SOLITUDE

 

by Jahmal Henderson

ln rooms of words, a silent pact I make, Turning pages for a future’s sake. The world outside, a muffled, distant sound, As wisdom’s seeds in solitude are found.

The sun dips low, and starlight takes its place, I walk alone, in time and open space. The old resistance, stubborn, strong, and slow, Fights every step, but cannot stop the grow.

With every line, I shed a past belief, Each starlit stride, a moment of relief. To learn, to know, to mend what was undone, A new self forged, beneath the moon and sun.

Park Ridge Tenants of Capital Realty Group Unionize

New Haven, CT — On August 6th, elderly tenants at the Park Ridge Apartments announced the formation of their tenant union, representing nearly 60% of residents in the 72-unit building, and affiliated with the Connecticut Tenants Union.

Their building is owned by the national corporate landlord, Capital Realty Group (CRG). Tenants described problems with plumbing, electrical work, boiler noises, heating, air conditioning and carpeting. They are the ninth tenants union to officially register with the City of New Haven Fair Rent Commission.

After their press conference, a delegation drove to CRG’s headquarters in Spring Valley, NY to deliver a letter requesting a meeting to collectively bargain and a response within one week. They were met with a sign saying the firm had moved, but the address was an empty office. Finally the tenants taped the letter on the door after being threatened by a tow truck.

At an August 14 press conference to update the public on the union’s efforts to bring their landlord to the negotiating table, Senator Richard Blumenthal called on Capital Realty Group to negotiate in good faith with the union, citing their misuse of federal funds

Capital Realty Group, described as a “leading private equity real estate group,” is a major player in the for-profit affordable housing industry. They benefit from hundreds of millions of dollars in federal mortgages and rent subsidies. They frequently employ a cash-out refinance strategy that depends on cutting expenses and increasing rents at their buildings—worsening living conditions while generating huge profits for themselves and their investors.

.Capital Realty Group has received $7.1 million in federally-backed financing for Park Ridge and also receives HUD-subsidized rent payments monthly for each occupied unit. 

Meanwhile, other tenants of Capital Realty Group are unionizing across state lines. The River Pointe Towers Tenant Union in Detroit, Michigan publicly announced their unionization on August 19th. CRG tenants in New Haven at Park Ridge are hosting a watch party of the media coverage from Detroit and will celebrate CRG tenant solidarity across state lines with a luncheon at their building.

Social Security celebrated on its 90th Birthday

 

The Dixwell-Newhall Senior Center at the Q House in New Haven was decked out with a big sheet cake for the 90^th birthday of Social Security and 60^th birthday of Medicare. The room filled with retirees concerned that Social Security be preserved and expanded, not privatized or shut down and Medicare / Medicaid be fully funded not robbed to pay for tax cuts for the super rich, mass deportations and war in the Billionaire Budget Betrayal.

Alliance for Retired Americans Regional board member Roger Boudreau and national staff member Tommy McLoughlin traveled to New Haven from Rhode Island to discus the attacks on these programs and encourage the retirees to make their voices heard.

The celebration at the Dixwell-Newhall Senior Center was one of many across the country. Another celebration at the Senior Center in East Hartford was hosted by Rep. John Larsen.

The ARA, with 59,000 members in Connecticut, has been in the forefront of the fight to preserve and expand Social Security for the 737,000 retirees, survivors, children and people with disabilities in Connecticut who depend on Social Security to make ends meet. These benefits contribute more than 1.5 billion dollars to the Connecticut economy every month.

The manufactured crisis created by the Trump administration and DOGE puts all this at risk. “This is nothing less than a calculated cruel plan to weaken Social Security and pave the way for benefit cuts or privatization,” emphasized the ARA emphasizing it is not about waste, fraud and abuse.

“The Alliance for Retired Americans is calling on every member of Congress to act,” they said. “and pass legislation that preserves field offices, safeguards our personal data and ensures transparency and accountability.”

Social Security Strong demands included: “Fully staff the Social Security Administration to reduce wait times and ensure high quality service delivered by professionals, not machines. Protect the private information that millions of Americans have entrusted to the Social Security Administration. Make the rich pay their fair share so that we can expand Social Security and keep it strong for the next 90 years.

Unity Rally for a Fully Funded City: When We Fight We Win

Over 1,000 rallied on the hottest day of the year at Scantlebury Park in New Haven, organized by New Haven Rising and Unite Here unions to call for racial and economic justice at a time when billionaires and billionaire institutions have increased their wealth while working people struggle to stay in their homes. Excerpts from a few of the powerful remarks are below.

“I've been a member of 217 for 20 years, I’m a college food service worker, Vice President of our union and I also believe one job should be enough,” said Stephan Alderman, Vice President of Local 217–UNITE HERE, “But as a single father of four with seven grandchildren, I'm finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet. For the first time in my life, I had to apply for energy assistance because of this failing economy.”

New Haven Rising Organizer, Abigail Feldman called for a city that provides opportunities for all, “Just a few years ago we came together in our city and we pushed Yale to contribute $52 million more to the city. That wasn’t a gift. That was our power of coming together and refusing to be quiet. That’s the money we are owed. That’s the taxpayer money that has subsidized Yale for years! Now is the time to fight for the people’s endowment! If Yale made different decisions, our city could be fully funded. We could have world class schools here alongside other cities of Connecticut.”

Wilbur Cross High School student, Jonaily Colón, argued, “Our zip code should not determine the quality of education we receive. The color of our skin should never determine our destiny. Students of New Haven schools deserve top education like every single student in this country.” She and Tabitha Sookdeo, leader of Connecticut Students for a Dream, called out ICE for detaining a Wilbur Cross student and noted that the resources dedicated to deporting our residents could be allocated to education and generating opportunity. New Haven Rising Director, Rev. Scott Marks, joined the students in the call to stop deportations and focus on providing economic opportunity for all residents.

Citing similarities of working-class struggle in her Kentucky hometown, Norah Laughter, who is running for Alder of Ward 1, took inspiration from the ways that working people in New Haven have long fought back. She said, “Our wins come from organizing to leverage our strength in numbers as the working class. My message tonight is simple: students must be part of the fight for race and class justice because when we fight together, we win.”

CT Demands: End ICE Dep;ortations, Boycott Avelo

 

In the wake of stepped up kidnappings of immigrants by masked ICE agents with no warrants, the community, city and state officials are demanding an end to this racist violence. Last week when New Haven Wilbur Cross High School student Esdras R was taken during a workplace raid his classmates, teachers and city officials stepped forward, funds raised and a lawyer retained. Esdras had been removed to Louisiana for deported to Guatemala when his lawyer located him and succeeded in his return to a facility in New England while his case is argued.

In the next days six people were abducted in New Britain, where organizing for their defense is underway.

This is a story about racism and profits for the private prison industry. It is a story about robbing communities of $170 billion for jobs, housing, healthcare and education in order to fund mass deportations, wars, and enormous tax cuts for the wealthiest few.

In its drive for profits, Avelo Airlines, based in New Haven, contracted with the Department of Homeland Security to transport immigrants without due process to other countries. In April when this became known the New Haven Immigrants coalition launched a boycott which is now nationwide.

A post from Our Revolution reports: “Public pressure works. After a major backlash over secret ICE contracts, Avelo Airlines is abandoning all West Coast routes. A grassroots campaign in Burbank. California forced their retreat—and the movement is spreading. Over 100 protesters just rallied near BWI airport to expose Avelo’s role in ICE deportations. No state should do business with airlines that profit off immigrant detention and deportation.”

This City of New Haven has banned use of any public funds for Avelo Airlines flights, marketing, branding, advertising or promotion. “Travel should be about bringing people together, not tearing families apart,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. “Avelo Airlines' continued participation in and profiteering from the Trump Administration’s inhumane and often illegal immigration policies and ICE’s deplorable tactics is antithetical to our values as a city, and not something we will support with city funds or taxpayer dollars.

Sign the pledge, “We Won't Fly Avelo,” at https://www.change.org/p/we-won-t-fly-avelo-until-they-stop-ice-flights-no-volaremos-con-avelo

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