NEW HAVEN - On his first full day as mayor elect of New Haven, Justin Elicker said there is much work to be done even before he’s inaugurated January 1.
Elicker says his administration will be accessible and he encourages the public to reach out, which they already are.
“There’s a lot of things that need fixing,” said Constantine Gooden, of New Haven. “We need more work.”
“Hopefully this guy, this Elicker guy could stick to what he says and you know we can just fix the roads,” said Keith Bryant, of the Headz Up Barbershop on Whalley Ave.
Among those that attended the packed Elicker victory celebration last night was a woman, who is a staunch supporter of three-term Mayor Toni Harp (D-New Haven). She wanted to make certain Elicker knows what her neighborhood needs.
“If he’s going to be the Mayor, he’s going to be the person that we actually have to work with and I need to make sure that he sees us and that he is looking at the things that we need,” said Barbara Vereen of New Haven.
While Elicker promises to be responsive to residents' concerns, he asks for patience in a city full of challenges, including finances. So, he's already been in touch with the mayors in Hartford, Waterbury, and Bridgeport
“Major cities in Connecticut are really struggling financially and if we work together as a team we are way more likely to get things done for our cities,” said Elicker.
Another issue that’s come up: the turmoil in the Board of Education, which doesn’t only include the recent buyout of now former Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Birks.
“There’s been elimination of teachers positions, guidance counselors, librarian positions,” Elicker said. “There was a debacle with the transportation system.”
And, the city is on its fourth Superintendent of Schools in three years.
“There’s been, frankly, a lot of drama and disruption in the Board of Education and what’s very important is that we have some stability,” said Elicker, who senses will happen under the direction of Interim Superintendent Dr. Iline Tracey.
Elicker says his rapidly working on formulating his transition team, which will include supporters of both Harp and himself.