Allan Appel Photo
Taking his campaign for New Haven’s only open state representative seat to Fair Haven, Roland Lemar promised to work on passage of a state earned income tax credit (EITC). It would put hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the hands of local people who would then spend it along Grand Avenue, he declared.
Lemar, one of three Democrats seeking the 96th District General Assembly seat being vacated by State Rep. Cam Staples, made the promise Thursday night at a press conference in the neighborhood, one of three in New Haven in a district that also encompasses part of Hamden.
Three current and former Fair Haven aldermen — Joey Rodriguez, Stephanie Bauer, and Erin Sturgis-Pascale — endorsed Lemar at the event.
The district includes not just three New Haven neighborhoods (Fair Haven, Wooster Square, and East Rock) but also part of Hamden. At a recent candidates’ debate, the question arose of whether two parts of the district — Fair Haven and Hamden — have historically received short shrift.
Lemar Thursday night spoke of how, if elected, he would try to help Fair Haven, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of the district’s voters.
Besides the EITC, he called for expanded programs to foster homeownership, more effective foreclosure mediation efforts, and a meaningful transportation system.
“It should be easy for someone in Fair Haven to get from home to downtown New Haven or downtown Hartford or to New York [for work,] and it’s not the case [today],” Lemar said.
“We can make sure DOT doesn’t turn the I‑91 underpass into a dumping ground.”
The EITC emerged as a favored poverty-fighting strategy for Democrats under the Clinton administration in response to conservative opposition to government entitlement programs. Rather than offer government money directly to the poor, it “rewards work” by enabling low-income wage earners below a certain level to receive refunds at tax time.
The federal government has an EITC. (Each year volunteers help New Haveners fill out paperwork to qualify.) Some Connecticut legislators such as New Haven State Sen. Martin Looney have advocated creating a similar program for state taxes. Lemar endorsed that idea Thursday. He said low-income wage earners such as a typical worker at C‑Town at Ferry and Grand would qualify under the proposal floating around Hartford. A family of four earning under $38,000 would qualify, with an estimated credit of $900. Click here for more details.
Twenty-one states have an EITC. All the surrounding New England states have the EITC. Why not Connecticut? Lemar asked rhetorically.
Twenty-five supporters, including ward co-chairs present and past (such as Joan Forte, pictured with Lemar) and block watch captains, gathered for Thursday’s event on the porch of Lemar backer Lee Cruz’s house on Clinton Street just above Grand Avenue. The event, originally scheduled for Chatham Square Park, was moved there due to the rain.
Asked specifically about the uses of waterfront in Fair Haven, Lemar said that as an alderman he has been “pushing a marine commercial district” on parts of Quinnipiac Avenue and River Street to promote more marine type uses.
That kind of zoning change would remain a local issue, although he added that he’ll support larger projects such as River Street’s development and a future use for English Station.
“The state has an ability to bond for those things,” he said.
Lemar is facing Debra Hauser of New Haven and John Morrison of Hamden in an Aug. 10 Democratic primary.
At Thursday’s event, Alderman Rodriguez suggested that if Morrison wins his town and Hauser and Lemar split East Rock (where they live), Fair Haveners could well constitute the swing voters.
Asked her views on how she could help Fair Haven, Hauser responded in an email message Thursday that she supports for stabilization of the Q River shoreline and the walkways and recreation areas forecast for later stages of the River Street Municipal Development project.
She also hailed the Chatham Square Neighborhood Association’s achievements and its visions for the creative and economically viable reuse of the Strong School.
“I will support those community-based ideas and work in Hartford to provide bonding money to support the association’s impressive efforts,” she wrote.
Morrison was asked for his views on Fair Haven, but did not get back by press time.
As Lemar supporters chatted on the porch Thursday, a half dozen azure T‑shirt clad Hauser partisans bearing signs gathered on the sidewalk.
Why were they there? “We figured we’d come to make sure people know there is another candidate running,” said Hauser supporter Greg Genecin.
The faceoff was more awkward than problematical, with the Hauser supporters mainly milling and displaying their signs. “We’re not ceding any place, not Fair Haven, not [even Lemar’s] the Ninth Ward.” declared West Rock Alderman Darnell Goldson, a Hauser supporter
“It’s a democracy. Anyone has the right to show support for their candidate,” noted Rodriguez from the Lemar camp.
Lemar himself appeared a touch more testy. “Deb is going to work hard in Fair Haven [too]. [Yet] I’m surprised to see folks who don’t live in the district to protest people who do.”
Lee Cruz turned from listening to Lemar’s remarks and asked the Hauser supporters to be careful not to step on his plants.
No Morrison supporters were in sight.
In this age of video-enhanced campaigns, the Lemar campaign compiled footage of the Hauser crew. Click on the play arrow to watch.