by Paul Bass The New Haven independent
Mayor Justin Elicker speaks with WTNH in the wings before the debate. Credit: Paul Bass
Three-term incumbent Democratic Mayor Justin Elicker and Republican challenger Steve Orosco are squaring off Tuesday night in a campaign debate at Coop High School. They’re fielding questions from New Haven Independent Editor (and moderator) Tom Breen, La Voz Hispana Publisher Norma Rodriguez-Reyes, Inner-City News Editor and WNHH FM “LoveBabz LoveTalk” host Babz Rawls-Ivy, and WELI-AM morning host Vinnie Penn. IndependentYou can watch along with the livestream above and follow up-to-the-minute commentary below.
7:24 p.m. om Breen asks Orosco to offer his “vision” for public educaiion, and whether Elicker believes the schools have improved. Orosco promises to “remove myself” from the Board of Ed and criticizes it for having three members “from Yale.” “No one on the Board of Education goes to Yale … and taking yoruself off the Board of Education relinquishes your influence, ” Elicker responds. He calls the state of public education “complicated.” He blames his predecessors for board infighting; he credits his new superintendent for working together with people and for instituting “the science of reading” (ie phonics rather than “whoel language”). He says test scores are low but improving, along with absenteeism. He speaks of “going to the state Capitol” with “hudnreds of students adn teachers” to fight for more school funding. Orosco already uses his second of three “extra 30 seconds” options to respond further (like a baseball team manager using up call challenges in early innings). He speaks of schools “falling apart” and calls for an audit.
7:20 p.m. The crime issue comes up. Vinnie Penn speaks of his 19-year-old emerging from a College Street Music Hall concert to see a shoot-out. His son and his son’s girlfriend dont’ want to come downtown anymore. Why would you cite declining statistics rather than acknowledge out-of-control crime? Penn asks. Elicker responds that the police made three arrests in connection with that incident. He says every individual victimized matters, and that statistics do matter to show trends; he said the city’s investing in a “multi-pronged approach” that’s succeeding in lowering crime. Orosco then asks Elicker: “How do you expect to eliminate crime if you defund the police?” He says New Haven needs more cops on the street. He promises to “fully fund the police.”
7:15 p.m. Rodriguez-Reyes asks about ICE’s stepped up deportation efforts and the city’s response. Orosco: “I am pro-immigration. My father came here from Trinidad.” He adds that “federal law supercedes local law” so New Haven can’t do much. “ICE shouldn’t be an issue.” He says ICE is using judicial warrants now, so there’s “no due process issue.” Elicker: “That is false.” He says federal immigration raids continue to sweep productive residents who pose no threat to the nation. Orosco responds that “soft borders” led to an undocumented immigrant raping a woman in Fort Hale Park. Elicker points out that the rapist originally committed a crime in Texas (“not a sanctuary state”) while New Haven did end up arresting him.
7:11 p.m. Elicker’s response: ” love the people. We are the most welcoming city in the nation.” (No comment from Boston Mayor Wu.) He’s continuing the theme of contrasting New Haven with President Trump’s federal governmetn. Orosco, who is biracial, speaks of how he loves the city’s diversity. Then he adds a dig: “”We’re building a castle surrounding by collapse in this city. Yale is taking over.”
7:10 p.m. Before asking the first question, Babz Rawls-Ivy calls for the audience to be “respectful.” “Let us all act as though this is church or synagogue or the mosque. Then she asks the candidates to tell us “what is good about New Haven” and what the candidates “love” about New Haven. Elicker asks his supporters not to boo Orosco.
7:09 p.m. Elicker stands up to deliver his opening remarks, a technique he has sometimes used in past debates. (Orosco had remained seated at the candidate table.) The mayor draws a contrast between a nation falling apart while New Haven is getting bettter. (Orosco had remained seated at the candidate table.) Our nation is falling apart. Our city is .. making so much progress. He speaks of “progress” on crime and education “since Covid.”
7:07 p.m. Orosco gives the first opening remarks, setting his theme of a broken New Haven. “The city is falling apart. Crime is through the rough. … Our education is falling apart” while taxes go up and Mayor Elicker hasn’t raised enough money from Yale.
7:04 p.m. Panel introduces itself; there’s that sense of anticipation and excitement you feel at the room at the beginning of a debate, before some people get a little bored. Vinnie Penn: “I’m very excited that Babz brought the Altoids.”