Steve Winter

I am thrilled to see the CIF approval of $8 million funding help residents complete critical repairs to the foundations of their homes. Together with local funds from the Town of Hamden, this funding will provide both financial and emotional relief to Newhall neighborhood homeowners impacted by historical environmental injustices. Without assistance, for many homeowners the cost of these repairs has the potential to erase the financial stability they have sacrificed over many years to achieve. This funding represents a crucial investment that will help prevent further upheaval in their daily lives and allow the neighborhood to move beyond its legacy environmental challenges.

Nearly 300 homes in the Newhall neighborhood were built on industrial and municipal waste material, including significant amounts from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Clean fill, which was used to remediate this pollution, has caused structural problems and drainage issues affecting many homes.

Eli’s Garden of Healing was founded in memory of Elijah Gomez, who was tragically shot and killed walking home from school. The organization hopes to create a healing garden at to honor his life, as well as all others who have lost their life to gun violence. Eli’s Garden will use this funding to help with planning and logistics of creating the healing garden. The proposed location was formally a firearm testing facility for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, who also owned a factory complex in the Newhall neighborhood of New Haven. 

The CIF Board met on September 30 and approved all 32 projects on their agenda. These funds will not be officially released until they are approved by the State Bond Commission.