Thomas MacMillan Photo
Mayor Toni Harp will not dismantle New Haven’s neighborhoods anti-blight agency, after all — and she’s keeping its chief on board.
Harp said Monday that she is reappointing Erik Johnson (pictured) to a new term as head of the agency, the Livable City Initiative (LCI). Johnson’s current term expires Feb. 1; during last year’s mayoral campaign, Harp had suggested abolishing the agency.
She said Monday that since then she has come to appreciate the breadth of work LCI handles — not just inspecting apartments, but also developing housing and managing abandoned properties.
Harp’s administration will still examine long-term improvements or efficiencies at the agency, she said. In the short term, she has directed Johnson to make the agency more accessible. “It’s got to be more customer-friendly,” she said, “so people can call and get a” human being on the other line. She said people have been “very frustrated” at the difficulty in reaching people at the agency.
Johnson’s salary is $94,000 this fiscal year.