New Haven Independent

Posted by: On State Street | September 5, 2008 4:50 PM

What a sensationalist piece of crap piece this is. Anyone who talks to more thanone business owner on this street knows that State Street is much better than it used to be with great business owners who are really active, the revitalized State Street Merchants group, our incredible alderman Lemar and the potential redevelopment of Star Supply Manufacturers, everyone oujt here is excited - If the police would just do their job, this neighborhood would be great. Don't jst talk to Pan either, his business is half the problem. And NHPD- Stop making commitments to my block watch and neighbrohood and then breaking that promise. We need patrols you idiots, listen to your block watch captains, your local alderman and your merchants association and just get more people out here. All of these crimes are crimes of opportunity because you refuse to put a presence out here even when we all piss and moan.

Posted by: East Rocker | September 5, 2008 5:31 PM

Why does the city continualy feel like they can ignore this neighborhood and our alderman and, then, once they finally have enough data to compile, come out and do something. We have been calling these things in for weeks and all the cops do is send out some inflamatory "courtesy" cards. Screw you guys! Give us the patrols you promised our alderman and our blockwatches (I'm the head of one and I have notes talking about full-time bike cops and a State street beat) Don't tell us that there isn't a crime wave one week and then the next say "oh, we just looked at the data and yup, there has been a crime wave over the last month" Listen to us instead and DO SOMETHING!!! I loved when my alderman had finally had enough and called you guys out for breaking promises to us- you make us all look bad when we tell the people in our block watches that they can expect ot see you and then you never show. I wouldn't have held my words as well as Lemar did, but his message was clear - Stop making promises to all of us and start delivering"

Posted by: Janice | September 5, 2008 7:43 PM

The police need to park an officer after dark at the corner of State and Humphrey by the Mobil gas station.

I have noticed an uptick in the amount of suspicious looking characters just walking around without obvious purpose at night. Who knows what they are up to. The same thing with cars at night that drive around very slowly.

This is not a lost cause. State street was cleaned up once, some years ago although I am concerned that it is slipping back into the ghetto doldrums.

Posted by: John Tulin | September 6, 2008 9:16 AM

Nice job NHPD - way to be proactive. Can police set up cars to be robbed, a sting for these criminals like the one that nabbed all the prostitutes and johns?

Posted by: robn | September 6, 2008 5:20 PM

JT,

Thats a great idea, but if they hide an officer in the trunk they have to remember not to lock it (Hello Cleveland!)

Posted by: Ben | September 6, 2008 11:23 PM

The State Street Association had been told the same thing about the patrols.
I understand that the activities in New Hallville this summer were unexpected, but we need to be told that we are officially NOT getting these officers so that we can decide what to do as a community in the absence of community policing.

Secondly, I am not in favor of this flyering tactic on a commercial street.
It causes fear for the clients of State Street businesses that might be from out of town. Making them scared of New Haven will likely do more harm than good. I understand the intent, but it's not a good tactic for a commercial corridor whose customers and multitude of eyes on the street are the only reason that we are able to survive at all without the police patrols we've been promised.

Posted by: David Streeverr | September 7, 2008 6:23 PM

I agree with Ben--I've started walking the neighborhood since the mugging, we need to raise our profile as neighbors & citizens if the police can't support us in this time.

To hear that we aren't having a crime wave, then see that we are, is a bit disorienting.

Let's hear it for community members like Pan & Ben who protect our streets & our blocks.

Posted by: -fairhavener- | September 7, 2008 10:27 PM

I am very disappointed with the police department as of late. The first few weeks after Lewis took charge seemed very promising. It is a shame that it has returned to business as usual.

Posted by: Ben | September 8, 2008 8:54 AM

I'm in favor of unmarked unarmed cyclists roaming East Rock with the agenda of "Eyes open and Cell Phones Ready"
A true "block watch"

Posted by: Bild Wissenschaftler | September 8, 2008 9:11 AM

When are New Haven's police going to embrace a data-driven NYPD-style COMPSTAT system that keeps track of crime spikes and holds commanders accountable for what happens on their watch?

Heather Mac Donald, The NYPD Diaspora

Alec Magnet, Denver Tackles Crime, New York-Style

Bratton and Andrews, What We've Learned About Policing

Judith Miller, Intelligent Policing Comes to New Jersey

Posted by: Clark Pearlman | September 8, 2008 9:51 AM

ON STATE STREET you are dead on. I have lived in that neighborhood for over 30 years and Pan is half the problem. The Independent should have researched how many times he has been shut down in the past 10 years due to selling to minors.
We need a stronger police presence and I mean not just at Amato's Pizza! Some of us that have lived on Pearl, State and Clark St. for the past 30+ years, we have had enough. We are starting our own neighborhood patrols.

Posted by: mike | September 8, 2008 12:38 PM

umm, people, the NHPD has much bigger fish to fry than your cars being broken into in one of the safest neighborhoods in NH. think about it. take your stuff with you, its easy.

Posted by: Life Long East Rocker | September 8, 2008 3:15 PM

Ben,

"Eyes open and Cell Phones Ready" is a good one!
This way we can watch the criminals steal our belongings and make a call to the police that will not be answered. Thanks giving me a funny moment at work. I think we need to bring back the Pearl and State St. patrols we had back in the mid 1980's!

Posted by: Nestor Makhno | September 8, 2008 6:38 PM

Clark,

If anything, Christopher Martin's is bound to generate more crime than Pan's package store, if for no other reason than muggers prey on people walking late at night. (Naturally the clientele at Christopher Martin's refrains from drinking and driving.) Even if the accusation that Pan has sold alcohol to minors is true, I am sure such sales were limited and would be very surprised if they lead to increased crime in the neighborhood. No one jumped on the owners of L'Orcio when they described Upper State Street as crime-ridden; I am not sure why Pan's being criticized, as his characterization of the neighborhood is consistent with the one offered by Officer Avery. Did he not ante up $400 bucks to join the Upper State Street Association or something?

Posted by: Ben | September 8, 2008 9:34 PM

Life Long East Rocker,
I have had under 2 minute response time from NHPD in the last 6 months. Calling does work.
If you're talking about a patrol with weapons, you will discourage people like me who can help just by being out there and putting more eyes on the street.

What were the patrols like in the 80's?
Armed?

Posted by: -fairhavener- | September 8, 2008 10:08 PM

"umm, people, the NHPD has much bigger fish to fry than your cars being broken into in one of the safest neighborhoods in NH."

Your job is to enforce ALL crime Mike. Not just the crime you think fit. Do your job and stop complaining cry baby.

Posted by: Clark Pearlman | September 9, 2008 9:37 AM

Nestor,

I am not sure if Christopher Martin's, GoodFella's L"Orcio, Diesel, Portofino, C.O. Jones and Dempsey's are bound to generate more crime or not. Please let's not forgot what Chistopher Martin's does for the community. I can assure you that the accusations against Pan are true. I was actually being nice because he has been shut down and fined in the past for other violations other than serving minors.

Posted by: Walt | September 9, 2008 9:38 AM

Hopefullu the unarmed bike patrol proposed above is just in the daytime, or victims will multiply.

Years ago my wife and I used to walk the foot path between the river and the road, at night, between Fair Haven and her then home on Linden St. Now prudence does not allow us to drive there.

When our son was 10 or so, I told him about fishing off the third bridge. He and a friend went there, and had their fishing rods stolen at knife-point in mid=morning.

Has not improved. Don't be a fool with your proposed bike patrol.

The Rabbi has been successful as has the beret group, I think, because they may very well retaliate with violence if attacked and they do not go in violent areas alone.

A lone bicyclist patrolling as you suggest is like a hunk of meat with a pack of pit bulls. Won't last long.

Posted by: Life Long East Rocker | September 9, 2008 10:02 AM

Ben,

Let me start by saying you have done some good things on State St. Now, I am not sure what you're referring to with the "armed patrols" you have mentioned that twice and I am not sure where that is coming from. We were proactive in the 80's. We walked around the neighborhood with flashlights (nothing more) and if we saw someone walking in yards or peeking in windows or doing ANYTHING suspicious, we confronted them. This was the age before cell phones and we only had those red emergency call boxes on some corners. We need to show these thugs that we are not afraid to come out of our homes and confront them!

Posted by: Bruce | September 9, 2008 10:49 AM

I don't think selling alcohol to minors is a good thing, but I fail to see how it's relevant here. I like Pan's. Where else can you barter on the price of a 6 pack?

When I first moved to East Rock neighborhood in 1998, I had my car broken into twice in the first month. Then I learned to keep my crap out of the car and I haven't had a problem since. This is good advice that the NHPD is giving and it will go much further to prevent smash & grab theft than any patrol could. It's cheap and doesn't use up valuable police resources. How anyone could find fault with this is beyond me.

Posted by: mike | September 9, 2008 11:24 AM

I'm not hearing about too many assaults and murders in that area. I'd say the cops are doing as much as they can. Maybe the mayor can help. LOL

Posted by: Ben | September 9, 2008 12:31 PM

Clark Pearlman,
Misunderstanding. There has been talk of people taking up arms and I presumed that was what you were referring to when you laughed at the idea of someone on a bicycle keeping an eye out.
Despite Walt's concerns, and I understand where they come from and would not ride alone,
myself and another person started riding around the neighborhood last evening for a couple of hours.
I strongly believe that more eyes on the street and less scared people will go a lot further than the red beret's or armed patrols.
A thought for Walt: Would you want to Move to Edgewood knowing that the neighbors felt they needed to take up arms to protect themselves?
I wouldn't.
East Rock is a safe neighborhood. For the most part we have petty crime against property and it needs to be stopped.
Our officers are tied up in NewHallville and we need some responsible eyes on the street.
I hope that more neighbors will become involved, but until then I'm going to go for evening bike rides with whomever wants to come.
If nothing else we reported two outed street lights last night. (One where drug dealing has been reported in a vacant lot.)

Posted by: David Streeverr | September 9, 2008 4:28 PM

Walt,

that's silly. I have been patrolling East Rock alone for about a week now, at night, and no one has messed with me. I've stopped and talked to a few dozen people, and now started travelling around with Ben.

Muggers are not going to victimize groups of 4 or more, walking or biking, with cell phones ready. The reality is that cities all over the world enjoy lively night life that is safe for walkers, bikers, and neighbors: why? Because criminals aren't as stupid as we're assuming. If we all hide indoors, they take the streets. If the streets become safer & people start walking them openly, muggers won't have anyone to rob--how can you mug this person when 5 others are in eye sight, far enough away to not be intimidated, with cell phones? How can you "smash and grab" when people are out and about?

The East Rock Neighbors will be out there, patrolling & happy to welcome others--eyes open, cell phones ready. Look for an announcement on Monday on the calendar on this site.

Posted by: David Streeverr | September 10, 2008 1:13 AM

And for now, check out the site:
eastrockneighbors.com

Tonight we had a total of 9 people walk the blocks. We gave out 5 flyers, and shared a beer with one friendly neighbor on his porch.

Let's enjoy our neighborhood, whenever we want to, and not live in fear like some advocate.

For those of you serious about taking guns out:
Speak to a lawyer. I am pretty sure that leaving your home, with a deadly weapon, and looking for an opportunity to use it, is going to put you in jail. Is that a smart move?

When the criminals are terrified of the possibility of being shot, what will hold them back from shooting first? For the record, not many people are shot at in East Rock. I'd rather you gave them the 10 dollars you are carrying instead of shooting in our quiet, friendly, neighborhoods.

Posted by: Walt | September 10, 2008 10:31 AM

Ben and David

Re Edgewood, hell no.

Re Patrolling. Good luck and stay somewhat south of Cross High and East Rock itself

Posted by: David Streeverr | September 10, 2008 2:04 PM

We went through East Rock Park and some youths disbanded on Monday night. We also talked to roaming kids around Wilbur Cross. Thanks for your well-wishes, but we've already heard "stay inside and lock your doors"! We're not going to do that. Criminals will have to find local alternatives or move on to other neighborhoods.