New Haven Independent

11/15/2025

When Kris Lebron Romero moved to New Haven from Puerto Rico in 2016, they were shocked to see the amount of food waste generated from businesses and corporations.

As food-rescue nonprofit launches “No Waste, Full Plates” campaign for 2030.

11/14/2025

Mayor Justin Elicker and three other top city officials met in August with the philanthropists funding the conversion of a former Norwalk power plant into a park — and left with advice and professional connections for their pursuit of a similar project to transform English Station into a public park and outdoor pool.

Mayor Justin Elicker and three other top city officials met in August with the philanthropists funding the conversion of a former Norwalk power plant into a park — and left with advice and professional connections for their pursuit of a similar project to transform English Station into a public pa...

11/14/2025

(Opinion) The least transparent and accountable city government of the past half century is up to its old tricks again.

This time it’s skirting the law requiring it to publicly share its performance evaluation of the schools superintendent — by deliberately not writing down the evaluation it delivered in secret executive session.

Meanwhile the “Historic District Commission” — which spends its time enforcing arbitrary ahistorical rules on people trying to open businesses, renovate homes, or install signs or solar panels — wasted a half hour bullying a Wooster Square woman who sought permission to restore nine arched windows at her condo.

At least a more sensible idea to ease counterproductive and arbitrary rules holding back our city — a “Downtown for All Plan” — is making its way toward final approval. Even if that means some people will be living in homes the size of roach motels.

The least transparent and accountable city government of the past half century is up to its old tricks again.

11/14/2025

A 2022 lawsuit stemming from a public school teacher’s reservations about returning to in-person learning during the Covid-19 pandemic — and the resulting defamation she faced from her school’s principal — has finally come to a close, with a city payout of $450,000.

Officially bringing to an end a 2022 federal court case brought by former Worthington Ho**er School educator Jessica Light.

11/14/2025

The Board of Education conducted its annual evaluation of Supt. Madeline Negrón orally, and not in writing, thereby side-stepping open-records laws that require written reviews to be released to the public.

“I think inherently if you have a written document that’s going to be in the newspaper,” Mayor Justin Elicker told the Independent, “it doesn’t facilitate a very honest and frank conversation and it certainly doesn’t facilitate a back and forth.”

The Board of Education conducted its annual evaluation of Supt. Madeline Negrón orally, and not in writing, thereby side-stepping open-records laws that require written reviews to be released to the public. "I think inherently if you have a written document that's going to be in the newspaper," May...

11/14/2025

The Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center plans to demolish a dilapidated, 130-year-old building to make room for patient parking on Howard Avenue. Members of the Historic District Commission (HDC) and Hill North Community Management Team are warning that doing so would erase a historic landmark.

Historic District Commission, Hill North CMT warn against knock-down plan for former Hill Development Corporation building.

11/14/2025

The triggers that can lead us to lose faith in God, ourselves and in our confidence to make decisions are everywhere.

By the Rev. Frederick J. Streets.

11/14/2025

On the first official day of his third-term reelection campaign, Gov. Ned Lamont stopped by downtown to talk about what a great job he thinks Mayor Justin Elicker is doing to support the creation of new housing — and to receive Elicker's endorsement for his bid for another four years in office.

On the first official day of his third-term reelection campaign, Gov. Ned Lamont stopped by downtown to talk about what a great job he thinks Mayor Justin Elicker is doing to support the creation of new housing -- and to receive the endorsement of Mayor Justin Elicker for his bid for another four ye...

11/14/2025

The Friends Center for Children paid $383,000 to a company co-owned by the nonprofit’s director, Allyx Schiavone, to purchase a Quinnipiac Avenue house where early childhood educators can live rent-free.

Schiavone said she recused herself from the deal, which the Friends Center’s board approved. The sales price was $70,000 below the property’s independently determined fair market value, according to the buyer and sellers. It was also $60,000 above the property’s city tax appraisal.

The Friends Center for Children paid $383,000 to a company co-owned by the nonprofit's director, Allyx Schiavone, to purchase a Quinnipiac Avenue house where early childhood educators can live rent-free.

11/14/2025

11/13/2025

A failed HVAC unit in a second-floor Wilbur Cross High School classroom Thursday morning left a massive pool of murky water on the floor, which simultaneously dripped down into a first-floor art classroom.

Temporary repair put in place.

11/13/2025

Anthony Campbell, who led New Haven’s police department for two years before helming Yale’s police department for three, will be leaving his top university law enforcement job to become the next chief of Harvard’s police department.

His last day as Yale police chief will be Jan. 2. His new role at Harvard is set to begin on Jan. 5.

Anthony Campbell, who previously helmed New Haven's police department, has accepted a top university cop job in Cambridge.