New Haven Independent

Lt. Joe Streeto was one of several speakers with mostly good news to report Wednesday night at a meeting of the Hill South Management Team.

Streeto reported no recent major gun violence in the neighborhood. A group of youth are working hard to make the neighborhood a better place. City Seed wants to set up a Farmer’s Market for a day in August. ANd two awards were given to the community for the restoration of the St. Peter’s Parish House.

The management team met in the parish house, which smelled of new wood and shined in the early evening sun that came through the high, church-like windows. In addition to its regular agenda, the meeting was also a celebration of the arrival of summer. But even though warm, delicious smelling chicken, rice and beans and plaintains waited on the table, the more than 30 people in attendance were patient.

Lt. Streeto discussed a proposed city ordinance on how long memorials can stay up and teen violence on the streets. Permits would be applied for through the police department and also require an alderman’s signature. Hill Alderman Jorge Perez, pictured, was in attendance.

The drafted ordinance, created by City Hall, says that memorials must be taken down after 30 days. Perez said nothing is concrete yet and that a public hearing will be held.

Perez will cosponsor the proposal with Hill Alderwoman Andrea Jackson-Brooks. While details haven’t been set in stone, a proposal along the lines of the draft is scheduled to be introduced at the next Board of Aldermen meeting.

“For the families, it’s a very emotional thing for them. They want it; the community doesn’t want it,” said Perez, later expanding on the reasons behind the proposal. “I haven’t found one person who lives near one who wants it there.”

Perez said neighbors complain that memorials draw congregations of 20 to 30 people who hang around drinking and making noise.

“They are a bad reminder of violence in the city,” added Lt. Streeto.

Streeto also advised people to be careful walking alone late at night because of robberies and assaults. He reported two recent robberies in which a single person was attacked by three teens and a couple were the targets of a group of teens on bikes. Streeto said the police are issuing tickets to youth loitering and are working with the Yale Child Study Department.

Also at the meeting were four Hill youth who are working to “make the neighborhood a better place.” David Romero, 15, Keshon Earl, 15, Nicole Smith, 17 and Valerie Rodriguez, 15 live in the Hill and have been working with the Hill Youth Action Team (HYAT) for a year.

HYAT researches resources for youth in the Hill, conducts surveys of youth and last summer completed a project called “city scan.” Teams of three would go out into the community to document areas that were not visually pleasing. One team member would have a camera, another a hand held computer and another a notebook. The goal was to create a database of blighted properties.

Earl held up the map of where the properties are.

“The main objective was to raise awareness in the Hill,” said supervisor Erin Spelman.

And “to make it a safer place for youth,” said supervisor Stacy Graham.

A representative of City Seed was in attendance and delivered news of a possible Farmer’s Market in the Hill on a day in August.

The Management Team was presented with two awards for the parish house: the Connecticut Preservation Award and the Blue Ribbon Historical Preservation Award.

This was the last meeting of the Hill South Management Team until September.

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