Democratic candidates for mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, faced off in a debate Friday on Yale’s campus to a packed room of more than 200 people.
Incumbent Mayor Toni Harp and Alderman Justin Elicker debated key issues such as education reform, government transparency and lead regulation.
The crowd especially reacted when Elicker said Yale needs to do more for the city than donate $11.5 million in lieu of taxes.
“Three blocks away from Yale, people can’t put food on the table. Our city’s in a financial crisis. Yale needs to do more.”
Elicker says there needs to be a formal agreement between the university police and New Haven.
“I think that Yale University shouldn’t be policing our neighborhoods.”
In April a Yale officer responded miles off campus and was involved in a police shooting that wounded Stephanie Washington. Harp says she stood with the police shooting victims in protest this year.
“I don’t believe anything like that should happen in our city, nor should guns be fired by police officers who are not a part of our city.”
Overall she praised Yale’s role in the community.
“Yale absolutely needs to do more for this community, and as you know, they do a lot.”
Harp said that more New Haven students should have the chance to go to Yale and that Yale should uphold its promise to employ city residents.
Elicker and Harp will compete in the Democratic primary on September 10.