New Haven Independent

Posted by: Bugupit | September 21, 2008 1:34 PM

Suggestion... for the next three Saturday's, downtown clubs should not accept ID's with New Rochelle addresses... especially from 20 year olds!

Posted by: anon | September 21, 2008 6:21 PM

We need a quality of life ordinance for downtown that will either shut the disorderly clubs down, or make them improve behavior. It's really not that hard of a concept. Also, the policing situation is ridiculous because the unions hold the city hostage.

There are only a couple cops on duty and none of them are paying attention to quality of life issues such as noise or traffic (insane, 65mph speeding through the center of our city, for example) -- everything else is "private" e.g. the clubs pay cops to stay quiet.

Downtown should be for people, not for idiots.

Posted by: JP | September 21, 2008 6:37 PM

Center street just reopened this week from the underage drinking suspension and they have a shooting. How can the city let this happen. Thats the 3rd shooting on church between crown and chapel this year shut down gothem and center street and the problem will go away.

Posted by: jp | September 21, 2008 11:15 PM

anon your 100% right

Posted by: st pt ia | September 21, 2008 11:28 PM

Here's a question about these cops. Why do we have to have a fully unionized cop at these construction sites where all they do is stand around and get overtime? THEY ARE EVERYWHERE AND DOING NOOOOOTHINNNGGGG!!!!!

No one can tell me this is necessary. It's wasteful spending, and it hurts us ALL!

Anything goes down in these places means they should be closed for a month for the 1st offense.

6 months for the 2nd. 3rd time they are out of a license.

Screw them if they can't keep order, they don't deserve to be open!

Posted by: Bugupit | September 22, 2008 6:53 AM

Mayor DeStefano and Andy Rizzo, perhaps the ordinances you used to shut down the worst clubs in the 'hood last year apply citywide, even outside your windows?

Posted by: Kells | September 22, 2008 9:05 AM

I agree with Bugupit, that Rizzo & Destefano need to pay attention to what happens outside their windows. They were so quick to close the Taurus club on Winchester, but have yet to look into these trouble spots downtown?? I wonder why???? This is not the first issue that this club has had and i'm sure it won't be the last. Do something already!!!

Posted by: DWSCMT | September 22, 2008 9:21 AM

There will be a Community Forum on Quality of Life Issues Downtown this Thursday, September 25th, 2008. The forum will take place at the Omni New Haven Hotel at 6:00 PM in the Ballroom. And will include a panel of representatives from:
The City of New Haven
The New Haven Police Department
The Board of Aldermen
Town Green

- Downtown Wooster Square Communtiy Management Team
dwscmt@gmail.com

Posted by: citizen | September 22, 2008 2:32 PM

Here we go again no matter what happens in New Haven the police are always the blame why would someone say they do road jobs and the issue is the shooting downtown stick with the the problem at hand. They do a good job stop bashing them.

Posted by: jp | September 22, 2008 3:50 PM

citizen, when it comes to quality of life issues they do no job at all absolutely nothing not even an attempt at placation.

Posted by: citizen | September 22, 2008 4:01 PM

ST PT IA
When a police officer is doing road jobs they get paid by the compny they are working for on those road jobs, not by the city get your facts right.

Posted by: Common Sense | September 22, 2008 5:48 PM

The stabbing in the YNH Emergency Room resulted in a charge of breach of the peace. 2 years accelerated rehabilitation and a $500 fine at most. It should have been attempted murder with a 10 year minimum. Its the only way to get the message across top these punks. Lock em up for a long long time. Three counts and youre out is not enough. For this type of crime 2 counts only are needed. Most of New Havens problems now are from released hoods that only got 10 to 15 years in the 1990s. So Taxpayers, are you prepared to pay more to keep the real trash off the streets.

Posted by: captain obvious | September 22, 2008 6:08 PM

Citizen, correct me if I'm wrong, but usually the company that is doing the road job is getting paid by the taxpayers, so that means that the taxpayers are also paying for the police on those road jobs. It's a circular system.

Either way, it has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Posted by: tom | September 22, 2008 8:08 PM

To the ones who have something to say negative things about the police dept. I think they are taking applications this week. Stop knocking them and JOIN them. Road jobs are an insurance issue. If you think they do nothing, and are the cause of the problem go walk in there shoes. Until then please keep the hole shut.

Posted by: JP | September 22, 2008 11:25 PM

tom, what are you talking about I pay a ton of money in taxes ill speak my mind about the job the cops do or dont do as the case may be. I pay them they work for me and im sick of shootings on my door step that could be stoped if they gave a damn at all.

Posted by: chillpill | September 23, 2008 7:46 AM

remind me again why alcohol (the favorite drug of douchebags everywhere) is legal, while pot and ecstasy are not???

Posted by: citizen | September 23, 2008 8:11 AM

Captain Obvious You are wrong ATT&T are not paid by the taxpayers and State road jobs are so you are wrong.

Posted by: citizen | September 23, 2008 8:14 AM

JP as Tom said go and put your application in and become one of them and walk in their shoes.

Posted by: jp | September 23, 2008 10:46 AM

Citizen, wow why not just go with i know you are but what am I. I guess we should all run for mayor before criticizing Jonny or become the president before saying Bush sucks. Grow up I dont need to be a cop to know that when 4 people get shot in 1 summer on the same block something is wrong. I'll tell you what when there are 4 shooting and 1 murder at your front door then come and tell me what a great job the NHPD does.
Im not even asking them to do anything hard.
Enforce noise ordinances on clubs, bikes, and cars.
1)Enforce parking laws.
2)When clubs cater to people with guns give the clubs a reason to change.

That's it just push back a little bit.

Posted by: greg | September 23, 2008 11:19 AM

JP.

The shootings are not a police problem. It is a social problem. Parents of these kids shooting up the streets in this country are resonsible. Police teachers clergy can only help. The real solution comes from family. If you can not control your kids and expect government to solve the problem it is going to continue. Sorry but it is time for people to be held accountable for their own actions.

Posted by: JP | September 23, 2008 11:46 AM

Greg I guess you're right if you're trying to change behavior. I just want them kept away from me I couldn't care less if they want to kill each other in there own backyards and keeping them away from me is the polices job as I see it.

Posted by: NH | September 23, 2008 1:09 PM

"I agree with Bugupit, that Rizzo & Destefano need to pay attention to what happens outside their windows. They were so quick to close the Taurus club on Winchester"

The Taurus Club's liquor license was up for renewel by the state liquor license commission. That renewel was challenged by a group of concernced citizens and a pro bono lawyer. Larry Livingston did lose his license, but there were special circumstances that probably don't apply to the downtown clubs. His bar is in a zoned residential area, plus Larry had no accounting records to show that he paid taxes, unemployment, or SS on his employees. That was the key. The crime associated with the club was not.

Larry is appealing the case with the liquor commission to get his license back. Let's hope the city fights it with their attornies. Otherwise, it will be a big step backward in an already tough area.

Condolences to those who live downtown near the clubs.

Posted by: CITIZEN | September 23, 2008 2:07 PM

JP--- You do not know where I live and the shootings and killings are rapid in my area and I do not need to grow up i may be older of what you think you need to give the PD and its men and women a break they have families to go home to at night as you see they were doing there job up in fair haven to protect and serve and we lost one of the finest cop you would ever want to know and the other is still fighting for her life think now and give the them the respect they deserve and thanks to the new haven we have a good chief trying to clean up the city.

Posted by: JP | September 23, 2008 3:21 PM

CITIZEN,
So you are saying I should just let the cops do nothing to stop shootings downtown because of the car accident in Fair Haven?

Posted by: CITIZEN | September 23, 2008 4:16 PM

JP ---- I do not know who you are and what you do. I will say this you are not getting the picture how in the world can cops stop shootings And it was a car accident that took the life of a police officer. It seems to me that you hate cops for some reason and it is all about you I hope you live with your self about the bashing you do and they work for every taxpaying person in this city not only you. Have a nice life I hope you will need a cop and they help you maybe you respect them.

Posted by: Runner Biker | September 23, 2008 4:20 PM

JP, You say that you pay a ton of money in taxes. What do you consider a ton of money? Can you give us a specific dollar amount? If you are like most people that think they pay "a ton", you probably pay less than the rest of us. You probably send your burger back at Mickey D's like you think you're at a 5 star restaurant. Good luck and God Bless.

B

Posted by: CITIZEN | September 23, 2008 4:25 PM

Runnerbiker--- Thank you for your comment sooooo
right this person has me wondering why he is bitter with cops.

Posted by: laststraw | September 23, 2008 5:31 PM

Here's something that worries me. Quite often, police officers or police sympathizers will post responses to "cop bashing". These responses are almost always rife with incorrect grammar, poor spelling, and/or lack of punctuation. When I read such responses, I form correlations between the police and stupidity.

disclaimer: I know that the majority of New Haven Police Officers are hard-working locals who actually give a damn about this city. The problem, however, is with the distribution of police services and with officers who have developed a sense of entitlement.

I recently witnessed a group of young men in a car with NY plates attack the owners of 116 Crown St. with a baseball bat. When the police arrived, they "diffused" the situation by returning the bat to the young men and suggesting they park elsewhere before they entered the club they were headed to. I'd like to repeat that part: they gave the bat back.
What that tells me is that the NHPD officers who are working "club duty" would rather return a weapon to someone who was obviously willing to use it than keep a group of people from supporting the clubs.

As a townie it bothers me to say it, but I believe that it is time we invited the Yale Police Department "across the Green", so to speak. They should be invited to help out along Crown St. and in the "Grad Ghetto" -- both places where Yale students frequent, and would benefit from their interaction. I'm sure YPD would jump at the chance to prove themselves.

Posted by: JP | September 23, 2008 8:25 PM

Runner Biker/CITIZEN, my current assessment is 336,280 I think the current mil rate is around 43.00 so guess my current tax's are around $14,000 or so a year. I guess some people pay more but that seems like a good church of change to me.

I guess I may be bitter with the cops but its only because I see them night after night after night sitting in the D&D and not lifting a finger to stop simple things like illegal parking in front of the buffalo wild wings, or to walk over to Gothem to have them turn down the music even though I now they can hear it even from inside the D&D. When have you ever seen a cop pull over anyone on a motorcycle for them being insanely loud? They drive around down here all night and they are so loud the set off everyone's car alarm as the drive by.

Cops can stop shootings by doing many of the things I just list. It's called the broken windows method. If you stop the small problems they will not escalate into larger ones. One un-repaired broken window is a signal that no one cares and so breaking more windows costs nothing.

Another thing they can do is start to put pressure on clubs like center street and Gothem that bring a less then desirable element to the community. Why not go into Gothem and center street every week to check for underage drinking. My honest guess is that because the clubs pay overtime to the cops to stand outside the club the cops look the other way on most things. Only cops from other towns should be allowed to be subcontracted by night clubs. That way you don't run in to this obvious conflict of interest.

Your right about one thing though I do need a cop. I have needed one every Thursday Friday and Saturday night for the last 2 years and they haven't been there once.

Posted by: jackie | September 23, 2008 10:13 PM

laststraw--
when did that happen at 116 crown? that's terrible.
is everyone ok?

Posted by: tom | September 24, 2008 5:37 AM

Hey JP, you said it the best so far, thank you. I knew the truth would come out of you sooner or later. You have lived downtown for the last 2 years, I think your beef is with your realtor. The bar scene has been there over 20 years. You probably vote the same people in term after term. Take your anger to a city zoning meeting, and start changing things. I will save you money, DONT MOVE NEXT TO TWEED AIRPORT it is still open. I can save you even more money, move to a smaller town where the taxes are less. Hmmmm, but something tells me you will complain about your neighbors boat in the driveway.

Posted by: JP | September 24, 2008 10:04 AM

Hey TOM at least that was funny and yea i'd definatly complain about aboat or RV in the driveway. Heres the thing im not asking for the clubs to go away im just suggesting they be made to follow the law like the rest of us do. I garentee you wont see any shootings ever as a result of 116 or firehouse or the owl or richtors or the ancor or plenty of other places. You are right though I did assume that when I moved down here the cops would do more then they do on quality of life issues. Thanks for the relocation advice i think id proboly just go to guilford next though my bet is they have less murders.

Posted by: downtown d | September 24, 2008 10:35 AM

What: DOWNTOWN QUALITY OF LIFE OPEN FORUM

When: Thursday September 25th, 6pm
Where: The Omni Hotel, 155 Temple Street

Come discuss Quality of Life issues in the downtown area with invited panelists from the Economic Development office, New Haven Police Department, Mayor's office, Town Green, and Alderpersons.

Residents, business owners, city staff and downtown partners will be joining together to discuss openly the problems facing downtown residents.

What will happen when the 10th Square, 360 State, College Square and other developments bring more residents back downtown? How do we reconcile economic development and the importance of entertainment with our ever expanding residential projects?

Come with an open mind to find solutions and paths to success with concerned downtown partners. It's our downtown; let's find the answer together.

Posted by: tom | September 24, 2008 8:49 PM

JP, the only reason why you have shootings and killings in these area is because of the age group. This should end this once and for all. There are no more true men in this world. If you have a beef with a guy, walk away, if not have a good fist fight. If the guy loses, he loses, if he wins he wins. But as long as we have punks with guns we will always have gun violence. P.S the night clubs are supposed to have loud music.

Posted by: laststraw | September 25, 2008 5:34 AM

"laststraw--
when did that happen at 116 crown? that's terrible.
is everyone ok?"
It was a few weeks back. Everybody's fine.

"I garentee you wont see any shootings ever as a result of 116 or firehouse or the owl or richtors or the ancor or plenty of other places."
...but you also won't see booty shorts in January.

Posted by: citizen | September 25, 2008 9:42 AM

Hi JP- Well at least I know where you are coming from now. Living in town is not the country but you as a taxpayer in the city you are right. If I were you you need to come to all the meetings and there is one tonight at the Omni Hotel at 6:00 pm 9/25/08. Listen to what people have to say voice your concerns. I will be there tonight.

Posted by: FirstandForemost | September 29, 2008 12:11 AM

I think the real problem here is the disregard posters are having for grammar and sensible sentences. It was dizzying trying to make sense of what a lot of you are saying and often times gave up after a sentence or so. New Haven is looking pretty damn sloppy to us out of towners.

Having just moved from Cleveland and being unfamiliar with the area my girlfriend and I were desperately looking for a place for the sexy and sophisticated grown folk. Center Street Lounge seemed to be the ticket. We realized it was pretty ghetto and I would be one of the few white guys there and her maybe the only Chinese girl...but we toughed out Cleveland's black clubs with little incident. After hearing about the shooting and the robberies here, we're really pissed off this place can't get it together enough for decent people to have a decent time without getting killed or having to put up with techno and the pitiful dancing of Yale students. The only people to blame are the damn fools doing the problems. However, the clubs, the people, the parents, the schools, the police... all need to be accountable.

Does anyone know the context of the shootings? Couple of innocent grad kids getting caught in the line of fire or a couple of hoodlums getting too macho? Why aren't there details on who was killed?

Posted by: JP | September 29, 2008 11:04 AM

FirstandForemost, It was hoodlums it's always hoodlums.