New Haven Ward 1

Recent layoffs have meant that as of February 28, 2011, the total number of hours that the New Haven main library branch opens have been reduced from 185 hours per month to 148. The branches have taken the brunt of the reductions, with monthly hours reduced from 136 to 96 including elimination of Saturday hours.

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/branches_make_last_saturday_loans/

The closing of the libraries is a crucial issue of public space and civic vitality in New Haven. Libraries should be active community hubs where neighbors can meet and cement relationships, not abandoned buildings.

Public Libraries are educational agencies that provide materials and services to all members in the community from preschoolers to seniors. The library is accessible to students for study and research when public schools are not open. The library provides the only computer access some public school students have to complete their homework assignments.

Public Libraries help build a strong economy. Our unemployment rate has been at least 12%, and likely to be above 50% among youth in some city neighborhoods. Many employers have transitioned to online employment applications. Public Libraries provide the only access some people have to computer technology and job searches.

Please "vote" here if you believe that the City of New Haven should immediately restore all of the eliminated library hours, either through re-hiring of laid off employees or through other measures.

Information, updates and additional ways to advocate for this issue will be posted here and you will receive them if you request to be notified of updates.

(I have posted this at the request of an elderly New Haven resident who no longer has access to the internet, due to closing of library hours on Saturday in her neighborhood)

This is a thread to discuss issues related to the ongoing problem of violence in some areas of New Haven and surrounding towns. Please vote here if you want to see this problem addressed and if you agree:

1. Every citizen has the right to freedom from fear: a safe neighborhood and a safe house.

2. No child living in New Haven or anywhere else nearby should have to hear gunshots every week in their neighborhood (I currently do!).

3. A friend recently said "it is easier to get a gun than a quart of milk in my neighborhood." This is obviously not an acceptable situation.

4. A comprehensive community strategy is needed to stop the violence. Elected representatives should be able to explain exactly what they are doing to support the community's strategy.

5. The constant outdoor gunfire at the police training range is not acceptable. People living in Newhallville and Beaver Hills hear constant gunfire from this range and it sends the wrong message.

Please post ideas for community organizing to stop the message, links to relevant pages, etc -- and send the message to everyone that enough is enough!

Related articles:
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/bike_enthusiast_shot_dead/
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/murder_in_the_hill/
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/coffe_crueller_and_a_chair/
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/murder_on_button_st/
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/double_homicide_on_front_st/
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/while_friend_clings_to_life_shooting_/
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/another_year_no_white_/

Loud motorcyles, especially during Summer months, constantly disturb and harass citizens of New Haven by operating with illegal and potentially harmful exhaust systems. Why doesn't the NHPD or the Dept. Of Health do anything about this?
New York is working on legislation:
http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/11/city-council-bill-aims-to-quiet-motorcycle-noise/

Huge pothole on the middle of the street. Took out 2 of my tires.

A former comedy club, this Yale-owned storefront at 986 Chapel Street has been empty since before Bruce Alexander came to New Haven in 1998. (Out of fairness to Bruce, Yale didn't take ownership of this piece of the Schiavone portfolio until 1999.)

C'mon Bruce, you're a real estate whiz. I know you and Yale can do better, -- especially given the fact that this is such a great location. Renovate the hideous storefront into something respectable, and then I bet you'll find a good tenant in a hurry.

PS -- It is not okay that next door at 976 Chapel is also a permanently dead storefront. I understand that it is such a big space that it's tough to rent. However, lower the rent if you have to! This is prime real estate, and the neighborhood deserves another lively retail tenant.

Bruce's bio here:
http://www.yale.edu/about/alexander.html

email Bruce, (politely please), at bruce.alexander@yale.edu

I have seen cops on a daily bases park illegally underneath the stop light, get out of their car, walk into starbucks, get a coffee and walk out to their car and leave. I am pretty sure that they are only allowed to break the law for reasonable reasons or if they are doing something positive like stopping a crime. I don’t think getting a coffee or going to News Haven applies to this situation. I would like it stopped, and for our cops to start obeying the same laws they enforce on us.

This police cruiser pulled up and blocked half of the intersection at Chapel and High. Then the two cops went to starbucks to get their coffee.

I wish I could get away with parking like that.

This problem is increasing and dispersing itself across New Haven. I went to KFC a couple of days ago and noticed some teenagers loitering in the the restaurant. The workers seemed upset and noticed that not only were the teenagers loitering, but were also insulting customers, being obnoxious and basically driving customers away. When I left the restaurant, I noticed that the problem was not secluded to the restaurant but its a problem everywhere. These teens are standing by corners at late hours and blatantly loitering everywhere. Just recently I watched as a youth was arrested for standing in the middle of the street, throwing empty bottles at cars driving pass. It's really getting out of hand and I'm tired of not wanting to take my children anywhere because of it. It's not fair. I pay my taxes, I work, I take of my children and I'm not depending on anyone but myself.
Even when the police stops and tells them to disperse, they simply move to another corner. I've watched as they laugh at police. Most of them have no respect or decency. The cornerstore near my home had to close because of the same reason, the endless loitering and chaos. Also, the shop was robbed repeated by "boosters". I think there should be a curfew for these teens. It's unfortunate but I think that's what it comes down to. For those who are trying to better themselves, I think if there's a curfew, they should have documents from their jobs or schools to prove why they are walking home after 7pm, or something like that. I can't even let my son ride his bike to his friend's house, which is only a block away because my neighbor's ten year old son was robbed by a group of teenagers roaming the street. They took his bike and the milk he went to the store to purchase for his mother. It's not right and it needs to end.
I think arresting them is not enough, people say blame the parents, then maybe the police should start giving the parents tickets too to send the point home.

A mid-block crosswalk across Elm Street between High Street and College Street is the only realistic way to end jaywalking on Elm Street as far as I can tell.