To the Editor:

Thursday’s News’ View (“No clear choice yet for Ward 1 seat,” 9/18) erroneously states that the New Haven Board of Aldermen has “no binding authority or legal power.” To the contrary, the board is responsible for writing legislation and making our city run. Members of the Board’s Finance Committee, including incumbent Democrat Ben Healey ’04, are responsible for drafting and passing our city’s budget — no easy task in a city stripped of its tax base by Yale University’s tax super-exemption. Perhaps the News should better acquaint itself with our local government’s functioning before advising students how to vote.

Thomas Frampton ’06

September 18, 2003