Rosie the Riveter Edie Fishman Celebrates 100th birthday

The 100^th birthday of Edie Fishman brought a wide array of people from across the state together in solidarity, as she has done all her life. Among them were activists taking a pause from canvassing to make Yale Respect New Haven.

The diverse crowd gathered at a festive tent in New Haven's Wooster Square Park enjoying the chance to be together for the first time since COVID-19, and a sing-a-long of movement songs..

They were inspired by Edie's life story of working class activism that started when she joined the YCL at age 14 during the Great Depression, and has continued throughout her life in union, civil rights and peace movements and in the Communist Party.

During World War II while men factory workers went abroad to fight fascism, Edie was one of the Rosie the Riveters who worked in the ship yard in Camden New Jersey.

A dramatic Rosie the Riveter cake crafted by Working Family Party's Lindsay Farrell was a centerpiece. Photos will be added to Edie's story at the National Park Rosie the Riveter museum in California.

Alders Ellen Cupo and Evette Hamilton said they were honored to help daughter Joelle and son-in-law Art Perlo make the arrangements for the event held in the park where Edie and husband George often walked before his death in 2009.

Bette Marafino, president of CT ARA presented the 2021 “Retiree Fighter Award.” saying Edie “inspires us all to keep fighting the good fight.”

A certificate of commendation from Unite Here Local 34 presented by Secretary – Treasurer Ken Suzuki said Edie's “leadership and lifelong dedication to the fight for democracy for all people and to advance the rights and conditions of working people at Yale and across our region is a beacon to us all.”

New Haven's mayor and city town clerk also brought citations of congratulations.

Participants were asked to join Edie in signing the Summer of Struggle pledge “to organize for a just recovery for all and demand passage of voting rights, union rights, and priorities that put people, peace and planet before profits. Together we can end generations of racial and economic inequity exposed by the COVID 19 pandemic.” To participate e-mail ct-cpusa@pobox.com.

A Letter to UNITE HERE Unions at Yale from Rosa DeLauro

Over two decades ago, I began a fight against child poverty by working to extend the Child Tax Credit. We have reached a historic victory in that fight. Today, July 15th, virtually all working families across the nation will begin receiving $250 per month per child six and up and up to $300 per month for every child under the age of six. This expansion of the child tax credit, which is part of the American Rescue Plan passed in March, will help cut child poverty in half. UNITE HERE wins campaigns with the ethos of “one day longer,” and this victory could not have been possible without many who have never relented in their fight for justice and equality.

Beating Trump and taking back the Senate were a major part of this victory and crucial to expanding the Child Tax Credit. Throughout 2020, I argued that we were in a battle for the soul of the nation, and I’m proud of our victories in this battle.

You all understood the stakes in this fight and acted with the right urgency.  Hundreds of people from New Haven’s movement and UNITE HERE members traveled to swing states like Pennsylvania, Florida, Nevada and Arizona to knock on doors in the largest on-the-ground canvassing operation for President Biden. Hundreds more took up phone banking shifts. These efforts were vital in beating Trump and knocking back one of the greatest threats to democracy that our country has ever faced. You all did this while supporting my election, and elections that expanded the Democratic majorities in the Connecticut State House and Senate.

But you all didn’t stop with these victories. Hundreds cut their holidays short to travel to Georgia while others jumped back on the phone to support Senator Raphael Warnock and Senator Jon Ossoff. Without the support of these Senators, the American Rescue Plan and expanded Child Tax Credit would not have passed, and working families would be struggling even more as we deal with the pandemic.

Elections matter, the results of this previous election make that clear but our work is not over. The Child Tax Credit is temporary but we all have a role to play in making it permanent, winning other transformational victories for working families, and fending off future threats to our democracy. Your work proves that we can achieve so much when we understand the stakes of the moment and undertake the hard work of moving history accordingly. 

Learn about the Child Tax Credit here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit/

No More Cuts, Tax the Rich for Connecticut's Future Say State Workers

 

“No more cuts, tax the rich,” chanted hundreds of state workers who filled the North side of the Capitol to demand that the Governor negotiate fair contracts and good services to “Fund Connecticut's Future.”

The rally was called by SEBAC (State Employees Bargaining Council) representing 45,000 state workers, in collaboration with 1199, representing 10,000 independent home care PCAs who have a contract with the State. Negotiations are currently underway.

“We are tired of being told to do more with less, we are tired of working year after year and seeing our benefits reduced and seeing our wages flattened at the same time we know that the wealthiest among us are doing better than ever,” said Rob Baril, president of SEIU 1199 New England representing health care workers.

“We are asking the Lamont administration to recognize the sacrifice and commitment of state employees who work tirelessly to keep Connecticut afloat,” AFSCME Local 318 president Patricia Davis told the crowd. “This is so we can provide services to communities, Black, brown and white. It is about providing a safe and equitable workplace for all employees whatever their skin color.”

Sal Luciano, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO emphasized that state workers have not had a raise in 11 years. “Look at the people here. Do not call them heroes and offer them zeroes.” 

 

Bianca Beland works at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and is a member of CSEA SEIU Local 2001. “Our environment must be protected and the state employees working under DEEP are paramount to this effort. But with underfunding and understaffing, we cannot conserve, improve and protect our natural resources. Fair contracts are not only the right thing to do for state employees, but the public we serve.”

Professor of political science at U Conn Lyle Scruggs, a member of AAUP, spoke up for students. “While lower taxes on the wealthy in Connecticut — and residents like Gov. Lamont and his family — certainly make it easier for them to pay for prep schools and private universities, cuts in state support make it harder for the state’s working families to afford a degree at a premier public institution,” he said .

A Hidden Green Oasis In Newhallville

By Jahmal Henderson

The city of New Haven has a long history of urban agriculture, with many of its community gardens starting in the 1980s. As I walk throughout my neighborhood Newhallville, a hard working class community, I can recall the numerous gardens and fruit plots located in my neighbors backyards. I can also remember my grandmother teaching me the basic skills of gardening from watching her plant, till the dirt over, and water the gardens we had on 966 Winchester Ave as a child growing up.

Now a days in the neighborhood you can notice urban gardens everywhere, from small front yard gardens, empty vacant lot gardens, backyard gardens, and four major adjacent community gardens maintained by relatives and community in the heart of Newhall, each garden producing different produce depending on the needs of the community.

Brother’s like John Savage, a longtime resident of Newhallville, is Gather New Havens (GNH) new farm manager, who oversees 7 farm sites and more than 50 community gardens in the city. They are used for GNH’s promotion of wellness and fostering community development. Savage said “now I’m here my job is to make sure a new generation of neighbors grow their food”.

“New Haven is a city of Black and brown people, all and most of us have come from agricultural roots,” he said. “It’s in our bloodlines to till the earth, and gardening is a way more healthy and cost effective way to put food on our tables”.

As I continued my walk I could remember the corners of Shelton Ave & Hazel Street where me and Mr.Savage stood as an infamous drug hotspot in the 1980’s once called “the mud hole”, where crime and high drug activity existed. Now that same location is a community park called “the learning corridor” which offers a butterfly garden, bike rentals to community to enjoy on the Farmington canal trails, and an oasis of plant life and cultural life.

My next destination on my walk led me to the block of Butler Street, where residents and community leaders Mariano Colon and Gregory Smith want to make needed gardening resources and opportunities available to all their neighbors and surrounding environments.

“We want to develop Community garden projects for all our neighbors, to encourage food self-sufficiency, community building and empowerment”, Colon said, concluding “Environment and neighborhood restoration and these community gardening projects work to improve the environment and increase stronger community bonds and property values, and decrease property vacancy and crime rates throughout Newhall”.

They are currently renovating a vacant housing lot into another neighborhood urban garden for the community usage, “To grow your own food gives you power and dignity. You know exactly what you’re eating because you grew it. It’s good, it’s nourishing and you did this for yourself, your family and your community.” said Smith,

On the adjacent block known as Shepard Street lies a community garden in a vacant plot of land where neighborhood kids and seniors could plant cabbage, collard greens, kale, and turnips. Its founder and longtime resident Addie Kimbrough had a vision for Shepard Street Community Vegetable Garden many years ago, a plot of land the size of two homes, and the latest addition in a richness of lovingly green-spaces throughout the Neighborhood.

Kimbrough said that the garden is for the community. “Anyone is welcome to help out, we have a noticeboard in the garden that will list the tasks that volunteers have completed and what needs to be done, that way, people in the neighborhood can come at their leisure and choose their tasks”.

“These community gardens are not only a place for people to grow healthy food, but these community gardens are a place where people can come together outside and enjoy each other's company, learn from each other, have fun with each other, and revive these vacant spaces to improve our neighborhood overall”.