The latest in a series of downtown nightclub related shootings occurred late Sunday night. Police are seeking to identify two suspects who fired a gun at a group of people. The incident started with a fight inside The Palace night club at 113 Allyn Street. Security escorted people from The Palace when someone fired at them while they were walking to their car around 1:20AM. The suspects were seen running towards Church and High Streets. No one was injured.
There is no question about it. Downtown violence has increased since the start of the summer due to shootings in and around downtown bars and clubs. The most notable incident lead to the forced closure of The Mansion (formerly Club Blu and soon to be Entourage). Many are quick to blame a dangerous mix of alcohol and anger as the culprit. Others are quick to blame Hartford because they see it as a den of urban violence. Last time I checked the brief story on the Hartford Courant website on the incident had 26 comments, some of which were simply despicable.
However, I have not seen an upsurge in nightclub related violence in other cities since the start of the summer. I have lived in London and New York City and have never been confronted with any safety issues nor have I ever been worried about my safety while out. Hartford is the city I grew up with though and I have to say as I make my New Years Eve plans in Hartford the recent shooting will stick in my mind. This incident will not stop me from going out but I fear for those who may be turned off from coming downtown.
The question I raise is what are we doing wrong in Hartford? I do not think I am making a mountain out a mole hill. We as a city, a region, and a state can not turn our backs on the violence throughout Hartford and not just downtown.
Some have suggested increased security at downtown clubs, which would be very much appreciated but will not fully solve the problem. Most bars and clubs have security but not metal detectors. Mandating metal detectors or pat downs may decrease violence inside clubs but not in the vicinity. Many of the downtown shootings occurred outside of clubs on the street or in parking lots. Metal detectors will simply move the violence outdoors and defer blame off of downtown clubs and bars.
We must get to the bottom of this and unfortunately I do not have all the answers. An increased police presence downtown would be very beneficial. Taking that even farther would be police who walked the streets. This would be police walking the beat. Something not seen very often these days. A trip downtown on Monday afternoon for example yielded three police cruisers idling with officers inside them. It would be more helpful to turn those engines off and have officers walking the streets, especially late at night when people are frequenting bars and clubs. There is usually a cruiser along Allyn Street or Union Place but there are no officers on the street unless there is a problem. Turning cruisers off would also save on gas money.
Getting beneath the surface of this problem will be difficult. Violence downtown will only cease by decreasing violence in our neighborhoods. I am not sure if these incidents have ties to any gang activity since I am not even sure gangs exist in Hartford. Hopefully violence city wide will decrease through an increased sense of community, getting illegal guns off the streets, and not solving problems and disputes with guns.
Some have mentioned that bars and clubs need to be held more responsible. While I am personally pro business it is not in the best interest of the entire city including all of its businesses if this violence continues. Club and bar owners must be aware of what is happening in and around their establishments. They must be held responsible for what happens on the dance floor inside plus the sidewalk outside. I have also heard that a radio station sponsored some of the parties where the fights and violence occured. I have not read an article or seen much information on these accusations but if the radio station has had involvement in this increase in violence they must be investigated.
Other cities have made significant decreases in crime over the last 10 years. Bringing Rudy Giuliani's broken glass theory to Hartford might not be a bad idea as well.
As I end we must not let this violence stop us from enjoying Hartford. Tomorrow night is First Night in the Capital City. We must get out and enjoy. We must look at all the positive things happening in Hartford as we step in 2010, which I hope treats everyone well.
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