It's been a half-century since the torture and eventual murder of wrongly suspected FBI informant Alex Rackney by members of the Black Panther Party. The racial tensions in New Haven that followed when party leaders were put on trial for Rackney's death led to the National Guard patrolling its streets.

In some ways, the city has changed a lot since then. But many of the social problems that provoked New Haven's angst during that period--injustices by police, substandard housing, gentrificaton, and racial disparity--remain unsolved.

This week, we reflect on the Black Panther trials and how New Haven is still recovering as it takes on slumlords, attempts to balance redevelopment and the need for affordable housing, and maintain the community's fragile relationship with law enforcement.

How will those issues play into mayoral races this year in New Haven and other Connecticut cities?

Meanwhile, at the state Capitol in Hartford, lawmakers have only a week left to act on many of the Democratic leadership's top priorities, including paid family medical leave and the creation of a state-subsidized health insurance option.

Will either of those bills join the newly won minimum wage hike at the finish line, or will they pushed off for another session?

It's been a half-century since the <a href="https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/50_years_after_murder_panther_/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/50_years_after_murder_panther_/">torture and eventual murder of wrongly suspected FBI informant Alex Rackney</a> by members of the Black Panther Party. The racial tensions in New Haven that followed when party leaders were put on trial for Rackney's death led to the National Guard patrolling its streets.
In some ways, the city has changed a lot since then. But many of the social problems that provoked New Haven's angst during that period--injustices by police, substandard housing, gentrificaton, and racial disparity--remain unsolved.
This week, we reflect on the Black Panther trials and how New Haven is still recovering as it <a href="https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/clock_starts_ticking_on_landlord_fines/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/clock_starts_ticking_on_landlord_fines/">takes on slumlords</a>, attempts to <a href="https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/howe_st_rent_hike/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/howe_st_rent_hike/">balance redevelopment and the need for affordable housing</a>, and maintain the community's <a href="https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/tcb_crb/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/tcb_crb/">fragile relationship with law enforcement</a>.
How will those issues play into mayoral races this year in New Haven and other Connecticut cities?
Meanwhile, at the state Capitol in Hartford, lawmakers have only a week left to act on many of the Democratic leadership's top priorities, including paid family medical leave and the <a href="https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-connecticut-executives-public-option-20190528-wu7hzi2r7zbjtbxrtwz6gqrqoe-story.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-connecticut-executives-public-option-20190528-wu7hzi2r7zbjtbxrtwz6gqrqoe-story.html">creation of a state-subsidized health insurance option</a>.
Will either of those bills join the <a href="https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20190528_lamont_signs_minimum_wage_increase_business_continues_protest/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20190528_lamont_signs_minimum_wage_increase_business_continues_protest/">newly won minimum wage hike</a> at the finish line, or will they pushed off for another session?

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.

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