CITY OF NEW HAVEN2013 CAMPAIGN PLATFORM

1) Reduce District Spending1) Remove top heavy administrative positions in all departments

2) Fair Magnet Lottery Process1) More Seats for New Haven Residents2) No political influences

3) Improve Early Childhood Education 1) Increase resources2) Expose low-income children to more vocabulary3) Create a better plan of development that begins at birth4) Ensure that every child is reading at or above grade level before

being promoted from the 3rd grade (6 times more likely to Drop-out)

4) Implement a 21st Century Digital Conversion plan for the district

1) Wi-Fi access in all school building & low income neighborhoods2) Replace textbooks by providing every student with a Kindle &

download books3) Install Eno Boards in all classrooms

5) Wrap-Around Services1) Address trauma experienced students2) Ensure proper nutrition for children during non-school hours

1) School Leadership

2) Learning Climate

3) Ambitious Instruction

4) Professional Capacity

5) Family & Community Ties

1) Create a Small Business Incubator on major avenues of distressed neighborhoods to support economic independence and job opportunities.

2) Enhance the waterfront (Long Wharf) 1) Restaurants2) Luxury Apartments (w/underground parking)3) Aquarium /New Haven Historical Museum

3) Create a Major Transportation Hub1) Enhance rail service2) Expand Parking3) Create New Retail4) Provide Commuter Services

4) Improve entertainment & include more businesses during major city events to make New Haven a premier destination for tourism

5) Identify and build on developable land around downtown and other prime locations to create more taxable property (ex. 360 State Street)

1) Partner with state legislators to re-create a New Haven residency requirement for all new city employees

2) Lobby the Civil Service Board to increase the points awarded to qualifying New Haven residents from 5 to 10 points.

3) Continue efforts to recover 17,500 jobs loss since 2008 (according to the Workforce Alliance) by supporting the “Jobs Pipeline” Initiative

1) Create a larger supply of talent by providing better information to educational providers about emerging jobs and skill requirements

2) Collaborate with city employers to develop a better system for finding, evaluating, and arranging job specific training (ex. CONNCAT) for prospective employees

3) Create real partnerships between NHPS and city employers to hire non-college bound high school graduates

1) Vocational Schools

1) Hold property assessors accountable for accurate property assessments

2) Tax incentives for the upkeep of property by home owners

1) Enforce the law that states “all city employees must live within _X__ mile radius to work for the city”

2) Create a blue ribbon task force to examine the establishment of a commuter tax for non-residents of New Haven who are public employees

3) Examine proposed City budget & prioritize spending to save taxpayer dollars

4) Responsible contracting that saves tax dollars

1) Establish more effective Prison to Community Re-Entry Programs (ex. EMERGE program)

2) Create proactive wrap-around services for youth “highly at-risk” of joining violent gangs

3) Civil Injunction - Collaborate with federal prosecutors, probation & parole officers to improve the monitoring of the city’s most violent repeat offenders

4) Violent Offender Registry5) Create a special task force to find and arrest illegal

gun dealers6) Install more street cameras and better streets

lights in the city’s most violent neighborhoods to deter crime

7) Reduce blight and increase neighborhood safety by giving foreclosed properties in crime ridden areas to municipal employees.

1) Tax Exempt first 5 years2) Delay loan payment for 3 years3) NH police officers must reside in these homes

1) Improve services to low income housing residents and help them develop the skills necessary to become self-sufficient and economically independent (Moving To Work program)

1) Access to jobs2) Job Training3) Educational programs4) Increase housing choices

2) Strengthen existing and create new programs that support the academic, social, emotional and cultural growth of our city youth:

1) Better use of technology to share info. about city services available2) Create Youth Development Centers (ex. The Door, NY)3) Increase Job Opportunities (Youth @ Work - 600 to 1200 jobs)4) Job Readiness Programs (soft skills)5) Mentoring Initiatives

3) Protect and improve the quality of life for Senior Citizens:1) Support for grandparents raising grandchildren2) Support with foreclosures3) Repairs and improvements to Senior Citizen Centers4) Assistance with Rent Rebate Program5) Support low-income seniors facing hunger and homelessness6) Create more wellness and recreational activities

Should be accessible & quality

Affordable Health Insurance Plans

Celebrate Our differences◦ We are part of a whole

◦ Cultures of NH Neighborhoods (Westville, Dixwell-Newhallville, Fair Haven, Wooster Square, East Rock, etc…)

Support Domestic Partnerships for Gay Men & Lesbians◦ Ex. Jason Collins, NBA Player

1) Energy audits in City buildings1) Lead Poising

2) Plant more trees (“Elm City”)3) Promote LEED Gold certified buildings4) Invest in clean, green technologies of

the future5) Improve energy efficiency6) Embracing renewable energy 7) Encouraging alternative transportation

1) Pedestrian & bicycle friendly,2) Traffic calming measures3) Safety Measures

1) Reduces asthma /highways, major ateries

Dysfunctional Families/Absent Parent◦ Unprepared parents

◦ Lack of Parental Control

Failure in School◦ Lack of Parental Involvement

(job, intimidated,

Unemployment◦ Lack of 21st Century Skills

Crime◦ Easy Access to Guns & Drugs

◦ Peers with Similar Issues

1) GUN FIRE (Neighborhoods & schools)1) Move Police Firing Range

2) Move Police Department Closer

2) Lead Poising in Low-Income & Older housing1) Stop use of Lead Based Paint

2) Relocate families to lead safe housing

3) Treat children exposed at YNHH

4) Educate the community about dangers1) reduces IQ, learning disabilities, Dev. Delays, etc.)

3) Air Quality in Low-income areas near high traffic1) Encourage Alternative Transportation

1) Walk, Bike, Ride Bus or Train to reduce carbon, reduce congestion, traffic noise

Law Abiding & Hard Working should be allowed to stay / Common Sense Laws

Legal path to citizenship could be offered soon Keep families in tact / Not poverty The American Dream should be accessible to all

that are here

Provide easier access to Higher Education / Pass “The Dream Act”

My students work hard & deserve opportunity Pay higher college tuition (out-of-state) Ineligible for Federal Financial Aid

Provide access to Driver’s License Ineligible for license Fear of police Unprotected from crimes

No car insurance against accidents No bank accounts or loans

Remedy Wage Gap◦ $5,000 less than the typical man ($37K vs. $42K)

◦ 44% of Household headed by single mothers are poor

◦ Many households rely on women’s earnings to stay out of poverty

◦ 28% of NH women live in poverty compared to 11% in CT

◦ 11% unemployed in New Haven / 8% nationally

Support Women (led & initiated) Businesses◦ Only 15% MBE participate in school & non-school

construction

Strong Career & Educational Counseling

A Comprehensive Health Curriculum in NHPS◦ Address Mental & Physical health

◦ Prevention of dating violence

◦ Uninsured: 21% Hispanic, 10% Black, 5% White

◦ Higher rates of infant mortality among Hispanic & Black babies

◦ Disease challenges: HIV, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol,

Stop Abuse & Neglect◦ DCF

◦ School Social Workers

Support Foster Children & Orphans◦ Schools & Community Agencies

Provide access to Proper Nutrition, Dental & Health

Affordable Rents◦ Enforce Fair Housing Act Excessive Rents

Livable Homes◦ Lead Poisoning

◦ Pollution

Secure Homes◦ Foreclosures

◦ Excessive Taxes

EDUCATION◦ Success by 6 program

◦ Elementary prepared to succeed in later grades

◦ HS students graduate

INCOME◦ Workforce Development

◦ Access to Benefits

◦ Financial Education

◦ Stable & Affordable Housing

HEALTH◦ Access to Quality Healthcare

◦ Preventive Healthcare Access

History of Union Political Action◦ Fair Labor Standards Act

Children in Workplace

61 hour work weeks

◦ Minimum Wage◦ Worker’s Compensation◦ Family Medical Leave Act

Healthcare Reform◦ Ease the burden on permanent full-time employees◦ Affordable / Fair Percentage of Income

Create Jobs◦ Build and Repair Infrastructure / Surface Transportation Act◦ Create a Pathway to Middle Class

High Wage / High Skill Economy

Retirement Security◦ Avg. State Employee Pension = $27,000◦ 401Ks vs. Retirement Security◦ Must fully fund state and local pension funds

Young Workers – 23% Unemployed in CT /31% Uninsured◦ Graduate Students in Unions◦ Make College Education More Affordable to Decrease Debt

Going after most violent offenders

California Supreme Court upheld◦ Previous Candidates

Concern for Not only for my two sons (AA males), for other parents who fear that dreaded phone call

Change the system that created problem◦ Review public policy

◦ Create public policy conversations

Provide Emergency Shelter that safe & supportive

Access to a Case Manager to develop a family success plan

Help become self sufficient◦ Job Readiness Program

◦ Budget workshops