Jason Bartlett, a longtime political operative in New Haven, filed his candidacy Thursday with the City Clerk’s office to run for the Democratic nomination for mayor in the 2027 election. Bartlett, 60, has managed mayoral campaigns for three different Democrats and served as youth director under former Mayor Toni Harp, where he helped create the YouthStat program for at‑risk children.
Ground‑up slate and policy focus
Speaking on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven,” Bartlett said he is assembling a “Ground Up” slate of alder candidates to run alongside him. “We need a vision,” he said. “We need to know where we want to go, and we need to do it with community.”
His platform centers on an ambitious waterfront redevelopment plan. Bartlett proposes creating two waterfront districts that would issue bonds to fund infrastructure improvements, allowing developers to build safely while the city retains new tax revenue in a dedicated fund. The plan relies on tax‑increment financing (TIF), a mechanism that freezes the tax base at current rates and directs any incremental tax revenue generated by new development to repay the bonds.
Specific proposals
- District one would stretch from West Haven through City Point and Long Wharf to Ball Island, replacing the current outdoor swimming‑pool proposal with a mix of energy and community‑driven ideas.
- District two would cover Morris Cove and the airport area, emphasizing environmental protection and resilience.
- The TIF funds would also launch a water‑taxi service linking the harbor to Morris Cove and Tweed New Haven, with future ferries to Long Wharf, New London, Long Island, Milford and Bridgeport.
Additional proposals include a city position to help tenants purchase their apartment buildings and run them as co‑ops, a year‑round youth conservation corps for parks, a city‑monitored tiny‑house community for the homeless, and replacing the bus rapid‑transit plan with free, expanded bus service using natural‑gas buses.
Incumbent response
Mayor Justin Elicker, a four‑term incumbent seeking reelection, highlighted his administration’s record: 1,500 new housing units built during his tenure, about 20 % affordable, and a goal of 10,000 units with 30 % affordable over the next decade. He noted a drop in recorded shootings to the lowest level in 15 years and modest gains in education performance.
Elicker praised the democratic process, saying, “It’s nice that people running for mayor have ideas. It’s another thing to be part of solving the challenges the city is facing.” He also criticized Bartlett for a lack of public‑meeting presence.
Campaign momentum
Bartlett, who commutes daily from his City Point home to a UPS warehouse in North Haven, said he will unveil his alder slate in the coming months. He confirmed Miguel Pittman, a former Ward 3 alder candidate, will run on the slate.
The mayoral race will be the first since New Haven changed the mayoral term from two to four years, adding new stakes to the 2027 contest.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
