A Board of Aldermen committee briefly debated a bill to endorse the Rev. W. David Lee DIV ’93 in his bid for the Yale Corporation Tuesday night, eventually choosing to stop so the entire Board of Aldermen could debate the issue next Monday.
The bill, sponsored by Aldermen Ben Healey ’04, Edward Mattison LAW ’68 and Nathan Joyner, would give Lee the support of the city’s legislative body in his campaign for a spot on Yale’s highest policymaking body.
Healey defended his bill before five of his colleagues, as the 30 foldable chairs set up for the public remained empty.
Alderman Charles Blango asked Healey if it was wise to endorse Lee’s campaign, given the sensitivity of the issue within the University.
“Why does it appear that everybody is after Yale?” Blango said.
Healey said the Board should support Lee because the minister supports New Haven’s workers.
“It’s in [the Board’s] best interest to further ties between Yale, the community, and the city,” Healey said. “It would be useful.”
–James Collins