Embattled Dixwell Alderman Drew King took time off from his legal troubles and his stay in a drug and alcohol rehab center to face his ward committee — but then refused to talk to them, as a powerbroker from another neighborhood, the Rev. Boise Kimber, shielded him from questions from neighborhood activists like Cordelia Thorpe (pictured).
“We can’t make you talk, — ¬ù admitted Thorpe at Tuesday night’s Ward 22 Democrats Committee, but she still urged alderman Drew King to speak: “I think it’s only fair that you tell your constituents what is going on. — ¬ù Thorpe never directly mentioned the alderman’s three arrests in December for allegedly assaulting a tenant and then violating a protective order at a house he owns at 274 Edgewood Ave., but her challenge was clear to all present. And she wasn’t the only one who wanted the alderman to answer for himself.
King (pictured right) had not been listed on the agenda, and was not expected at the meeting, so the room buzzed with tension as he arrived half an hour after discussions began, accompanied by several smartly dressed supporters. King and his entourage lined up against the back wall in the Elks Lodge hall on Webster Street. Among them was Rev. Boise Kimber, who was the only member of the group to speak at the meeting. The exchange among Thorpe, Kimber, and area residents did grow heated, while the alderman remained silent at the back of the room.
Kimber took issue with calls by Thorpe, and others, for the alderman to offer some explanation for his legal troubles. The litany of issues that were not discussed includes back taxes on two houses he owns and questions about whether he has violated zoning ordinances, as well as the three arrests in December related the alleged assault.
“[Drew] doesn’t have to talk to us at this time,” Kimber claimed. “He’s not on the agenda. — ¬ù Thorpe responded that she had only left him off the agenda because she had the impression that he was taking time away from his duties as alderman. Her comment may have been an oblique reference to reports that the alderman had checked into a drug and alcohol rehab center and taken leave of absence from his official duties.
Many of those present clearly supported King and his decision not to speak at the meeting. Joyce Bellamy, the new owner of Cardinal’s Club, defended King’s choice, and drew exclamations of agreement: “You never know what pushes someone to have gone through [something]. Pray for this man’s wife and his child. — ¬ù Another resident argued that “you don’t kick a man when he’s down. — ¬ù
When Kimber spoke on King’s behalf, he phrased his comments generally and appealed to emotion. “Drew has been criticized enough, — ¬ù he intoned as he walked through the crowd. “Everybody knows somebody who has problems. — ¬ù Moments later, Kimber tried to shift the focus from King entirely by offering to lead a prayer. When the moderators of the meeting at first agreed, a vocal member of the audience interceded.
Barbara Watley spoke out sharply: “Don’t let nobody come into your ward and close down your meeting! You know better than that. — ¬ù For a few moments, Kimber and Watley wrangled over the issue. He crossed the room to confront her face to face, but she remained firm. Referring to Kimber, she stated plainly, “He’s out of order. — ¬ù
In the end, she was one of only two people who reflected on possible consequences for King, and she addressed her criticisms directly: “God ain’t likin’ what you doing. This is the 22nd Ward, and we want better than this. Either do the job or get off the job! — ¬ù she exclaimed.
Neither King nor Kimber responded substantively to Watley’s criticisms. Instead, Kimber repeated his claim that the alderman would not speak because he was not on the agenda. Shortly afterward, King and his entire group quietly left the meeting just before the question and answer portion began.
Their early departure seemed to let the air out of the room, and the discussion wound down quickly. Still, resident Maria Johnson offered harsh words for the embattled alderman. “My particular interest as a Democrat is the disgrace of having an elected official [representing the party] arrested — ¬ù for violence against women. She continued, “We women deserve support, and we should have the right to demand an explanation. — ¬ù
Johnson also called attention to some of the meeting’s irregularities. Although the gathering was publicized as the Ward 22 Democratic Committee meeting, it was attended by several dozen residents, and was structured more like a management team meeting.
After the group began to disperse, some residents suggested that the gathering was called by Thorpe, who aspires to replace King on the Board of Alderman, in an attempt to capitalize on his legal troubles. A smattering of Cordelia Thorpe campaign signs were conspicuously plastered near the building’s entrance.
Some ward business was accomplished, which pleased residents as well as Susan Voigt, chair of the New Haven Democratic Town Committee: “I thought it was a really positive meeting, focused on the residents. — ¬ù A number of business leaders spoke, and residents discussed community-building initiatives.
But concerning the future of Drew King, the discussion raised far more questions than it answered. Many, including Thorpe, were disappointed: “I thought he was gonna say, ‘I’m going through some things, please work with me,’ — ¬ù she mused. For now, despite much drama and fanfare at Tuesday night’s meeting, Ward 22 residents are left waiting and wondering.