Healey’s first initiative as alderman fails on first try

Sophomore Ben Healey’s first proposal since he was appointed to the Board of Aldermen Aug. 3 was to make New Haven a “Leave No Child

Behind” city; instead, the board left the idea behind when Alderwoman Nancy Ahern, one of the board’s two Republicans, objected to accepting the

item by unanimous consent Tuesday. Ahern said she wasn’t advocating leaving children behind, but was concerned the board would not be adequately

considering the proposal if it were simply approved by unanimous consent. “This is kind of thing that would warrant discussion in committee so we

can find out what Dodd and Miller have in mind,” Ahern said. The Leave No Child Behind program, which was sponsored in the U.S. Senate by

Connecticut’s Chris Dodd but has not yet been signed into law, would stimulate programs in municipalities to improve the lives of America’s youth,

such as providing health-care coverage for all of the nation’s 11 million uninsured children, increasing funding for child care and supporting

low-income families through tax relief. Healey said he was not upset by Ahern’s objection. “She made a good point in that the issue is not time

sensitive,” Healey said. “Now the legislation will go to committee and hopefully spark some good discussion.” Despite not passing Tuesday, Healey’s

first initiative will likely be approved in the future. The proposal has the support of the board’s Democrats. Even though the board is not yet ready to

designate New Haven a safe haven for children, Healey said he eventually expects a favorable outcome.

–Jared Savas

Housing tight, Dartmouth students paid to stay away

A campus housing crunch at schools around the country is so bad that Dartmouth College has offered freshmen the chance to defer their first year in

return for a year of free housing. Fourteen students out of the roughly 2,000 accepted this year have taken Dartmouth up on its offer — worth about

$5,000 — which was extended because of increased student enrollment. Other colleges and universities in a similar bind are building more dorms,

converting study lounges into bedrooms or even renting hotels. “A lot of people asked me, ‘Aren’t you going to be a year behind?'” said Anthony

Bramante, who is delaying his entry into Dartmouth. “But others admitted that if given the chance to do it, they would.” At Dartmouth, 51.7 percent of

accepted students enrolled compared to 49.7 percent last year and 48.2 percent five years ago. Next year, Dartmouth probably will count on a higher

number of students accepting admission, said Karl Furstenberg, dean of admissions and financial aid. “We are very heartened by the fact that

Dartmouth is so popular among top high school students,” Furstenberg said. While colleges have been building more dormitories for two decades

(six modular units have been constructed at Dartmouth), officials admit the demand has outpaced supply in places.

–Associated Press

Shubert Theater falls under new management

After an extensive search, the city has picked an Ohio non-profit to manage the financially troubled Shubert Theater. The Columbus Association for

the Performing Arts agreed this summer to manage the city’s historic downtown theater. “The Shubert is an intimate and well-kept theater where

patrons have an unparalleled experience better than anything in the state,” CAPA director Doug Kriedler said. Kriedler said CAPA will bring cost

efficiency to the theater’s management and offer a diverse lineup of shows that will be of interest to residents of all ages. He also said CAPA, which

manages four theaters in Columbus, Ohio, and one in Chicago, will make a strong commitment to New Haven’s local arts scene. On March 15, 2001,

Shubert officials told the city that the theater would have a $1.2 million deficit at the end of the year, marking the third time since 1984 the theater

needed to be bailed out by the city. New Haven officials immediately began a search for new management. The city named CAPA as the new manager

July 10.

–Jared Savas

Local activists to protest promotion of police officer

Local activists are planning a caravan and rally Thursday night to protest the promotion of East Haven police officer Robert Flodquist, who shot and

killed New Haven resident Malik Jones in 1997. Jones’ mother, Emma Jones, is the leader of the Malik organization, which is sponsoring the march

with the local chapter of the NAACP. The caravan will begin at the site of the shooting on Grand Avenue in New Haven and proceed to the East Haven

Police Department. Flodquist shot Malik Jones after a car chase across the city-town line. Emma Jones has said it was a racially motivated murder, but

investigations by the state’s attorney and the U.S. Justice Department found that the officer acted in self defense. Flodquist, an FBI-certified instructor

and the head of the department’s training division, was promoted to sergeant in late August. In response, the Greater New Haven NAACP has asked

for a boycott of East Haven businesses.

–Andrew Paciorek

Paper: Former city official got insurance kickbacks

Former city Economic Development Director Salvatore Brancati Jr. received payments for referring business to a Hamden insurance agency in 1999,

the New Haven Register reported last month. A deposition in a divorce case revealed that Brancati and Louis DeMaio received $65,000 for referral

and consulting fees from John Horvath Jr., the co-owner of Grasso Associates Financial Planning and Insurance Services Inc. Horvath said in a

sworn statement Jan. 19, 2000, that Brancati and DeMaio accepted the cash. State law does not allow companies to give commissions to non-agents.

Neither Brancati nor DeMaio is a licensed insurance agent. The state Insurance Department is investigating the payment. Brancati, who was economic

development director until last year, did not reveal to the city that he had received payments from Horvath, the Register reported. City employees are

required to make public all outside income. Brancati, who left his city job in April 2000, acknowledged to the Register that he had received payments

from Horvath but said he was paid for suggesting ways for Grasso Associates to expand.

–Jared Savas

Arrests made for thefts from community agency

A former official of a social services agency and a former printing shop owner were charged Wednesday with stealing more than $1 million from an

agency that serves the poor. Sandra Naclerio, 65, and Milton Greengas, 68, both of West Haven, were charged with larceny and conspiracy. Naclerio

was finance director of the Community Action Agency of New Haven. Greengas is the former owner of printing businesses in the area. State

prosecutors said they operated a scheme for five years to steal money from the agency by submitting false invoices for office supplies that were never

delivered. Greengas submitted the invoices and Naclerio paid them, according to the charges. Prosecutors allege they split the money. The allegedly

phony invoices were for almost two million forms and envelopes, and for enough business cards to supply the entire state Department of Social

Services, prosecutors said. Greengas and Naclerio were released today on a promise to appear in New Haven Superior Court Sept. 19. The agency

serves nearly 18,000 low-income residents in the greater New Haven area. The programs include Meals on Wheels, transportation and heating

assistance.

–Associated Press