New Haven Independent

He Gets His Hands Dirty — Without Snitchin’

by Melissa Bailey | March 6, 2007 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

A man who single- handedly fends off a stream of loiterers and trash from his Beaver Hill street corner was honored as a model of civic engagement and neighborly pride.

In an official citation bestowed at Monday’s Board of Aldermen meeting, Beaver Hill Alderman Moti Sandman thanked George Rose, Sr. for “personal ownership and pride in the corner of Whalley and Winthrop.”

“Everywhere you see loiterers, you see a lot of trash. We have to be vigilant,” said the retired veteran, taking the mic in aldermanic chambers. “It’s easy to talk, but to get out there and dirty your hands up” — that’s what Rose does. Each time bottles from day-drinkers scatter the sidewalk near his home, the 78-year-old comes out with a rake.

Returning to New Haven in 1999 after a 40-year hiatus, Rose saw his Winthrop home “torn up.” He moved back in and, according to public officials and the neighbors who showed up in City Hall to support him, has single-handedly kept control of the corner.

Outside a nearby liquor store, Rose said, adult men loiter drinking bottles, which they then throw in his yard. Just last week, one was arrested for public urination, according to the city. Rose approaches the loiterers and tells them to get lost.

“There ain’t going to be no snitchin’; I’m gonna tell you up front. I look at ‘em eyeball to eyeball, belly to belly, toe to toe… They respect that.”

Rose joins the Friends of Beaver Pond Park in cleanups, is active in his management team, and keeps the heat on mayoral staff and his alderman to get cracking on repairs — for example, when the ground flooded because drainage pipes weren’t connected to the sewage system.

“He’s a strong force against criminal activity,” said Sandman, adding: “and he reminds me in his own gentle way what needs to be done.”

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Posted by: Nan Bartow | March 7, 2007 9:04 AM

Whether he is cleaning up on the corner of Winthrop and Whalley, talking with storeowners and loiterers in his neighborhood, or tending to his "Rose Garden" (named after him) in Beaver Pond Park, Mr. George Rose is unfailingly good-humored, optimistic, and hard-working. He represents the best of American manhood. I'm honored to join with the New Haven Independent in singing his praises.

Posted by: Tawanna Woolfolk | March 7, 2007 9:23 PM

Congratualations Mr. Rose!! He is an amazing gentleman and a dignified citizen of New Haven. I am glad to be his neighbor and his friend.

Posted by: vera | March 9, 2007 4:55 AM

being a beaver hill resident i really appreciate what you have done. HOW CAN I HELP. PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT nipsy1@sbcglobal.net. it's time that i helped rebuild my community.

thanks for a great job.

Posted by: Nan Bartow | March 9, 2007 10:57 AM

Mr. Rose asked me to thank Melissa Bailey for writing the article about him in the New Haven Independent because he knows that the article will help the Beaver Hill-Whalley-Edgewood neighborhood in our efforts to organize and to clean up all of our streets. The article has already brought us Vera who is offering to help us. Each person who joins us is likely to bring two or three others into our group. Who knows what we might accomplish as we grow in numbers, strength, and pride?

Posted by: Nan Bartow | March 9, 2007 2:37 PM

Elaine Braffman asked me to make this post for her.

"I am so proud and very lucky to work with people of his caliber! Most members of the management team seem to want to be part of the solution, not just habitual complainers. I am very fortunate as a neighborhood specialist to work with folks like this."
Elaine Braffman-Liveable Cities Initiative Neighborhood Specialist.

He Gets His Hands Dirty — Without Snitchin’

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