A trained regional planner with a commitment to progressive principles was named the new head of New Haven’s city plan department.
The new planning chief, Laura Brown, is a regional planner by training and certified economic developer who since 2014 has worked as a community and economic development educator with UConn Extension.
“There’s so much great work happening here,” Brown said of New Haven. “I want you to know that I will be putting all of my work through the lens of equity and undoing any structures that are limiting, oppressive… and really raising up equity.”
Asked about balancing the need for affordable housing with the boom in luxury development, Brown said that she would look at a range of approaches.
“Zoning is one of the tools we use to get there,” Brown said.
Brown succeeds Aicha Woods, who has held the city planning job for the last two years and helped preside over a boom in residential development in the city.
Elicker announced Brown’s appointment at a news conference Friday at New Haven City Hall.
Wendella Battey was named new head of the city department of Labor Relations. Battey is an attorney with a labor relations practice in Bloomfield.
Wildaliz Bermudez, a nonprofit executive, was named the new head of the Fair Rent department.
City hall veteran Barbara Montalvo was named the new liaison between the mayor’s office and the Board of Alders.
The new appointees take office in the next month; none of the appointments require approval from the Board of Alders.
Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.
