[andthentherewere3]

We were in Hartford last week for the Titanic Exhibition. I was surprised not to see a single police car while we there. I know in downtown Bridgeport any time I have been there I see police presence everywhere. So it did surprise me not to see any in Hartford that day. Is that typical of Hartford?

[Hartford Medic]

So is there anyone with any real ideas about how to fix what's wrong, or are people content to ***** and say they're not coming back?

Things are better than they used to be. I'm too young for it but I hear stories about back in the day (mid/early 90's) when the gangs would fight much more openly and violently. There are also numerous areas that *used* to be really bad that are actually kinda nice now (up off of Kensington, Brookfield st, etc). Hartford just started that new TIPS line or whatever, which is also a step in the right direction. These things usually take time, dont they?

As far as the above post, yeah I'm surprised you didn't see any police cars- especially in that area. Probably a fluke or maybe something else was going on.

[glxyman21]

The problem is not Hartford itself, the problem is the people that live in Hartford. There are many people that grew up thinking violence is a way to solve problems and everyone is out for themselves and not for the good of the group. Unfortunatly, I don't know how you would change that when it is part of someone's culture. I think many of the projects going on are white elephants as the people that should be and live in Hartford will always retreat back to the suburbs. Sure, things may look nice, but the real issues and problems have yet to be resolved. You can continue to throw millions and millions of dollars at the city; for streetscapes, buildings, etc but it still hasn't worked. Add to the fact that many of these projects are funded with state money from other towns, rather than the tax payers of Hartford itself, people probably take less pride in it because it was "free" and not their own.

[heyjude1959]

The morally poor leading the morally poor.

People will use money as the issue but it never is.

Otherwise you are saying that poor people cant raise their children correctly.

Can you believe what we the people have allowed this area, this country to become.

Hey youve got gang members and thugs as mayors.

It all starts from the top and works its way down.

When they only start the Tough Love stuff after all hell has broken loose it takes a lot more to stop the trouble.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Hartford Medic

So is there anyone with any real ideas about how to fix what's wrong, or are people content to ***** and say they're not coming back?

Things are better than they used to be. I'm too young for it but I hear stories about back in the day (mid/early 90's) when the gangs would fight much more openly and violently. There are also numerous areas that *used* to be really bad that are actually kinda nice now (up off of Kensington, Brookfield st, etc). Hartford just started that new TIPS line or whatever, which is also a step in the right direction. These things usually take time, dont they?

As far as the above post, yeah I'm surprised you didn't see any police cars- especially in that area. Probably a fluke or maybe something else was going on.

Content to "B*tch"? Hardly. I wasted 10 years of my life here being a champion for the city and waiting for the city to find itself.

You try it. I'm done.

Yes you must be too young to remember based on your post. Hartford was IMO less violent 10 years ago and the neighborhoods while still crappy were actually in better shape.

[Lincolnian]

Originally Posted by Hartford Medic

So is there anyone with any real ideas about how to fix what's wrong, or are people content to ***** and say they're not coming back?

Things are better than they used to be. I'm too young for it but I hear stories about back in the day (mid/early 90's) when the gangs would fight much more openly and violently. There are also numerous areas that *used* to be really bad that are actually kinda nice now (up off of Kensington, Brookfield st, etc). Hartford just started that new TIPS line or whatever, which is also a step in the right direction. These things usually take time, dont they?

As far as the above post, yeah I'm surprised you didn't see any police cars- especially in that area. Probably a fluke or maybe something else was going on.

The gang problems of the mid 90s were addressed by Mayor Peters and they brought in the State Police, had a massive crackdown on drugs and violence, and sent many of the thugs to jail.

Our liberal legal system started letting out the hoodlums about 3 years ago and guess what? They returned to the very neighborhoods they used to terrorize and resumed operations. Many were viewed as heroes by the younger hoodlums.

The difference is that [former] gangbanger, Mayor Perez, placates these groups instead of taking whatever action necessary to protect the interests of the honest citizens and families that would like to remain in our capital city.

It will not change until someone who is educated formally, recognizes the responsibility of being a capital city, and has zero tolerance for criminals takes office.

This won't happen as long as Hartford is populated by too many uneducated people who live a Jerry Springer lifestyle and see sex, drugs, and violence as
the American ideal. They are the voting base. If they really wanted things to change they would just pick up and move a few miles in either direction where they would enjoy cleaner apartments, safer neighborhoods, and less violence as well as surprisingly cheaper rents.

As an article in the Courant pointed out a couple of months ago those who did move often stated that they missed the "action."

[Uconn97]

I think its very easy to blame the administration in Hartford as so many residents of the city already do. Did you see all the losers on TV telling city leaders to do something, but then in the same breath saying that the idea of a curfew sucks? Why? Because it forces parents to take some friggin responsibility for their kids??? The problem isn't the leaders in Hartford (and trust me I am NO fan of Perez), its the parents who wash their hands of their kids and expect the city, welfare system and the schools to take care of everything for them. How exactly do we fix that?? Let me guess what the answer on that is....you can't!

I'm also not sure if hartford was any worst 10 years ago. Back then I think it was the term "frog hollow" that brought about the fear of all the suburbanites, now you tend to hear more about the north end and the frog hollow section isn't mentioned as much, but its still a dump no matter how much money they have poured into the Park Street corridor. I still maintain that hartford has a lot going for it and that downtown and the west end are still fairly safe, but I am starting to wonder how long that may last? How long before the people who live there start to flee and the trash starts to move in? Thats all it will take to ruin whats left of the few good areas. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won't. Regardless, they need to round up these losers and throw them in jail and keep them there. They keep releasing them back into society and IT DOES NOT WORK. See how quickly the legislature went into action after the Chesire invasion? Lets see how fast they can act to pass some stricter laws around probation for these drug pushers, etc....

[Lincolnian]

The best they can do is bring back the State Police and do a clean sweep. Unfortunately the bumper crop of defense attorneys will be the only ones to profit from that action.

Too many of the kids are being raised by criminals and mothers who believe that a Grand Theft Auto world is the norm for most people. As long as uneducated children with this belief system continue to have children themselves the cycle will never change. Alarmingly these young people are giving birth to children at a rate that is 2 or 3 times the average birth rate indicating that the problem will only grow worse.

I'm sorry that I am ranting but I grew up in East Hartford and saw how it deteriorated rapidly resulting in almost all the families and friends I knew as a child fleeing the town. It shouldn't have to be that way but the decent families' voices are seldom heard.

It isn't an issue of race, culture, or income. It's an issue of valuing education and conducting oneself in a decent and caring manner.

See my posting on New England Opinion Blog for more thoughts.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Uconn97

I think its very easy to blame the administration in Hartford as so many residents of the city already do. Did you see all the losers on TV telling city leaders to do something, but then in the same breath saying that the idea of a curfew sucks? Why? Because it forces parents to take some friggin responsibility for their kids??? The problem isn't the leaders in Hartford (and trust me I am NO fan of Perez), its the parents who wash their hands of their kids and expect the city, welfare system and the schools to take care of everything for them. How exactly do we fix that?? Let me guess what the answer on that is....you can't!

I'm also not sure if hartford was any worst 10 years ago. Back then I think it was the term "frog hollow" that brought about the fear of all the suburbanites, now you tend to hear more about the north end and the frog hollow section isn't mentioned as much, but its still a dump no matter how much money they have poured into the Park Street corridor. I still maintain that hartford has a lot going for it and that downtown and the west end are still fairly safe, but I am starting to wonder how long that may last? How long before the people who live there start to flee and the trash starts to move in? Thats all it will take to ruin whats left of the few good areas. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won't. Regardless, they need to round up these losers and throw them in jail and keep them there. They keep releasing them back into society and IT DOES NOT WORK. See how quickly the legislature went into action after the Chesire invasion? Lets see how fast they can act to pass some stricter laws around probation for these drug pushers, etc....

Well said and I agree with you on 99% of it.

BUT regarding the Cheshire invasion - yea they threw up smoke and mirrors, but in the end not much changed and/or was done.

The three strikes law that Amen SAID HE WOULD SIGN - he did not. He is a liar. WDRC 1360 had him on in the morning saying "yes this bill is good we need to do something" I'm paraphrasing - and then he came back on doing the polititian song and dance.

They played his words back to back and he lied. Flat out lied. So yea they talked a big game after Cheshire, but in typical fashion - when the doors closed and the cameras went off it was business as usual and nothing happened.

It makes me sick.

[Lincolnian]

If people want things to change they need to get involved. Many suburbs surrounding Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, and Bridgeport among others are seeing large inflows of similar problems.

The response is almost always an educational initiative through the schools coupled with expansion of social services. Neither program is effective in solving the problem and in many cases, IMHO, makes it worse.

It's time to start being brutally honest with people and tie any social assistance with specific behavioral changes:

* If You don't get a job and work toward your GED then you don't get assistance.
* If you drop out of school and have a child with no ability to pay for it then the child
is going to be placed in a foster home.
* If you repeatedly cause problems in school interfering with the education of others
then you will be receiving your education in a reform school.
* If you drop out of school and fail to graduate you are never eligible for welfare
benefits
* Commit 2 felonies and you're out. Commit 1 felony and 2 misdemeanors and you're
out!
* Commit murder in the first degree and fire up old sparky!