I echo Steve's comments. This continuing problem is absurd. Clearly, people are being targeted and this area around Court and Olive is just a free-for-all for muggers. Change the dynamic now;post undercover officers in the area. Bait the perpetrators and arrest them. Continue having an undercover officer there even after the problem is impacted. The city should also move on the lighting issue promptly.

Yes - undercover cops would totally solve this problem, because you can pretty much predict that a mugging will occur between 5:30 and 7 any weekday night on Court between Artizan and Olive. If the cops hung out near that parking lot, it would be an arrest smorgasbord. A cop car nearby simply puts off the mugging till the next night, and the guys still get away no problem.

Attn CITY! -- an easy solution -- an easy arrest -- post some undercovers!!!!

Enough is enough!" I'm mad as hell and can't take it anymore" seems to be the echo in the neighborhood. The priority should be Safety First. If that means taking money from every city department to beef up the police force, so be it. I also agree that smarter strategy with the resources at hand is long overdo. Does one of us have to get killed during a mugging to get immediate action?!

Fix this, fix this, fix this. Everyone who checks this should call the city police department to express their view on this problem. The number is (203) 946-6333. Call them and tell them you're calling to complain about the lack of security on Court Street.

There is only one way to solve this issue and I'm unsure as to why the leadership in NHPD refuses to allot additional officers to our neighborhood. It's obvious that the City's response to our calls have been ignored.

The vast majority of these occurrences happened within a 50 yard radius. It's not difficult...Correct this issue with appropriate lighting and additional officers on patrol.

Here's another Suggestion:

I believe that there is a housing authority property at Artizan and Court.

Are there lights for the sidewalk on that building?

Why is there no action on the part of our neighborhood Alderman, the Police Department and the Mayor's office?

1. Light the bridge!!!!

2. Reduce crime!!!!

Hi, I just called the mayor's office on this latest mugging. The woman I spoke to said it was the 4th call today regarding crime in our neighborhood and the lights on the bridge. The number I called was 203-946-7802. Maybe we should flood the mayor's office with phone calls today.

I called the New Haven Police Chief's office - 203-946-6333. The very nice woman I talked with said that this was the first they have heard of the mugging problems in this area and that they would forward an e-mail to the district representative. For what it's worth she also mentioned her grandmother lived in that neighborhood, so maybe that's some extra incentive to get something done.

Tonight is Mayor DeStefano's Night In. From the City Website:

Mayor’s Night In

On the first Tuesday of every month, I hold Mayor’s Night In at City Hall. This event is an opportunity for residents to meet with me to discuss you your questions, concerns, and suggestions for our City. I encourage residents to stop by Tuesday, December 1st at 5 p.m

Russel, I'm hoping that the Chief at least knows about this if not the person taking the phones, but great job on calling that office directly. One other avenue opened.

I also agree that undercover officers would probably solve this problem within a day or so. Criminals are pretty dumb. They do what works until it doesn't anymore. You can be darn sure that they'll be there again tonight until they get caught.

You guys might want to try to the print flier button above and post some of these issues around the neighborhood as well.

We just released that feature last week. Please let us know what you think.

I think calling the mayor's office is a great idea. Get on the phones. Let's make noise. In addition, I will be going to the Mayor's night in with a summary of the block watch work and our key issues.

You should use this forum as a means to collect suggestions to present to the Mayor this evening. Perhaps Karri and others can aggregate comments to pass on? So far, it seems like the suggestions include the following:

1) Better lighting on the bridge, leading up to the intersection of Court & Olive.
2) Increased Police presence--perhaps via an undercover operation.
3) Organized neighborhood watches.
4) Having Downtown Ambassadors or others serve as escorts.

Are there other suggestions that people have?

Thanks, yes, these are all on my list. By the way, I already looked into the Town Green Ambassadors, and they cannot escort folks past State Street as it is out of their juristiction.

To concerned neighbors:

Alderman Smart has asked me to brief you on your concerns about the serious lighting issue in the vicinity of the Court Street bridge between State and Artizan, and the action he has taken. He is aware of the serious problem here with the extremely poor lighting on that bridge which goes over the trains tracks on Court St. It is very dimly lit and a real public safety hazard. Staff has been in consultation with Seb Asadourian (the city's streetlighting manager) and with City Engineer Richard Miller to see how this problem can be remedied at the earliest possible time. They have heard your concerns and those of Ald. Smart and are very aware of the problem here. Director Miller assured that they are actively exploring all options to provide better lighting on this bridge and nearby . It is taking some thought because providing lighting on a bridge, especially one over train tracks, is particularly tricky. However, again, they know this is a serious public safety issue and are examining all the possibilities for improving the lighting on the bridge as soon as possible. Also, Ald. Smart has been monitoring the situation closely, and has just forwarded City Engineer Miller an email informing him of this latest mugging to emphasize the dangerous nature of the situation. Again, Ald. Smart regards this as a priority concern and is actively working to see this urgent public safety matter remedied. Hope this information is helpful.

-Mike Abeshouse (Legislative Services)
for Alderman Michael Smart, Ward 8

6 of us were at the Mayor's Night In tonight. He heard our concerns re: muggings and we discussed various ways to fix the problem. He was receptive and agreed with our need for lighting. He said he would provide temporary lighting on Court from State to Olive until a more permanent solution can be proposed and approved. For more info go to our website http://woostersquarewatch.com and click our archives to see the full report. Our block watch has a meeting on Dec 16th where 3 reps from the City will attend to address our concerns. If you are not already on our block watch alert list, please email woostersqwatch@gmail.com.

Great work, Karri! I also attended and thought the Mayor was receptive to quick solutions.

Good work, Karri. This is encouraging news...
Bonnie

Ditto, so seeclickfix is how I am responding. We, as a city,have within our means to solve this very easily.So. see,clickfix.

Sorry,
That last comment was emailed in from Patricia.

That's why I See, Click, Fix too for the record though :-)

This is good news. But the talk that this is "difficult," sounds like a stalling tactic. Please note that there are solar power street lights available on the market, no wiring, no trenches necessary. It's easy to install. (I deal with similar engineering issues in my job all the time.) Someone just needs to step up and fix the obvious problem.

Does anybody know the status of talks with the Smoothie building people to improve lighting on their property? I noticed that on that fence on covering the corner of Olive and Court there are lots of lights that are just out, and even lights high up on the buildings that need new bulbs. Do we have any Smoothie residents who can pester their landlords to simply put in new bulbs?

I agree that getting residents of Smoothie involved in this thread, the neighborhood and resolving this issue it crucial for a solution.

Michael,
Can you point to some effective examples of the solar lights. I have heard of these as well but have a hard time finding things on-line with good examples of successful implementation.

Thanks,

Ben

The Smoothie building residents discussed this issue at our tenants' association meeting last week and have alerted PMC, the property management company.

We have to pester PMC about a lot of things (in fact, we're a bit overwhelmed with serious concerns within the building right now), so I'm not sure whether or not we'll see any results. People outside the building are welcome to call, as well. Just make sure that you call it the "Strouse Adler Building."

You can reach PMC at:

Apartments in New Haven (PMC Property Group)
900 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 776-7770

http://www.apartmentsinnewhaven.com/

Let's hope the response to lighting concerns here is better than it has been on the other building owned by PMC Property Group, where residents have been fighting for lights for years: See http://seeclickfix.com/issues/809 for details and links to news coverage.

I'm sure many of the people who use Court Street also use this route on Chapel at night, so please vote on both!

Saw these fliers u guys put up. U should add to them tgat citizens can text to vote for this to be fixed by texting issue x to 41411 x being this issue number

the drug dealers who hang out in the parking lot are still at it...does anyone else see them hanging outside the law office? maybe we should start taking pictures of them so that they are easily identifiable to leos.

as i've written before i am not certain they are drug dealers, though i do believe there is dealing here at other times. what time? i park in this lot and at 6:30 there are many men outside the law office. i believe they are for a mens group at "families in crisis." they have never caused me any trouble. families in crisis just moved into the law offices recently and have evening meetings. someone needs to check before you start taking photos.

I see at least one or two guys there usually from 7-9, give or take a little. They sit on the small brick wall and usually have at least one car between them. Two nights ago I saw what looked like a drug deal go down in this parking lot, with someone getting into a car and walking out a couple minutes later. I also see similar activity by the housing project on olive on occasion. Maybe one of our younger members could try going "undercover" and asking to buy from them to see if they are really up to no good? I agree that its wrong to post pictures unless we are 100% sure on this.

Also, what exactly is the point of these mugging zone fliers? If the muggings continue with no police response, all the fliers will do is make people feel more unsafe, and show the criminals that they can act with impunity even when everyone is aware of the problem. Has any progress been made at organizing a neighborhood patrol?

I think that you should pass this information onto the NHPD. You should definitely not try to go "undercover" and buy drugs. That would be dangerous and unwise. That is what you have the NHPD for. There is no harm in photographing and sending to the police--as long as you caveat that fact that you are not 100% sure that the dealing is occurring. It might provide more of an incentive for the NHPD to act. If loitering in the parking lot is illegal, then you are perfectly within reason to document when it occurs.

Again on Friday a squad car was parked at the intersection of Court and Olive, which we appreciate. But, keeping the thugs from mugging because of police presence is less effective in the long run than catching the thugs in an undercover sting. Do this a few times a year, Mayor Destefano, and the muggers will feel much less confident in attacking, robbing, and injuring the people who put and keep you in office.

Dear Alderman Smart and Mayor Destefano:

Where are the "temporary" lights on Chapel Street?

Has anyone with the city followed-up with the Smoothie building management to upgrade the lighting in the back alley along Chapel Street?

We have followed up with the Smoothie building and with the Mayor's office. A team from the Mayor's office will be reporting at the Wooster Sq Watch meeting tomorrow night at 6 pm at the Conte Hills School on their proposed short term and long term solutions.

At last night's Wooster Square Watch meeting, our guests were Rob Smuts, Chief Administrative Officer for Mayor DeStefano, Seb Asadourian, City Engineer, Lt. Rebecca Sweeney and Officer Pete Krause from NHPD.

They updated us on three main issues pertaining to the recent muggings in the area: lighting, patrolling and other measures.

The short term solution ifor the lighting issue on Court St. is a “light the night” light on an existing post on the corner of Artizan and Court. If you have walked on Court this week, you should have seen it. While it doesn’t throw a lot of light on the bridge, it does brighten up the area and the city has contracted for this light for the next year.

As a long term solution, they have proposed solar lighting. They are already in the design stage and would be the first if this kind in the city. They have done a photometric analysis and determined that 3 light solar light fixtures will provide light all the way across the bridge. They will go to bid the project in mid January and once they have a bid, it will probably take 6 weeks for the solar lights to arrive and be installed. Rob Smuts said he would keep us in the loop every step of the way, but by my calculation we are looking at early March. Keep your fingers crossed.

Lt. Sweeney talked about the work the NHPD has been doing in the neighborhood to combat the recent muggings. The NHPD have been doing detective work in our area and have made 2 arrests. They have also been in constant contact with neighboring property owners in order to engage their residents.

In addition, the City is exploring the potential use of security cameras on Court Street. This effort would take a little longer as we would want to involve the public in establishing standards for camera use. They are also looking into how to better engage other property owners such as the Smoothie Building. Wooster Sq Watch members in the Smoothie building are helping to engage their residents and hopefully their manager. Rob’s team has also contacted the parking authority re: lighting in the parking lot on Court and Olive.

There is a lot here and a full report is available to those on our email alert list. We will be following up on these and other issues as we move into the new year.

Has anyone discussed why these people need to mug someone? I am not by any means supporting muggings and want them stopped. I'm just worried that we think we are fixing this problem but might be masking it with police presence and force.

Now I don't know what is actually causing these things to happen but I would like to shift the discussion towards more in depth view of what is happening and where it is coming from.

I say this because I wonder why things like this happen to begin with and how our "failsafe" reaction of police force addresses the problem. Just wondering and interested in hearing what people have to say.

Anything else:

*Substance abuse/dependance
*Homelessness
*Gang related activity
*State of Connecticut Judicial System - Get out of jail - drop off zone = City of New Haven, Hamilton Street. Theme: survive on your own.
Results in crime recitivism.

As a result of Wednesday's Crime Watch meeting, some individuals have recommended reaching out to the Co-op board at Friendship House. Maybe it is time to integrate the the board and residents into the Wooster Square Blockwatch?

I propose another factor that contributes to muggings, not to the root causes of violent thug behavior, but to the conditions that allow its expression: litter and broken glass.
An environment that's strewn with trash -- alcohol containers, cigarette packages, fast food trash -- signals that "nobody here cares so do what you want." It implies a certain lawlessness, a license to behave as you please.
One thing everyone can do is to carry an empty plastic grocery back in our back pocket and make it a habit to keep the streets clean.
It's important.

Wooster Sq Watch has and continues to reach out to Friendship House. I am not aware that there is a "board," only a property manager. She was invited to our meeting and was unable to attend. We will continue to reach out to them as we are sure they are interested in the safety of their residents

Were any arrests made in this particular case? Either way it may be time to close this issue, given that nearly a year has elapsed. Please re-post if you notice any new safety issues.

Email newhavensafestreets (at) gmail.com if you are interested in working with a citywide group to lobby for improved pedestrian lighting and conditions.

Closed based on comment below.