by LAURA GLESBY The new haven independent
The “people have the power” — and alders must work to keep those democratic currents flowing, inside and outside City Hall.
Newhallville Alder Kim Edwards offered that call to action Monday night as she delivered the annual Black and Hispanic Caucus State of the City address during the alders’ latest full board meeting on the second floor of City Hall.
The speech came roughly two months after Mayor Justin Elicker gave his own annual state of the city address, in which he focused on signs of hope in New Haven even amid a host of educational challenges.
In her speech, Edwards outlined a set of priorities, including vocational education, job creation, community policing, and affordable housing development.
And as the city debates whether to increase alders’ terms and salaries through a once-a-decade charter revision process, Edwards’ words formed a spotlight on alders’ unique proximity to their constituents among the host of elected officials representing each voter.
Alders “CARE!!! — with caps and exclamation marks,” Edwards said. “This is our city. These are our communities. And we must all play a role and be accountable for what we allow to occur in our space.”
Edwards highlighted how alders and community members alike can stir a groundswell of civic engagement in New Haven and create change in their neighborhoods.
“There’s so many ways we can join forces,” Edwards said at the podium, addressing not only her colleagues on the Board of Alders, but about a dozen residents and community organizers who sat in the public pews.
“Join a community management team,” Edwards urged attendees. Volunteer at a family member’s school. “Sponsor a clean up,” she said. “Submit testimony” at public hearings. “Spread the word.”
She noted that the Black and Hispanic Caucus now comprises 22 members of the 30-person Board of Alders, and that women make up 43 percent of the board. Those who were once considered “minorities” now make up the majority of the legislative body.
That representation is historic, Edwards suggested, and it comes with responsibility. “People have the power,” she said. “We gotta hold our feet to the fire.”
Edwards urged her colleagues to take more urgent action on goals like creating educational opportunities for New Haven’s young people.
She specifically called for a renewed focus on vocational and technical education options for students who aren’t interested in going to college.
“Since 2008, the idea of reintroducing trade schools has come up in our conversations. When will we make this happen?” she asked. “When will we assist in building a pipeline for our budding fashion designers, hair stylists, barbers, electricians, carpenters, and more?”
Read Edwards’ full speech below.
Former Westville Alder Darryl Brackeen, who recently resigned to take a job in another state, received a citation from Alder Frank Douglass for his service to the board on Monday. He posed for a celebratory photo with his wife, Chaz Brackeen, and their three kids.
Audience members applaud after the speech.
Thank YOU, Madam President, and thank you all for being here tonight.
Good evening, I’m honored to stand here to give the Black and Hispanic Caucus’s annual state of the city address.
I am proud to be a member of the Caucus and even more proud to be a member of this Board.
Over the years the caucus has to come together to take on the challenges that face our City and to make a difference.
One of the challenges we have fought for and continue to fight for is EQUALITY. That being said here are a few facts.
The Black & Hispanic Caucus represents the minority members of the Board of Alders. But in fact, since there are 22 black & Hispanic Alders, WE, actually make up the majority of this board.
There are 30 members of this board. Of those, 13 or about 43% are women.
Of the 10 aldermanic Committees 4 of them are chaired by women. Which is Just over 40%.
New Haven is a city with many challenges. Where do I start? If you are not aware by now, the root cause of this is POVERTY. We all know the only way to tackle these complex issues is through good jobs and entrepreneurship. Three years ago, we sat in this very chamber and heard the impact decades of redlining had on our communities. And we, as the Legislative Body as a whole, and specifically the Black & Hispanic Caucus has continually faced those challenges.
This is how you build wealth and stability in a neighborhood. As a caucus we need to make sure we are using and creating innovative pathways to success. This leads me to JOBS. How do we connect more people to career placement opportunities? We need to continue partnerships with workforce alliances and organizations in our city that provide career programming and placement. We must also tell participants in these programs to tell a friend and get the word out. For example, New Haven Works is one entity and they just celebrated their 10th anniversary placing over 1882 New Haven Residents into jobs of which 53% are from neighborhoods of need and 83% are people of color. There are also other entities doing this kind of work helping with resumes, interviewing skills and filling out applications.
Programs like these have a significant impact in our city, it allows people to take care of their families and positively impact their neighborhood.