Anthony, almost every time I have walked through the Green, I have been the target of sexually-charged comments from the same people described above - those who consistently loiter there. Some men have also stood up and followed me for half the block whistling and calling me to sit beside them.

It's disgusting behavior, and obviously I'm not the only person that this happens to. I agree with the original poster - there should be a greater police/park ranger presence on the green. If the men are caught sexually harrassing women, they should lose the privilege of using the Green via a court order of keeping at least two blocks away from the Green with a fine/jail for violation.

If the Mayor and/or Police Chief want the center of New Haven to be a safe and inviting place, then they need to rid the Green of this behavior by strict means. If they want the center of New Haven to be full of the dregs of society, exhibiting sexual harrassment and other crude behaviors - thereby making productive citizens feel very uncomfortable, unsafe and unwelcome, then they can ignore the problem.

Men like "these" have been hanging out on Church and Chapel for decades. Is your suggestion to throw people of the public green, or is it to stop them from "looking" at people. I think the quality of life in New Haven has much bigger problems to deal with. This is pure nonsense.

I think it's important to address men who are making women feel unsafe through harassment, and men who are "loitering" in a park. The main purpose of a park is to loiter. That's it's function. There is an obvious difference between people relaxing in the park and verbally attacking people.

I suggest you get a thicker skin. People like this will ALWAYS be around your entire life. I have experienced this kind of behavior on a daily basis - I ignore them. End of story. Men showing off for the other males has been going on since the beginning of time. It will never change. I am down there every single day, sometimes several times a day, and its not that horrible as you make it sound. Its the green, its down town and at a major bus station. What a waste of a post. Lets put SCF back to real work. Complaints like these are going to cause real problems to be ignored.

With unemployment as high as it is, I am surprised its not worse. Count your blessings that you're not one of them

Most of them are homeless, or staying at a friends nearby etc..Most are convicted felons ,or have plainly done time in prison.These are opportunists,obviously they hang out in front of stores waiting for someone to leave a bike out,wait for a car to pull up and leave it's windows open with anything on the seat..All of these crimes,criminals and loiterers are ignored by an incompetent "wait for overtime"police force, as these aspiring hoodlums get away with this and that they get bolder and bolder..There will be a bad sex assault or murder soon- unfortunately..Watch your backs at ATM's,especially now that it's the 5'th and any stipend is long.
gone,making them very desperate.

"...Most are convicted felons ,or have plainly done time in prison"

I'd love to know how you know this. Or are you judging purely by looks?

I stopped in Starbucks a few times,walk down the line - And hear them bragging about doing time.
We also volunteer where we know of many,

so... by going to starbucks, you can safely say that the people you heard, were the majority of these terrifying people who choose to spend time in public parks?

must have been an awfully long line in starbucks if most of these awful park enthusiasts were all getting coffee at the same time. i really didnt realize the starbucks was that big.

Please call in to NHPD non emergency number in every instance, and leave a detailed description of the person responsible for harassment.

Other people have tried to address this, by monitoring the area, but NHPD has in every case told them that the person who felt harassed must make the complaint themselves.

If people call this in, and also contact their Alderperson, the Town Green Special Services District, and the City CAO Rob Smuts, about the issue each and every time it happens, it will be addressed. NHPD will consider sending out a plainclothes police officer if they receive enough specific reports.

When we don't speak up for ourselves, we condone this type of behavior.

I haven't seen all that much loitering at this particular location recently. Perhaps this has to do with the addition of walking beats & officers who patrol the Starbucks. Please click "reopen" if this is still a concern, or post a new issue if it becomes an issue again w/ specific place and times (and see comment below for ways to address it directly).