Yale Daily News

Zach,

You suggest that Ward 5 Alderman Jorge Perez and Ward 3 Alderwoman Jacqueline James "do not fully understand these proposals" for a legislative aide program. I think that's an absurd and, frankly, insulting comment about two long-serving alderpersons. In fact, it's indicative of just the attitiude that is so unhelpful, but which spews from the legislative aide program, regardless of intention — "We're Yale students; you are busy city government folks; and you just don't understand what's good for New Haven."

Yale students have a long history of being involved in the city, at both the community and city government level. That should continue to be encouraged, but no by professionalizing it, and turning it into one more checkbox. And while agreeing that aldermen have a lot on their plate, I fail to see how the lack of this program until now has seriously impeded their ability to work on "economic development" and "fighting crime." From the CBAs, to the Shartenberg project, to Lot E, to the redesign of the police department (whatever one might think of it), the Board does tackle the important issues, as well as the notorious potholes. Moreover, New Haven residents who wish to have their voice heard by the Board are unlikely to appreciate responses written by Yale students who have never set foot in their neighborhood.

New Haven has many serious issues to confront now, and in the years ahead. But the distinction between resident concerns and "big issues" is a false one. If Yale students want to support the New Haven community, they should join it — not run it.

weak

This post is right on target! Harrison has already made dangerous allies on the board and will be ineffective if elected.

Yale student #1,

In an odd way, you're giving the Legislative Aide program too much credit. Yale students are not going to be taking over the city, they are just going to be helping aldermen out. As I understand it, no alderman will be forced to employ a Yale student as a staffer. But I do know that many aldermen will be eager to.

I agree with you that Yale students should support the New Haven community by joining it, presumably by performing community service and advocacy. Many are already doing this, and that's great. But it's not the alderman's job to get students involved in community service; that's what Dwight Hall is for, and they do a much better job than any alderman could do. The Ward 1 alderman can get students involved in city hall for the benefit of the city. What's wrong with that?

#1 you are spot on with your criticism.

This op-ed is just ignorant fear-mongering, and incredibly insulting to two alder(wo)men who have proved their dedication to responsible development many times.

Also, your accusation that Katie will join the anti-mayor faction is just plain wrong. Did you really read Minh and Katie's websites? Or even go to the debates?

Here -- http://www.minhtranforalderman.com/minhtran/Home.html

http://www.katieforalderwoman.com/

There are so many problems and untruths in this Op-Ed it is shocking. Its just Mike Jones propaganda.

#3,

What do you know of aldermanic politics? There are legitimate disagreements and differences of opinion among many of the Board members — but it is ridiculous hyperbole to call anyone of the Board "dangerous." Ironically, all you seem to be calling for is a rubber-stamp Board that passes everything without discussion or debate. Even if some Board members are sometimes frustrated by Jorge, I highly doubt they find him "dangerous," and would be more likely to think that in the end, his skepticism is good for the Board and good for New Haven.

#5 and #6,

What is false in this op-ed? Most of it is just explanatory. As for the section about the Perez/James endorsement, I think it is very reasonable to assume that the fact that Katie was endorsed by two very prominent members of the "opposition," she will align herself with them. There may not be anything wrong with this, and reasonable people can disagree. But voters have a right to know this, and Friday's endorsement needed to be put into context.

I would disagree with #3 that Jorge is dangerous, but he has been reluctant to support economic development at times. Look at the article today about additional funding for Tweed--Perez is skeptical. (At Katie's press conference a few weeks ago, she said she was not familiar enough with the Tweed issue to have a position.) Again, reasonable people can disagree, and maybe Perez's positions have merit, but to bring up these differences in an op-ed is perfectly legitimate, especially when the average voter does not have a lot of knowledge of the internal politics on the Board and how such an endorsement will affect Katie's role on the Board if she wins.

The point is that she shouldn't be publicly aligning herself with either faction of the Board this early on. This campaign had not been about the politics of the Board; it had been about the issues facing New Haven. That endorsement hurts her (as she will almost certainly be challenged in the fall if she wins on Friday), but it also hurts our community, because we're actually wasting time talking about Board politics instead of the issues facing the city.

By running that endorsement, she demonstrated her fundamental lack of understanding about Board politics. I don't think that anyone wants to see a rubber-stamp board, but any opposition should be principled -- not just blind skepticism born out of political retribution. Otherwise, it's a waste of everyone's time.

i mean i know all of these pieces are probably written by the same staffer so the name on it is maybe irrelevant, but marks introduced mike jones at his opening way back whenever it was. he is not a recent convert and can be relied upon to say whatever the jones campaign wants him to. not exactly a source of independent criticism. notably this was not disclosed in his affiliations.

#7,

Sorry if you interpreted what I said as saying that the op-ed is "false." I just disagreed with the characterization of Perez and James as not understanding Mike's platform and vision (I, like them, understand, and think it is a bad idea.)

Furthermore, the sentence — "With volunteer constituent service assistance provided by Yale students, all members of the Board can focus more of their time on big issues" — implies to student voters perhaps unfamiliar with Board politics that, currently, without these Yale students, the Board is somehow failing to address "big issues."

But, in the end, the primary disagreements we obviously have are merely philosophical. I think Yale students who care about the city are already involved in a wide range of activities in the city; that should be encouraged. I think — and a New Haven resident who is not a Yale student is free to contradict me — that most residents would rather their quality-of-life concerns be directly addressed by someone who lives in their district, not an Yale student. You, and Mike, obviously differ in these regards.

I live in Ward 22, so I'm actually not someone who you have to convince.

The only people attempting to make this race about internal Board politics are Zach Marks and Mike Jones.

Moreover, the condemnation of Perez and James, and the insulting tone Marks takes toward them, suggests that it is Jones, not Harrison, who will not be an independent voice and who finds it necessary to "choose sides" on the Board from the get-go. I don't know how Jones expects to work with Perez and James - the chair and vice chair of the Black and Hispanic Caucus, which is the largest caucus on the Board - given that he sees authorizing personal attacks on them and spreading lies about their record on responsible development as a pathway to the Democratic nomination. Way to alienate a huge chunk of the Board!

#12,

Where are Perez and James personally attacked? And what in this op-ed is untrue? It just explains the fact that there are factions on the Board, which there are.

#6,

Actually, I'm guessing I know a lot more about aldermanic politics than you, unless you've lived in this city for more than 22 years. Anyhow, I suppose you weren't around in the late 80s before DeStefano took office when the city was in terrible shape. Opposition is not inherently a good thing, and in the case of Perez, it's just a waste of time.

wow...this op-ed piece is really unbelievable and I find it very interesting that the Jones campaign and supporters would turn to criticizing the endorsements of long-standing respected aldermen. It is just another example that the Jones campaign is all about flash, rhetoric, and attacks. From day 1 when jones couldn't even comment about the job DeStefano was doing or elaborate on his policies it was clear Jones was in this for all the wrong reasons, and he continues to be. His supporters continue to support him and defend him with the same ridiculous rhetoric and stance that the campaign has.

#15,

So a Ward 1 candidate does not have the right to voice disagreements with other aldermen?

A lot of these anti-Jones comments are struggling to criticize the substance of the message, so they are resorting to criticizing the messenger.