Top cops and city officials ventured to Newhallville Wednesday to show their faces amid a recent spate of gun violence — and heard an earful in return.
The Harp administration organized the early afternoon press conference at the juncture of Dixwell Avenue and Munson and Orchard Streets across from Joe Grate Corner. They told reporters and a bevy of neighbors about their ongoing efforts to curtail violence in the city in the wake of a fatal shooting of a 14-year-old and non-fatal shootings of a 13-year-old and a 21-year-old in under two weeks.
“Yesterday the city laid to rest a cherished adolescent: a rising high school freshman, a dancer, an entertainer whose spirit lifted the mood of all who watched him perform. The future prospects for this child were laid to rest as well; his potential will never be fulfilled,” Harp (pictured) told the crowd, referring to the funeral of 14-year-old Tyriek Keyes.
She noted that statistics show that violent crime has steadily declined for six years. Assistant Police Chief Archie Generoso spoke of police initiatives that have led to arrests of violent criminals while offering people second chances. City youth services chief Jason Bartlett spoke of programs, from YouthStat to My Brother’s Keeper, that have helped keep kids in school and out of trouble.
“The collective efforts of the police, the school district, the youth services department, other government agencies, and private-sector partners are successfully identifying at-risk youth, engaging them in meaningful ways, and delivering programs and services to keep them out of harm’s way,” Harp said. Harp promised that all involved will continue working toward a “safe summer.”
She and other speakers noted that none of that makes acceptable the shooting of teenagers.
A gradually growing crowd on the triangular traffic island focused on that last point. They continually interrupted the speakers with calls for more jobs for young people, more efforts to stem violence.
Odell Montgomery Cooper, whose son was shot dead in April 2016, arrived late. She said she had gone first to a nearby spot that was the originally announced location for the event.
“Our children are dying in the streets. The life expectancy of a young man living in New Haven can’t be 14 years old. We need something done,” Cooper interjected.
“Please don’t come out here talking about your programs and what you have to offer. We know that you’re good. We know that you care about our community. But our children are still dying in the street.”
A onetime Harp critic swung to her defense: Board of Ed administrator Kermit Carolina (pictured), a former Hillhouse High School principal who blasted Harp often when he ran against her for mayor in 2013.
Carolina took the microphone and addressed the people yelling questions and criticisms.
“I’m telling you — I believe in what Mayor Harp is doing,” Carolina said. “Anyone who wants to be part of the solution, the door is open.”
He noted that “bad news travels faster than good news.” The city’s programs that identify and work with at-risk teens are bearing fruit, he said. That’s “no comfort for a parent” who loses a son, he noted. Meanwhile, he said, “hundreds of parents have slept better” because of antiviolence efforts.
After the chaotic official event ended, Carolina crossed the street to huddle with the most vociferous critics. Out of earshot of reporters, they debated how to address violence and discussed opportunities to get involved.
Meanwhile, Bartlett and Harp said they are glad people showed up to hear them and to tell them what they think.
Bartlett (pictured) called it “part of our job — to come out, get yelled at, listen, and communicate.” He noted that until last week New Haven hadn’t had high-profile murders of young teens since a spate in early 2014, and that violent crime has dramatically fallen since the 2011 peak. “As a community, we’ve gotten used to zero violence against our youth,” he observed. “That’s a good thing. I would be worried if we came out out here and there was no reaction. This shows we have people who care. Let the conversations begin, and people can start taking personal responsibility and engaging with the youth in the neighborhoods.”
“I understand people are angry and fearful for their safety,” Harp said. “If they have to yell at me, that’s better than yelling at someone who is going to shoot them.”
“We’ve got to figure this out,” she said of the gun violence problem. “I really believe in New Haven,” we’re close.”