Author Archives: Brendan Kearney

The New Haven Board of Aldermen narrowly rejected a controversial proposal Monday night that would have acknowledged the relationship status of domestic partnerships. Ward 1 Alderman Ben Healey ’04, who sponsored the ordinance amendment, needed a simple majority of the board –16 aldermen — to guarantee passage of the legislation. But after a dramatic roll-call, »

After passionately criticizing what he called the “Yale-DeStefano axis of power” in last year’s Black and Hispanic Caucus State of the City address, Ward 28 Alderman Brian Jenkins agreed to submit a copy of this year’s address to the caucus before he reached the podium. He did submit a speech, but it was not the »

As part of an ongoing effort to boost New Haven’s financial fortunes during tough economic times, the city’s Economic Development Administrator outlined a plan Wednesday night that would privatize the city’s parking business and result in a guaranteed increase of at least $225,000 in revenue from last fiscal year. Testifying before the Finance Committee of »

Early last month, Ward 23 Alderman Yusuf Shah put forth a resolution that called for people of all colors to come together, show mutual respect for each other and refrain from using the word “nigger” in all forms and contexts. At the meeting when board president Jorge Perez asked, “will anyone deny unanimous consent on »

In what was designed to be a quarterly check on the general activity of the New Haven Board of Aldermen, the committee chairmen of the board gathered last night to discuss a wide range of issues, including aldermanic truancy at committee and full board meetings, the highly scrutinized city budget currently under consideration, and the »

When a Board of Aldermen committee voted down an ordinance amendment late Monday night that would legally recognize domestic partnerships in the city of New Haven, the majority of those still in the audience applauded their elected officials for heeding appeals to morality and the principle of majority rule. One more than the required quorum »

This article has been corrected. You may view this article’s correction here. After a marathon session of electrically charged public comment on the topics of homosexuality, marriage and religion, the New Haven Board of Aldermen last night rejected a proposal to “acknowledge the relationship status of domestic partnerships.” While the words of the legislation would »

Under the cloud of war in Iraq and a faltering economy at home, the New Haven Board of Aldermen went about its business last Wednesday evening, passing a community funding package and a resolution calling for extra security at places of worship in light of the perceived terrorist threat. Headlining the proceedings was the final »

The New Haven Board of Aldermen appointed an ad-hoc committee Wednesday that will meet with University President Richard Levin and union leaders to discuss the two parties’ historically contentious relationship. The board passed a resolution at Monday’s meeting that prescribed the action. “If nothing else, [the committee] will serve as an avenue to bring both »

While many Yale students have attempted to remain neutral during this week’s strikes, few New Haven politicians have kept silent on the labor dispute. Many Democratic public officials have publicly expressed support for the unions — and some even joined workers in protests — while calling for an end to the labor dispute. At a »

On the first day of a strike at the city’s largest employer, the New Haven Board of Aldermen passed a resolution Monday night requesting that University President Richard Levin and the leadership of the Yale unions “recommit together to the creation of a new partnership.” The resolution, though favoring neither negotiating party in its language, »

Yale-New Haven Hospital’s security force will lose its power to make arrests in July, Mayor John DeStefano Jr. said a letter to hospital officials last week. The letter, which DeStefano sent Thursday, upholds a recommendation made by the Board of Police Commissioners in December. City officials and pro-union activists began challenging the hospital’s arrest powers »