I understand how this can be a quality of life issue. I will work the business and with NHPD for resolution.

In the fall LCI starting dealing with this, unfortunately there are police issues that LCI can not address.

LCI has called the property owners about maintenance concerns. The trash / litter is picked up every day. Patrons of the plaza have been making a mess. The management will be on site to meet with LCI shortly.

This evening I reached out to the Mayor's office regarding this issue

Mr. Mayor - Please let us know what the city is doing to address the chronic loitering and drugs at the WestVille Plaza. This problem has persisted for more than a year. I believe there has been a homicide and a stabbing at/near this location in the last 12 months.

I raised the issue at last month's Westville West Hills CMT but have seen no improvement. During the CMT, LCI Rep, Mr. Jackson explained how he has personally made repeated efforts to try to stop the activity, but the task is too large for him to tackle alone. The Alder in this Ward has not attended a CMT in more than a year but based on the SCF post referenced below, he is aware of the issue but it has not improved. A vape shop in the plaza has been shut down, but the loitering and illegal activity continue in plain view. In fact, I recently visited Westville Vets, a business adjacent to the Plaza, and the office manager explained how she and the staff often will be near their office window and adult men will "whip it out" and begin urinating in plain view.

This sort of activity isn't tolerated on Broadway downtown or Orange Street in East Rock, but is rampant on Whalley Ave in Edgewood and Westville. Please let me know what you and your administration will do to address this problem.

Here is the SCF Link
https://seeclickfix.com/issues/8516036

Thank you,

We have an update from LCI. LCI sent the following email this morning to the Mayor:
___________________
Good morning Mayor Elicker! I hope you are well.

I’ve been working on this problem for the past several months, but to no avail. This situation is truly an urgent police matter. But, as it has been explained to me, there are not enough police officers to assign exclusively to monitor this issue. At my insistence, the graffiti has been removed, and a fence will be erected shortly to discourage some of the loitering in this area. However, even this is not enough. The property owners are fearful of asking the loiterers to leave their property. Lt. Rosa has been very helpful and has been trying his best to stay on top of the situation, but the loiterers do not comply with police orders. No sooner do the police leave and the loiterer’s come right back. Public drinking, intoxication, drug dealing, and drug use are rampant and the order of the day. This problem needs are targeted plan of action and it needs to be enforced for a least 30 straight days. People need to be arrested and outreach services need to be provided to the alcohol and drug-addicted. There must be a consistent police presence. Otherwise, it will be business as usual for a long time to come

This seems like a relatively simple problem to solve. The property owners (who operate at a profit and own the property appraised at $1 million) need to hire and pay for some private security to manage the lawlessness on their property. If the people breaking the law don't respond to the private security, then private security calls the nhpd and the nhpd issues citations and make arrests.

No response from Mayor Elicker (or Alder Furlow) yet, but I did have an opportunity to speak with the local District Manager, Lt. Elliot Rosa, at this evening's CMT. Lt. Rosa is a straight-shooter and tells it like it is. Basically, there is drug dealing happening but there simply aren't enough police to address the issue. The city is down 100 officers and the the woke politicos cut the police budget. At the same time, many drug offenses have been decriminalized. And quality of life offenses are never enforced in New Haven. So, I guess the city will wait until the longstanding businesses in the area (Amity Locks, Ernie's Pizza, Westville Vets) have had enough and move to Woodbridge.

Today there were 13 grown adults drinking, open air using and loitering in this plaza at pick up time for Davis Street School. There have been multiple complaints over the years and it’s only gotten worse. Police take notice. Ward Alders 25,26,27 and local CMT take notice.

Using and loitering- 10 people have been hanging out for hours. Intimidating neighbors from using the plaza.

LCI Westville assigned this issue to ARCHIVED ACCOUNT

Smoking, Drinkng, Selling, Loitering- 8-10 people there for hours. 3+ hours on 11/27/2023.

This past weekend they were there again. 8-10 people drinking, selling drugs and using. Can we get undercover buys??

Parking lot drug and liquor usage. 12/16/2023 5pm and still there at 7pm a large group of 10 people.

Open air drugs and drinking in the parking lot. Group of 6 people hanging out in between the cars. All day long.

Hello Neighbor,

Do they appear to be enjoying themselves? If so, why don't we join them? No fooling. I'd be happy to grab a case of beer from the West Rock Wine & Liquor store and meet you there. A sixer for you, a sixer for me, and the rest for our new acquaintances. I've never met a group of people drinking who didn't welcome half a case from anyone.

If you don't drink, that's okay. We can get some weed from the Affinity Dispensary across the street. I've got a promo code we can use if we preorder online. 20% off for the first order.

I don't mind paying for everything the first time, but if this turns into a regular thing, I'll have to ask you to pay your cut.

Issue 16457603 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

3:32pm Loitering, public intoxication