“Lockdown.” “Machinations and retaliations.” “Tainted” “democracy.” “Sowing discontent.” Those were some of Eli Greer’s parting depictions of the city’s Democratic Party leadership as he resigned as a ward co-chairman in the Edgewood neighborhood.
Greer decried the state of party leadership in a letter released late Tuesday announcing his resignation as 24th Ward co-chair.
He wrote that party leaders “blatantly ignore” and “silence” the 60 co-chairs from the city’s 30 wards.
“Party leadership has devalued and gutted the dialogue with the ward co-chairs, quashed our critical involvement and suffocated our voices and that of the voters we represent, disfiguring the Democratic process,” Greer wrote. “This has allowed for a lockdown mode in which individuals and various elected officials do not engage in dialogue, debate or discussion on vital matters of concern to all walks of life in this City.”
He described “a tainted version of democracy, trampling on the stated desires of voters and ignoring their democratically made choices and endorsements. It serves only limited special interests, therefore again and again eluding the hope for unity in the community and sowing discontent and division amongst the citizens of this City.”
Greer — a leading figure in neighborhood fights for more police protection and against slumlords, and laundromats—promised to remain active in civic affairs, “unfettered by mini-minded political machinations and retaliations.”
Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Voigt disagreed with Greer’s characterization of the party and its leadership.
She has “nothing but the utmost respect for all the town committee members who serve as co-chairs of their wards,” she said. “Each and every one of them make tremendous effort to ensure that their residents can exercise their right to vote. Each of them has demonstrated … they really do exercise their own opinions. They endorse the candidates they seek to endorse. They work hard for the candidates they want to work for. I will continue to respect them, including those who have supported me and those with whom I have had some differences.”
Voigt pointed to “vibrant aldermanic races” and party primaries as evidence of the fact that people exercise leadership in their neighborhoods and wards.”
The Letter
Following is the text of Greer’s letter.
Over the last four years I have served as the Democratic Co-chair for the 24th Ward in New Haven. It has been an honor and privilege to work alongside fellow Co-chair Hank Campbell and our Alderwoman of more than a score years, Elizabeth McCormack, as well as co-chairs and aldermen from throughout New Haven. The ongoing accomplishments in the neighborhood and the City speak for themselves.
As you well know, several years ago crime was skyrocketing in New Haven. We founded the Edgewood Park Defense Patrol, a diverse nightly citizen patrol to bring some sense of law and order to our beleaguered City. With the help of dedicated people from all over New Haven, and the assist of the Guardian Angels, we highlighted the city-wide crime spree, leading to a vital change in our Police administration and renewed hope for the urban neighborhoods across this City. The outstanding men and women in blue, under Chief Lewis’ administration caused crime to drop systematically in the last two years. Homicides are down 40% and in 2009 there were 1,000 fewer crime victims throughout New Haven. We all pray that this heartening trend continues city-wide.
Working in conjunction with multiple community and business groups, the Whalley Avenue Commercial District from Westville to Downtown is now positioned for a brighter future. Business leaders, neighborhood advocacy groups, non-profits and residents are coming together, challenging fellow business owners, landlords and the City to reawaken this vital artery of New Haven. A new Walgreen’s down the block, streetscape vision becoming tangible reality, problematic chain Laundromat blocked and a vibrant brand-name paint store in its stead, are some of our proud accomplishments. And now, efforts are underway to save our community Shaw’s shopping plaza. The stage is set for an invigorated business arena along Whalley Avenue corridor.
Meanwhile, the, so to speak, regular activities continue apace. Hand-in-hand with officials from LCI, Public Works and the Traffic Department we combat day-to-day nuisances in this district. Last summer we reached the milestone of the 500th tree planted in the Edgewood Park neighborhood during the last decade, and we are already selecting sites for the 2010 plantings. These trees, literally and figuratively, bring a feeling of growth and rejuvenation to the streets we live on and the sidewalks we walk. The neighborhood rehabilitation and revitalization program, which has increased home values and tax revenues across the Ward, continues to confront pockets of housing blight that still remain.
I enjoy working to better our city and will continue to do so. However, as of midnight tonight I will be resigning my post as Democratic Co-Chair of the 24th Ward, City of New Haven. The leadership of New Haven Democratic Party no longer serves the interests of the voters nor does it work with the local Co-chairs on a regular and consistent basis. The sixty ward co-chairs are generally blatantly ignored and only considered relevant selectively when City party leaders need them. The voices of loyal voters, our voices as hard-working co-chairs, are being silenced at the whim of party power-brokers, not based on rules, ethics or morals. Party leadership has devalued and gutted the dialogue with the ward co-chairs, quashed our critical involvement and suffocated our voices and that of the voters we represent, disfiguring the Democratic process. This has allowed for a lockdown mode in which individuals and various elected officials do not engage in dialogue, debate or discussion on vital matters of concern to all walks of life in this City.
The hard reality is that unfortunately Democratic Party Leadership now in New Haven acts on a tainted version of democracy, trampling on the stated desires of voters and ignoring their democratically made choices and endorsements. It serves only limited special interests, therefore again and again eluding the hope for unity in the community and sowing discontent and division amongst the citizens of this City.
Hence, currently, my ability to serve the City and seek our united goals cannot be optimally performed in the capacity of a Democratic Ward Co-Chair. Instead, given the present state of the local Democratic Party leadership, in order to proceed on these important ideals, I will better serve the greater cause of the people in New Haven as an active member of the public. I look forward to working tirelessly in the community and the city, unfettered by mini-minded political machinations and retaliations.
I have given a great deal of deliberation to this transition, listening to the different opinions and views offered by my constituency and colleagues; however, the moment has arrived for this recalibration. The residents and voters of Ward 24 and the City will remain a constant focus and on the forefront going forward. I will continue to vigorously and actively champion the citizens’ just causes for a brighter future for this great city of New Haven.