New Haven and Yale|Contribution
I will fight for a more just relationship between Yale and New Haven. Yale’s current Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement expires in 2026. This year, the university paid $24.3 million to the city, funds that made a meaningful impact, but still a fraction of the estimated $102 million Yale would pay in property taxes. With the new federal endowment tax, President McInnis has already suggested that Yale’s partnerships with New Haven will be affected. As Ward 1 Alder, I will be a leader in pushing Yale to not only maintain, but increase its PILOT payment. I will also advocate for the protection and expansion of Yale’s other vital contributions, from youth programs to healthcare clinics, and work to involve residents more directly in decisions around these partnerships.
New Haven and Yale|Student Engagement
Bridging the centuries-long divide between Yale and New Haven requires increased student engagement in the city. I will be a vocal, optimistic and accessible Ward 1 Alder committed to this mission, knowledgeable of existing ways to get involved and actively working to create more. I’ve joined forces with Jake Siesel to start New Haven Exchange, an organization dedicated to fostering interaction between students and residents beyond traditional models of service. We believe that friendship is fundamental to building a more united city. New Haven is where I grew up, Yale is the school I go to now, and I want to see the two thrive in harmony.
Photo credit to Richard Liu.
The New Haven Green
The Green is the heart of our city—a place of civic life, visible need, and immense possibility. Like many of the city leaders who have participated in discussions around the Green’s development over the past 6 months, I have faith that the Green can become a place people go to rather than through on a daily basis. It can be a place where families gather for birthday parties, local businesses open kiosks, and students picnic and read. Raising money and adding new infrastructure is important, but so is investing in the city’s unhoused community, many of whom rely on the Green as a site of refuge. This transformation must be driven by community input. Whether through town halls, shared meals, or citywide surveys, I want to work with other Alders and the Green’s leadership team to ensure that thousands of New Haveners have a voice in shaping its future.
At Arts and Ideas with my dad and brother.
Housing
A stable place to live is fundamental to a good life. New Haven has a housing crisis, and particularly needs more affordable and supportive units. I will advocate for small, pro-development changes to the city’s antiquated zoning laws, which for decades have discouraged willing builders and left well-located lots undeveloped. I will also work to further incentivize affordable developments and allocations, and look for ways to derive more benefits from large-project developers, who for the most part are not based in New Haven. Residents, not developers, must come first.
Education
I know from my own experience that New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) are struggling. At Wilbur Cross, I sat in STEM classes without permanent teachers, shared a guidance counselor with more than 300 fellow students, and watched the building deteriorate around me. More than anything, our schools need funding. Connecticut consistently ranks among the top three states for K-12 education quality, yet it recently ranked second worst in the nation for racial inequality in educational outcomes. This is unacceptable. I will be a leader in demanding that the state increase its support of urban districts like New Haven. Beyond state funding, I have concrete ideas of ways Yale can better channel its resources and enthusiastic undergrads in support of NHPS. I care about this system, these educators, and these kids, and I will fight to improve their experience in any way I can.
Commercial Activity
Ward 1 is home to more than 80 businesses. As Alder, I will build relationships with business owners, employees, and landlords to understand their needs and advocate for their success. Yale owns a significant number of these commercial properties and has curated a commercial district dominated by national chains and expensive boutiques, with few affordable and local options. What they call “The Shops at Yale” is New Haven’s downtown, and should be a place where all residents feel welcome. Guided by community input, I will advocate for a downtown that in name, vibe, and affordability better represents all New Haveners.
Photo credit to Richard Liu.