New Haven Independent

Posted by: jackie | September 5, 2008 4:13 PM

i really appreciate the fact that chief lewis is approaching crime from both the enforcement AND prevention angles. this is what we need; let's keep it up.

Posted by: mary | September 5, 2008 8:07 PM

Great news for the youth programs hope it will be able to reach out to all schools.!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: David Streever | September 5, 2008 8:40 PM

That is PERFECT. That is exactly the type of progressive thinking that a lot of us have been hoping for. Setting up prevention programs & intervening on the sale of stolen goods is a great way to stop crime.

Posted by: DEZ | September 5, 2008 10:26 PM

I am all for the scrap yards having to get FULL information from potential sellers as to where the alleged scrap came from. I have heard too many stories of scrap dealers that ask only for a first name, and no ID. When city park lights are being shaken off of their footings and sold to scrap dealers, it doesn't take Colombo to paint the rest of the picture as to 'how' this item came to be sold to them. There needs to be greater policing at the selling point, and this is a great start. Besides which, Alderman-Dow clearly needs a traffic cop 6 days a week to deal with the parking lot that Chapel Street becomes on 'market' day, as well as to assist the 18 wheelers that stop traffic for inordinate amounts of time to back into the driveway while doing business. And while I'm on this rant...what about burning at these scrap yards? Do they have carte blanche to burn their debris? Anyone know? The acrid plumes of smoke can't be healthy to either employees or the general public.

Posted by: Movin_On | September 6, 2008 4:10 PM

What about the shootings and armed robberies? As I understand it, this is only a temporary stop for this "Chief", but what about when he leaves? What happens to all the day to day crimes which keeps me and my kids looking over our shoulders, and have yet to be addressed! Applaud if you want, but the things that make this a high crime city is not the theft of scrap metal.

Posted by: unprotected | September 6, 2008 8:22 PM

read "Broken Windows". if police address the petty, small stuff, the bigger stuff will take a hit. if junkies can't cash in scrap metal and hookers can't "provide their services", they won't have the $$$ for drugs. the burglaries will slow because they will have to provide i.d. at pawn shops and junk yards. it is a domino effect.

Posted by: Movin_On | September 7, 2008 6:06 PM

What does tha have to do with the gun violence and getting guns off the street. Please understand that most of of the people robbing the copper piping, are not alway junkies, but are individuals who are trying to make a quick buck and will sell their wears to anyone willing to buy.