State

Grand Cafe Mounts A "Cheers" Defense

by | Dec 17, 2021 3:08 pm | Comments (8)

Grand Cafe Co-Owner Jose Rivera, customer Julian Welch outside bar.

Everybody knows your name at Grand Cafe — which regulars and supporters called a good thing as they appealed to preserve the Fair Haven haunt’s liquor license in the face of organized opposition by neighbors weary of gun violence, drugs, and lewd behavior on the premises.

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Judge Rejects Landlord Bid To Break Rental Aid Contract Under State Program

by | Dec 7, 2021 3:42 pm | Comments (6)

Thomas Breen photo

State housing court Judge John Cirello.

A housing court judge turned down a landlord’s bid to evict one of his tenants instead of accepting state rental assistance funds designed to keep her in place — ruling that a property owner who has applied to Connecticut’s pandemic-era relief program can’t simply change his mind after the state has already cut a check.

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Gov Issues Covid Call To Arms At Pearl Harbor Ceremony

by | Dec 7, 2021 3:37 pm | Comments (2)

Connecticut National Guard Major General Francis J. Evon, Jr., Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz, and Gov. Lamont at Tuesday's wreath-laying ceremony.

Connecticut National Guard Sgt. Fatou Toure and Sfc. Tristan Johnson on Tuesday.

Calling on Americans to stand arm in arm to fight an invisible enemy,” Gov. Ned Lamont commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks by urging a new Greatest Generation to step up for their country in the fight against Covid.

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Paid Family Leave Program Gets Underway; Backers Celebrate At Claire’s

by | Dec 1, 2021 5:36 pm | Comments (12)

Paul Bass Photo

Connecticut Paid Leave Authority CEO Andrea Barton Reeves at Wednesday’s event outside Claire’s.

State leaders converged on an appropriate spot Wednesday to celebrate the first day in which workers can sign up for benefits under Connecticut’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Program: Claire’s Corner Copia.

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ConnCORP, WorkPlace Team Up To Help Black And Brown Entrepreneurs “Seize” The Cannabis “Moment”

by | Nov 23, 2021 4:37 pm | Comments (6)

Nora Grace-Flood photo

Social Equity Council Chairwoman Andrea Comer, ConnCORP Board Chair Carlton Highsmith, WorkPlace President and CEO Joseph Carbone, and BJM Solutions Founder Fred McKinney at Tuesday’s press conference.

Black and Brown entrepreneurs will learn about joint ventures” — and perhaps enter into one — with the help of a marijuana manifesto” that’s in the works.

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Redistricting Critics Slice Own Voting Maps

by | Nov 8, 2021 9:15 am | Comments (18)

Laura Glesby Photo

Aaron Goode with voting reform advocates at Sally’s slicing session.

Aaron Goode

One alternative Congressional district map, with New Haven and Bridgeport combined.

Seven voting reform advocates gathered around a table at Sally’s, far more satisfied with the way their pizza had been sliced than with the way New Haven is currently split into state legislative districts.

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Alders Endorse Regional Climate Pact

by | Nov 5, 2021 9:35 am | Comments (16)

Thomas Breen photo

Thursday night’s Board of Alders meeting.

Electric buses, lower taxes for low-income people, endorsed.

The Board of Alders set Connecticut’s Democratic governor and top state legislators a challenge Thursday: Find a way to make fuel sellers — and not the poor and working class — pay for transportation-related carbon emissions, and help save cities like New Haven from bearing the brunt of climate change and air pollution.

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$2 For OJ ... & Illegal Drugs?

by | Nov 4, 2021 5:38 pm | Comments (8)

Thomas Breen Photo

Fair Haven neighbors “occupy” Grand Cafe’s lot in September.

A month and a half after occupying” the lot in front of a problem bar, Fair Haveners showed up in force yet again to try to solve the social ills emanating from Grand Cafe — this time online, through over three hours of testimony urging the state to pull the venue’s liquor permit.

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Was “Justified” Force Also “Necessary”?

by | Nov 2, 2021 9:08 am | Comments (9)

NHPD images

Officers arresting Shawn Marshall at the CT Financial Center in January; one intervened to stop the other from continuing to use force.

A second look at the exoneration of a cop in the use of force against a troubled man has raised a question: Whether New Haven is out of step with new statewide standards for police accountability.

The debate centers on whether departments should consider only whether cops’ use of force is justified,” or whether it should also be deemed necessary” in light of other alternatives.

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Sports Betting Kicks Off At Sports Haven

by | Oct 25, 2021 5:50 pm | Comments (32)

Thomas Breen photos

Vinny Rosarbo betting on the Saints …

… as Gov. Lamont (far right) and other state officials cut the ribbon on legal sports betting at Sports Haven.

Sliding five new $100 bills into a self-serve kiosk at Sports Haven, Vinny Rosarbo bet on more than just the New Orleans Saints beating the Seattle Seahawks.

He was also throwing his support behind a statewide wager that newly legalized gambling options will help Connecticut more than it will hurt by promoting the kind of addiction that led a state representative to resign his position the same day.

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Brazi’s Birthday Bash Boosts Bond; Reports List Initial Secretary of State Campaign Donors

by | Oct 21, 2021 8:16 am | Comments (3)

Isaac Yu Photo

Bond takes the cake at Wednesday evening’s fundraiser.


With Alicia Keyes’ Girl on Fire” playing in the background, city Health Director Maritza Bond sashayed into a room packed with partygoers at her 45th birthday bash — seeking to ignite momentum in her quest to become Connecticut’s next secretary of the state.

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West Haven/New Haven Lawmaker Arrested For Allegedly Bilking Covid Relief Fund Of $600K

by | Oct 20, 2021 2:37 pm | Comments (9)

State Rep. Michael DiMassa.

A state legislator who represents a handful of blocks in the Hill — and most of West Haven — was arrested Wednesday for allegedly defrauding the City of West Haven of more than $600,000.

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State Bars Subsidies For Greer’s Companies

by | Sep 17, 2021 3:14 pm | Comments (5)

Chris Peak photo

Rabbi Greer: For the first time in recent memory, his companies are not allowed to participate in annual state tax credit program.

Sophie Sonnenfeld Photo

DRS Chief Boughton: Did what mayor, alders wouldn’t.

New Haven said yes to steering more money to companies controlled by imprisoned sex predator Daniel Greer. The state has now said no.

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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.

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