A victory for foes of New Haven’s immigrant-friendly ID has proved short-lived, as two car dealers decided to offer discounts to cardholders after all.
Barberino Brother Nissan of Wallingford and Bob’s Dodge of Naugatuck made their latest decision public on Thursday.
The two dealerships originally joined area businesses in offering discounts to holders of New Haven’s ID card. The card is available to all residents; it came into being to help immigrants feel more party of the city (and open bank accounts and use city libraries and parks).
The car dealerships offered $1,000 off used cars and $500 off new cars to customers who state from the outset of their visit that they have a card and intend to make use of the discount.
Then on Tuesday, after pressure from the Community Watchdog Project, the dealerships announced it was canceling the offer.
The project crowed earlier this week about its success in (temporarily) convincing the car dealerships to bag the discount. It featured an audio recording on its website of a phone message Ron Capasso, a manager/owner at both dealerships, left on project leader Dustin Gold‘s answering machine.
“We were misled … I just though I was trying to help people in the New Haven community,” Capasso tells Gold. “I guess I wasn’t.”
So what changed Capasso’s mind? Why did he reinstitute the discount Thursday?
He wasn’t saying. He referred calls to his attorney, Anthony DeChello.
DeChello said he couldn’t comment on the politics.
“I think what happened was they just really thought why they decided to participate in the first place — to sell and service cars and do their best in obtaining financing for people regardless of their past credit history,” DeChello said.
“They’ve tried to turn it into a positive by expanding it for everybody.”
That means that customers with not just New Haven resident ID cards, but those with Connecticut-issued cards such as driver’s licenses, are eligible for the discount. As long, DeChello reminded people, that they mention the card upon their first contact with a salesperson at the dealership.
A City Hall press release Thursday announced that the dealerships had made the decision “despite attempts by an area hate group,” an apparent reference to the Watchdog Project. The project’s Dustin Gold has repeatedly denied harassing people or engaging in hate tactics In hearings before the state Freedom of Information Commission, where he’s seeking to force the city to release names of ID card recipients. Click here, here, and here to read and watch about that.