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The Week In Brief
New Haven crime on the declineAccording to a recent report by the New Haven Police Department (NHPD), the city's murder rate is at a 12-year low. Only 15 murders were reported in 1998, down from a high of 34 in 1991. Violent crime also fell, with rape and robbery down 29 and 28 percent, respectively. Of the seven reported categories of violent crime, aggravated assault and larceny were the only two to experience increases.NHPD spokesperson Judith Mongillo attributed the decline in large part to the city's community policing program. "We are just beginning to see the benefits of community policing now," she said. The community policing program, first implemented in 1990, divides the city into 10 neighborhoods, each with its own police substation. It also relies on a beat system, rather than 911-based policing. Mongillo believes that growing trust between officers and their communities has helped the force solve more crimes. Mongillo also noted an apparent reduction in gang-related crime, which she attributed to the efforts of the New Haven Gang Task Force. --Melissa Barton Gore press gurr new director of public affairsOn Thurs., Jan. 7, Lawrence Haas, former communications director for Vice President Al Gore and the White House Office of Management and Budget, was appointed Yale director of public affairs and special assistant to the President. Haas replaces Tom Conroy, who has served as the Office of Public Affairs' interim director since B. Jay Cooper left the post in May 1998."Larry Haas is a person who appreciates what universities are all about: a serious commitment to higher education," President Richard Levin, GRD '74, said. "Haas has a number of attributes which seem to serve [Yale] well: being on the firing line when dealing with the press, experience in conducting himself with the press." Haas has also worked in radio and television. When he joins Yale at the end of January, Haas plans both to tackle the University's daily events and to commence a long-term effort to improve Yale's international reputation. He also wants to improve public perception of New Haven. "I share President Levin's view that the future of the University and the city are very closely intertwined--one feeds off the other," Haas said. --Marissa Leung City appoints new labor realtions directorOn Tues., Jan. 5, New Haven officials announced the appointment of Assistant Corporation Counsel William F. Clark as the city's new director of labor relations. This position had previously been included in the duties of the Director of Organizational Development Lisa Grasso. With Clark's appointment, however, it now becomes a separate, $65,000-a-year position.Clark's appointment comes amidst contract negotiations with the city's firefighters' and police unions. The city had intended for the negotiations to continue under the supervision of Pepe & Hazard (Grasso's present employer), a Hartford law firm that has conducted labor relations work for the city in the past. But officials now indicate that, due to Clark's new position, this may no longer be the case. Members of the firefighters' union fear that this development will stall the resolution of the contract problem. They would prefer to continue negotiations with Grasso, who worked out their contracts four years ago. Capt. Kevin McNerney, president of the fire union, explained, "With her, we wouldn't be starting all over again." --Melissa DePetris Yale's Maple Cottage plantsput on trialDue to recent legal action by protesters, Yale's plans to demolish the historic Maple Cottage at 85 Trumbull Street have been put on hold. The Friends of Hillhouse Avenue, a local preservation group concerned with maintaining the historic value of Hillhouse Avenue and its surroundings, began their court battle against the University this week.The trial opened on Wed., Jan. 13, and is expected to last until at least Fri., Jan. 15. The Friends of Hillhouse Avenue argue that Yale should restore the structure instead of tearing it down. Eric Papenfuse, JE '93, GRD '99, a member of the Friends of Hillhouse Avenue, commented that the destruction of Maple Cottage would "potentially set a horrible precedent for New Haven and national historic buildings." The organization has collected signatures from 700 Yalies in support of its cause. Yale's legal counsel claims that it would cost between $1.5 and $2 million to restore Maple Cottage and make it a safe building. Acting Director of Public Affairs Tom Conroy explained that even after extensive renovations the structure would still be worth less than $500,000. "The building is unsafe and no longer has architectural significance in terms of resembling the original structure," Conroy said. --Abbi Phillips Multi-million dollar reasearch site plannedOn Tues., Jan. 5, Yale announced plans to construct a $160-million complex of medical research buildings in New Haven's Hill neighborhood. According to Assistant Director of Public Affairs Cynthia Atwood, the 444,000-square-foot facility, slated for completion in the year 2002, will be one of the largest and most ambitious building projects ever undertaken at Yale. University officials hope the high-tech facilities will help Yale attract top-notch research scientists and doctors.The facility will not lead to an increase in the current size of Yale's science faculty. "It will help recruit faculty, but is not designed to increase faculty," Atwood explained. Instead, faculty members in the different research departments will be transferred to the new facility to work together. "The new space will help regroup people and match their interests," Atwood said. --Kris Siriratsivawong | ||||||||||||||||
