New Haven Independent

Posted by: we need safe streets now | June 5, 2008 1:12 PM

A hit and run is NOT an "accident."

Other than that little fact that you seem to have missed, was the driver following all applicable traffic laws, including the posted speed limit?

How do you think the family feels about this horrific tragedy being called an "accident" before the investigation has even really started or the murderer has been caught?

It is also worth pointing out that these streets are not designed or engineered correctly. It is a proven fact that they are designed to encourage people to speed far beyond the posted speed limits, and far beyond the 20MPH speed that most urban planners and neighborhood residents would recommend for a densely populated area like this. In addition to the related noise and ther problems caused by
speeding, pedestrians hit at 20MPH have a 95% chance of survival, while that drops to 50% when speeds increase to 30MPH and about 15% at speeds of 40MPH. In other words, there is a good reason why speed limits should be strictly set at 25MPH if not lower in areas like this. Immediate measures need to be taken to calm traffic speeds down to levels that are friendly to neighborhood residents and to the economic development and public health of our city. The current level of injury and death on our streets is completely unacceptable. We need to reclaim our streets.

A pedestrian is seriously injured in our country every few minutes. This needs to end now. Part of the way to do that is not to call these deaths "accidents" unless that has actually been proven by an independent panel of experts. The fact is that the vast majority of the 45,000 deaths and 400,000 or so traffic-related hospitalizations (with an average of a week or more stay there) in our country each year are not caused by "accidents."

Posted by: observer | June 5, 2008 1:45 PM

That intersection at Whalley Avenue and Davis street is one of THE WORST in the city, in terms of drivers on Whalley running red lights. It happens all day long, every single day. All day long, every single day. The cops know this (or so one said at a neighborhood meeting, once), and claim they could be out there all day long, writing tickets, and do nothing else. (This seemed intended as a reason not to be out there at all.) Drivers entering Whalley from Davis take their lives in their hands. As for pedestrians, especially an unfortunate, innocent, 11-year-old girl, fuggedaboudit. It is no surprise that someone now has literally gotten killed at that intersection. No surprise at all.

Drivers at that intersection, on Whalley, repeatedly APPROACH the intersection when their light ALREADY is red, and ENTER the intersection LONG AFTER their light has been red for some time. They are selfish, criminal, and now, one is murderous. And cowardly, having hit and run. It would be interesting to know details, but my strong guess is that the girl was trying to cross Whalley in front of the laundromat, and HAD the GREEN light in her direction.

Will THIS incident elicit more enforcement? The state police (this happened on a state highway) should do a registration check of all 1999-2005 Volkswagen Jettas in the New Haven area (at least as a start), search them out and examine every one of them. And then, since the state will not put a camera at that intersection (or anywhere else), the local police should station a patrol car out there 16 hours a day. Unrealistic? Undoubtedly. More carnage to come at that intersection? Undoubtedly.

Posted by: Carole | June 5, 2008 5:28 PM

"We Need Safe Streets Now" says: "A hit and run is NOT an 'accident.' ... How do you think the family feels about this horrific tragedy being called an 'accident' before the investigation has even really started or the murderer has been caught?"

A hit and run is a crime. Gabrielle's Lee's death is a tragedy. Speeding, running red lights and stop signs, and other reckless driving are outrageously widespread. I am a near-zealot on this issue.

Nonetheless, from what I read here, we don't know how the collision took place. It's very likely that the driver was speeding, and quite possible that s/he ran the light. But we really don't know.

I certainly agree that we need safe streets now. Aggressive drivers cause most of the problem and bear most of the responsibility for making the streets safer. And we definitely need more enforcement. But those of us who walk and bike around New Haven also bear some responsibility. We need to cross at the crosswalk, with the signal, bike with traffic, use lights and reflectors on our bikes after dark. And keep up the noise for traffic calming, education and enforcement so that we can, as WNSSN says, reclaim our streets.

Posted by: DingDong | June 5, 2008 7:41 PM

Is the part of Whalley Ave. that the state is planning on reconstructing to increase vehicle speeds this summer? If it is, then this is an outrage. If a government does not show any respect for the lives of its citizens, that calls for civil disobedience! We need to slow cars in our cities down, not speed them up! We can't let them reconstruct Whalley to make it more, not less, dangerous!

Posted by: TrueBlueCT | June 5, 2008 7:50 PM

I was staggered to learn that all the ticket money from moving violations goes to the State.

That fact made me change my mind about using traffic cameras to catch speeders and reckless drivers. Made we really need them for to save lives via better enforcement.

Also, New Haven and other cities should petition the Legislature to send some of the ticket money back to our local PD's. Yes, I understand why it would be a bad idea for ticketing to become a revenue generator for small towns in CT. But why not something that's revenue neutral? Maybe the State could return enough of the ticket $$$ to reimburse us for 80% of new dedicated traffic details?

Something's got to change.

Posted by: JMS | June 5, 2008 7:57 PM

I have a family member who lived on Davis Street near Whalley for many years so I have sat at that light and the end of the block many times. When the light turns green I always creep out very slowly because drivers run the red light on Whalley all the time... mostly from the right side... but sometimes from the left as well. My guess is the problem is related to the long uninterrupted (high speed) approach leading up the hill past Bills Ice Cream. Try sitting down at one of their tables and observe traffic some day. Cars (and motorcycles) blow by at 40, 50 or 60mph all day long... sometimes accelerating flat out. The road then bends out of sight at the top of the rise so many of these speeding drivers have very little time to react to a red light at Davis Street when they approach it... especially if they are speeding. Not sure how I would solve the problem other then maybe a regular speed trap on the side of the road just before Ernie's Pizza.

It's a horrible story and my heart goes out to the grieving family of that young girl. I hope they catch the spineless driver/murderer and put him away for a long time.

JMS

Posted by: Bill | June 5, 2008 8:08 PM

Nothing about this sad affair justifies calling it an 'accident.' Carole is right that until the investigation is complete, it's impossible to say exactly how this young girl was killed but the fact that she was "thrown into the air by the impact" according to police certainly indicates that the car driver who killed her and then escaped the scene was traveling well in excess of the city speed limit, which I believe is 25 miles per hour in that area.

Sadly, this crime is notable mostly because it was a hit and run. The recent killings of Ms. Rainof in New Haven and a young man in West Haven seem to have ended with no charges being filed against either driver, and in both cases, the speed of the automobile was almost certainly a contributing factor.

People will continue to die on our nation's roads until serious and substantial efforts are made to reform traffic patterns and behavior and stop accepting the estimated 45,000 annual deaths--about four times as many as are caused by gun violence--as a necessary consequence of the status quo.

Posted by: Andrew | June 5, 2008 8:26 PM

As a runner, I can share several stories of almost being hit by cars running red lights and stop signs, and, in one case, having a a half full, large cup of McDonald's soda thrown at me after a car took a knowing run at me for daring to cross the Cold Spring - Whitney intersection in turn.

People, the road culture in New Haven sucks. No respect for life, no responsibility for one's actions, and very little in the way of police enforcement (in fact, I see a lot of cruisers flying through the stop signs as well).

In all honesty, it reminds me of several developing countries I've spent time in. Dodge city. And, sadly, I don't see it changing any time soon....

Posted by: GINA | June 5, 2008 8:40 PM

Apalling to say the least. Sadly, I was driving down Davis to Whalley just minutes after this tragic incident before the police taped off the area. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. We must convince our state legislature of the need for cameras installed at least at our busy and/or problem intersections. I commend everyone who has already been involved in these and similar efforts and would like to lend my help to make our streets safer. Please feel free to contact me.

Gina Calder
Ward 2 Alderwoman
782-0832
ginaforward2@gmail.com

Posted by: Observer 2 | June 5, 2008 9:36 PM

This is disgusting. I live in this area and have also witnessed (every time I turn onto Whalley--no joke--from Davis).

I tell you something--if the police offers actually DID go out there and give tickets all day THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. (Feel free to remove the caps, Paul).

Disgusting. Why can't New Haveners follow the traffic laws, and why can't the officers enforce them?

Posted by: jack | June 6, 2008 1:09 AM

everyone should sign the "new haven safe streets petition" now and send it to everyone they know. the effort and all the things you guys talk about above , like traffic cameras and slowing traffic near schools down to 15 or 20mph (absolutely necessary), won't happen with out tremenous political will in our city. sounds like until this point there have been a lot of groups working spearatley. they all need to worktogether and sign on with the campaign if anything is going to ever change. and everyone out there also just needs to start driving civilly themselves (the petition has something about that, where everyone agrees to follow the limit, kind of like the city's pace car program). a

Posted by: jameca | June 6, 2008 10:06 AM

Do we really think having a safe street petition is going to really do anything signicicant? it wont, a majority of the time we are talking about youth ful offenders who are behind the wheel, and they dont mentally understand the severity of thier own actions.

We need to come up with a better solution, that will be more effective. Maybe the city should invest on buying traffic light cameras and having them installed at some of the towns busiest intersections. Had we had one there, we would know the exact car with a license plate number. Lets be smart and think of solutions that will be effective and not waste time and energy

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 6, 2008 10:07 AM

"I was staggered to learn that all the ticket money from moving violations goes to the State."

It's sad that it takes money for city officials to decide to start enforcing traffic laws - rather than saving lives. How many people have to die? Maybe a class action lawsuit against the city by the residents and victims' families would motivate officials to start enforcement.

Posted by: Tim Holahan | June 6, 2008 10:21 AM

The New Haven Safe Streets petition is available here. There is a "Sign the Petition" link at the bottom. Please sign it and ask others to do so as well.

My deepest sympathies to Gabrielle's family.

Posted by: Carole | June 6, 2008 10:32 AM

Jameca,

I agree that young people -- especially those who are living dangerously in other ways -- are more likely to be reckless drivers. But I also know people who are middle-aged, middle-class, and otherwise responsible and law-abiding, who drive too fast and cheat on red lights because they're in a hurry and don't think anyone will get hurt. The safe streets petition, and the increased enforcement that it calls for, could help make people more aware of the danger of their actions.

About red-light cameras: Do they work? Anyone have evidence about whether they reduce the number of collisions or fatalities?

Posted by: anon | June 6, 2008 10:42 AM

Carole, red light cameras that issue automatic tickets have been massively effective in other cities. So much so that they actually can cause drops in the ticket revenue stream because almost everyone stops speeding.

It is ridiculous that we don't have them installed in a dense urban center like New Haven. The reason is a matter of state politics and regulations... so call the Governor today and demand change!

Posted by: Wes | June 6, 2008 11:22 AM

Where are the cameras? If a camera was installed at the intersection, the perpetrator would be known and the investigation would be much stronger. Perhaps cameras would also help to deter people from the dangerous driving habits that currently pervade.

Posted by: Carole | June 6, 2008 12:00 PM

Anon,

Can you post some links on the effectiveness of red-light cameras?

Posted by: JSJ | June 6, 2008 12:31 PM

I'm adding my voice to the chorus of residents who've had close calls while turning onto Whalley from Davis. And even as early as 7am, cars are already flying through the red light.

And yes, our PD, FD and govt. employees are setting an extremely poor example by visibly flaunting safety and the law.

It's strange- before I moved to New Haven, I'd had this quaint idea that people worked in law enforcement, emergency response and government should not blatantly disregard the traffic laws they have a vested interest in upholding.

But in the four years since I've moved here, I've seen our mayor run a red light on Sherman Ave., a state trooper on his way to work leaving all the other traffic on Whalley in the dust- and just this morning, a dark blue Pacifica with NHFD decals on the front and back windows rode my rear bumper down Edgewood until the Central Ave. intersection and passed me on the right when the light changed so he could zoom off ahead.

Posted by: Enlighten Us | June 6, 2008 1:57 PM

Observer....you seem to have all the answers and none of the knowledge. Perhaps you should run for mayor, better yet governor since you seem to have such a grasp on solutions. Any ideas of how many officers handle the specific districts of the city? Any idea of the cost of overtime, hiring more cops etc? Obviously not. Just as people's ambivalence in the case of the Hartford hit-and-run PEOPLE are ultimately responsible for their owns actions. It is unrealistic to think that every intersection in the city is going to be consistently monitored. Sad as it is, it is the simple truth. The motorcycle cops handle different, problem areas, but in a city this large, couldn't possible cover the majority of problems on a daily basis. Call NHPD and ask for a list of daily dispatched. Then you would see how dedicated and hard-working the majority of the force is!

Posted by: jazzerae morton | June 6, 2008 2:43 PM

i hope u guys find out who did it cause that is my cousins death we all love her and we will all miss her i hope everything works out

Posted by: david streever | June 6, 2008 2:52 PM

It's true: You can catch NHPD members all day violating the law. Just watch a bike cop for five minutes....

There are some extremely hard working police officers & city officials who do set an excellent example--let's focus on them, and hope that we can affect a cultural change here that will encourage the misbehaviors to get with the program!

I wish the police department great luck in finding the coward who ran from this tragedy.

Posted by: Dennis | June 6, 2008 4:40 PM

Until I arrived in New Haven about nine months ago I had never lived in a place where people drive with such disregard so consistently. As a full-time pedestrian, I have had to run out of the path of drivers running red lights on multiple occasions, most recently in the very same intersection where that Yale Medical student was hit and killed. As with any other situation involving public order, the police need to step in where individuals fail to regulate their own behaviour and choose instead to endanger the lives of others. I say bring on the traffic cameras at problem intersections and increase the fines and penalties for careless and callous drivers.

Posted by: JMS | June 6, 2008 5:06 PM

I signed the petition... for what it's worth. Hopefully it has some effect. Thanks for posting the link.

JMS

Posted by: Deuce | June 6, 2008 5:50 PM

The driver should be hoping and praying that the cops get to him before the people do!

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 6, 2008 9:58 PM

"Any idea of the cost of overtime..."

Yeah, the NHPD is raping taxpayers. I guess that doesn't matter for most of them, since they don't live/pay taxes here anyway.

My guess is Observer came up with a better idea than you at how to catch the guy/gal and that set you off. We can probably chalk this up as one more unsolved crime with who knows how many hours of overtime sunk into it with no results (not yet, but soon).

The saddest part is this could have been prevented if officials took the initiative to start enforcing traffic laws however many years ago.

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 6, 2008 10:27 PM

BTW, I was walking with my wife and 16 month old child today when a tow truck from Unlimited Towing came speeding down Front St at approx 50 miles per hour with a car in tow. He nearly hit us on the sidewalk (he was looking down at something in the truck). He slammed on his brakes and left skid marks about 25 feet in length. Then, my wife stood there and glared at him and he went off on her and started to threaten her. I know these guys sometimes carry guns or I would have yanked him from the truck and broken every limb in his scrawny old body.

We called the police. But needless to say they never showed up despite the fact that we keep calling every 2-3 hours (they said they're busy). It's 10:30pm now and this happened around 5pm. So much for having a police force, never mind traffic laws.

Here is a link to the skid marks on Front St. As you can see this isn't from a vehicle going 25 miles per hour. Note how the skid marks show how he is veering towards the sidewalk.

http://picasaweb.google.com/fairhavener/UnlimitedTowing

The point is, NHPD doesn't care about traffic enforcement in the past, now, or ever. I feel sorry for any family having to deal with a lost family member due to reckless drivers - especially those whose perpetrators were not caught by the NHPD.

Posted by: anon | June 6, 2008 11:11 PM

FairHavener: That is an utter outrage and you should take your story directly to the Mayor, Governor, every other elected official in the state and every staff person in the entire city government until you begin to see some action. This almost killed you -- unless you match the level of your action to the level of the criminal driver, nothing will change. This kind of thing has to stop immediately, and the only way to do it is for the public to immediately demand, with one voice, each and every one of the items listed in the petition mentioned above. We need to reclaim our streets.

Posted by: observer | June 6, 2008 11:34 PM

Enlighten us,

You leave me wondering if perhaps you are connected to the police ranks in some way, since you seem to have taken my remarks as some sort of personal attack on the police, which I did not intend at all. I also wonder whether you caught my words, "Unrealistic? Undoubtedly." Of course, as you say, it is "unrealistic to think that every intersection in the city is going to be consistently monitored," and I did not suggest that. What COULD be done is that police management could decide to target specific known problem spots with a show of determination that traffic violators, and pedestrian violators too, for that matter, are no longer going to be tolerated.

When you say that people are ultimately responsible for their own actions, making a comparison to the death of the man in Hartford, are you seriously arguing that an 11-year-old girl, very likely crossing with a green light, is responsible for having been killed by a driver very likely speeding through a red light?? What people -- citizens -- taking responsibility, can do is, like the police, show that they're not willing to take it anymore. Just this afternoon, while walking, I yelled at two drivers blasting through red lights. Later, while driving, I honked at a third. It felt great. None of them liked it, at all. If one had stopped to try to chew me out, I was fully prepared to face them with the story of the girl who got killed nearby a couple nights ago.

Things can change if people stand up. (And avoid silly sarcasm.)

Posted by: unprotected | June 7, 2008 9:37 AM

i would like to comment on the NHPD not enforcing MV laws. first, there aren't enought cops on the street,and there is no overtime available for the enforcement of MV law. second, cars routinely speed away form police when they are stopped for MV violations, and a general order forbids pursuit for anything less than a serious felony. Third, if MV laws were strictly enforced, other calls would go unanswered. open your eyes and you will see society is falling apart with lack of compassion for others. Maybe you all should petition an overtime detail that only enforces MV laws and is held accountable for their ticket totals... oh wait, that is a quota and that's illegal. the public can't have it both ways (enforce MV laws, just not with me)

Posted by: JackNH | June 7, 2008 9:56 AM

Dear Fairhavener:

That's the stretch of Front St I live on myself. I see traffic laws broken CONSTANTLY there, including by the cops themselves who SPEED through the stop sign!! (I've even seen SCHOOL BUSES run the stop sign.) What can we do about it?? It's lawless in New Haven. Hartford is in the news this week-- but I doubt New Haven is any better. JackNH

Posted by: JS | June 7, 2008 12:50 PM

I'm all for organizing a protest on the eastbound side of Whalley Avenue between Ramsdell and Davis. This street is out of control. There used to be a merge sign where Amity Road meets Whalley (not like it worked), but it got stolen or taken down. People need to slow down, and learn to merge, not sit at the Ramsdell light in two separate lanes. And the idiots keep two lanes all the way down past Davis! What the hell?!?

I try to block them by sitting right in the middle, but the jerks just go around me on the left, crossing over the double yellow line to pass me. And while I'm trying to block that car, someone goes around me on the right. Why do I have to play traffic cop and block these people so they don't act like idiots? It's disgusting.

So, who's with me? We can all make signs that say "THIS IS ONE LANE", "MERGE NOW", and "SLOW DOWN". How about a sign that says "6/4/08: YOUR SPEEDING COST SOMEONE'S LIFE"? Oh, wait, they'll never be able to read all of that, because they're doing 40-50 mph. Maybe we can put it near the stop light (with any luck, they won't run the light) as a reminder to those who "need to save five minutes on their trip" and get there on time. But yeah, let's march up there one weekend. I'll seriously do this if enough people go with me. I live further down on Whalley, and I'm just sick of the bulls**t on this road. You want to know why people leave New Haven? They don't want to put up with people driving like morons and creating their own rules.

If you want in on the protest, email me. Once we get enough people, I'll email everyone and we'll do this.

Posted by: Elfer | June 7, 2008 10:56 PM

This mornings headline "Rell offers cash in hit-run" where is John D? He's abandon this city and all its residents. Shame on you John, get out of town NOW!!!

Posted by: resident | June 8, 2008 1:42 AM

JS I highly support a protest. You should probably hook up with the safe streets coalition at www.newhavensafestreets.org, it looks like they already have over a thousand people on board with their effort. We need safer streets otherwise our city is going to go down the tubes economically. I doubt very many people are going to walk to that laundromat anymore, for example. That means they'll have to spend more money fueling their car, which means less money available for going out to restaurants, shopping at downtown boutiques, or paying their rent.

It is a downward spiral, which we could correct by just making our streets safe places to walk again.

Posted by: Hooligan | June 8, 2008 1:24 PM

Funny how when I read the article, it was the Police asking for help for the community, but when I read the blogs it turned into cop bashing piece, particularly Fairhavener.

I also live in this area, for the past 18 years, and I've got to say that the cops do alot of great work. I wont join your crusade against them, they are under staffed and have always responded when my neighbors called.

Keep your chins up, and don't let the bashing get to you. Grateful citizen, btw Fairhavener, if you do live in the neighborhood you should know that two cops reside in the neighborhood.

Posted by: observer 2 | June 8, 2008 4:12 PM

unprotected says:
"the public can't have it both ways (enforce MV laws, just not with me)"

nobody's asking for this, friend. we want the law enforced uniformly and blindly, with a reasonable expectation that wrongdoing might lead to punishment, since this -- again -- is a serious matter of public safety. now, if that means i get a ticket from running a light that's turned red two seconds ago, it sounds fair to me. doesn't mean we need all lights monitored 24/7, but i think it's safe to say that we have these laws for a reason, and that they don't mean jack unless they're enforced.

what you present as alternatives are not mutually exclusive. they are actually totally unrelated, so cut it out with the smoke screen.

does it mean that we shouldn't want drug laws enforced because, um, we have a few bad apples in the barrel that abuse their position?

Posted by: ctjoueur | June 8, 2008 8:39 PM

JS - I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the only one trying to block that part of Whalley from being 2 lanes. I do the same thing with my car and get such looks of rage from drivers as if *I'M* the one driving poorly! There really needs to be more signage up.

I will sign the safe streets petition if only to show that there are people who care about this. Hopefully *someone* in New Haven/CT govt will read all of these comments and turn some of them into action!!

Posted by: resident | June 8, 2008 9:23 PM

Funeral services announced for 11-year-old hit and run victim
Posted June 08, 2008 5:55 PM

New Haven (WTNH): Funeral services have been announced for the 11-year-old New Haven girl killed last week in a hit-and-run.

Fifth grader Gabrielle lee died on Wednesday. She was walking with her family back to the laundromat on Whalley Avenue when she was hit by a car; the car took off. Police are still trying to track down the driver.

Visiting hours for Lee are Friday at the Edgewood Park Congregation of Jehovah's Witness. A funeral service is set for Saturday morning at Beecher and Bennett Funeral Home in Hamden.

Posted by: Newbie | June 9, 2008 11:23 AM

Well said Hooligan. It is disturbing that a tragedy has been degraded into police bashing. I suspect Fairhavener has a grudge. Perhaps he can come out in the open with it instead of exploiting tragedy to make his latest gripe against City Hall and the NHPD.

I drive past that sight everyday and the sight of those stuffed animals breaks my heart. I hope that serves as a reminder to drivers to slow down and be more aware of people on the side of the road, not just how to get ahead of the traffic at the next light.

My thoughts are with the family as they go through this difficult time.

Posted by: jms | June 9, 2008 1:37 PM

"There used to be a merge sign where Amity Road meets Whalley (not like it worked), but it got stolen or taken down... idiots keep two lanes all the way down past Davis... I try to block them by sitting right in the middle, but the jerks just go around me on the left, crossing over the double yellow line to pass me. And while I'm trying to block that car, someone goes around me on the right."

JS,

Excellent point. I have observed this problem over and over again myself. Like you I try to diffuse it by passively blocking drivers from passing on the inside and continuing as if there were two lanes all the way down the hill. I have witnessed angry/hurried drives passing me in the oncoming lane or even putting a wheel up on the curb to get around me as I sit at the light in the middle of the lane.

Where is the "merge now" sign?

And why can't I have twin 50 caliber machine guns installed on my hood?

(Kidding)

The funeral info is no less tragic to read about few days later.
I also saw the small memorial that was placed at the scene of the accident (I should say "crime") and it was very sad to see. Such a needless waste of a young life.

JMS

Posted by: whalleydriver | June 9, 2008 1:43 PM

So at 11:30 am this morning I was at that very intersection, waiting for the light to turn green, admiring the little shrine of stuffed animals, when a cop pulls up to my left, stops briefly, and continues through the light, as if it were a stop sign. No sirens or anything, he then pulled into Westville Plaza where a few of his buddies were sitting. I was infuriated and nearly pulled in to confront him, but I thought because of their notorious corruption I'd better not. Why are we expected to obey the rules of the road when those who we pay to enforce them break them so blatantly?

Posted by: observer | June 9, 2008 6:42 PM

Boy, you know, I really did not start my reaction to this tragedy with any ill will toward any policemen -- just questions about why the department heads do not address a problem that they've known about for a long time. Whalleydriver's story about the conduct this morning of one particular officer, at the very intersection where the crime occurred, makes me realize that, with the department basically leaderless at the moment, we can expect nothing from them in terms of making anything better there. If they don't care, at all, then the damn illegal drivers certainly are not going to care.

Several people above have talked about limited budgets and resources. Of course that is true. I gather, however, that a big investigation is now going on to try to find the hit-and-run driver. Using what resources? Wouldn't it be better to use money to try to prevent driver crimes beforehand, than to try to solve them after they've occurred, and after someone is dead?

A community meeting is being held tomorrow night, June 10, at the Davis Street School, 6 PM, to show off plans for the school's remodeling. The meeting was planned before the tragedy occurred down the street, and I expect the mayor will find that the agenda has changed in the minds of the people who show up. Get this -- the city is remodeling and expanding the school -- full of children -- that sits a block away from a notorious intersection they know is a menace, but where they do not enforce the traffic laws.

And where a police officer himself runs a red light.

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 9, 2008 7:55 PM

Exactly whalleydriver - how many times have we seen something like that happen (I can't even count)? How are we supposed to respect the police when they can't even follow the same simple traffic laws they should be enforcing?

BTW Hooligan and Newbie, there is a difference between bashing and criticism, especially when that criticism is fair and deserved. Obviously, I am not the only one who feels this way as you may have noticed the other posts. There is a great probability that had the police been enforcing traffic laws like they should that little girl would still be alive.

"btw Fairhavener, if you do live in the neighborhood you should know that two cops reside in the neighborhood."

You could have fooled me.

BTW again, it took the cops two days to show up for our incident and the officer who arrived barely even cared at all. You better bet I will be pursuing this.

Posted by: I went to Davis St School '69-71 | June 9, 2008 8:29 PM

I love the fact that the cops are setting up a traffic stop at the corner of Davis and Whalley tonight - and they publicized it on the WTNH website. So now all the thugs know to just go out Fountain and cut over to Whalley a few blocks past Davis.
I must say I'm amazed no one has come forward to claim that 10 grand - usually that much money will make people rethink their loyalties.

Posted by: Alek Juskevice | June 10, 2008 5:26 AM

I have long been an advocate for traffic calming. This tragedy could have been avoided if this highway was engineered as a street. The plans to turn this road into two full lanes and straighten it, starting this summer will only heighten the issue. The state is essentially creating a highway within our community for suburban commuters to enter and leave our city with greater ease. Wouldn't it be nice if instead of a highway to our downtown, it were one lane in each direction, lined with beautiful elm trees, with flower planters running down the center of the road. This would essentially create a gateway to our beautiful city, of which there are currently none. It would cost a lot less money than the current plan. Commuter lots might be placed immediately at the edge of the city, and light rail could bring people to and from downtown. We had something like this until the late 1940's? , when the trolley was ripped out to make way for the automobile. It is time that we started engineering our cities for the human, and not the automobile. I understand that people must get to work, but cities have been going in this unsustainable direction for a long time. we need to rethink our city in lieu of higher gas prices and safety. I believe that in the future, the cities with the best public transportations systems will become destinations. The suburbs will be unaffordable due to rising fuel and heating costs and McMansions will be converted into apartments.
alek

Posted by: Newbie | June 10, 2008 11:45 AM

Just to let everyone know the cops set up a road block last night at that intersection and handed out flyers with the make of the vehicle and information on the reward and all the known info related to the crime.

I think that is a great effort by the NHPD to get the community involved in turning over the perps. I wasn't on the road last night but my neighbors came by to show me the flyer, so the word is getting out there.

Posted by: MattUva | June 10, 2008 12:03 PM

Whatever happened to enforcing "quality of life" issues?
In a previous job I worked closely with suburban police departments. They used to brag about how many simple traffic stops (broken taillights, stop sign running) led to major busts. Time and time again, the "irresponsible" drivers were also the ones transporting drugs or weapons, driving intoxicated, or driving stolen cars.
Sure, most traffic stops turn out to be nothing more than a ticket, but so many of the suburban cops' stories made me believe traffic enforcement held some greater purpose.
As more people are held accountable for "small" infractions, larger crimes become less appealing. The lack of simple enforcement adds to the sense of lawlessness, and makes people feel they can get away with anything (in this case murder).

Posted by: Bob Abuey | June 10, 2008 4:16 PM

Petitions, protests, blaming the police... all NONSENSE. Changing the negative things about this city starts with the individual, and branches out from there. A cop could sit in a troubled area 6 hours out of their 8 hour shift, and as soon as they have other things to tend to, something goes wrong. Ive SEEN it! And people STILL blame the police!! Whats a petition going to do? Whats a protest going to do? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

Posted by: Elm CIty Native | June 10, 2008 10:03 PM

Mattuva,
That kind of stuff also gives the cops an excuse for racial profiling. It's a slippery slope.

Posted by: observer | June 10, 2008 10:41 PM

Actually, Bob Abuey, the New Haven safe streets petition includes a clause, right near the top, that says the signers commit to respecting all traffic laws themselves. This is exactly in line with your correct statement that "Changing the negative things about this city starts with the individual, and branches out from there." You might want to reconsider, and take a look.

www.newhavensafestreets.org

Posted by: obersver 2 | June 11, 2008 9:35 AM

Elm City Native said:
"That kind of stuff also gives the cops an excuse for racial profiling. It's a slippery slope."

What "kind of stuff" exactly is meant? You mean ticketing people who drive too fast/run red lights? I fail to see how uniform enforcement of the law would *lead* to a bias, which your sentence seem to suggest (i.e., with "give the cops an excuse".)

I think race as the sole basis for arrest is inexcusable, but if a *fear* of being called a racial profiler is preventing the police from doing their jobs, I think that's far more terrible.

Still I fail to see how it's relevant to the issue as presented, which is preventing traffic deaths by enforcing traffic laws and -- maybe -- snagging a few ne'er do wells on the side.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | June 13, 2008 9:48 AM

I think I have never noticed so many dark Jetta's ever I look at every one I see right now. And will keep looking!! I am so sorry for that family lose!

Posted by: KB | June 13, 2008 1:39 PM

I too am looking at every single dark Jetta that I pass by. Please, we need to find the person who did this. The NHPD will only take information on Jettas that have some obvious front end damage, which is growing more and more unlikely as the days go on.
Gabrielle was a beloved student at both Jepson and Elm City and a nice, smart, lovely girl. This is an unbearable loss for her family and for everyone who knew her.

Posted by: JS | June 14, 2008 2:08 PM

Posted by: Bob Abuey | June 10, 2008 4:16 PM

Petitions, protests, blaming the police... all NONSENSE. Changing the negative things about this city starts with the individual, and branches out from there. A cop could sit in a troubled area 6 hours out of their 8 hour shift, and as soon as they have other things to tend to, something goes wrong. Ive SEEN it! And people STILL blame the police!! Whats a petition going to do? Whats a protest going to do? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

------------------------------------

What's a protest going to do, Bob? Well, I'm not sure how much it'll do, but it'll sure as hell do a lot more than someone sitting online, telling me that getting up and doing something about the problem won't work. No, I think you have it backwards. Sitting online and bashing other peoples' ideas to improve the neighborhood will do "ABSOLUTELY NOTHING".

I'll be going to newhavensafestreets.org and I'll try to form a protest that may or may not work. Why? Because it's better than sitting on the internet, bashing ideas to improve my neighborhood, all the while watching traffic fly by my house on Whalley.

Posted by: WestvilleFamily | June 15, 2008 8:04 AM

I love the idea of the poster above for rather than creating a Whalley highway, create a smaller -- tree lined gateway with bikepaths.

Some of the issues around speeding seem so hopeless, when even cops turn on red where your not supposed to (and almost hit me!), and speed down Vista, Whalley, Forest, and Fountain (even if you are just going 10 MPH over -- you shouldn't!)

Posted by: JMS | June 15, 2008 9:32 PM

I noticed driving by Davis/Whalley twice today that there was a New Haven Police car parked on the right side heading down the hill towards downtown. I assume this was an effort to deter drivers from forcing the "two-lanes-in-one" issue. It seemed to be working. Maybe it will just stay there to keep people honest. It's not a substitute for a real plan but it's better then nothing... at least for now.

JMS

Posted by: fallon | June 20, 2008 1:41 PM

that was my b.f.f