Laura Glesby Photo
Jill Marks.
Jill Marks said she wants to keep bringing park improvements, speed bumps, jobs, and a spirit of unity to Ward 28 — and asked voters to help her do that by electing her to a third two-year term on the Board of Alders.
Marks, a Democrat, spoke of these goals at Goffe Street Park on Friday as she kicked off her reelection campaign.
Fifty people gathered in support of Marks, including Mayor Toni Harp, State Rep. Al Paolillo, City Clerk Michael Smart, and a host of alders and ward co-chairs.
Marks grew up in the Hill, lived for a period in Newhallville, and moved to Beaver Hills ten years ago.
“This is home,” she said in her remarks to the crowd.
Majority Leader Richard Furlow invites other current alders, as well as aspiring ones, onstage.
Bringing together the disparate parts of ward 28, which includes parts of Beaver Hills, Edgewood, and Dixwell, is one of Marks’ highest priorities as an alder, she said. It’s also the biggest challenge of her job. Marks lives “up the hill” in Beaver Hills, where she said some people avoid the Dixwell area.
“I want everybody here together,” Marks said. “I’m trying to bridge that gap more.”
Marks said she has noticed that recently, more Beaver Hills community members have been spending time in Goffe Street Park. She partly attributed this change to the work she has done to revitalize the park along with her neighbors.
Local music group Kompozure sings “My Girl.”
She helped launch the Friends of Goffe Street Park, an organization committed to revitalizing the park. The group knocked on neighbors’ doors to hear input on how the park could be improved. It hosted a volunteer cleanup of the park and ran a “vision banner” painting event for kids.
Marks also worked with State Rep. Toni Walker to acquire over $217,000 to improe the park. She hopes to use some of that money to implement a splash pad for kids, she said.
Many of her supporters brought up her impact on Goffe Street Park.
“There are more activities in the park, and the crime rate stopped,” said volunteer Malicia Hopes, who handed out pizza and chips to the crowd beneath a temporary awning. “I’m more comfortable bringing my grandkids here.”
Malicia Hopes, second from left, helps out at the event.
Fair Haven Heights Alder Renee Haywood recalled a Christmas tree lighting that Marks had held in the park. “Now, my granddaughter thinks this is ‘Christmas Park,’” she said.
Hamden Legislative Council Rep. Justin Farmer said that a cleanup of the park that Marks had organized inspired his own work as a politician. “I did a lot of community cleanups in my district because Alder Marks did one,” he said.
In her remarks to the group, Mayor Harp recalled when Marks belted out Myrna Summers’ “We’re Gonna Make It” in City Hall to announce the revival of Gospel Fest in Goffe Street Park.
“She made City Hall feel like church,” Harp said.
Renee Haywood and Justin Farmer.
Naomi D’Arbell of New Haven Rising helps people register to vote.
Rev. Scott Marks with granddaughter.
Marks’ husband, Rev. Scott Marks, leads the New Growth Praise Center church and founded New Haven Rising, a labor organization that has been advocating for Yale to follow through on a promise to provide 1,000 jobs to New Haven residents. At Friday’s event, New Haven Rising set up a table at the event with voter registration forms and “Yale: Respect New Haven” signs.
Marks spoke about the jobs promise in her speech. “Things such as crime would get better if people had better jobs,” she said.
Other priorities she mentioned included adding more speed bumps and working with Police Chief Otoniel Reyes to bring down crime.
Neighbor Wanda Zachery-Lewis praised Marks for acquiring speed bumps on Winthrop Avenue. Mayor Harp later said she believes those speed bumps were the first in the ward.
“I like the way she works — intermingling with the neighborhood,” said Zachery-Lewis. “She’s steadfast. She gets back to you.”