Elicker Transition Report

RECOMMENDED
GOALS
FOR THE
ELICKER
ADMINISTRATION
City of New Haven
January 2020
Arts, Culture, Budget and City Operations and
and Library Finance Public Works
Community Leadership, Transition Team Economic Development,

Responsive Government, Workforce, and
and Transparency
Areas of Transportation
Concentration
Education Environment and

Climate Change
Health and Human Services Public Safety

Housing and Immigration
Transition Team
Mohit Agrawal Alder Darryl Brackeen Jayuan Carter Luiz Casanova
Elizabeth Donius Dr. Karen DuBois-Walton Kiana Flores Alder Richard Furlow
William Ginsberg Rev. Bonita Grubbs Kim Harris Jonathan Hopkins
Adriana Arreola Joseph Dr. Edward Joyner Laurie Kennington Melissa Mason
2 | 2020 Transition Team Recommended Goals

Staff
Transition Director
Gage Frank
Transition Coordinator
Kevin Alvarez
Researchers
Alexandra Bauman
Patrick Hulin
Kica Matos Sarah Miller Bruni Pizarro Sam Marullo
Co-Chair Co-Chair Alder Steve Winter
Designer
Daniel Pizarro
www.Daniel-Pizarro.com
Interns
Tovah Lu
Monica Maldonado
Dan McDermott
Francesco Spirli
Representative Robyn Judy Puglisi Alice Rosenthal
Porter, Co-Chair
Pierette Comulada Caroline Tanbee Smith Pastor Kelcy Steele

Silverman
Facilitators
Kia Levey-Burden Elizabeth Nearing
2020 Transition Team Recommended Goals | 3

Contents
Letter from Co-Chairs 5
Our Process 6
Cross-Cutting Recommendations 7
Arts, Culture, and Library 8
Budget and Finance 12
City Operations and Public Works 16
Community Leadership, Responsive
Government, and Transparency 19
Economic Development, Workforce,
and Transportation 23
Education 27
Environment and Climate Change 32
Health and Housing 35
Human Services and Immigration 39
Public Safety 43
Thank-Yous 46

Letter from Co-Chairs
Beloved Community:
It is with great joy that we present the recommendations of the Elicker Transition Team for the City
of New Haven.
The Team concentrated on ten areas: Arts, Culture, and Libraries; Budget and Finance; City Operations
and Public Works; Community Leadership, Responsive Government, and Transparency; Economic
Development, Workforce, and Transportation; Education; Environment and Climate Change; Health
and Housing; Human Services and Immigration; and Public Safety.
On each topic, we offer a set of recommendations designed to provide the Elicker administration
with immediate, short-term, and long-term goals. Immediate goals are those that we believe can be
accomplished in the first 100 days. Short-term goals are meant to be implemented over the two-year
mayoral term. Because of New Haven’s short mayoral term, many recommendations are identified as
long term; for each of these, we identify steps that can be taken to initiate progress. While we provide
recommendations that we believe are achievable, we also recognize that unexpected barriers may
arise and it may not be possible to implement every recommendation.
Principles of transparency and inclusion guided the development of these goals. We sought
community-wide input in a number of ways, including community meetings, a transition website set
up to welcome suggestions, and a community survey. Transition Team members also engaged in
individual outreach efforts, hosted meetings, and attended community forums. Our recommendations
reflect the main messages received on these topics from the community.
A few additional notes:
1. We received many more recommendations than can be included in this document. Please know that
each suggestion was read, and each is valued. Even if it does not appear here, it has been shared with
the administration and is part of an appendix, downloadable at justinelicker.com.
2. The recommendations are numbered for convenience, but the numbers do not imply order of priority.
3. In the future there will be additional opportunities for community input. The Elicker administration will
continue the work of the Transition Team by creating ongoing forums for engagement, feedback, and ideas.
We hope that you are as excited as we are about the vision and path that the team, working with the
community and reflecting community ideas, created for the City that we are proud to call home.
In solidarity,
Representative Robyn Porter | Sarah Miller | Kica Matos

Our Process
The recommendations in this report were co-
created with the New Haven community during
November and December 2019.
The Transition Team was tasked primarily with

listening. Our goal was to identify and relay the
shared wisdom of the community. We gathered
community input in many ways:
2 public meetings with 497 participants

112 emailed suggestions
353 survey responses
68 meetings with City staff, elected
officials, community leaders, educators,
and neighbors
Thank you for sharing your practical suggestions,

wisdom, and dreams for our community.
Photo: Sarah Miller

Cross-Cutting 5. Increase access.
Minimize red tape and improve the accessibility
Recommendations of City services and spaces. Digitize City services

and forms, and better utilize social media to share
information, while ensuring access to physical
forms and information channels for those without
A number of recommendations emerged repeatedly, digital access. Improve language accessibility by
in various forms, across the Transition Team’s ten using not just English but the other most spoken
areas of concentration. They apply overall as the languages in the City.
administration moves forward with plans and ideas.
6. Work in partnership.
1. Facilitate ongoing input. Expand and deepen collaboration among residents,
Establish avenues for authentic, accessible community organizations, neighborhood groups,
community input in planning, policy Community Management Teams, the New Haven
recommendations, and assessments of needs. Public Schools, and New Haven’s colleges and
This begins by ensuring diverse community universities.
representation on all City boards, commissions,
task forces, working groups, and other bodies. 7. Recognize that everything is connected.
Fundamental needs such as healthcare, affordable
2. Enable two-way communication. housing, economic security, and environmental
Create a culture of transparency and collaboration sustainability are closely intertwined, yet they are
within City Hall, as well as between City Hall and the often tackled separately. In the spirit of the national
community, a culture in which all ideas, suggestions, Green New Deal, seek holistic solutions that
and concerns are welcome and valued and information address multiple challenges concurrently.
generated by City Hall is made broadly available.
8. Secure new revenue.
3. Assess and restructure. The City is underfunded. Increased public and private
Think creatively about the structure and staffing of dollars are needed to provide sufficient baseline
City Hall, with strategic restructuring over time. To services, as well as to improve and expand programs.
begin, audit each department, covering such areas
as mission, programs, structure and staffing, budgets, 9. Learn from other cities.
financial controls, climate concerns, staff development,
There is much to learn from the successes and
hiring, infrastructure and equipment, partnerships,
failures of cities of similar size and demographics
data collection, state and federal rules and
while recognizing New Haven’s distinctiveness.
regulations, internal policies, and planning practices.
10. Plan first.
4. Maximize shared spaces.
Many of the recommendations in this report will not
Assess City buildings—occupied and unoccupied—
be accomplished in two years—or ten. The City should
for efficiency and community benefit. Develop a
operate based on a comprehensive long-term plan
plan for achieving the highest and best community
that is under continuous review. It should consider not
use for each City-owned property.
only these recommendations but also those to come.

Arts, Culture, and Library
Context
New Haven teems with cultural vibrancy. The arts
can play a crucial role in creating economic health,
building community, and fostering equity and
inclusion. However, the City lacks a coherent vision
for its arts and culture policy. Although the City
includes a number of very strong arts organizations,
the better-resourced institutions are predominantly
white-led and cater to largely white audiences;
those led by people of color often struggle on the
margins. An equity framework, combined with a
comprehensive and inclusive cultural-planning
process, is needed to address this disparity.
Among the pillars of the City’s cultural life is the

New Haven Free Public Library. Through the historic decision-making. Draw on the Connecticut
Ives Main Library and branches in Dixwell, Fair Office of the Arts’ READI (Relevance, Equity,
Haven, the Hill and Westville, the library reaches Access, Diversity, Inclusion) principles in creating
deep into our City’s neighborhoods, touching lives, the framework.
meeting needs, and fostering a sense of community.
In 2018, with extensive community input, the library Recommendation 2: Announce a
created a five-year strategic framework that guides comprehensive cultural-planning process.
its efforts; and in 2019, it was awarded a National Begin drafting a proposed plan for the City to
Medal for Museum and Library Service. Despite implement and advance that is reflective of New
this recognition, the library’s success is more fragile Haven’s diverse perspectives. A guiding principle of
than it looks and should not be taken for granted. this plan should be the prioritization and elevation
We recommend that the City double down on the of local talent. The Americans for the Arts group
excellent work of our library system to ensure its offers a basic approach and rationale: “The cultural
stability and enable it to flourish. planning process assesses the current community
culture and creates an implementation plan to
First 100 Days achieve a community’s vision. Cultural plans act

as mirrors for a community—they are, ideally, a
Recommendation 1: Prioritize expanded reflection of the community’s culture that they
cultural inclusivity in the arts. serve.” We could learn from regional models like
Boston Creates and Creative Providence.
Initiate the process to draft and adopt an equity,
diversity, and inclusion framework to guide

Recommendation 3: Abolish library and the Livable City Initiative—prioritize the
late fees and launch a policy review following objectives:
of late fees. § Advocate for and/or help to implement “tactical
Many libraries across the country have abolished urbanism,” defined, courtesy of Wikipedia,
late fees in recognition of the inequities that as “low-cost, temporary changes to the built
environment, usually in cities, intended to
these fees engender. People with unpaid fines
improve local neighborhoods and City gathering
often fail to pay them because they do not have places”;
the disposable income to do so. Unpaid fines
mean they cannot check out additional books. In § Install public art;
October, Chicago became the largest system to § Encourage for-profit developments to include
abolish late fees. Earlier this year, the American a voluntary percentage of their budgets for
Library Association passed a resolution calling for publicly visible art projects; and
all libraries to abolish fines. The New Haven Free
§ Create avenues for collaboration among City
Public Library has experimented with both amnesty departments, artists, arts organizations, and
days and suspending late fees for the summer. A the Proprietors of the New Haven Green to
policy review would not only take into account promote and encourage arts and culture in
lessons from these experiments, staff perspectives, the Lower Green.
and revenue implications but consider alternative
methods of keeping books and videos available for Recommendation 3: Create free and
all library users. affordable community spaces for artists
and cultural groups to rehearse and
perform.
Two Years Lack of access to spaces to rehearse and hold
Recommendation 1: Undertake a community workshops or concerts is a systemic
comprehensive review of the Department challenge for individual artists and smaller, less-
of Arts, Culture, and Tourism. resourced organizations. The City can identify
spaces such as schools, libraries, and community
Consider the structure of the department and its
centers that can be made available at low or no cost
role; its proper place in the organizational chart
and create a streamlined mechanism for allowing
of the City; the optimal place where it should
artists easy access.
be housed (physically); and the value of giving
it a formal relationship with other City agencies,
Recommendation 4: Assess library
including those overseeing libraries and parks.
staffing needs and competitiveness.
Recommendation 2: Increase the role of At every level, library salaries are not competitive with
art, artists, and the creative process in the those in surrounding towns and related industries,
work of City departments that create and with many salaries unchanged for more than ten
years. Entry-level professional staff often leave for
manage our built environment.
higher-paid positions in surrounding communities.
In various City departments—City Plan; Economic An IT manager is also needed to support all the
Development; Parks, Recreation, and Trees; branches. The Elicker administration can launch
Transportation, Traffic, and Parking; Public Works; a review of existing staff needs and salaries in the

library system, phase in essential new positions, and Department; set up and cleanup; stage rentals;
increase salary ranges over time to ensure that the insurance, and more. For large events, police and
City hires and retains talented and committed staff. permit fees can amount to more than half the
operational cost. The process is also unnecessarily
Recommendation 5: Share information time-consuming. There is concern regarding high
about arts and cultural events. police and fire overtime costs for community
Create more effective communication channels about events; yet we believe these investments are
arts and cultural happenings throughout the City. worthwhile. The City can consider mitigating these
prohibitive costs via external funding sources that
enable waived fees, sliding scales, and insurance
Long Term coverage, or an arts and culture funding pool to
cover expenses. In addition, it can develop a less
Recommendation 1: Expand burdensome permit application process.
direct investment in equitable arts
programming. Recommendation 3: Phase in a 1%
Strengthen the Mayor’s Neighborhood Cultural allocation for libraries.
Vitality Grant Program to provide direct support Raise the library’s allocation from approximately
for large-scale, grass-roots events poised to grow. 0.77% to 1% of the General Fund, an increase of
Given the City’s budget constraints, identify external roughly $1.5 million dollars, to be implemented
resources to double the overall funding allocated in phases as the City’s fiscal status improves.
to support artists and events. Create different Current per capita funding for the library ($32.43)
levels of funding and different kinds of funding is well below that of other cities in Connecticut
to enable local events like the Pride New Haven ($45.73), as well as below the statewide average
celebration, the Dia de los Muertos Parade, the ($47.35). Chronic underfunding of the library and
Freddy Fixer Parade, the Westville Village ArtWalk, its infrastructure needs, as well as the central
and the Quinnipiac Riverfest to grow through deeper importance of libraries, make this a critical
involvement by and investment from the City. The investment for our community.
annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Market could be
expanded to include seasonal ice skating on the Recommendation 4: Extend library hours.
Green, as with Winterfest Hartford. To deepen the
The number one request of library patrons is
bench of local leaders in the arts, the City could add
additional hours. Branch libraries are closed on
a category for funding fellowships for artists.
Fridays, and all libraries have very limited evening
hours. When funding reaches 1%, additional staff
Recommendation 2: Support public
can provide expanded library hours.
cultural events by addressing the high
cost of City services, and streamline the Recommendation 5: Expand young
permission structure for events large people’s engagement with the arts.
and small.
Facilitate partnerships among district and school
A consistent message from institutions of all sizes leadership, art and music teachers, youth programs,
is the prohibitively expensive cost of securing artists, and arts institutions to increase learning
extra duty officers; permits for street closures, opportunities during and outside school across the
vendors, the Health Department, and the Building visual and performing arts.

Recommendation 6: Enhance outside Recommendation 8: Explore including a
funding for cultural projects. Board of Education representative on the
The Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism can Library Board.
strategically pursue increased direct investment Many library programs serve the same population
through grants, sponsorships, and collaborations. as the public schools. A shared representative
While cultural planning will facilitate the success could strengthen collaboration.
of these efforts, the pursuit of funding can begin
right away. Recommendation 9: Facilitate residents’
engagement with Yale’s rich artistic and
Recommendation 7: Invest in library cultural offerings.
infrastructure. Yale University has incredible resources, which are
Although the libraries are essential parts of the often not accessible to New Haven residents. The City
municipal infrastructure and well placed throughout can work with Yale to identify, promote, encourage,
the City (with the notable exception of the East and facilitate opportunities to connect Yale’s cultural
Shore), the buildings need maintenance and periodic institutions, thought leaders, and artists with New
renovation to ensure that they meet community Haven residents, especially students and artists.
needs. A review of the existing structures of all
libraries besides Stetson (a new structure is already
planned) could help set priorities. As a first step, a
renovation of Ives, the main library, is needed to
more effectively organize the space.
Photo: Tom Breen

Budget and Finance
Context
New Haven continues to grow by attracting people
who want a vibrant small-city experience, but
significant financial pressures limit the services
that the City can offer its residents. Its difficult
financial situation has been decades in the making
and is not attributable to any single person or
decision. Neither tax increases nor spending cuts
will be enough to address the City’s financial
needs. Instead, new revenues are needed. The
administration should pursue a dual-track
approach: (1) engage stakeholders quickly, in order
to recommend a budget to the Board of Alders by
March 1, and (2) begin long-term financial planning
with broad buy-in to position the City for inclusive
Recommendation 2: Initiate a
growth and leverage new revenue sources.
revenue review.
Assess the full amount of lost revenue from all
First 100 Days anchor institutions, other subsidized developments,
and other nonprofits, and assess the community
Recommendation 1: Engage stakeholders impact of the lost revenue. In collaboration with
in remediating the budget deficit for FY the community, the Board of Alders, and the state
2020-2021. delegation begin building a coalition to close the
The deficit could be as high as $50 million. The revenue gap. Responsibly partner with Yale and
immediate cause of this deficit is a $35 million increase Yale New Haven Hospital in the context of inclusive
in debt-service costs between this year and the next, growth and a new vision for New Haven.
along with $15 million in inflationary cost increases
and estimated deficits at the Board of Education. Recommendation 3: Continue current
Some reduction will be possible through refunding financial controls.
opportunities that maintain current maturities and New practices around purchasing, overtime,
result in net present-value savings. But the City will contract approval, approval of requests for
need to identify significant new revenue sources to proposals, and hiring, which were implemented in
close the gap. It will need to adopt clear, top-line November, should be maintained and adopted as
financial goals and targets so that all stakeholders standard practice in future years.
are clear on the outcomes. And it will need to
prioritize resolving the budget deficit by engaging
everyone impacted to help find possible solutions.

Two Years Recommendation 4: Undertake a
department-by-department review to
Recommendation 1: Close the revenue align spending with needs.
gap with anchor institutions. Most of the City’s costs go toward personnel,
As part of an Inclusive Growth Initiative (see meaning that cuts would require the City to
Economic Development recommendations), do less with fewer people. However, the
collaborate with Yale University and Yale New administration can examine staffing levels in
Haven Hospital to ensure the City’s financial the Police and Fire Departments, the requirements
stability and overall development. In particular, of union contracts, and the need to ensure
given Yale University’s untaxed New Haven public safety. Under the supervision of the
property assessed at $6.6 billion, work to secure Superintendent of the New Haven Public Schools,
increased ongoing annual payments to the City that it can also conduct a review of Board of Education
take into account the extent of lost revenue. As the funding needs. As in any large organization,
City’s largest employers, Yale and Yale New Haven there are probably divisions that have become
Hospital are integral to New Haven’s success—and overstaffed and others that are stretched.
when New Haven thrives, Yale thrives. Rationalizing staffing across departments is
a way to improve service delivery without
Recommendation 2: Create a holistic, increasing costs.
long-term financial stability plan.
Convene a broad coalition of executive and Recommendation 5: Implement
legislative state leaders, leaders from Yale University, transparent budgeting and spending.
Yale New Haven Hospital, and other colleges and Publish the City budget in an easily shared and
nonprofits, labor leaders and leaders from the sorted electronic format. In the monthly report and
business sector, and neighborhood leaders in order annual budget, break out costs in consolidated
to present New Haven’s financial difficulties as not cost centers like healthcare by department.
just an issue of municipal finance but a challenge Establish an online “check register” that shows all
to the whole community. Show how revenues spending. Review and publish the City’s policy for
will be used responsibly and the City positioned travel costs and severance pay. Provide regular
for inclusive growth within a long-term plan that reports on pensions and other post-employment
requires greater contributions from the state, benefits, such as fund performance, and make
businesses, and nonprofits. In developing this plan, presentations to investors and credit-rating
taxpayers should be the last ones asked to sacrifice. agencies, to the Finance Committee of the Board
of Alders, and to the Financial Review and Audit
Recommendation 3: Request that the Commission. Review the governance process
state develop a plan to support fiscal for bond refundings. At the Board of Education,
stability in New Haven and the other ensure tighter controls and closer scrutiny of
large cities. spending to ensure that frontline services are
The Mayor can take a leadership role in an emerging prioritized. Address technical issues in the
coalition of big-city mayors that can present a implementation of Oxygen, a cloud-based system
strong legislative agenda and seek legislative that is supposed to find savings by streamlining
changes with regard to state funding formulas and billing and payments.
ways to enable towns to diversify revenue sources.

Long Term and prevent tax increases in the next recession. In
addition, the City should remove the “property
Recommendation 1: Establish new City- tax initiative” line in the budget, which reflects the
generated revenue and secure other revenues that should be sequestered in case of
revenue streams. revenue shortfalls. It is also critical to update facilities
and maintenance plans and publish the estimated
The City already imposes a number of fees and
cost to maintain equipment, vehicles, and facilities.
has broad public health powers that can be used
to enforce new fees. The new fees could include
Recommendation 4: Host a challenge
a stormwater fee and public health fees, as well
competition.
as building-permit and other user fees, which
would more directly impact large institutions The City can sponsor a competition for students,
than households. Other possibilities are a hospital urban planners, advocates, and others to try to
bed tax, a local sales tax, and a commuter tax. solve discrete but difficult issues facing the City.
However, fees are unlikely to close the budget Questions that would be appropriate for a challenge
deficit, and the impact of new revenues on business competition are how to lower utility costs and how to
sentiment, investment, and growth must be assessed. rationalize the City’s fleet. These are just examples.
For any fee, exceptions should be made for low- Large, unstructured challenges, such as how to
income households and nonprofit organizations balance the budget, are unlikely to be successful.
wherever possible.
Recommendation 5: Experiment with
Recommendation 2: Strengthen grant- participatory budgeting.
seeking capacity. New Haven’s strong community must be engaged
The City has successfully competed for grants early and often in the budgeting process. This
from the state and federal governments and begins with proactive outreach to discuss the
from nonprofits and philanthropy. Now the City budget—not just inviting community proposals but
should assess and grow its current capacity to also asking questions about where we are, how we
identify, apply for, manage, and comply with got here, how budgeting works in New Haven, etc.
grants. In addition, it should explore other revenue As a longer-term goal, the administration could
opportunities, such as social impact funding, which consider a participatory budgeting pilot program to
are investments designed to generate beneficial increase citizen engagement with City government.
social or environmental impacts alongside financial
return. It should also ensure full utilization of all
Recommendation 6: Systematize regular
existing private and government grant funding, review of all contracts.
such as the Community Development Block Grants. Beginning with large contracts and those up
for renewal, review all processes for contracting
Recommendation 3: Formalize good and purchasing, as well as processes laid out in
budgeting practices. the City Charter, ordinances, and administrative
There are a number of practices to be considered. policy. Use contracts negotiated by the state,
The administration should announce a public goal the Capitol Region Council of Governments, the
of achieving a 15% budget reserve fund, which South Central Regional Council of Governments,
would result in lower interest rates from investors and other regional and national bodies when

possible, since prices are likely to be lower when time. Reduce the assumed rate of fund returns to
contracts are negotiated by a larger body. Allow a more realistic level. Stretch out payments into
contracts, particularly software contracts, to be the pensions over 30 years, with each of those
multiyear in order to achieve savings. Move toward payments equalized rather than backloaded toward
performance-based contracting. large payments in future years, as is currently the
case. Review the Connecticut Treasurer’s Short Term
Recommendation 7: Set a policy of Investment Fund as an alternative to depositing the
transparency and honesty in bonding. City’s money in bank accounts.
When we bond, we should avoid bond premiums.
Recommendation 9: Consider a land
Recommendation 8: Examine making a value tax.
move to low-cost, mostly passive pension The State of Connecticut is piloting a land value tax
investments. in place of or in addition to a property tax. Review
Undertake a review of historical returns on opportunities for New Haven to use the Payment in
different types of investments, with attention to Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) on State Property program to
low-cost investments. New York City undertook adopt a tax system that is more equitable than the
a similar review and found that, after fees, low- one currently in use.
cost investments generated higher returns over
Photo: Sarah Miller

City Operations and Public Works
Context
The category of City Operations includes a range of
essential core functions that affect all departments,
particularly Information Technology and Human
Resources. The Public Works Department, in taking
care of everything from trash and recycling pickup
to street repairs, interfaces with more residents on a
daily basis than perhaps any other City department.
Residents have shared concerns about customer
service and ease of access to public information
held by City Hall. Sidewalk and road maintenance
is also a perennial issue, particularly the timeline
for obtaining repairs and the lack of transparency
about the sequence in which repairs are made. The
administration can improve residents’ satisfaction by
employees should respond in a timely manner to
emphasizing customer service, establishing systems
resident requests, even if the answer is simply further
to make public information readily accessible, and
information, reasons for delay, or an accurate timeline.
facilitating improved public communication around
public works repairs and maintenance.
Recommendation 3: Plan for labor
contract negotiations.
First 100 Days Contracts with two of the City’s largest unions will
expire in 2020. The negotiation of these contracts
Recommendation 1: Provide equitable allows for a review of policy options like updating
access to City jobs. job specs and adopting the state Municipal
Create the expectation that all jobs, internal and Employees’ Retirement System pension program.
external, will be posted on the City’s online jobs The administration should work collaboratively with
posting system. the unions to ensure that the personnel structure
meets the City’s needs.
Recommendation 2: Establish the

expectation that departments dealing Two Years
directly with residents prioritize
customer service. Recommendation 1: Establish a
communications protocol for City
Distrust in government is often built on not just
government’s inability to address a problem but
employees.
government’s inability to communicate effectively Begin planning for a uniform ticket-tracking system
about why it can or cannot address a problem. City for all requests by residents. Deploy a callback

system for departments with call queues, and general operating funds instead of in the capital
impose a uniform voicemail policy so that City budget, since the equipment and vehicles last for
voicemail identifies the recipients and uses out-of- a shorter time than the ten-year bond repayment
office notifications. Update the City website and period. Explore the cost-effectiveness of
implement a process for resolving technical issues electrifying City vehicles.
that impede reaching that goal. Continue digitization
of City operations, including requests for bulk trash Recommendation 6: Convene regional
pickup. Explore new ways to inform residents of mayors for shared planning.
impactful City activities in their neighborhoods. Explore how to save costs through shared services,
such as animal shelters, public works, and public health.
Recommendation 2: Create a transparent
tracking system for repairs to City property, Recommendation 7: Review the security
including street and sidewalk maintenance. posture of City Hall and the Hall of
There is currently no system for finding out where Records.
one’s request is in the queue or for estimating a Review security protocols to ensure the safety of
timeframe for completion. This information should staff, elected officials, and the public at City Hall.
be accessible to those who request a service, as Evaluate the safety of City staff and the Board of
well as to the public, so that overall progress can be Alders during sessions.
tracked by anyone interested.
Recommendation 8: Formalize an appeals
Recommendation 3: Evaluate the current process for blight violations issued by the
system of single-stream recycling and Department of Public Works.
expand recycling.
The process is already mostly designed and simply
Improve public awareness about recyclable materials. needs to be reviewed and finalized.
Assess and seek to resolve underlying causes of the
high cost of recycling in our current single-stream
system, which combines plastics, paper, metal, glass Longer Term
and other materials in a single curbside bin. Extend
recycling to all City departments, all parks, and the
Recommendation 1: Assess data access
New Haven Public Schools. and capacity for internal technological
support.
Recommendation 4: Ensure strong ethics Explore unifying Police, Board of Education, and
and conflict-of-interest rules. Information Technology staff for increased efficiency
Review existing rules and processes as they and effectiveness. Create a cross-trained on-call
apply to City staff and members of boards and rotation for the IT Department, which is already
commissions, and refine them as needed. prepared to support different technologies across
departments, in case of an emergency. Review the
Recommendation 5: Audit capital City’s cybersecurity posture to ensure that City
equipment and the vehicle fleet. departments are protected from ransomware and
other network threats. Improve data sharing and
Assess usage needs for equipment and vehicles.
real-time access to data across departments.
Examine the option of paying for vehicles out of

Recommendation 2: Research road Recommendation 5: Create a municipal
maintenance funding needs. utility to buy power in bulk from area
Evaluate whether funding is sufficient to keep City utilities and provide an affordable
roads in a reasonable state of repair. Work with the municipal broadband service.
Board of Alders to allocate increased funds if needed. This would have the added advantage of allowing
City residents and businesses to buy more low-cost
Recommendation 3: Simplify the online renewable energy than they do now and would
system for tax payments. serve as an alternative and/or interim step toward
Most residents avoid the cost and hassle of using Community Choice Aggregation (see Economic
the current online platform. An improved electronic Development recommendations), which requires
process would save dollars, since online payments state legislation to implement. Once the relevant
are cheaper to handle than in-person payments and state lawsuit is resolved, explore options to allow
will lead to more individuals paying their taxes. If high-quality, low-cost internet access across the City.
possible, the City should set up a single portal for
all outstanding taxes and citations. Recommendation 6: Explore establishing
a stormwater authority.
Recommendation 4: Use automated Such an entity would ensure the City’s ability to
license plate readers to find out-of-state effectively manage stormwater and related fees.
vehicles. Evaluate the feasibility of such a service, including
Collaborate with the state to make sure that a review of any required exemptions or rebates for
vehicles are properly registered at their local small nonprofits.
addresses. Following Waterbury’s example, identify
residents who should pay the car tax, and enforce
payment of unpaid taxes.
Photo: Sarah Miller

Community Leadership, Responsive
Government, and Transparency
Context
The City needs to move beyond community
engagement to community leadership. Right now,
many structures disproportionately negatively affect
black and brown residents. Current leadership
structures, including boards and commissions,
do not yet adequately represent our community,
and investment in outreach and education is
needed to broaden representation. City meetings,
resources, and information must also become
more accessible by enacting diversity, equity,
and inclusion frameworks in City processes and
operations. In acknowledging and accounting for
the ways past and current structures created and
continue to sustain racial inequities, the City can
organizational chart for the City and each
create deliberate systems and supports that strive
department, a legislative decision flowchart, and
to achieve racial equity through proactive and
a flowchart for development projects. Utilize
preventative measures. Racial justice and equity
the City’s online events calendar to include, at
means having policies, practices, attitudes, and
a minimum, all public meetings. Create a plan
actions that promote equal opportunity, treatment,
to make all public communications available in
and outcomes for people of all races. In order to
Spanish and Arabic, the second and third most
move toward a more just and equitable New Haven,
spoken languages in New Haven after English.
residents need to both lead in the building of these
policies and deeply benefit from the policies that
Recommendation 2: Increase
the City and the community create together.
transparency around community
participation.
First 100 Days Create a clear and open process for joining
boards and commissions, with an announcement
Recommendation 1: Lay the groundwork of when applications open, a description of the
for an intentional, robust communication application and appointment process, a timeline for
strategy. appointments, and a list of clear criteria for serving.
Via the City website and other tools, educate Prioritize representation through intentional
residents on City processes and the way to outreach to neighborhoods, youth, and other
get involved. As a starting point, create an underrepresented groups to ensure that boards

and commissions are representative of the City’s Board of Education and Board of Alders to explore
residents. Improve residents’ ability to participate livestreaming their meetings on Facebook. Plan for
meaningfully with board and commission an upgrade of the Board of Alders sound system.
activities by listing on the City website all available Unlock the doors of City Hall for all public meetings,
information on boards, commissions, and ad hoc even when they begin before 9 a.m..
committees, creating standard procedures for
public comment, and updating the website with Recommendation 2: Deploy personalized
cancellations and meeting minutes. Broaden notice electronic communications.
requirements for development projects to include Develop a citywide email list that can be
posting notices for all hearings and zoning changes segmented by interests and location—e.g., local
on the City website, announcing them in press events, citywide events, citywide policies, zoning
releases, and, where possible, giving notice in changes, and new developments. Provide text
schools, libraries, and elsewhere. alerts for residents who prefer texting or who do
not use email that links to email content; do this
Recommendation 3: Consult with alongside a parallel social media strategy.
community and faith leaders.
Regularly consult with both faith-based leaders Recommendation 3: Continue ongoing
who represent the range of New Haven’s religious community canvasses by the Mayor and
communities and community leaders who represent senior staff.
a broad section of City residents. These leaders This could include an hour of door-knocking per
can all be called upon to share information, build person per month that involves open conversations
partnerships to improve community welfare, or topic-based questions from staff.
build on common goals and interests, and advise
on critical issues that directly involve specific Recommendation 4: Collaborate with
community groups, faith-based organizations, and/ youth to design avenues for youth
or community-based organizations. leadership in City government.
Work with youth-led community groups, high
Two Years schools, and the Citywide Student Council, among
others. Programs could include Mayor for A Day,
Recommendation 1: Make public continued leadership on the Board of Education,
meetings accessible, and ensure they are and youth service on boards and commissions.
respectful of everyone.
Explore partnerships to provide childcare for Recommendation 5: Support strong
public meetings and on-site childcare that City census outreach.
employees could pay into. Establish lactation Continue to support ongoing efforts to have a strong
rooms for breastfeeding employees and visitors, census year. Focus on ensuring that all residents feel
and provide toys and children’s books in waiting comfortable participating, regardless of immigration
and meeting areas. Provide Spanish and Arabic status, since increased participation increases the
interpretation whenever possible. Begin meetings availability of state and federal funds and programs.
with an acknowledgment that identifies the original
indigenous inhabitants. Collaborate with the

Recommendation 6: Facilitate improved Recommendation 2: Enhance the
public engagement with the budget. transparency of Livable Cities Initiative
To help residents more easily follow progress on and Economic Development transactions.
the budget, collaborate with the Board of Alders to Create a clear, accessible list of all City properties
arrange staggered budget workshop times so they and developments. Regularly update SeeClickFix
no longer occur only late in the evenings, as well about inspections, inspection results, and residential
as provide the City budget in an easily shared and licenses. Via the City website, outline how to apply to
sorted electronic format (see Budget and Finance lease, buy, or use City property; supply application
recommendations). Provide financial information to materials; and enumerate criteria for consideration
residents upon request rather than requiring formal and approval. Prioritize applications from New
Freedom of Information Act requests. The Police Haven residents for community-oriented purposes.
and Fire Departments should publicly share a cost All applications should be reviewed and receive a
itemization of overtime budgets. response within a specified time frame. Negotiations
around developer incentives (e.g., tax abatements)
Recommendation 7: Improve community and affordability should be made public, and the
connections with the Registrar of Voters. Affordable Housing Commission should be given a
Recruit more poll workers, and publicize stronger voice in decision-making.
information about voting-related changes. Work
with schools to identify suitable volunteers and Recommend 3: Implement a City open
paid staff to help on election days. Ramp up voter data policy.
registration efforts going into the 2020 election. Many public debates about City matters are not
fully informed by available public data. As data
Longer Term are digitized and processed, they should be made

anonymous and published in the most accessible
Recommendation 1: Partner with format available. Examples include publishing the
Community Management Teams. City’s motor vehicle crash data and lead abatement
statistics.
Help residents and City officials understand
how CMTs are currently perceived and how their Recommendation 4: Develop a citywide
functions can be improved to fit the needs of each
equity initiative.
district. Provide staff time for outreach, and seek
funding for childcare and interpretation to ensure Establish a permanent office or program to examine
accessibility and inclusion. Consider building in and address structural racism and promote racial,
time at each CMT meeting for residents to meet ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity.
and discuss issues both with and without the
presence of City officials.

Recommendation 5: Invest in New Haven resources section on the City website. Ensure that
as a city friendly and safe for LGBTQ+ LGBTQ+/queerness is a diversity factor considered
residents. in hiring City staff. Support programming for queer
youth, especially queer youth of color.
Run an audit on LGBTQ+ funding to determine what
percentage of the budget is currently allocated
Recommendation 6: Plan for revision of
specifically to the LGBTQ+ community and LGBTW+
the City Charter and potential redistricting.
issues. Develop a permanent LGBTQ+ Commission
with the goal of supporting the LGBTQ+ community In advance of the 2023 Charter revision, design an
in New Haven and making sure the City is friendly inclusive process for identifying community needs
and safe for members. Create an LGBTQ+ and priorities.
Photo: Lucy Gellman

Economic Development, Workforce,
and Transportation
Context
In recent years, New Haven has undergone a
dramatic private development boom, experienced
job growth, and pioneered transportation
investments. Although the City has made great
strides, wealth inequality, underemployment, and
traffic safety issues continue to hold New Haven
back from being the “community where all can thrive”
envisioned by Mayor Elicker. New Haven also faces
the challenge of $6.6 billion in untaxed property
owned by Yale and Yale New Haven Hospital.
Going forward, New Haven’s residents, institutions,
businesses, and other stakeholders need to strive
to grow together for the benefit of all. To help
accomplish this, the administration can implement a
new economic development strategy that builds on First 100 Days
all its assets, including the entrepreneurial potential Recommendation 1: Announce an
of its residents, the enduring strength and proud
Inclusive Growth Initiative.
spirit of its neighborhoods, and the world-class
strength of its educational, biomedical research, As soon as possible, initiate a community-led plan
and healthcare institutions. Through a united for shared economic growth. Foundational to this
strategy for truly inclusive economic resilience effort is a plan to close the revenue gap with Yale
and growth, New Haven can foster the kind of and Yale New Haven Hospital (see Budget and
development capable of creating good jobs that Finance recommendations). The process should
translate into meaningful future opportunities include residents, institutions, businesses, and
for local residents and encourage the Grand List community organizations—everyone invested in
growth necessary for the longer-term fiscal stability the economic success of the City and its residents.
of the municipal government. The administration’s The single most important thing the City can do
guiding principle in this area should be inclusive for economic development is create a common,
growth. It should prioritize community planning and unifying narrative that residents and institutions
development that is resident-led and invests in the can come together to plan and work together to
City’s most vulnerable populations through skills achieve. The plan should specify what sectors the
training, educational opportunities, and access to growth efforts should focus on, and it should define
municipal resources. goals, including what a “good job” entails, how
institutions can help provide good jobs for City

residents, how to facilitate tangible opportunities for § Support faster service to and from New York
certain vulnerable (e.g., formerly incarcerated) and along Metro-North;
underrepresented (e.g., persons with disabilities) § Expand service at Tweed Airport, with the
groups, how to grow green jobs, and how to goal of attending to neighborhood concerns
ensure that New Haven contractors are preferred and reducing airport reliance on municipal
for construction work. Further, the initiative subsidies; and
should create a dialogue on how the educational
§ Encourage direct bus, shuttle, or rail service
resources in the region can support access to between New Haven and Bradley Airport.
new growth sectors, and it should acknowledge
structural barriers that prevent residents from taking
advantage of opportunities. Central to this initiative Two Years
is appointing a permanent Economic Development
Administrator to reimagine the Economic
Recommendation 1: Orient the City
Development Administration around principles of toward inclusive growth and fiscal
“Community Planning and Development”—principles stability.
that encourage human flourishing as opposed to Engage stakeholders in a shared long-term plan to
wealth extraction by elite groups. The long-term encourage inclusive growth. Besides closing the
goal should be to produce and provide “Housing revenue gap with Yale and Yale New Haven Hospital,
For All” with “All Hands On Deck” coordination the administration should plan to:
among private, nonprofit, government, and amateur
§ Support land use regulations, development
groups and individuals.
policy, and housing programs to maximize
participation in a “Housing For All” initiative;
Recommendation 2: Set the goal to
create a robust multimodal transportation § Promote the City’s existing zoning provisions,
Citywide Tax Assessment Deferral Program,
network. Home Repair Fund, and Tax Abatement Program
Declare the intent to transform the City to local residents and homeowners;
transportation infrastructure through collaborative
§ Reevaluate the Tax Deferral Program based on
planning and new investment. The plan will leasing data from recent development projects;
incorporate efforts to:
§ Prioritize the use of funds generated from the
§ Make all City streets Complete Streets—that Tax Deferral Program for City residents’ projects;
is, safe for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and
mobility-assistive devices; § Work with Dwight, Edgewood, and West River
residents and homeowners in preparation for the
§ Encourage transit-oriented development along planned Neuroscience Center;
transit corridors and at major stops;
§ Support a New Haven Community Land Bank
§ Pursue coordination between all bus and shuttle and Trust;
transit systems in the region to create an efficient
and attractive transportation alternative to driving; § Adopt a Local Preservation Ordinance to prevent
the unnecessary demolition of historic and
§ Seek green and sustainable transport options; potentially historic structures; and
§ Facilitate safe, convenient access to and from § Task a Zoning Enforcement Officer with
Union Station and Long Wharf via multiple addressing issues involving non-owner-occupied
transportation modes; residential property owners who use dwelling

units for short-term rentals, such as Airbnb, § Deploy and test temporary traffic-calming
and support zoning amendments to allow devices like curb extensions, intersection bump-
homeowners to rent out vacant bedrooms as outs, and neckdowns with paint, delineator tubes,
a way to benefit from the market for places for and planters;
short-term stays.
§ Prioritize transportation planning on Whalley
Avenue, Whitney Avenue, State Street, and
Recommendation 2: Reestablish Route 34;
municipal government as a leader in
exemplifying and promoting local hiring § Engage the Connecticut Department of
Transportation to make Complete Streets
and living wages. investments on state roads like Route 80 and
Announce a relaunch of the City as an anchor Route 10;
employer committed to New Haven hiring.
§ Promote Yale University’s free shuttle service to
Embrace the principle that “One Job Should Be non-Yale affiliates;
Enough,” and expect all employers to provide
living wages, benefits, and a fair process for § Encourage coordination of bus and shuttle
transit services among CTtransit, Yale University,
workers who want to unionize. Establish a shared
the Greater New Haven Transit District, and
measure of what constitutes a good job. Evaluate
major employers that operate private shuttles;
the supply and capacity of the area’s current
construction training and pipeline programs by § Envision state-owned land adjacent to major
trade, facilitate collaboration among programs to transit facilities as opportunities for transit-
oriented development and reduction of local
maximize utilization and benefit to residents, and
congestion and pollution;
explore mechanisms to infuse private development
deals with local hiring clauses. Promote the City’s § Seek a more favorable Bike Share program
pipelines to every employer, and share resources for agreement to better attract users; and
identifying qualified candidates for open positions. § Explore creating a Tweed Airport Impact Zone
Ensure that those tasked with serving vulnerable to make investments in Complete Streets,
and underrepresented communities are engaged house soundproofing, noise barriers, and other
in this effort. Facilitate collaboration between community benefits.
employers and pipeline organizations that identify
and support job candidates. Engage pipeline and
training organizations in the early stages of project
Longer Term
development and land disposition agreements. Recommendation 1: Become a city where
development is driven by residents.
Recommendation 3: Begin work on a
Restructure the Economic Development
comprehensive multimodal transportation
Administration to focus on community planning
network plan.
and development. Seek to address the underlying
Engage representatives from the Engineering, causes of property abandonment, vacancy,
Transportation, City Plan, Police, and Public Works neglect, absenteeism, and demolition of
Departments, the community, and the Board of structures. Prioritize opportunities to develop
Alders in plan development. Coordinate routine vibrant neighborhood commercial corridors, with
street maintenance with planning efforts. As an attention to vacancies. Diversify the local economy
initial focus, the administration can: beyond education, health services, and biomedical

research, fields that may change in the future. Aggregation—that is, shared electricity-buying
Provide incentives for City employees to live in New power through an aggregator to increase
Haven by developing a home ownership program options and reduce costs; and
accessible to employees at all pay levels. § Support an accessible biotech industry
through investment in K-12 and college-level
Recommendation 2: Invest in an inclusive science education and workforce development
entrepreneurship strategy with a focus on programs to ensure that New Haven residents
can participate in and be the primary
local entrepreneurs.
beneficiaries of economic benefits associated
As a first step, streamline how entrepreneurs interact with the biotech industry.
with City programs, policies, and requirements
by revising the City website and processes for Recommendation 3: Strive to become a
entrepreneurs to create a seamless user experience multimodal City.
for navigating City requirements. Provide regular
A multimodal New Haven will have Complete
office hours when entrepreneurs can schedule
Streets that are safe and convenient for all
one-on-one time for tailored support by phone or
transportation modes and users of all abilities;
in person. To understand what existing businesses
downtown streets designed for local trips at
need, hold a business census to include a public
off-peak times, not just rush-hour commuting;
survey and “door-to-door” outreach. In later steps:
coordinated planning for street maintenance and
§ Partner with Yale and other universities and multimodal transportation investments; access
colleges to leverage funding, mentorship, space, to a robust bus transit system consolidated
and other supports for entrepreneurs; from many previously uncoordinated services;
§ Establish a structured, cohort-based development that encourages transit use and
entrepreneurship program that deeply supports supports improvements to transit service; and
new entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and connectedness within the City, between the City
confidence to build their businesses; and its regional neighbors, and beyond the region
§ Support existing businesses with critical to the wider world.
marketing and storefront support, especially
immigrant-, Latinx-, and black-owned businesses;
§ Establish a local business agreement between

Yale and New Haven that includes an annual
commitment to source local products, a
commitment from Yale University Properties to
offer affordable storefront space, and an impact
loan fund for small businesses and entrepreneurs
rooted in the community;
§ Invest in new ownership models by creating

cooperative support and education programs;
§ Reduce the cost of electricity for small

businesses by exploring a partnership with Photo: Tom Breen
United Illuminating and advocating for state

legislation to allow Community Choice

Education
Context
The New Haven Public Schools face a moment of
transition, challenge, and possibility. Presently there
is system-wide instability because of two short-lived
Superintendents, a severe and recurring deficit,
inadequate numbers of personnel, and dramatic
inequity among schools. State Department of
Education School Performance Indicators privilege
external standardized assessments over high-
quality teacher-created performance assessments,
presenting a challenge to authentic learning. Yet
the opportunity for new leadership and the current
initiative to create a “Whole Child Framework” point
in a positive direction. The Elicker administration can
build confidence in the New Haven Public Schools
and met through instructional practices grounded
and renew faith in public education; draw from
in research-based child development theory. Given
existing knowledge, resources, and relationships,
the challenges created by long-term systemic
inside and outside the district, to advise and inform;
inequity, we must marshall new resources in order
and secure the resources and partnerships needed
to eliminate barriers to learning, and we must reject
to serve our children’s complex needs. Efforts should
practices that reproduce educational inequities.
begin with what is most achievable and directly
This process begins with a declaration of intent.
impactful for the greatest number of families while
laying a stable foundation for continual progress
Recommendation 2: Establish guiding
toward the full promise of public education.
principles for appointments to the Board
of Education and the New Haven Early
First 100 Days Childhood Council.
The Mayor has significant influence over the
Recommendation 1: Declare 2020 the
direction of these key bodies via appointments.
Year of the Whole Child in New Haven. To ensure that appointments are made with
The education of children begins with recognition integrity and transparency, it is necessary to create
of the inherent assets and strengths that students guidelines that are aligned with recommendations
and families bring to our school communities. In of the National Association of School Boards and
turn, it is the community’s responsibility to ensure the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.
that childrens’ holistic needs—physical, cognitive,
cultural, social, and psychological—are understood

Recommendation 3: Nurture a chronic absenteeism, and improve graduation rates.
collaborative working relationship As an initial priority, identify resources to enhance
between the Mayor and the Interim and expand the district’s inquiry-based early
Superintendent, and between the New learning initiative. In addition, identify short-term
and long-term strategies to develop and improve:
Haven Public Schools and City Hall.
A well-functioning school system relies on key § Teaching in alignment with children’s
decision-makers developing positive relationships developmental needs;
that are grounded in understanding of and respect § Understanding of racism and implicit bias among
for one another’s distinct statutory roles and students and educators;
responsibilities. Although the City Charter provides
§ Culturally affirming and historically truthful
for the Mayor to be a member of the Board of curriculum and teaching;
Education, this dynamic is an outlier in school boards
around the country and for good reason: because § Access to foreign-language, arts, health, and
physical education;
it leads to hyperpoliticization. Our new Mayor can
avoid this trap by maintaining an overall focus on § Social and emotional learning and restorative
children and by recognizing that district educators practices for students and educators;
are charged with educating and that the role of the
§ Support for students navigating trauma and
City is to bring resources to support education. mental health challenges;
§ Understanding and use of authentic

Two Years performance assessment while de-centering the
use of corporate-created standardized tests; and
Recommendation 1: Ensure a transition
§ Ethical practices, from LGBTQ+ and cultural
to a stable, community-supported sensitivity to treatment of food waste.
Superintendent.
The district requires a formal transition to stable, Recommendation 3: Improve problem-
permanent leadership, selected via an inclusive solving, transparency, and inclusive
process driven by authentic community input. decision-making.
The new leadership should be committed to a School district operations are notoriously opaque.
community-supported purpose, set of values, Educators, parents, and students report that
and vision for public education. concerns are routinely left unresolved and that
they are shut out of decision-making. To facilitate
Recommendation 2: Develop a shared the most basic need—obtaining answers to
analysis and long-term plan to educate questions and resolving problems—the district can
the whole child and address barriers to establish a “No Wrong Door” policy that invites
learning. the community to approach any school or district
Under the direction of the Superintendent, office for assistance related to the school system. A
establish an understanding of how current chart detailing the process for resolving questions
curriculum and teaching practices align with and concerns can be posted prominently at every
child development and prioritize strategies for school and on the district website. In addition,
improvement that increase learning time, decrease an expanded Board of Education Teaching and

Learning Committee could facilitate educator, staff, green technologies. The City can partner with local
and community participation in policy development, community colleges to make their vocational courses
as well as advance analysis and planning around more accessible to high school students through
educating the whole child. the dual college credit program and to encourage
courses tied directly to local career opportunities
Recommendation 4: Establish fiscal and green jobs. Partnerships with businesses,
stability and direct resources to staffing. nonprofits, government, and local professionals
Services to children cannot be enhanced without can facilitate internship placements, which can be
new revenue sources and ethical fiscal governance. promoted to students and families via enhanced
Conduct a “forensic” audit of the Board of school career days. Using these initiatives to create a
Education to establish a baseline understanding of comprehensive long-term plan geared toward more
how dollars have been spent to date. Implement a intentional, integrated local workforce development
district Procurement Policy to support responsible would ideally provide every high school student
stewardship of dollars going forward. Develop a with the opportunity to establish, before graduation,
plan to secure increased public and private dollars. industry-recognized credentials and a supported
As new resources are identified, direct them to pathway to a sustainable, fulfilling career.
ensure adequate staffing—including substitutes,
teachers, teaching assistants, counselors, social Recommendation 2: Deliver reliable
workers, tutors, library media specialists, nurses, educational programming outside the
food service workers, and building maintenance traditional school day, after school and
workers—as well as improved staff wellness over the summer.
and working conditions, including living wage Learning does not stop when school is dismissed,
compensation and support for teaching assistants’ and our City can support a more integrated
pathways to certification. network of programs to support children and
working families outside of school hours. The City
Recommendation 5: Cultivate a citywide should identify resources to expand high-quality
learning community. after-school programs implemented by the district
Expand the citywide “Big Read” to include a and community partners at district schools with no
common read on a tough subject such as race, with consistent after-school programs. Via coordination
books tiered to different age levels, and invite the with Elderly Services, there could be collaboration
community to weigh in on the book selections. with seniors who can offer services and programs.
Recommendation 3: Invest in early

Longer Term education, from birth through preschool.
Recommendation 1: Align vocational and All children deserve equitable access to high-quality
technical education with local growth early-learning experiences. This begins with support
sectors and a sustainable future. for the expansion of high-quality home-based
Our schools have an essential role to play in childcare businesses and advocacy for an increase
facilitating diverse career options for students. In in the subsidies available to families for these and
addition to college preparation, students must have other early childcare programs. In collaboration with
access to and preparation for technical careers in the Early Childhood Council, the City administration
areas of growth within the local economy and in can streamline access to current public preschool

offerings with a universal application and develop Recommendation 6: Develop student,
long-term strategies to provide all children with parent, and guardian advocacy skills and
access to high-quality preschool programs. knowledge of child development.
Progress in our schools and school district should
Recommendation 4: Increase the number
be driven by those most directly affected. In recent
of African-American, Latinx, Spanish-
years, the district and the City implemented with
speaking, and New Haven-resident
mixed results a range of initiatives to empower
educators.
student leaders and educate parents and
Student learning is enhanced by educators who guardians on a range of topics. To understand this
understand students’ lived experiences, and history and establish constructive structures and
significant efforts must be made to recruit and programs going forward, we need to study current
retain them. As an initial step, the City can develop and former programs and models, including how
partnerships with university teacher preparation schools seek to engage families and empower
programs, such as a pipeline with effective mentoring student leaders. Another useful step would be
for talented high school juniors and seniors to study to conduct a survey of students and families to
education, and a university-based local alternative establish the types of programming that will best
route to certification, to transition professionals from elicit families’ engagement, nurture authentic
other fields into teaching. In addition, the City should student leadership, deepen understanding of child
research potential incentives, including a homebuyers’ development, and equip parents and guardians for
program, tax incentives for teachers residing in constructive advocacy.
New Haven, and a hiring preference for New Haven
residents and Spanish speakers, as the foundation for Recommendation 7: Expand student,
a long-term plan to diversify the faculty. family, and educator services and
supports through community and
Recommendation 5: Broaden and City partnerships.
enhance bilingual and dual-language
While New Haven is rich in human and
programs and supports for immigrant
organizational resources to support the education
students.
of young people and their families, many of these
A majority of New Haven Public Schools students resources go untapped. The City should create
are Latinx, but current bilingual and dual-language a collaborative plan for expanding community
offerings are inadequate to meet student needs. partnerships, volunteers, and mentoring, as
Establishing a comprehensive K-8 bilingual program well as for enhancing collaboration between
at a neighborhood school in the Hill would support the New Haven Public Schools, City programs,
its high number of immigrant families, as well as and community agencies that serve children. It
provide additional bilingual staff and enhanced should survey school leadership to find out what
support services for immigrant students. At the same volunteers and supplies are needed and share
time, dual-language learning provides an opportunity these needs centrally on the City website. It should
for all children. The City should host a community support the development and promotion of Get
forum on how to support and improve bilingual Connected New Haven, an online database of
education and bilingualism across the City and use available services, as well as identify and seek to
this input as the basis for longer-term planning. fill service gaps. It should also consider creating a
partnership for volunteer and mentorship matching

that could include connecting seniors with youth; district schools should be sufficiently resourced,
the goal would be to identify a supportive mentor and every school should be the kind of place
for every student in our community. that all parents and guardians would be happy
to send their own children. Actions to take: Study
Recommendation 8: Establish new revenue equity models that provide sufficient educational
sources toward full, stable funding. resources in other districts. Host a community
Public education is chronically underfunded, forum to gather input on pathways to greater
presenting a perennial challenge to the delivery of equity: both can inform a long-term strategy of
high-quality education for every child. Actions to sufficient resources for all. Prioritize new services
take: Improve the City’s grant-seeking capacity for and supports for the least-resourced schools,
programs that serve children by reviewing available including reducing elementary and middle-school
private and government grant programs and class sizes in select schools with the highest needs.
aggressively seeking new funding. Initiate planning
on a statewide campaign for full funding for public Recommendation 10: Realize a racially
education in Connecticut based on an updated, integrated school district.
independent cost study. Ensure that education is Despite pockets of integration, our district remains
at the top of our state lobbying agenda and build a racially segregated, which is a disservice to all
coalition of cities and towns with similar needs. children and the City writ large. The process of
integrating our schools begins with research and
Recommendation 9: Achieve equity community input. Actions to take: Collaborate with
in resources and overall quality the current District Equity Team to implement its
among schools. District Racial Equity Policy and implementation
Inequitable and inadequate resources among plan. To inform the next steps, study redistricting
district schools constitute a long-standing models and possibilities implemented across the
challenge, as is the perception that the school country, and host a community forum to gather
district has higher- and lower-quality schools. All initial input on approaches and options.
Photo: Sarah Miller

Environment and Climate Change
Context
The climate crisis is a national and global emergency
that threatens critical ecosystems and communities.
A 2018 United Nations report warns that we have
less than ten years to stabilize global temperatures
and mitigate catastrophic natural disasters. In
2012, New Haven responded to the destruction of
Superstorm Sandy. In the aftermath of Hurricane
Maria in 2017, New Haven became a climate refuge
city for families displaced from Puerto Rico.
Last year, the Board of Alders declared a climate

emergency and passed a Climate Emergency
Resolution, which establishes a Climate Emergency
Mobilization Task Force and “calls on the Mayor
to direct all city departments to report to the First 100 Days
Task Force.” It also calls for widespread climate
emergency education and partnerships with Recommendation 1: Publicly declare a
local organizations to include “job creation, climate emergency and action plan.
environmental justice, and public health in project Establish that New Haven will respond with urgency
development and to prioritize equitable outcomes, to the climate emergency by charting a path to a
particularly for poor and marginalized communities.” 55% reduction of 1999 greenhouse gas emissions
The Task Force will address reductions in by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. As our
greenhouse emissions by the end of 2021, placing environment deteriorates, frontline low-income and
the highest priority on “equitable and just transition marginalized communities of color will continue to
in all sectors.” The administration is enjoined to bear a disproportionate burden and become the
operate via a Just Transition framework, which aims most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate
to shift the base of economic and political power change. The City should advance a commitment to
from an extractive economy to a regenerative equity by planning with these frontline communities
economy, and commit to social equity. By most impacted by environmental injustice and
emphasizing the intersectionality of climate change, energy insecurity. Other actions to take: Affirm
we can collaborate to achieve a significant reduction commitment to a federal Green New Deal
in local greenhouse emissions. Resolution to set priorities for a statewide policy
agenda centered on investments in green jobs,
infrastructure, building retrofits, and transit reforms,
among others. Endorse the US Mayors’ Climate

Protection Agreement (2005) and strengthen New the New Haven Public Schools science curriculum
Haven’s advocacy for climate change action within includes grade-appropriate climate modules,
the United States Conference of Mayors. and consider an annual citywide Climate Justice
Symposium to showcase student work. Prioritize
Recommendation 2: Establish the Climate after-school programs centered on environmental
Emergency Mobilization Task Force. sustainability and transportation alternatives, such
Involve all stakeholder groups, from department as training in how to fix and maintain bicycles.
heads to those most at risk during the climate crisis, Center outreach on communities of color, low-
including elderly residents, female-headed low- income neighborhoods, and youth, perhaps
income households, and communities of color. offering student internships to support outreach.
Recommendation 3: Support and expand

Two Years policy initiatives and collaborations in
food systems.
Recommendation 1: Convene department
New Haven’s Food Systems Policy Division works
heads to address the intersectional
at the intersection of health, socioeconomic justice,
impacts of climate change and plan for
and environment. Actions to take: Encourage
potential disaster.
the Community Food Systems Hub, a proposed
Establish, coordinate, and address departmental “multipurpose facility for food systems-related
goals in accordance with New Haven’s 2018 Climate organizations in New Haven” to strengthen food
and Sustainability Framework. Strengthen climate entrepreneurship opportunities, with particular
emergency and environment communications attention to low-income and underemployed
on the City’s website, which should include residents and entrepreneurs of color. Support the
information on issues and actions related to the Green Ordinances Working Group, a collaboration
environment and climate change, disaster and between the Departments of City Plan, Engineering,
emergency preparedness, and related content from and Food System Policy Division to guide zoning
environmental groups, task forces, management reform toward more equitable land-use policies
teams, and City initiatives. Ensure strong and for food- and farming-related work. Implement
supported partnerships with nongovernmental the Good Food Purchasing Program, a national
organizations that serve marginalized communities framework to improve transparency and
of color. Develop a New Haven Disaster Readiness accountability in public food procurement, and
Plan that prepares the City for future climate- school meals in particular, focused on the values
induced migration, immigration, and other impacts. of support for local economies, environmental
sustainability, valued workforce, nutritional health,
Recommendation 2: Conduct public and animal welfare.
outreach and education to promote
climate awareness and readiness Recommendation 4: Improve citywide
strategies. environmental practices.
Establish Climate Emergency Town Halls to Establish policies that eliminate unnecessary
promote awareness and engage the public in co- idling of City vehicles to reduce pollution and fuel
creating climate readiness strategies. Ensure that consumption. Ban all carcinogenic pesticides and

herbicides, particularly near water sources and Recommendation 2: Invest in energy
recreational areas. Prioritize wildlife habitats. Create efficiency and green transportation.
a coordinated plan for tree maintenance, including
Consider a citywide Green New Deal like that
swift and efficient removal when needed and
of Ithaca, New York, to convert all government
collaboration with United Illuminating to eliminate
operations to renewable energy. Invest in electric-
injurious tree trimming by their crews.
powered City vehicles and become a member of
an electric vehicle car-sharing program. Reduce
Longer Term the number of private cars allowed to park on
public streets to allow for safer and more equitable
Recommendation 1: Promote energy transportation. Via goNewHavengo and Complete
independence and equity. Streets, establish safe routes for youth to walk to
New Haven’s housing stock is generally old and school, and enforce a citywide speed limit of twenty
lacks adequate air sealing and insulation. Seventy miles per hour.
percent of New Haven residents are renters, with
lower-income renters residing in older housing
Recommendation 3: Divest from
units and having to pay higher electricity bills than fossil fuels.
those in newer housing. Approximately 2,000 In addition to divesting City pension funds from
individuals in New Haven routinely experience fossil fuels, collaborate with Fossil Free Yale and
utility disconnection. Many others are forced Endowment Coalition programs to urge Yale
to scale back on basic needs and go into debt University, other institutions, and neighboring
to avoid disconnection; many also experience towns to divest from corporations that are
housing instability, including eviction. Actions to destroying the environment and driving the climate
take: Explore Community Choice Aggregation crisis. Switch to greener, more sustainable energy.
(see Economic Development recommendations) Reinvest funds in green initiatives in New Haven.
to allow for collective purchasing power and
potentially reduce electricity prices by 15% to
20%, with a 100% renewable energy option. Work
closely with United Illuminating to ensure that
low-income households have energy audits, and
explore the Livable City Initiative’s capacity to
address residential energy efficiency, including
holding absentee landlords accountable
for inadequate energy efficiency. Convene
stakeholders around energy justice in order to
prioritize the voices of residents experiencing
energy insecurity, research low-income utility
assistance programs, and address inequalities.
Photo: Sarah Miller

Health and Housing
Context
New Haven is experiencing a building boom, with
many new housing developments recently built
and more planned. At the same time, healthy and
affordable housing is in short supply. Unmanaged,
the City’s growth threatens to further segregate our
community by race and income. Without adequate
access to not only housing but also healthy food,
adequate mental health services, and freedom
from addiction, the disparities in our communities
will continue to increase relative to health, jobs,
and economic stability. The administration should
lead in addressing the social determinants of
health—the conditions in which people live, learn,
work, and play—that affect a wide range of health
Governments. Appoint senior staff to coordinate
risks and outcomes. These include, most notably,
with the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness
safe and affordable good-quality housing. Housing
and the New Haven Coordinated Access Network,
development should create options across the full
among others, to advocate for regional investment
range of affordability and at market rates; it should
in affordable housing to alleviate the strain on City
be informed by community needs and desires and
resources and create equity for families needing
represent inclusive and equitable investment in all
affordable housing. Staff the Affordable Housing
neighborhoods and downtown. Addressing health
Commission to begin implementation of the
inequities will provide for healthier families who, in
Affordable Housing Task Force’s recommendations.
turn, are able to work, pay taxes, and reinvest in
New Haven.
Recommendation 2: Establish the
infrastructure for a lead-safe City.
First 100 Days Appoint members to the Lead Advisory Commission
and fill vacant positions on the Board of Public
Recommendation 1: Issue a call to action Health Commissioners. Work closely with the board
to create more affordable housing in the to hire a Health Director with strong management
City and the region. skills, a health background, and a bold policy vision.
Announce a long-term goal of expanding affordable
units in New Haven through a combination of Recommendation 3: Manage the
naturally occurring, privately subsidized, and publicly development of market-rate housing.
subsidized approaches, including new units in the In neighborhoods that include limited affordable
twelve surrounding towns that, with New Haven, housing, complete a strategic study of housing
make up the South Central Regional Council of

and consider imposing a fee for larger market- landlord commitment to renting lead-safe
rate developments that fail to include affordable homes, and seek new sources of funding for
housing. Eliminate tax abatement for market-rate lead abatement.
housing developments. Support zoning policies
that ensure affordable units are available whenever Recommendation 3: Reduce harm from
market-rate housing is built. the substance use crisis.
Continue the Mayor’s Overdose Response Task
Two Years Force and develop an ongoing collaborative

relationship between the Police Department,
Recommendation 1: Set health priorities drug treatment providers, and community
that are innovative, transparent, and groups. Implement stronger and more informed
collaborative among City departments messaging regarding the availability of substance
and community organizations. treatment. Rethink or dismantle the Law
Enforcement Assisted Diversion program while
Healthy priorities should be systems-focused, with
continuing or expanding programs that provide
emphasis on: reproductive health; maternal, infant
medication-assisted treatment, Narcan, and
and child health; chronic disease prevention and
needle exchange. Direct police to deemphasize
control; infectious disease prevention; access and
investigations of sales of unadulterated heroin
equity; mental and behavioral health; substance
and non-counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs. Start
use; injury and violence prevention; and toxic
a conversation around safe injection facilities
stress and trauma. Specific priorities: Include
and decriminalization to make sure police are not
robust services to enroll residents in health
arresting people for possession of methadone or
insurance programs. Develop clear and concise
Suboxone. Distribute fentanyl test strips for users
public health messaging and campaigns. Align
to protect themselves.
health priorities across the City and ensure
collaboration across departments, particularly Recommendation 4: Prevent gun violence
the Community Services Administration, and with
and injury.
community organizations.
Collaborate with existing programs to prevent gun
Recommendation 2: Establish lead-safety violence, particularly among youth. Consolidate
protections. related efforts at City Hall with one point of access
for services, and work to identify and engage youth.
Ensure full staffing of the Environmental Health
Ensure that decisions are informed by data about
Division, including a director and a full lead
needs and services.
inspection staff. Initiate a thorough review of the
data on current Health Department performance
regarding lead, and study best practices in other Longer Term
municipalities concerning lead enforcement. In
collaboration with the Lead Advisory Commission, Recommendation 1: Realign investment
look to develop clear policies and procedures for in housing development to meet the call
ensuring lead-safe homes, as well as implement to action.
increased resident and landlord education around Reconfigure the use of federal, state and local funds
lead safety and the dangers of lead, strengthen to prioritize development of affordable housing.

Among the steps to take: Recommendation 3: Restructure the
§ Complete a study of housing development Livable City Initiative and improve code
and develop appropriate guidelines for the enforcement.
development of market-rate, mixed-rate, and Reorganize the Livable City Initiative to focus on
other community development programs;
support to property owners and code enforcement,
§ Engage local housing development partners and and reduce emphasis on housing development.
property owners; Invest in LCI staffing and resources to better
§ Consider zoning ordinance changes to diversify meet the mandate for safe and vibrant housing
housing options and incentivize affordable and neighborhoods. Support a housing code
housing and mixed-income communities; enforcement unit that is staffed and resourced to
support property owners and to inspect housing
§ Study zoning changes and consider allowing
units and enforce codes in the City. Improve the
accessory dwelling units (including Tiny Houses
and bungalow courts); reducing parking coordination of inspections across departments
requirements; promoting inclusionary zoning, and consider consolidation of code enforcement.
set-asides, and land trusts; and reassessing Develop clarity in addressing complaints
building height and density requirements; about housing conditions. Establish a written
§ Realign building codes to incentivize affordable relocation plan, consistent with the state Uniform
construction opportunities; Relocation Act, to provide policy and procedure
for administering relocation assistance for tenants
§ Concretize a strategy to move housing
displaced by code enforcement activity.
development projects forward in ways that foster
vibrant mixed-income communities downtown
and in each neighborhood; and Recommendation 4: Create a Healthy
Homes Coalition.
§ Invite anchor institutions to revamp
homeownership programs to help meet the Bring together City and state departments,
need for affordable housing via a focus on community organizations, and Yale New Haven
multifamily owner-occupied units in targeted Hospital to focus on creating safe and healthy
neighborhoods. homes and address poor housing conditions such
as mold, asbestos, vermin, lead, and other hazards.
Recommendation 2: Improve transparency Waterbury’s One Touch system is an example of
and inclusive decision-making. such a community approach to healthy homes.
Reinvigorate community processes for obtaining
resident input into proposed neighborhood
changes and development proposals. Draft an
ordinance requiring all LLC owners to be listed with
contact information, as Hartford has done. Create
a searchable online database of landlord registries
and oversight programs, including property code
violators; an online system to file housing code
complaints; and a database for record-keeping for
all inspections and enforcement.
Photo: Sarah Miller

Recommendation 5: Develop resident- Recommendation 9: Ensure tenants’
focused initiatives to access and maintain rights to counsel in eviction proceedings.
affordable housing and build resident Support a feasibility study on tenants’ right to counsel
power. in eviction proceedings to increase housing stability.
Support small local landlords and homeowners There are a number of successful models in other cities,
with incentives for owner occupancy and with including Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco.
tax deferrals and abatements to improve homes.
Strengthen and extend Yale University and Yale Recommendation 10: Explore the Green
New Haven Hospital’s Homebuyers Program to and Healthy Homes Initiative.
include support for City employees, particularly As part of a long-term strategy, work with the state
teachers, firefighters, and police officers. Create and other municipalities to justify higher expenditures
online platforms to aid in the search for affordable on energy-efficient and healthy affordable housing
housing options. Support eviction prevention by documenting cost savings in other areas of the
and rapid rehousing initiatives, including security budget and cost reductions to the local economy.
deposits, to encourage housing stability.
Recommendation 11: Make school
Recommendation 6: Create a “Health in buildings accessible for improved
All Policies” agenda. community health.
To address health equity, the Centers for Disease Explore the “community school” model of the
Control and Prevention recommend that cities Federation of Community Schools to provide
articulate and integrate health considerations into community access to school buildings after hours
policymaking across sectors. for after-school programming, health services,
physical exercise, adult education, and other
Recommendation 7: Increase state and services that improve health, public safety, and
federal dollars for affordable housing community cohesion. Train community members to
production and preservation. run these programs and keep the schools open. As
Effectively engage state and federal partners to a first step, consider opening the Hillhouse track to
ensure the preservation of historic properties while the public in the evening and on weekends.
also addressing the issue of blighted properties.
In conversation with the community and the Recommendation 12: Expand the use of
Board of Alders, gradually shift the allocation of school-based health centers to provide
Community Development Block Grants and other primary care to families year-round.
federal dollars to incentivize affordable housing Ensure at least one nurse and one counselor in
development and preserve affordable housing. every New Haven public school. The leading causes
of school absenteeism are health-related. Nursing
Recommendation 8: Facilitate state and health services in every school would ensure
legislation to allow further management that our children are healthier, miss fewer days of
of absentee landlords. school, and have better immunization rates. The
Legislation can increase fines that property owners City can also administer many health services for
are assessed for failing to be a part of the City’s families in these facilities at low to no cost. Review
rental registration program. the feasibility of expanding nursing services and
counselors in every school.

Human Services and Immigration
Context
Despite its many positive attributes, New Haven
is challenged by deep economic and social
disparities. One quarter of the City’s residents
live below the poverty line, a percentage that
far exceeds the national average. Immigrants,
including the undocumented, continue to face
systemic exploitation, and the quality of life for
City residents varies significantly depending on
neighborhood. According to DataHaven’s most
recent Community Index, New Haven has low
rankings in the areas of Youth Opportunity,
High School Graduation, Unemployment, Young
Child Poverty, Severe Housing Cost Burden, and
Life Expectancy.
First 100 Days
The Trump administration’s extreme anti-immigrant
policies and executive orders have been acutely Recommendation 1: Commit to
felt in New Haven. Immigrants are forced to eradicating homelessness.
contend with arrests in courthouses; an increase in Begin the process of reviewing and revising the
arrests, detention, and deportation; and the threat City’s ten-year plan to end homelessness; the
of raids leading to family separation. Progressive plan expired in 2017. Advocate for passage of a
and inclusive cities across the country have Homeless Bill of Rights by the Board of Alders.
responded to the current anti-immigrant agenda Support the Affordable Housing Commission in its
by advancing policies that protect immigrant efforts to study and issue policy recommendations.
populations and principles of immigrant inclusion
and integration. Recommendation 2: Publicly affirm New
Haven as an immigrant-friendly City.
New Haven should maintain its reputation as one
of the nation’s most progressive cities on issues Declare New Haven an inclusive City that welcomes
of immigration by adopting new policies and all immigrants, irrespective of status. Uphold and
protective measures. In addition, to create a City of revise the Executive Order signed in August 2019.
opportunity for all, the administration must create Support a Sanctuary City Ordinance that delineates
a safety net that supports its most fragile and our obligations and affirms New Haven’s designation
vulnerable residents while creating opportunities as a Sanctuary City. Work with the Police
for all residents to advance and prosper. Department and immigrant rights organizations
to create a mechanism to facilitate the processing
and granting of U visas to eligible immigrants.

Recommendation 3: Realign the Youth by using shared resources. Promote Property Tax
Services Department. Relief for Seniors to help seniors stay in their homes
and reduce appeals to the Board of Alders Tax
Restore the Youth Services Department under the
Abatement Committee. Explore possibilities for
direction of the Community Services Administrator.
expanded youth-elderly programming within senior
Reestablish the connection between the Youth
centers, schools, and other community spaces.
Commission and the Youth Services Department,
and ensure that the commission is empowered to
Recommendation 3: Expand summer job
recommend policy. Establish a collaborative working
opportunities for youth.
relationship among Youth Services, the New Haven
Public Schools, the Department of Parks, Recreation, The limited scope of the current Youth@Work
and Trees, the New Haven Free Public Library, and program leaves many teens unemployed during
other youth-engaged City agencies, a relationship the summer. Actions to take: Seek partnerships
grounded in an understanding of each entity’s to support expanded job opportunities in local
distinct roles, responsibilities, and program offerings. nonprofits and businesses. Work toward the goal
of ensuring that any child age sixteen and up can
obtain a summer job.
Two Years
Recommendation 4: Enhance support for
Recommendation 1: Coordinate the work
the immigrant community.
of human services across departments
Identify resources to coordinate the provision
to maximize impact, efficiency, and
of services to protect immigrants, encourage
effectiveness.
integration, and work to fully realize the potential of
Many programs serve similar populations of immigrant families to enrich our community. Priority
residents as well as residents who can be activated areas include improved language access, youth,
for service to the community. We need to think integration, family self-sufficiency, and Know Your
broadly about how to address needs concurrently Rights education. Review current application forms
and creatively across existing program and for licensing permits and either remove a request
departmental lines and how to expand and enhance for a Social Security Number or allow for the use
programming in support of youth, including, in of an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
particular, queer youth of color, the elderly, the Conduct annual training for educators and others
disabled, and those reentering the community after who work with youth and immigrant families on
imprisonment. We also need to develop pathways for best practices in the support of undocumented and
those who receive services to later engage as leaders immigrant students and their families. Explore an
in support of others in need in our community. immigrant legal defense fund to help provide legal
representation for New Haven residents facing
Recommendation 2: Assess senior services deportation. Develop raids preparedness plans for
and expand senior-youth programing. City Hall and the New Haven Public Schools and
Evaluate accessibility and programming at the ensure the relevant staff are informed.
three senior centers operated by the Elderly
Services Department. Consider additional
accessible locations for expanded senior services

Recommendation 5: Integrate food increase in business licensing fees, explore grants
insecurity into human services priorities. for community organizations that inform workers
of their rights, identify instances of wage theft
Develop formal partnerships to promote healthy
and sexual harassment, and refer victims to state
living and food and establish educational
enforcement programs.
workshops around health and nutrition. Develop
strategies to eliminate food waste. Encourage the
creation of farmers markets in all neighborhoods, Longer Term
especially those in food deserts, including the
Dixwell, Newhallville, West Rock, Dwight/West Recommendation 1: Invest in “Housing
River, and Hill neighborhoods. First” policies to address homelessness.
Develop solutions for ongoing challenges and
Recommendation 6: Support keeping U.S. strategies to prevent homelessness. Tackle
Immigration and Customs Enforcement chronic problems related to homelessness,
out of the courthouse. including homeless encampments and the need
ICE has aggressively pursued a practice of for emergency housing for elderly people and
hunting undocumented immigrants in New Haven women. Craft an agenda that makes the connection
courthouses, denying access to justice and due between homeless services and job opportunities
process for immigrants and leading to family explicit, facilitating the transition for families and
separation. The City should work with the New individuals from homelessness to permanent
Haven municipal court system to ban courthouse housing, stable employment, and economic
access to ICE, and it should support efforts to stability. Partner with the Connecticut Conference
ensure that the Connecticut Judiciary follows other of Municipalities Homelessness Prevention Task
states (Oregon, New York, New Jersey) in banning Force for resources and technical assistance. Lower
ICE from courthouses. or remove barriers—such as sobriety and credit
history—to place those experiencing homelessness
Recommendation 7: Implement wage theft directly into living situations with wraparound
protections and establish labor standards. support services, rather than moving them through
Wage theft and the rampant exploitation and abuse different levels of transitional housing. An example
of immigrants, especially the undocumented, are of a successful model is the Housing First policy in
among the most persistent problems facing our Madison, Wisconsin.
immigrant working population. Initial steps: Revoke
or suspend licenses of businesses found to have
Recommendation 2: Streamline and
committed wage theft and/or retaliation against coordinate reentry services.
workers complaining of wage theft; allow for stop- Create a one-stop hub to facilitate collaboration
work orders for businesses in violation; and do among City departments and community
the same with findings of sexual harassment. Train organizations that support the reentry community,
police and prosecutors investigating wage theft including those dealing with mental health
cases and prosecuting employers who threaten services, health care, behavioral health, workforce
or engage in retaliation. Engage federal, state, development, job development, family reunification,
and City officials and community members in support groups, education, court-ordered services,
establishing local labor standards. Via a small legal services, benefits assistance, transportation,

pardons, and housing assistance. Establish a increase outreach and marketing efforts; re-create
collective impact framework to coordinate the work the mobile unit to ensure access to all residents;
across different service providers and allow service and create additional uses, such as prepaid debit
providers to create joint benchmarks and measure card availability and help with other municipal,
progress toward goals. cultural, educational, and financial services.
Recommendation 3: Revamp and revive Recommendation 4: Explore “Adopt a

the Elm City Resident Card program. Park” partnerships with businesses and
The New Haven municipal ID card, in addition to residents.
serving as a form of ID, provides access to the City’s For a minimum annual donation, businesses and
libraries, beach, golf course, and various services. residents could receive recognition. The program
This initiative, a first in the nation that emerged would cultivate community pride and ownership
from New Haven, is now largely dormant: few City and ensure ongoing added resources for park
residents are aware of the existence of this program, maintenance and enhancements.
and there have been no efforts to innovate it.
Actions to take: Upgrade and revive the program;
Photo: Sarah Miller

Public Safety
Context
Public safety services are at a transition point. New
Haven maintains top-notch staff and leadership
across Fire, Police, and Public Safety Communications
Departments. Yet distrust between public safety
departments and the community remains a challenge,
with high-profile incidents of excessive force on
record and a new Civilian Review Board just installed.
Once a model for community policing, in recent years
New Haven focused less on community policing as
an operating philosophy. This led to a weakening of
the foundations of partnerships and collaborative
problem-solving. Budgets are also squeezed,
necessary capital projects are deferred, and morale
is low. Overtime costs across the public safety
complaints, provide all necessary support to the
departments remain unacceptably high. Recent
board from City, Police, and Fire Departments. This
efforts have begun to turn these trends around and
will facilitate proper oversight of officer misconduct.
must be strengthened via renewed focus on building
community trust, delivering necessary services while
Recommendation 3: Establish a plan to
reining in costs, supporting officers’ wellness, and
reduce overtime costs.
establishing a sustainable long-term capital plan.
While some overtime is unavoidable, current costs are
excessive. Actions to take: Enforce existing policies
First 100 Days on overtime disbursement and budget overtime by
division within each department. Audit the distribution
Recommendation 1: Commit to reimagine of overtime work, and improve the management of
community policing. overtime that is governed by public safety contracts.
Announce public support for a revamped
community policing strategy that emphasizes
partnership, collaboration, and problem-solving Two Years
as the basis for positive relationships between the
Recommendation 1: Align community
police and the community.
policing with community needs and
Recommendation 2: Support the Civilian expectations.
Review Board. As initial steps, work with every member of the
Police Department to create strong, effective
In order to enhance trust between public safety
partnerships with community residents, businesses,
departments and the community, as well as provide
and stakeholders. Ensure that efforts are in place
independent and prompt resolution of resident

to eliminate bias in policing and that officers treat Recommendation 5: Ensure the
all residents with respect, no matter their race, effectiveness of the Civilian Review Board.
neighborhood, or economic bracket. Encourage
Research best practices in other jurisdictions,
upper command to be frequently visible in the
such as investigation processes and discipline
community. Challenge officers to build, embrace,
frameworks. Host listening sessions for police
and strengthen relationships that are fundamental
officers, Civilian Review Board members, City
to their service as community guardians.
officials, and residents.
Recommendation 2: Develop mechanisms

for ongoing police officer and firefighter Longer Term
input.
Recommendation 1: Design an adequate
The concerns of line officers and firefighters often
and transparent capital budgeting process.
do not reach department heads, leaving the heads
without a full sense of the impact of City decisions. The process for capital improvements is shrouded
Actions to take: Establish advisory processes in mystery. One department official mentioned
within the Police and Fire Departments so frontline being unable to secure capital funding for
insights are regularly shared with departmental equipment necessary to meet legal requirements.
leadership and the Mayor’s Office. Others mentioned severe delays in maintenance
and replacement of capital assets. The obvious
Recommendation 3: Craft an officer step is to establish a clear and open capital
morale, health, and wellness program. budget process that takes into account large and
small planned expenses and the replacement of
The overall wellness of public safety officers affects
equipment at the end of its life.
all community stakeholders. The phrase “I got your
six” is among the most meaningful promises that
Recommendation 2: Cultivate future
members of the law enforcement community make
leadership by improving officer recruitment,
to one another: the unconditional promise to have
training, and succession planning.
each other’s back. That promise can be fulfilled
with a holistic wellness program. Investigate where Create pathways to employment as public safety
stressors exist, recognize and commend high- officers, starting in high school, with efforts to
quality work, and develop recognition initiatives. increase the diversity of candidates and the number
New health and safety tools, as well as officer of candidates who are New Haven residents.
fitness initiatives, can help manage risks and Advocate for public safety staff development via
increase officers’ quality of life and overall safety. high-quality, progressive training that follows
best practices. Because routine and dangerous
Recommendation 4: Prevent situations are more likely to be resolved positively
excessive force. if first responders and support personnel have
received appropriate and consistent training,
Assess Police and Fire policies, procedures, and
commit to strategic succession planning, to
practices for ways to better prevent misconduct.
ensure continued effectiveness during personnel
Implement measures to identify rogue officers before
transitions. This includes supporting leadership
harm occurs. Recognize and reward officers for
practices that teach, promote, and reinforce critical
nonaggressive behavior under trying circumstances.
core values and a positive organizational culture.

Recommendation 3: Better utilize staff who understand public safety technology.
technology, equipment, and social media. Accelerate hiring timelines, especially when
positions are funded and exams completed.
Through strategic use of technology, increase
Facilitate arbitration when appropriate. In addition,
efficiency and define clearer channels of internal
tailor some citywide policies to public safety
and external communication. Require the use of
department needs—e.g., by exempting grants for
body-worn cameras by all officers. Implement
public safety programs from citywide spending
anonymous text and voice tip lines, a mobile device
freezes. Flexibility should be established to tweak
application to disseminate information and receive
policies as needed.
tips, and an online reporting system for minor
events. Exploit the analytic capabilities of predictive
Recommendation 5: Enhance facilities to
and data-mining software. Ensure up-to-date
better accommodate the community and
equipment distribution to improve policing and the
employees and to reduce costs.
safety of officers and residents.
Consider changes to staffing and operating hours
Recommendation 4: Strengthen public at the Planning/Records Division and the police
safety support services at City Hall. garage, among other sites, to improve efficiency
and services.
Ensure that citywide services can consistently
meet the needs of public safety departments.
Provide adequate information technology backup
and coverage during nights and weekends, with
Photo: Tom Breen

Thank you for the generous suggestions and
invaluable support from:
Mark Abraham Karl Auer Robert Block Jeremy Cajigas
Doreen Abubakar Beth Auerbach Noah Bloom Magaly Cajigas
Marie Ackerman Oliver Augustin Liza Boateng Neva Caldwell
Alex Acosta Cindy Avila Jarai Bolden Pamela Campbell
Grisel Aguilar Dr. Michelle Baker Gwendolyn Bonner- Paul Campion
Rajai Ahmed Bill Bandu Bennett Susan Campion
Sarah Alkire David Barone Lynne Bonnett Giselle Cando
Anthony Allen Anthony Barroso Josh Borenstein Francine Caplan
Latrice Allen-Frasier Nan Bartow Danice Boret Su-Lin Carbonelli
Laura Altshul Paul Bass Rod Bowen Chaz Carmon
Mateo Alvarez Lisa Bassani Carolyn Boykin Juan Carmona
Sara Amato Marannie Bauer Ann Boyd Nancy Carrillo
Julie Anastasio Benjamin Bechfolstein Howard Boyd Elaine Carroll
Lauren Anderson Fereshteh Bekhrad Carolyn Boykin Jamie Carroll
Sharonda Andress Jessica Bentley Thomas Breen Aida Casanova
Ian Andrews Eric Berger Pat Brocks Alexine Casanova
Lisa Angelica Ethel Berger Martha Brogan Darlene Casella
Mariellen Angudela Jim Berger Althea Marshall Brooks Kevin Casini
Anonymous survey Cheryl Bergman Brenda Brown Moira Cassell
responders David Berkowitz Darrell Brown Addys Castillo
Camille Ansley Mona Berman Lauren Brown Migdalia Castro
Elisabeth Anton Tania Bermudez Matt Brown Alder Hacibey
Alder Gerald Antunes Johnathan Berryman Sam Browning Catalbasoglu
Nilda Aponte James Bhandary- Lucille Bruce Joan Cavanaugh
Sara Armstrong Alexander Toni Anoinette Charity Ann Chambers
Bobby Asher Elizabeth Bickley Buddington Lylie Chambers
Andrea Atkinson- Kelly Blanchat John Buell Alissa Chapin
Downer Tracy Blanford John Burditt Kevin Chapin
MaryAnn Attianese Jenifer Blemings Kevin Butterbaugh Matthew Chapman
Henry E. Auer Dawn Bliesner Laura Cahn Carla Chappel

John Champion Andrew Conroe Alder Charles Decker Merryl Eaton
Alissa Chapin Kate Cooney Alder Salvatore DeCola Marlene Edelstein
Randall Chapnick Isaiah D. Cooper Gabriela DeJesus Alder Michelle
Carla Chappel Heriberto Cordero Pat DeLucia Edmonds-Sepulveda
Luis Chavez-Brumell Stacey Cormier Democratic Socialists of Cathy Edwards
Cyn Chegwiddea Diane Coughlin America Alder Kim Edwards
Jose Chesno Phillip Counsel Matthew Denney Natalie Elicker
Mark Ciarlo John Cox Leslee DePriest Alex Ellenthal
Cristian H. Cisneros Katha Cox Lyman DePriest Clancy Emanuel
Citizens Campaign for James Cramer Mary Derwin Christine Emmons

the Environment Rebecca Cramer Daniel Diaz Tagan Engel
Citywide Youth Coalition Ivelisse Crespo Javier Diaz James Eric Ensley
Jared Clark Alder Jose Crespo Jennifer Heikkila Diaz Merryl Eota
Marj Clark Dean Criscio Kevin Diaz Amy Eppler-Epstein
Patricia Clark Peter Crumlish Nitza Diaz Sally Esposito
Laura Clarke Eliezer Cruz Kelvin Dinkins Shannel Evans
Michael Butler Clary Elio A. Cruz Fernando Diosa Stephanie Fitzgerald
Susan Clemens Fernando Cruz Steve Dixon Harvey Fair
Gary Cline Mateo Cruz James Doddington Wanda Faison
Alder Delphine Clyburn Pablo Cruz Joe Dolan Madelaine Fargeorge
Darcey Lomax Cobbs E. M. Culver Kiara Douglas Timothy Farmer
Frank Cochran Gail Curran Alder Frank Douglass Jim Farnam
Beatrice Codianni Judy Cuthbertson Andrea Atkinson Downer Anstress Farwell
Lucas Codognolla Gabriel Da Silva Anthony Downey Nina Fawcett
Nayeli Coez Johnny Dach Audrey Downey Kathy Fay
David A. Cohen Stacey Dams Aveich Downs Harvey Feinberg
Ilana Cohen William Daniel Liz Doyle-Santini Joe Fekieta
Nicholas Colavolpe Brian Datcher Jillian Driscoll Ada Fenick
Danny Colon Jack Davis Denise Duclos Henry Fernandez
Alder Dolores Colón Jerry Davis Edward Dunar Lisa Fernandez
Dr. James Comer Linda Davis Patrick Dunn Carole Ferrara
The Community Stacey Davis Michelle Duprey Alder Anna Festa
Foundation for Greater Manmita Dutta Augustine Filomena
Win Davis
New Haven

Rocco Fiore Tom Glendening Bridgett Hardy Kathie Hurley
Stephanie Fitzgerald Amir Glenn Valerie Hardy Alder Ron Hurt
Daniel Fitzmaurice Susan Godshall Annie Harper Frederick W. Kaiser II
Marcella Flake Lindy Gold James R. Harriott Agnes Jackson
Angel Flecha Laura Goldblum Alder Brenda Harris Earl Jackson
Jose Flores Drew Goldsman Michael Harris Olive Jackson
Rick Fontana Duncan Goodall Qadry Harris Typhanie Jackson
Joseph Foran Melissa Goodall Walter Harris Katherine Jacobs
Jennifer Forlano Crystal Gooding Doug Hausladen Josephine Jacques
Alice Forrester James Gordon Tasha Hawthorne Anthony Jamison
Megan Fountain Jonathan Gordon Jessica Haxhi Gloria Jelens
Richard Fowler Bennet Graff Alder Renee Haywood Yadira Jen
Aly Fox Sharon Lovett Graff Nora Heaphy John Jessen
Vera Franklin Michael Grant Alexys Heffernan Noe Jimenez
Renee Fulcher Dave Greed Dawn Henning Catherine John
Alder Richard Furlow Robert S. Green Rev. John Henry Bruce Johnson
Kim Futrell Paul Greenberg Loyda Hernandez Don Johnson
Caroline Fyfe Sam Greenberg Claudia Herrera Edith Johnson
Wendy Gamba Ann Greene High School in the Jay Johnson
Cynthia Garcia Donna Greene Community Jereh Johnson
Maria Garcia Millie Grenough Gary Highsmith Paul Jones
Steve Garcia Mark Griffin Dina Hill Mike Jorett
Meredith Garvin Patrick J. Griffin Genoveva Hinton Seamus Joyce-Johnson
Nick Gauthier Tom Griggs Josh van Hoesen Shirley Love Joyner
Lucy Gellman Greg Grinkers Edward N. Hoffman Edward Joyner, Jr.
Chris George Miriam C. Grossman Tim Holahan Daniel Juarez
Robert Gibson Robert Grzywacz June Holmes Rick Kaiser
Sandra Gibson Camila Güiza-Chavez Nkenge Hook Frederick W. Kaiser
Andrew Giering Susan Hackett Brett Hoover Iris Kaminski
Jack Gill Hanan Hameen Kristen C. Hopes- Patricia Kane
McFadden
Steve Ginsborg Alder Evette Hamilton Patrick Kane
Ben Howell
Ron Gizzy Roslyn Hamilton Bill Kaplan
David V. Hunter
Josh Glab Misti Hanscom Jay Katz
Adrian Huq

Nikki Katz Lisa Langley Alder Jill Marks Nicole Minervini
Helen Kauder Alexandra Larson Vin Marottoli Hector Miranda
Joy Kaufman Pat Lawlor Kassandra Martel Isaias Miranda
Jill Kelly Shirley A. Lawrence Hollis Martens Lorena Mitchell
Illisa Kelman Camilla Ledezma John Martin Dyann Monroe
Matt Kelsey Margaret Lee Amy Marx Mary Ann Moran
Annie Kemingway Cindy Leffell Mellody Massaquoi Michael Morand
Michael Khouri Robert Lehman Olivia Matson Peggy Moriarty
Christine Kim Tom Lehtonen Sean Matteson Bill Morico
Caerunno Kimbro Olena Lennon Ellen Maust Yashmun Morisseau
Addie Kimbrough Benjamin Levin Becky Seashore May Drew Morrison
Dan Kinsman Nathan Leys Misty Maza George Morrison
Jennifer Klein Ming-Yee Lin Kevin McCarthy Alder Jeanette Morrison
David Klemanski Karla Lindquist Ebony McClease Lula Mullins
Brechin Knapp Linda Lindroth Luciana McClure Richard Munddy
Will Kneerim Irene Logan Katherine McComick Edgardo Muniz
Julian Knox Darcey Cobbs Lomax Melissa McCoy Cora Muñoz
Michael Kolodny Laysna Lopez Nora McDonnell Marta Musial
Alexander Kolokotronis Henry Lowendorf Victoria McEvoy Jeanne Musto
Andrea S. Konetcks John Lu Damarys McFaez Carol Nardini
Sandra Koorejian Yeni Luce Kym McKoy Rob Narracci
Georgi Korobanov Elmer Lucero Emmett McMullan Erin Nathan
Paul Kosowsky John Lugo Fred McNulty Serena Neal-Sanjurjo
Sam Kosowsky Luis Luna Mann Meeta Kate Needham
Marta Kostecki John Lus Cal Melendez Josh Nelkin
Andy Kozlowski William MacMullen Pablo Melendez New Haven Climate
Albert Krebel Ashley Maka Thomas Menchis Movement
Addie Kumbrough Linda A. Maldonado Kristin Mendoza New Haven Energy Task
Force
Joel LaChance Caitlin Maloney Luz P. Mercado
New Haven
Larry Laconi Christel Manning Mickey Mercier
Environmental Advisory
Suzanne Lagarde Orlanda Marcano Robert Mignosa Council
Barbara Lamb Alder Adam Marchand Jacob Miller New Haven Fire
Mark Landrereau Melissa Marichal Dr. Ronald Miller Department

New Haven Independent Ariel Perez Carlos Couvertier Reyes Fatima Rojas
commenters Elvin Perez Daniel Reyes Jose Romero
New Haven Police Katherine Perez Alder Dave Reyes Louis Burch Rosado
Department
Silbino Perez Deborah Reyes Yisel Rosado
New Haven Public
Sylvia Perez Glenda Reyes Mary Rosario
Schools
Liz Persistors Tomas Basilio Reyes Enilda Rosas
New Haven Rising
Jeff Pescosolido Victoria Reynolds Esther Rose-Wilen
Emily Nguyen
Hanna Peterman Anna Rhodes Bonnie Roseberg
Tamara Nieves
Clarence E. Phillips, Jr. Fran Riles Lani Rosen-Gallagher
Sunasha Nixon
Anna Pickett Meredith Ringel-Ensley Elizabeth Rosenthal
Anais Nunez
Casey R. Pickett Alberto Rivas Judy Sirota Rosenthal
Marcella Smith Nunez
Haven Pickett Luis A. Rivas Marjorie Rosenthal
Ann O’Brien
Tusker Pickett AnneMarie Berrios Rev. Samuel T. Ross-Lee
Clariselle Ocasio
Ralph Pickup Rivera Debbie Rossi
Orisha Ala Ochumare
Arturo Pineda Nico Rivera Alder Abby Roth
Robyn Odei-Ntiri
Laura Pirie Yesenia Rivera Alder Eli Sabin
Ryan O’Hara
Michael Piscitelli Alexis Robbins Joan Saddler
Neil Olinski
Richard Pizzoferrato G. Robbins Daisy Salas
Douglas Olson
Jerry Poole Robert Roberts Adrien Salazar
Robert Orr
Seth Poole Joan Robinson Sylvester Salcedo
Jel Ortiz
Cadeha Prawl Karima Robinson Manuel Saldana
Alder Jody Ortiz
Chris Prokop Susan Robinson Steven Salesch
Jonathan Ortiz
Victoria Proseuth Robert Rocke Alder Rose Santana
Neffali Ortiz
Sam Purdy Carmen Rodriguez Alder Ernie Santiago
Dall Osborn
John A. Raffone Alder Evelyn Rodriguez Neftali Santiago
Adriana Padina
Steve Raider-Ginsburg Julia Rodriguez Alycia Santilli
Jacob Padron
Moises Ramirez Maria Rodriguez Jennifer Sarja
Diane Panasci
Angel Ramos Michelle Rodriguez John Sawyer
Rep. Al Paolillo Jr.
Milagros Ramos Mishele Rodriguez Caroline Scalan
Frank Parady
Rafael Ramos Norma Rodriguez Christopher Schaefer
Comfort Parker
Keisha Redd-Hannans Robert Rodriguez Shana Schneider
Mary Pasti
Alder Kenneth Reveiz Kim Rogers Robert Schonberger
Patricia-Ann Pendle
Eric Rey Jose Rogue Mike Schramm
Urn Pendragon

Eva Schultz Kimberley Steele Clerry Tureck Sabrina Whiteman
Chris Schweitzer Anassa Stevenson Anid Turner Betty Whitney
Catherine Scillia Blanca Stones Audrey Tyson Grace Whittington
Molly Seely Alex Suarez Janis Underwood Dr. Paul Whyte
Barbara Segaloff Kevin Sullivan Kevin Underwood Tanya Wiedeking
David Sepulveda Luther Sullivan Micaela Valentin Joanne Wilcox
Najla Shah Sunrise Movement Alfonso Vazquez Matt Wilcox
Ariana Shapiro Latha Swamy Pepe Vega Lois Wilkins
Felicia Shashinka Lara Denney Takasugi Elisabeth Tyghter Chris Willems
Jennifer Shaw Geoff Tanner Velasquez Hyclis Williams
Erin Sheehan Maggie Targove Jorge Velez Ieisha Williams
Michele Sherban Alex Taubes Laura Velez Tyrone S. Williams
Nina Silva Glenda Taylor Lorena Venegas Robin Willoughby-
Lori Silverberg Demesha Telford Barbara Verean Gaules
Stewart Silverberg Lindsey Tengatenga Carmen Vidno Andre Wilson
Alder Kampton Singh Richard Therrien Sebastian Vlez Dennis Wilson
Dexter Singleton Melodie E. Thigpen Richard Vondeen Stephanie Wilson
Michael Siteman Kim Thomas Janna Wagner Alder Brian Wingate
Alexis Smith Setite Thompson Krystn Wakefield Alder Steven Winter
Amos Smith Joe Tolmin Donald Walker Dianne Witte
Marcella Nunez Smith Pat Topitzer Donna Walker Ben Wong
Megan Smith Carlos A. Torre Alder Tyisha Walker- Aisha Woods

Myers Maureen Wright
Myra Smith Maria Torres
Kate Walton Kelly Wuzzardo
Emma Sokoloff-Rubin Mary Torres
Carol Warshaw Patrick Young
Tabitha Sookdeo Natacha Torres
Angela Watley Charmain Yun
Carlos Sosa-Lombardo Raynick Torres
Aimee Webb Abdul-Razak Zachariah
Chris Soto Gail Torresquintero
Susan Wei Sam Zacher
Pedro Soto Martin Torresquintero
Rebecca Weiner Steven Zalesch
Cynthia Spears Dr. Iline Tracey
David Weinreb Yonatan Zamir
Maritza Spell Ben Trachten
Susan Weisselberg Rafael Zayes
Lisa Stanger Gil Traverso
Kat Welch Harry Zehner
Meisha Stanley Lior Trestman
Paul Wessel Giovanni Zinn
Pam Stanton Melinda Tuhus
Shelley White

“I was excited when our Transition
Team felt up to the task of holding so
many public meetings, and we were all
thrilled when hundreds of City residents
attended our first and second public
transition meetings. Talk is cheap, but
showing up to two public meetings
to engage with neighbors and set a
tone and course for our City—that’s an
investment. I thank all of you who have
contributed to the transition process.”
— Mayor Elicker

Photo: Lucy Gellman
To download, read in Spanish, or view appendices, visit justinelicker.com
Para leer en español, visite justinelicker.com
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