Michael Paz, Contributing Photographer

Kiana Flores ’25, born and raised in New Haven, launched her campaign for Ward 1 alder this past Friday. 

The Board of Alders is the city’s legislative council, responsible for creating, amending and enforcing city laws as well as approving New Haven’s annual budget. It holds the city’s officials to account — the mayor must cooperate with the Board of Alders on almost all matters.

The Board is comprised of 30 alders, each representing a geographic district in New Haven. Ward 1 alder — the seat Flores is running for — encompasses most of Yale’s on-campus buildings and dormitories. Its boundaries stretch vertically from Wall Street down to Crown Street and from Park Street to the southeastern edge of the New Haven Green. 

 “I am taking the opportunity to use the campaign to get to know Yalies I’ll hopefully be collaborating with on city policy,” she said during her Sept. 8 campaign announcement on Cross Campus. 

Flores is running uncontested for the Ward 1 seat and is enthusiastic about tackling issues that affect the entire city, not only the area she would represent. Affordable housing ranks high on Flores’ list of priorities. 

In discussing potential solutions, Flores highlighted the importance of zoning laws, which determine acceptable land use and therefore what land is considered ‘housing.’

“Can we make sure that basement areas that are furnished count as housing and make sure that those areas are cheaper than buying an apartment complex, like a chain apartment building?” Flores said of potential legislation that would enable denser housing developments. 

Biking lanes and Yale’s engagement in New Haven are among the other issues Flores mentioned. Though Flores believes in and supports the University’s current efforts to support New Haven, she expressed hopes of engaging Yale even more. 

Flores is particularly interested in working with other elected officials and with the University to help schools bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think in life, you’ve got to ask more to get a little bit less and make progress,” Flores said of her approach to strengthening Yale’s support for the city.

Flores’ candidacy is not her first engagement in city policy — before coming to Yale, she was one of the youth co-founders of the New Haven Climate Movement, a youth-led climate advocacy group. 

Flores also served as Ward 1 co-chair along with Simon Bazelon ’25, helping previous Ward 1 Alder Alex Guzhnay ’24. 

“The best part of it was being able to see what it is like to be an alder, going to alders meetings, being … part of the committee,” Flores said, reflecting on her experience as the Ward’s co-chair. 

Originally from New Haven, Flores credits the local community for shaping who she is as a person and policy advocate. 

She recalled her upbringing in a multi-family home by a park and highlighted the importance of the support systems and events that were a part of her childhood, like community Halloween and Christmas celebrations.

“What I love most about New Haven [is] so cheesy but [is] genuinely the people,” Flores said. “I definitely thought this was a good next step for me to get out of the Yale bubble and go back to my roots and … work on these issues while I’m here as a student.”

Flores also talked to listeners about registering to vote in New Haven. 

All Yalies, regardless of whether they are from New Haven, can register in the city and vote in New Haven’s elections.

“I feel like I want to get immersed in the local culture and politics, and I think the best way to do that is [to] just … learn more about trying to represent my ideals,” Tina Li ’27, who is planning to register in New Haven, told the News. 

When students register to vote in New Haven, however, they cannot vote anywhere else, even if they are from another state. 

This is the case for Leslie Kim ’27, who is registered to vote in Iowa. 

“Back home, I was pretty involved in the local politics and getting to know my city council members, and so I want to stay connected with that area,” Kim said. “I want to vote there especially because, for me, I want to elect a Democrat, and because Iowa can lean red, I want my vote to go support the Democratic Party there.”

The uncontested Ward 1 election will occur on Nov. 7.