G.H., Resident

(Identity protected due to current job search)

I recently left my non-union job at Yale. I’m looking for work now, and I’d like to stay in New Haven or close by. But it’s hard. Outside of Yale, I’m not seeing many good-paying options, especially ones with benefits or any real stability. And when you’re no longer affiliated with Yale, even trying to rent an apartment gets harder. It feels like you need to stay attached to the university just to get by in this city. If you’re a Yale student in Ward 1, I encourage you to vote for Norah Laughter for alder. She has walked the picket line with union workers at the Omni, understanding that all residents deserve a chance to live and work with dignity, not just those connected to Yale.

Housing has been the biggest challenge for me since the beginning. When I first started at Yale, I couldn’t afford to live near campus, and I don't have a car. I was walking 25 minutes each way even through the winter. I’d buy heat packs to keep warm and bring extras to give to people I saw along the way who needed them. On icy days, the sidewalks weren’t always usable. I had to walk in the icy street just to make it to work. That’s not safe, and it’s a sign that the city needs real infrastructure investment. Just handling basic food, housing, and getting to work took way more than it should.

In my previous job, I worked with people dealing with moderate to severe mental health issues. I’d interview them, hear about what they were going through, and know we'd pay them for participating in the study. It felt conflicting to do this while knowing that Yale has the resources to provide more support, not just collect data. It felt like the institution was more interested in studying problems than helping solve them.

New Haven needs more than research. It needs good union jobs — not just at Yale — and housing people can actually afford. The economy shouldn’t revolve around one institution, especially not when that institution continually profits off of exacerbating the challenges of living here. That’s why I’m supporting Norah for alder. She’s running on a slate with the alder in my ward, Frank Douglass, and they’re both focused on making sure people in New Haven have access to stable housing, unionized jobs, and the basic infrastructure we all need.