NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Dozens of residents and business leaders rallied in Fair Haven Tuesday evening, voicing their concerns that a lack of safety is costing businesses in the area.
Some of the residents who rallied on the corner of Blatchley and Grand Avenue said they feel forgotten.
“The city forgot us, because we don't have protection,” said Alberto Bustos, a local business owner.
Residents said the crime and drug use has gotten out of hand.
“People just keep shooting up drugs in front of my place,” said John Lugo, who organized Tuesday’s rally.
Lugo said that "a guy came inside of the building with a gun, you know, and he was like, waving the gun and he was taking products and putting it in his pocket."
According to Lugo, crime and drugs are costing small business owners because their potential customers do not feel safe.
“They are losing customers all the time. They’re moving away from Fair Haven, and I think that's enough for the city to start paying attention,” said Lugo.
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One of the group's main concerns is response times by New Haven police.
“I called the police, they showed up like a half hour later,” Lugo said. “If a situation happens like that in Wooster Square or East Rock, you know the police will act immediately."
Grand Avenue business owners said they took their concerns to their alderman but were told that if they wanted additional patrols or security, it would cost them out of pocket.
“We tried to go to the city or to our aldermen for this area and he suggests to us to pay the police to come here,” said Bustos.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said the city has done a lot to combat crime in the city, but that there is more they can do.
“Our officers are working really hard with a lot over time, and we've installed a lot of cameras around the city including a lot in Fair Haven to help us bring people to justice that are engaged in some of this violent crime,“ said Elicker.
Elicker said ensuring a sense of safety in the city is top priority, but that safety in this neighborhood is important to him personally.
“My two daughters go to school in Fair Haven on Grand Avenue, and this is personally important to me, in addition to it being important to me as mayor, to ensure that everyone feels safe in the city,” said Elicker.
Elicker said he is open to the idea of meeting with business owners in the neighborhood in the coming weeks.
Jake Garcia is a multimedia journalist for FOX61 News. He can be reached at jgarcia@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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