Hamden's Katz Has All The Right Ideas

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Go to the Project hotline right now. Welcome back to
the show. It's been in a little bit, it's been
a minute.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
How's it going.

Speaker 1 (00:05):
How are you my man? How's the run here in Hamden?
Going from Jonathan Chats, the run is.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Going absolutely fantastic. Let me tell you, Vinny, it couldn't
be better, I think, and it came words right out
of your mouth. This is a defining moment. It is
a moment of opportunity, and especially in the town of Hamden,
it's one that we absolutely have to seize. But we're
ready for it.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah. Now I know when it comes to this kind
of a race too, it's all about funding it. It's
all about fundraisers. How have you been doing on that front, Jonathan?

Speaker 2 (00:41):
You know, it's actually really great that you mentioned that.
We had a super successful fundraiser actually last night at
Cafe Amichi. Not just with a lot of people from
the community. You know, we have Republicans, Democrats, Unaffiliate Independent
alike on our side, but we actually had Ubernatoria Canada,
Ryan Fazio, Lieutenant Governor candidate Matt Corey, Secretist Secretary of

(01:06):
State Candadate Peter Lumage, and we also had some representatives
of Aaron Stewart's campaign coming down because they really recognize that,
you know, while they all have their own respective races
that they're working on for the state level, they recognize
that this type of governance and the need for a
change and the status quo really comes from the local

(01:27):
municipal level. And they've heard about our campaign and they've
heard me speak, and they've seen how the you know,
how the overall vibe in Hamden is changing and it's
going towards us, and they wanted to be a part
of that.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, you know, I love hearing you say that. And
again it's Jonathan Katz running for mayor here in Hamden,
twenty four years old, Hamden lifer. I've been seeing a
lot of that myself. I wish I knew about last night. Jonathan,
You've got to let me know about these things too.
I'm surprised that I didn't here for was Sean Donahue
at this I mean, maybe you don't let you know.

(02:01):
You probably didn't let him know, but that's probably a
good move.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
Specific But you know, we we we had a lot
of amazing people from the local community, not just you know,
individual voters, as well as people running. You know, we
because we have our own entire underticket, the underticket, which
is one of the most essential parts to this mayor election.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
Because, frankly, then he it doesn't matter who's mayor, because
if you have the same legislative counselors, and remember, these
are the people that are responsible ultimately for being able
to veto and overturn the mayor's budget, you're gonna get
the same old thing. So we had that great team
of our new legislative counselors there, and we had a

(02:44):
lot of amazing business owners and even you know, just
normal residents from the community show up and show out
for us.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
Yes, yeah, Well keep me posted on those fronts too.
I really want to know about them. The few that
I've attended this election season, it's so interesting that you
say what you said there, Jonathan. I've been seeing Fozzio
at them. I've been seeing Matt Corey at them. I
haven't seen mister Lumage in a while. We go back

(03:12):
quite a ways, and I've been noticing and I think
it's really what Connecticut needs as far as the GOP
is concerned, As far as Connecticut's Republican parties, concerned. It's
been a divided party for a long time. So when
I started noticing, Hell, here's Fazio at another event, here's
Matt Corey, I think what they're trying to do, and
these are younger guys too, they're like, we got to

(03:34):
bring the party together. They might not be saying it
out loud, although I'm sure they would nod along with
me saying it. And that's what they're doing by showing
up is we're creating a team here. We're joining hands,
and I think Connecticut's Republican parties needed to do that
for a couple of years now. At the very least.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
Absolutely, I think it's something that is especially needed because
you know, Republicans are the minority party within the state
of Connecticut. But what I think it's really interesting is
that they're not only showing a uniting of the party,
but they're showing a uniting across party lines. Because I
had all three of them speak yesterday, and Fasios pointed

(04:15):
out something very important, and it was something that I've
been echoing on and on in my own campaign, and
that is that we are the party of the common people.
We are the party that represents working class people, especially
in Hamden. Those that are in power from the other
side do not represent the working class democrats that we

(04:38):
saw in the seventies and eighties. They're not the same
people anymore, really, the extremes of the party. So the
majority of us that you see, actually, even though we
may run under a different name, we're much closer to
our respective moderate sides of the party than the ext than,
for example, of their extremes. One thing was really interesting

(04:59):
is Peter Lumage. He mentioned he lived under a socialist
regime in Albania, sure for many years, and he kind
of recounted how he's seeing that these people they're not
advocating for the what we what we associate especially the
other party with, but they're advocating for something that is

(05:23):
so far from the core ideals that the majority of
people not with, not only within Hamden belief but within
the state belief. So I think they all represent a
really uniting force, not only within the party but across
party lines. And you know that's something I'm seeing within
Hamden in my own race as well.

Speaker 1 (05:43):
Yeah. Well it would be necessary too, especially with the proximity.
As far as New Haven's concerned, I want New Haven
to play out a certain way, but I'm also realistic.
I moderated that mayoral debate last week, uh and the
Mayor's talking about what an import in relationship, you know,
new Haven's with Hampden is, and it is true, for

(06:06):
better for worse, the crime that takes place in new
Haven often crosses town lines and winds up in Hamden.
Police chases that begin in new Haven, if you can
even call them chases, they end here in Hamden. So
that relationship is necessary, and unfortunately it might continue to
be one where a Republican has to play ball across

(06:27):
the aisle and we need that. We need to be
able to do.

Speaker 2 (06:30):
That absolutely, And I think it's really interesting that you
mentioned that relationship with new Haven because Hamden absolutely does
have a relationship with new Haven. I mean, we are
actually the smaller party on a state grant for a
rapid access transit system that would take people from new
Haven directly into Hampton. So there is an un you know,

(06:53):
absolutely a connection between new Haven and Hamden. But I
think it's really interesting that you mentioned crime, and especially
with policing, because I've talked with a lot of people
within the department and policing's a big, big part of
my platform. You know, I've heard the stories back in
the nineties, people would say that if you were coming
from new Haven and you were driving over to Handon
that if you were doing something illegal, you were going

(07:15):
to get pulled over and the hand the cops weren't
going to let you go, they were going to get you.

Speaker 1 (07:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:21):
But today, you know, Vinny, that really doesn't exist, and
it's not due to anything that you know, our officers
that are putting their lives on the line every single
day are doing. It's coming from above them, people that
are out of their control, even up to the state level.
And the fact is that it takes not only you know,

(07:42):
a val from me as well as the complete underticket,
because it's not only just the mayor, it's the underticket
as well to put complete support behind their officers. But
it takes an actual plan. And that's why I have
a specific plan to address one of the biggest unaddressed
issues within the hand and Police departm and that's officer
retention and recruitment.

Speaker 1 (08:02):
Yeah, it's funny to hear you mentioned Hamden Police in
the nineties because I had the occasional run in with
Hamden police in the nineties because there was quite a
presence and I was living pretty well then. I was
the case you one on one morning guy had a
flashy red car and I had a glove compartment full

(08:25):
of tickets. But it was I noticed the difference there.
I was seeing there were squad cars at every turn,
and there's not much of a police presence in Hamden, certainly,
not one in New Haven, not much of one across
Connecticut because as you kind of in a roundabout way
I mentioned right there, we can't retain them. They're retiring early.
The you know, the police Reform Bill wasn't inspiring. Recruitment

(08:49):
efforts aren't you know, necessarily working. So I love hearing
you talk about that. I know you mentioned last time
you were on too that your first order of business
would be an audit. You want a forensic audit right away,
but you need people to be compliant. If you get
in there and you want to do that.

Speaker 2 (09:09):
You're absolutely right. I think that it is possible. And
that's because what's going to happen is is that there
are those that we absolutely need within the administration to
get this forensic financial audit done right. We need compliance.
But what it is is the fact is they many

(09:30):
people have put themselves in the position and I'm not
going to say specific names that where we are with
our current audit is beyond the fact that, oh we're
late with it, Oh we're understaff. At this point, I'd
go as far to call it make legence. I mean,
this is absolutely ridiculous. We're coming up ten months late
on our previous year audit. And don't forget that we

(09:52):
approved our budget for the upcoming year and we're still
working off that budget, a budget that does include two
point five million dollars in red new from speed and
red light cameras, a project. That bill hasn't been approved
by the state dot so we're working on a half
year for that incoming revenue. But that's besides the point.
The main thing is, Binny, is that we are going

(10:13):
to properly staff our finance department with qualified accounting in
financial professionals and those are going to be the only
individuals to be hired, and then an entire hiring freeze
will be implemented. Because you want to know what anybody
that says that they know how to lower taxes in
Hamden is lying to you, because that is based on

(10:36):
the fact that they know what our financial situation in
handen is and we know it's bad, but we don't
know how bad it is, right, And that's why we
need qualified professionals. That's why we need our previous year's audit,
and that's why we need the forensic financial audit that
can uncover up to millions of dollars in money that

(10:57):
has been lost to waste or abuse.

Speaker 1 (11:00):
You are a force of nature, man. Let everyone know
what's next? Is there another fundraiser looming? I mean, this
is crunch time, a couple of weeks to go. Here
are another public appearance? Where can people see you speak next?
And what's the website for Jonathan Katz?

Speaker 2 (11:16):
So website katzfo Hamden dot org and it's Katz. Just
to clarify, I'm also all over Facebook and Instagram. I
know some people don't use those. And you want to
know what I'm gonna put my campaign phone number out.
It's two three seven eight seven eight one nine to

(11:38):
five that goes to my direct line Semia. Call them
me a text, let me know what your questions are upcoming.
I'm gonna be out like I have been since I
started this campaign when I was knocking back in my
suits and one hundred degree weather. We got a super
Saturday and Sunday coming up this week, a double feature
where we're gonna be knocking doors all weekend. Come meet

(11:59):
me Miller Library eleven am on Saturday. Would love to
meet you, come out walk with you. We also have
a few upcoming meet and greets as well, as we're
doing a virtual town hall in addition to debate, where
I'm going to be fielding questions from the public and
that more information of that will be up on my Facebook.
It will be going live on both Facebook and Instagram

(12:22):
for that