Group of New Haven Alders breaks away from leaders

From left: Claudette Robinson-Thorpe (Ward 28), Anna Festa (Ward 10, and Brenda Foskey-Cyrus (Ward 21) talk about inclusivness on the Board of Alders Sunday. From left: Claudette Robinson-Thorpe (Ward 28), Anna Festa (Ward 10, and Brenda Foskey-Cyrus (Ward 21) talk about inclusivness on the Board of Alders Sunday. Photo: (Mara Lavitt - New Haven Register) Photo: (Mara Lavitt - New Haven Register) Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Group of New Haven Alders breaks away from leaders 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN >> A group of a half-dozen city alders is forming its own caucus because they say the board’s Democratic leadership is beholden to local unions.

Alder Claudette Robinson-Thorpe, D-28, announced the formation of the still-unamed caucus at her home Sunday afternoon. Joining Robinson-Thorpe in the caucus are: Carlton Staggers, D-30; Brenda Foskey-Cyrus, D-21; Mike Stratton, D-19; Richard Spears, D-12; and Anna Festa, D-10.

Robinson-Thorpe said Board of Alders President Jorge Perez and others are beholden to the leadership of Locals 34 and 35 of UNITE HERE, which represent workers at Yale University. Specifically, Robinson-Thorpe mentioned Local 35 President Bob Proto and Gwen Mills, a spokeswoman with UNITE HERE in New Haven, work with Perez to influence votes on a variety of issues.

“If the union wants to be our allies on something, fine,” Robinson-Thorpe said. “But they should not be a dictatorship. All the people at this table tonight are sticking their necks out by being here.”

Several of the alders attending the meeting said they were told that if they didn’t vote the way the unions and board’s leadership wanted, they would face well-financed challenges in the next election.

“The board should not be punitive,” Robinson-Thorpe said. “Things need to change.”

Specifically, she said the union leaders pushed members of the aldermanic board to vote in favor of the sale of portions of Wall and High streets in the city. The board approved the sale in June 2013.

Both Robinson-Thorpe and Staggers voted for the sale of the streets and said Sunday that they now regret doing so.

“My constituents were against it,” Robinson-Thorpe said.

Perez denied the allegations and said Robinson-Thorpe’s claims are motivated by her desire to become president pro tempore of the board, the second highest-ranking position. Robinson-Thorpe and Alder Tyisha Walker, D-23, are vying for that position and the vote is scheduled for Tuesday.

“I have the utmost respect for both of them, but it’s a shame that she’s got to make these allegations because she knows she doesn’t have the votes,” Perez said, citing a straw vote taken two weeks ago among members of the aldermanic board. “It’s a shame people would stoop to this level because they don’t have the votes.”

Mills and Proto were not available for comment on Sunday evening.

The other members of the new caucus insist that the claims are not politically motivated.

“This is not about tearing down other members of the board,” Staggers said. “We’re just trying to do what’s best for the people of New Haven.”

“This kind of thing has gone on for decades,” Stratton said. “We (alders) need another place to go when we disagree with the machine. I think a lot of people are going to join us eventually.”

Robinson-Thorpe said the new caucus will hold a public meeting later this month at a church in the city “to educate the people” about how city government works.

Call Luther Turmelle at 203-789-5706.