Yale affiliation threatens mayor in election

BY TED DISKANT

TED DISKANT/YH

Yale's presence in City Hall is not striking in and of itself; as the city's largest employer and third-largest taxpayer, the University has always been a dominating New Haven presence. But as DeStefano campaigns for the Democratic nomination against State Senator Martin Looney in what political pundits predict will be the closest mayoral election in over a decade, he has taken the novel approach of aligning himself with Yale, bucking the historical trend of cool, if not downright hostile, relations between City and Woodbridge Halls.

REBECCA ROSENTHAL/YH

"The relationship between Yale and [the city] has changed dramatically under DeStefano," New Haven Advocate Managing Editor Paul Bass, JE '82, said. "There is a relationship that has developed, a mutual relationship that didn't exist for quite some time." While careful not to endorse a candidate in the impending primary, Levin raved about the changed town-gown relations under the DeStefano administration. "They've been phenomenal to work with," he said. "They have been reasonable and open in an unprecedented manner."

The Destefano camp is quick to take credit for improved relations between the city and the University. "The last seven years have marked increased positive engagements between Yale and the city," DeStefano campaign manager Julio Gonzalez, CC '99, noted.

"What's different about the relationship is that we have found an area of collaboration that is mutually beneficial and motivated by our respective self-interest," DeStefano added. "Specifically, the University is increasingly identifying itself as a center for biomedical research and that holds tremendous potential for the city."

Indeed, DeStefano has repeatedly pointed to the biotech industry as the key aspect to his plan for revitalizing New Haven's economy. And working in tandem, the city and the University have significantly altered the face of Broadway, bringing in stores such as Urban Outfitters, Gourmet Heaven, and the recently announced J. Crew. "I think [the University and I] see tremendous potential for growth in regards to real estate development and the well-being of downtown," the mayor said. "We both have an interest in making it a place where you can work, live, and play."

Yale has no official position on the election, but political observers see that the University has an interest in the reelection of the current administration. "The University is behind DeStefano, there is no doubt," Bass said. And a Yale administrator added, "Before DeStefano, there was no record of the city and the University working in partnership. Whatever Yale did, New Haven would criticize. The record was so bad a lot of people felt `a plague on both your houses.' DeStefano still kept an arm's length from Yale—it would not benefit him to be seen as too cozy—but at the same time they have worked together and things have been accomplished." But DeStefano's approach has raised new criticisms, namely that he has been overly conciliatory in his dealings with the University while claiming its successes as his own.

While Yale does not take a position in the race, the University's goals read like a DeStefano press release. "New Haven is a recognized leader in the biotech industry," Associate Vice President for New Haven and State Affairs Michael Morand, SY '87, DIV '93, said. "It is something of great promise for the future." Similarly, the University's long-standing interest in improving the Broadway area was furthered by the support of the DeStefano administration. "I think you have to cooperate with Yale," Looney Campaign Manager Jason Bartlett said. "But because the mayor has failed in terms of his own initiatives, he has been willing to do whatever Yale wants. That may not be the right thing to do all of the time."

Looney is more reserved in his criticism. "I believe the DeStefano administration has not always been vigilant in pursuing the city's interests where they differ from the University's," the senator said. As examples, he points to the renovation of Broadway and the University's dealings with labor, primarily the Graduate Employees and Students Organization (GESO) and workers at Yale-New Haven Hospital. "The current administration has tried to have it both ways," Looney said. "They've tried to pay lip service to the local unions and GESO, at the same time letting the administration know that they weren't going to push too hard on the issue."

DeStefano insists he has gone on record as supporting GESO and the local unions, but admits that his position is sometimes difficult. "Part of my job is to help these two sides talk to each other," he said. "[Yale is] my largest employer, my third-largest taxpayer." Local 1199, which represents the hospital workers, has endorsed Looney.

A key element of the Looney campaign is his support for a downtown baseball stadium as a means of revitalizing the city's core. DeStefano has repeatedly criticized the plan as a "bad investment." But Looney sees a stadium as a solution to some of the problems caused by the mayor's relationship with Yale. "In effect, we have two separate downtowns now," Looney said. "One—Broadway—is doing relatively well because of Yale's involvement there. But the other [downtown—the area surrounding the Coliseum—is] desolate. We need to have a plan for the core of downtown."

Bartlett sees the renovation of Broadway as just one more example of the harm DeStefano's acquiescence to Yale's demands has done. "As much as I think Yale's done a good job fixing up Broadway, we don't need the gentrification of all of downtown New Haven," he said. "I think the Mayor's Office should stand up on some of these issues and use the force of the mayor's office to bring some balance in terms of city planning and in terms of Yale planning. Work with Yale, but also stand up at times."

And while no University official would take a position on the stadium issue, President Levin's feelings did strongly echo the DeStefano message. "I think the evidence is pretty well understood that a new stadium does not necessarily lead to economic growth," Levin said. "The hope for New Haven is science-based industries, and that rests on a strong partnership between the city and Yale."

DeStefano's connection to the university is not only through his own personal ties to Yale's administration. In fact, the mayor is insistent that he does not "consider [his] relationship with the University to be John DeStefano's relationship with Rick Levin." Rather, he points to the various ways in which the city and University have worked together, through various Yale departments and programs aside from the "head-of-state to head-of-state level."

Certainly one way in which the mayor has strengthened his ties to the University is through his hiring of recent Yale graduates. "My campaign is largely being run by Yale students or recent graduates," DeStefano confessed proudly. Most importantly, DeStefano has taken Gonzalez on as his campaign manager. The former alderman was a surprising choice to many in light of his vocal criticisms of the DeStefano administration, most notably in his 1998 "Promise to New Haven," a call for reform in city government and a harsh critique of the mayor himself. "In taking the job, Gonzalez repudiated some of the most progressive positions he had taken as an alderman," Looney said. "I think that's something unfortunate in someone so young."

DeStefano admits past differences, but feels Julio brings more than enough to compensate for any rift. "Julio challenges me," the mayor said. "I don't want to sit here in some kind of intellectual comfort with only my own ideas." But outsiders view the Gonzalez appointment as bringing more than just outside ideas. "A lot of people think that because Julio is a Yale grad, he has more connections in terms of the institution than we do," Bartlett said. One aspect of that would be a potential connection with Yale students, an important voting block in a very tight election.

Indeed, Ward One, encompassing Old Campus and eight residential colleges, was one of only two districts that DeStefano lost in his 1999 primary victory. "I think we were on auto-pilot a bit too much in 1999," the mayor said. Gonzalez detailed plans to call students and contact registered Democrats in the area in a get-out-the-vote cam-paign. "Yale students have always voted against DeStefano," Bass observed. "But I think that's going to change this time."

"Julio certainly can connect with younger voters," one Yale administrator observed. "He brings access to a number of communities that another politician might not have."

As both candidates sprint towards the finish line in next week's all-important primary (no Republican has defeated a Democrat in the Mayoral general election since 1953), outside observers see the race as potentially significant to Yale and the relationship between the city and the University. "There is no question that Yale and DeStefano are in this together," Bass said.

Looney does not propose ending relations with Yale, but rather striking what he sees as a better compromise. "I'm confident that I could compromise with the University for the good of the city," he said. But DeStefano refused to back down or apologize for bridging the divide between the city and Yale. "This campaign is about ideas and directions for the city," he said. "In the end, voters want to hear about ideas and direction. Marty has a weak record, and I think my ideas and views on issues will be very attractive to New Haven Democrats."

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