Jacob Cohn Photo
Delphine Clyburn has her sights set on Alderman Charles Blango’s seat — though you might not have known that listening to her campaign announcement.
Clyburn talked a lot about jobs and youth programs as she announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the 20th Ward aldermanic position. She didn’t mention the nine-year incumbent, Blango, once.
“We need to win a seat at the table,” Clyburn said. “Well-meaning promises aren’t good enough.” Clyburn argued that the key to improving the quality of life in Newhallville, including tackling violence, is guaranteeing that residents, especially young people, have access to employment.
Clyburn, 53, declared her candidacy Saturday at a gathering of around 25 supporters at the Ivy Hollow Bird Preserve. Enthusiastic backers chanted “Clyburn!” and “Yes we can!” after she finished her remarks.
Clyburn, a 25-year resident of Newhallville, works with the mentally disabled for the state of Connecticut. She cofounded an activist group called Dixwell/Newhallville Concerned Residents and serves on the Newhallville Community Management Team. She said she has also worked on political campaigns.
Declaring that “this is our turning point,” Clyburn said that the community must make its voice heard in the redevelopment of the former Winchester arms factory at the corner of Munson Street and Winchester Avenue. There is currently a plan in place to develop the shuttered factory buildilng into a mixed-use complex. But Clyburn and others at the event said that there had not been enough community input into the project. Clyburn said she would fight to ensure that Newhallville residents received their share of jobs.
Craig Gauthier, chairman of the Winchester Citizens Ad Hoc Committee and former president of the union when the factory still produced Winchester rifles, said that the development project spearheaded by Massachusetts developer Carter Winstanley was meant to be an “incubator” for jobs in Newhallville but has not panned out. He said that Clyburn could create a “connection” between the developers and the needs of the community. (Meanwhile, others have praised a job-development program launched at the site with the hope of hiring local people.)
Gauthier also echoed Clyburn’s mention of the need for youth centers and youth job training in Newhallville. He said that organized vocational training needs to be made available to young people.
“You can’t do it after they’re back on the street with a diploma that doesn’t really mean anything today,” Gauthier said.
Brenda Jennings, who serves with Clyburn on the board of Dixwell/Newhallville Concerned Residents, praised Clyburn’s willingness to fight for the betterment of the community.
“It’s time for a change,” Jennings said. “We need action.”
In an interview, Clyburn said that she supports New Haven Promise, the scholarship program in New Haven schools that is part of the city’s school reform effort, but added that she also feels more help is needed to keep student grades up while in grade school.
“We thank God for New Haven Promise, but we need some other help too,” Clyburn said.
She added that she would likely not have voted for the most recent city budget because it laid off the lowest-paid city workers, who mostly live in New Haven, while many higher-paid people who live outside the city kept their jobs.
“Newhallville needs to rise alongside the rest of New Haven,” Clyburn said.
Clyburn is the latest in a group of emerging challengers to incumbent aldermen this year. A church youth organizer in Westville, a former labor organizer in East Rock and a Yale union leader in Beaver Hills are among the candidates.
Clyburn refrained from attacking Blango during her remarks and in an interview.
“He’s a good man,” Clyburn said. “This is not about running against Blango, this is about love for the community.”
Blango, who has confirmed that he is running for reelection, said he agrees with Clyburn on the need to work with developers in the community and hold them accountable. He also cited education and public safety as key issues in Newhallville; he has pushed for the installation of surveillance cameras in his ward and other high-crime areas.
Blango said he is confident that he has support in his ward but welcomes challengers.
“It’s up to the people,” Blango said. “It’s not about me as an alderman. It’s about my constituents.”