Community activist Cecalie Cooper, a 23-year-old graduate of the University of Connecticut, has been front and center trying to find solutions to the spike in city violence. She has been visible at city marches, community meetings and engaging elected officials on the subject. She shares this commentary with OIB.
On the evening of Monday, July 23, 2012 around 5:30 p.m. the City of Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch and Chief of Police Joseph Gaudett joined by local politicians, clergy, non-profit organizations, concerned residents, local activists, and family and friends of the recent 15-year-young lady who was gunned down in the dark streets of Bridgeport, CT gathered to discuss concerns of gun violence and a topic of often interest the curfew ordinance that has been being discussed since January 2012 after the death of a 14 year old young man who was gunned down in the streets of Bridgeport.
The curfew ordinance has become a common topic for every homicide involving teens under the age of 18. The use of the topic has been abused among Mayor Bill Finch, Police Chief Joseph Gaudett, and City Council. The curfew ordinance was proposed to keep children under the age of 17 out of the streets Sunday through Thursday from 11 p.m. – 6 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 12 a.m. – 6 a.m. without supervision of an adult.
The response from Mayor Bill Finch given in reference to the curfew ordinance and why it has not been passed was due to law and policymakers from American Civil Liberties Union in fright of violation of the constitutional rights of the children and parental rights. The community can pose a question, why didn’t the Mayor, City Council, and Chief of Police reach out to the community by reliable means such as postal mail similarly to what is done during elections when they want the community to gain knowledge of who they are to gain a vote? Why not reach out to the people to ask for written letters to state Governor Malloy, Congressman Himes, and President Obama since the people are demanding the curfew ordinance?
The gun violence in the City of Bridgeport is beyond out of control and the curfew ordinance is of high demand. In the past 3 years, there have been 4 people under the age of 18 murdered by illegal guns and more than 5 people under the age of 18 wounded by illegal guns including a 3-year-old toddler that was reported to the public. Will it take the life of another mother or father’s child before the seriousness of the issue is addressed with sincerity? How can concerned parents and residents take the promises of the Mayor, Chief, and City Council serious when there were a few City Council members and one Police Officer Chief of Police present at a press conference following three homicides within three days? Why wasn’t the entire City Council present? Where were some of the Lieutenants, Captains, and Detectives of the Police Department whose duty is to protect and serve the community during this important press conference?
The community has become hopeless and lost faith in the politicians and police department in the City of Bridgeport. A parent should not have to toss and turn every night losing sleep an important essential of life fearing for the safety of his/her child. Now is the time for the public to call on the help of state and federal officials to infiltrate the City of Bridgeport to improve the tactics toward stopping crime for the sake of the youth, they represent the future.
The mayor is just going through the motions,; he could care less; just another Dog & Pony show; he’ll blame it on someone else. (“You parents keep your kids off the streets now.”)
Our Police Chief (Barney Fife) could care less, just 21 cops on patrol, that tells us he cares.
The City Council cares, they want to keep the kids off the streets with a curfew while they all show up at the Vibes for freebies.
McCarthy cares, he’s pushing the curfew on all our kids under 17.
I reference this well written letter. A parent would not have to toss and turn and worry about his child’s safety if that child were home in bed when he/she should be in bed.
It’s a shame even one teenager is killed by violence but when this curfew is passed it will not stop the violence. There are only so many cops on patrol and to tie them up as babysitters endangers the 99% of the people who are law-abiding citizens.
*** Lots of “complaints” to do something quick with a limited number of cops, dysfunctional families of teens, easy access to guns, limited city budget, uncooperative neighborhoods with police, lack of quality education, alcohol and drug problems, poor economy, increase in gang activity, etc. But then when something like a youth to teen curfew is talked about to try to help combat the situation “hopefully,” it’s complained about before it’s even attempted along with other possible plans! Will the person with the crystal ball and; all the answers to Bpt’s problems please report to the city Mayor’s office please! *** ASAP ***
Bridgeport is always looking for that magic answer to solve their problem; gambling, Steel Point, curfews but it doesn’t work that way in real life. There are no magic or simple answers, it takes vision, planning and leadership and Bridgeport does not have that.