Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and state Representative Al Paolillo, Jr (D-New Haven) today released the following statements regarding the City of New Haven’s proposal for Tweed New Haven Airport:
“The City of New Haven made progress this year by finally developing an outreach campaign,” said Senator Looney. The submission of a proposal to the Board of Alders, the meeting at Jepson School on April 30, and the community meeting at Nathan Hale School on May 5 all occurred too late in the legislative session for a proposal to be developed with the opportunity for robust community participation, consideration of the relocation of the terminal to diminish the traffic impact on New Haven, and the overall impact of enhanced commercial use of the airport. I am sure that the City will take the next several months to reach out to the affected neighborhood, all stakeholders and elected officials in order to build a consensus that respects both economic development opportunities and preservation of one of New Haven’s core neighborhoods.”
“Since this plan was first proposed, Sen. Looney and I have been clear that the neighborhood and the community process needs to be at the forefront. The concerns and the well-being of the community need to be put first. It’s incumbent upon the city administration to communicate with neighboring residents about their proposal and how it will impact the community. A true community benefits agreement should be reflective of the neighborhood’s needs. We need to bring together residents, stakeholders and local leaders to fully vet the city’s proposal,” said state Rep. Paolillo.