)
Staff Photo
Asst. Supt. Highsmith: “We recognize that people are who they say they are.”
Hamden school employees will see raises, gender neutral bathrooms, and benefits for library media specialists take effect starting July 1 thanks to a newly approved contract negotiated between the teachers union and the Board of Education.
Continue reading ‘Hamden Teachers Contract Features 9% Raises Over 3 Years, Gender Neutral Lavs’