BRATTLEBORO — The biggest problem on Elliot Street is that “a lot of people just don’t feel safe down there,” Police Captain Michael Fitzgerald said.
The Selectboard voted June 15 to support strategies to deal with the latest low-pressure system that has settled along the Elliot Street and Harmony parking lot area — a system that multiple people have recently called an “atmosphere of intimidation.”
The problems facing the merchants, residents, and youth frequenting the area have been discussed constantly since a discussion at the board’s June 1 meeting.
On Tuesday, the Selectboard voted to increase police foot patrols, install cameras along the street, and support the creation of a neighborhood watch.
The board also voted to support the efforts of Larry Hames, executive director of the Brattleboro Community Justice Center, to reach out to local youth groups and involve young people in the solutions.
Board members decided not to vote on enacting a loitering ordinance. Police Chief Eugene Wrinn said the effectiveness of such a measure is controversial and that the police can use other enforceable means like public disturbance laws.
Building a Better Brattleboro has agreed to work with merchants to help maintain existing lighting and to secure roof access where possible. At times merchants have complained about people using their buildings’ roofs to hide from police, for clandestine drug deals, or to just hang out.
The decision to monitor Elliot Street with cameras has been debated at almost all the meetings.
“Quality-of-life issues don’t show up on cameras,” said Selectboard Vice-Chair Dora Bouboulis, the only one of the five board members to vote against the town’s camera purchase.
But cameras could, in some cases, deliver quick and definable fixes to some problems, some argued.
Selectboard member Daryl Pillsbury said he is not normally in favor of cameras but supported them in this instance most people he’s spoken to on Elliot Street want to see them in place.
Policing and beyond
“The board recognizes this [Elliot] is a problem area,” said Selectboard Chair Dick DeGray.
Members of the Selectboard conducted a walk-around June 14, soliciting information from residents and business owners regarding the problems they witness.
The problems highlighted regularly by Elliot Street merchants focus around intimidation like yelled insults, fights, spitting, foul language, and illegal activities like drug dealing.
More than 100 people signed a letter urging the board to address these issues [The Commons, June 9].
Building a Better Brattleboro Executive Director Andrea Livermore said merchants have told her they want to differentiate between people causing trouble and slapping the label of “troublemaker” on all young people in the area.
Gina Richard, co-owner of the Weathervane Music Hall at 19 Elliot St., said her business has suffered in part because adults are uncomfortable walking Elliot Street at night.
“Overall, it’s nothing to do with bar patrons,” she said. It is not uncommon for the bars to clean their stoops of cans and bottles of beer bought elsewhere.
Since the June 1 Selectboard meeting, the Police Department has increased patrols, and merchants told members of the board visiting the street Monday that the increased police presence has already made a positive difference.
Wrinn said Elliot Street and Harmony Lot constitute 3 percent of the department’s calls.
“You can play the numbers however you want, but if people perceive it’s a problem then it’s real. No one should have to feel that way [afraid],” he said.
Wrinn added at times the department is placed in a sticky position because some words or actions that make people uncomfortable are not illegal and, therefore, not something the police can ticket.
With an uncomfortable atmosphere on Elliot Street as much a consequence of unwanted behavior as lawbreaking, board members and town officials are looking beyond law enforcement measures to solving a larger issue.
“That stuff isn’t going away unless you address it,” Bouboulis said.
“I don’t think we’re doing anything person to person to solve the problem — just calling in the police,” Sondag said.
Sondag also suggested local residents and merchants receive guidance in how to speak effectively in intimidating situations, like saying “this is not okay” to people spitting at pedestrians.
“I believe the residents have to reclaim the space,” Sondag said.
Fitzgerald said he was encouraged by the conversations he had with people during the June 14 walk-around.
Noting that many had other ideas besides relying solely on the police, the captain described community engagement and responsibility as “paramount.”
The board asked Wrinn to give an update on the changes and progress on the Elliot Street problems at the June 20 meeting, sustaining the momentum and connection board members have developed with merchants and residents through the recent efforts.
“We don’t want it to fall to the back burner,” DeGray said.