Maya McFadden Photo
Brother Born came to ask the mayor about mulch and wheelchairs. He stayed to bring his Facebook Live followers online to ask their own questions.
The occasion was a meet-the-mayor event held Wednesday afternoon at Newhallville’s Learning Corridor at Shelton Avenue and Hazel Street. Mayor Justin Elicker is planning similar events in neighborhoods across the city to give people a chance to convey concerns to him directly.
Neighborhood organizers turned the occasion into a community event as well. After the chance to talk with the mayor, organizers offered visitors bags of groceries and single items from Trader Joe’s to pick up alongside a voter and census registration table. Devin Avshalom-Smith, president of the Newhallville Community Action Network, heard of the mayor’s visit on Facebook. He then made calls to Newhallville Management Team Chair Kim Harris, Alder Steven Winter, Doreen Abubakar of the Learning Corridor Council, and others.
Brother Born, who lives on Hazel Street, came to the Wednesday gathering to let Mayor Justin Elicker know that the area’s handicap accessible portions are not in fact accessible due to its laying of wood chip mulch.
Elicker took pictures of the handicapped area and told Brother Born he would make some calls.
“I came to see what he was about. We got a lot that needs fixing,” Brother Born said. After talking with Elicker about access to the park, Brother Born then gave other New Haveners access to the mayor by turning on Facebook Live. “I’m here with the mayor right now,” he told his viewers. “Anybody got questions for him?”
Elicker chatted with many Newhallville residents. Most conversations were nuts-and-bolts neighborhood concerns. Elicker said he plans to host these opportunities to talk with residents in casual spaces in every New Haven neighborhood.
“We organized around the mayor’s gathering,” said Abubakar. “We want everything that happens in this neighborhood to be for the benefit of the people in it.”
While recording live, Brother Born asked the mayor the audience questions.
“What do you think about reparations for African Americans?” was one question.
“I think we must invest in our communities of color like never before,” Elicker responded.
Another question asked about changing policing so that community members respond to some incidents the cops are usually called for. Elicker responded that the incidents could only be nonviolent, to ensure residents’ safety. Even then, he said, he isn’t sure the idea would work: He referenced the 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin by a non-police officer.
Brother Born, who calls himself the “community watchman” was one of a few people not wearing a mask at the event. Elicker offered him three.
“Promise you’ll wear them,” Elicker said.
“I got you. I do wear them when I’m in enclosed places to protect others. I’m just getting fresh air right now; that’s healthiest,” Brother Born responded.
Harris also distributed an updated handout of grab and go food distribution sites in Newhallville this month.
A phone hotline was put together by the team to provide regularly updated information on the grocery distribution sites and senior delivery dates, said Harris. The hotline number is (203) 916‑9911.
Salamato Mohammad walked to the park from her Starr Street residence with her 7 and 8‑year-old sons to introduce them to the mayor. “I want them to see it is easy to get involved,” she said. Mohammad exchanged numbers with the mayor after they talked about litter and trash dumping in the area.
Mohammad has lived in Newhallville for eight years. She said she was impressed to see the mayor come to the neighborhood and “show he is here for us.”
Mohammad was also able to pick up three grocery bags for her family.
While on a walk with her dog “Funfetti,” Newhallville teen Amber Weeks filled out a voter registration form and picked up handouts about the 2020 census.
“I didn’t know this was happening, but I saw the table said voting on it so I filled out the form,” Weeks said. Weeks just turned 19. She said she plans to vote for her first time this year.
Robert “Bobaloo” Smith (pictured) talked with Elicker about being homeless and needing a job. Smith has lived in Newhallville for 46 years and has 10 kids he’s been struggling to support with no job, he said. Smith said Elicker couldn’t give him an answer. He instead hopes to work with Abubakar for possible work in the community.
Newhallville native Rodney Williams, CEO of Green Elm Construction, came to the gathering to “speak on behalf of my people” and advocate for more job opportunities for Black New Haveners.
Williams spoke at the recent Ice the Beef rally to protest the lack of Black workers on the Q House project.
“I got a whole list of to-do’s from today,” said Elicker.
Many neighbors also chatted with Newhallville/Prospect Hill Alder Winter, who often works closely with Newhallville Alder Delphine Clyburn.
Winter said neighbors talked with him about following up on local interactions with police, the dozens of speed bump petitions for the neighborhood, and the need for more spaces for Newhallville youth to play safely.
Hill resident Daveann Fowlin was invited to the gathering by Ronald Huggins of the city Youth Services Department. Fowlin came with her 4‑year-old daughter Hailey Grace Daniels. Hailey received a brand new bike from Huggins, who has been distributing 25 bikes and dozens of donated basketballs and footballs from Walmart throughout the city to youth to enjoy for the summer.
Two weeks ago Huggins joined Assistant Police Chief Karl Jacobson in the Hill to distribute the bikes to offer positive interaction in the community after a recent homicide on Elliot Street.
“I appreciate it so much. It means a lot to get help from the community,” Fowlin said.
Rahkiya Davis came with 6‑year-old son Camdyn Wright (pictured above, playing with Alder Winter). Camdyn received a basketball from Huggins. Davis picked up groceries for herself and some family members. Davis also picked up information about registering to vote and the census to put in her newly opened business Koloùr Boutique & Salon on Shelton Avenue.
Newhallville Democratic Ward Committee Co-Chair Oscar Havyarimana told Elicker that there’s a gap between the community and the police when it comes to feeling safe. Oscar proposed the idea of police responding to neighborhood calls being assisted by a neighborhood representative or leader. “Is there any way the community can assist police?” he asked.
“That’s not a bad idea,” said Elicker.
Oscar also talked with the mayor about who responds to medical calls made to transport individuals to the hospital. Oscar said it is a waste of money and disruptive when fire trucks and police respond to calls for an ambulance. Winter agreed that the “parade of sirens” is not always necessary. “It’s a waste of money,” Oscar said.
Brother Born posed his last question first to Abubakar then to Elicker. He talked about The Boulevard Flea Market being way out of the way for many Newhallville residents like himself, who is in a wheelchair. “Can we bring the market here?” he asked. Elicker said he would look into the idea and left Brother Born with the answer of a “soft maybe.”
Abubakar said an outdoor market of local vendors’ products is already in her plans for the Learning Corridor.