see click fix

The City continues to increase their partnership with SeeClickFix.  This online service provides yet another tool to help communicate your concerns to elected officials, City Departments, and with neighbors.  I've set up a Watch Area - Ward 25-Alderman Dildine Watch Area - for our neighborhood.  Click "Issues Map" to see current issues in our neighborhood.  All issues (not just based on Keywords) added within this area will generate an email notification which I'll receive immediately.

Also, at least 53 other "Watchers" including several City Departments will get notifications based on Keywords in the issue's subject and text.  While not all the City Departments are monitoring SeeClickFix, the NHPD, Transportation, Traffic & Parking (TT&P) and most recently the Department of Public Works (DPW) are now using this tool fairly effectively.  TT&P will even acknowledge receipt.  Several City Departments may look to be monitoring, but may not be as responsive or integrated to this alert system.  I believe the City is working to improve the utilization of this tool, and I will forward requests to the proper department if I don't think certain departments are totally on board yet.

So, I encourage you to check this out and give it a try.  Please sign up to "follow" my Watch Area; then you'll be assured that I have been notified of your issue; or, you can create your own area.

TT&P is monitoring these Keyword ("minus" indicates they're ignoring those words because they're are usually for other folks):  "graffiti on sign" traffic ped crosswalk intersection "traffic signal" "stop light" bike sign -mugging -blight -pothole "-storm drain" -drain -trash -speeding -drug -stealing -manhole "-manhole cover" -graffiti -bricks -atv 
DPW is monitoring: pothole "pot hole" uneven broken damaged sweep glass debris -atv -illegal -drug

Email

Please send me your email address if you would like to get Neighborhood News, Info & Updates.

dildine2009@comcast.net

Thanks!

for the new Alders...

Thought I'd let everyone know that the City is introducing us new Alders to City Department heads, and Alderwoman Ina Silverman is hosting "boot camp" to get us up to speed on BOA procedures.

Dec. 1st, I attended a meeting to meet folks and hear from several City Departments. NHPD Chief Lewis was there with Asst. Chief Brown. Chief Lewis presented the recently released crime data report (NHI story here) showing improvement from 2008. Mike Piscitelli, Director of Transportation, Traffic & Parking and John Prokop, Director of Public Works, both summarized their roles. Pat Wallace, the new Director for Elderly Services gave an update on what she's hearing from the 55+ community. Che Dawson introduced us to the City's Youth Department. Rafael Ramos, Dep. Dir. Housing Code Enforcement, explained his duties and the services that the Livable City Initiative Bureau (LCI) provides, including the second phase of the relatively new Rental Property Licensing & Inspection Program. NHFD Chief Grant gave an overview of the FD's organization and expressed his excitement on moving forward with much needed Lieutenant & Captain promotions.

Last night, Alderwoman Ina Silverman, BOA President Carl Goldfield, and Al Lucas, Dir. of Legislative Services, taught part-one of "New Alderman 'Boot camp'." We were all provided with lots of helpful information, as we all get set to help our neighborhoods and our City as soon as we're all sworn in to office at noon, January 1st at a ceremony at Coop High School.

W. Elm & Forest - Neighbors chat w/ TT&P Director

Several neighbors met near the "T" intersection of W. Elm St. & Forest Rd. tonight to take a look and chat with Mike Piscitelli, Director of New Haven's Transportation, Traffic & Parking Department. He also brought a rough drawing based on an on-site meeting he had with a CT DOT engineer last week. Residents of this block of W. Elm, and many Westville neighbors, know of the many accidents (including the 2008 death of a Forest Rd. neighbor) and the hazards of this particular intersection.

The City will soon get back to the neighbors with a proposal of what TT&P can do (with cooperation/permission from CT DOT) to mitigate the dangers at this intersection. The State did study and provided a recommendation (6/09) against installing a traffic light or stop signs (email me if you want a copy). Also, CT DOT advised that perhaps making the street one-way from Forest could help. This "one-way option" has largely been dismissed after the City formally surveyed the W. Elm St. neighbors. However, nothing is completely off the table as far as remedies go. Director Piscitelli will now consult further with the City's engineers (get CT DOT input and permissions if necessary) to get a plan that can be assessed by the New Haven Traffic Authority and the neighbors.

Neighbors attending tonight seemed to agree that striping and/or an island to direct flow to a Right-Turn Only from W. Elm to Forest would be a welcomed first step. Signage for No Left Turn onto Forest would also accompany this design. Further addressing the many hazards at this intersection, also led to considering blocking all incoming traffic from Forest onto W. Elm. This two-part idea will also be compared to completely blocking off access, to and from, Forest Rd.; thus making W. Elm a cul-de-sac at Forest.

TT&P will be in touch with Ina and me when they have something more to share.

In-street Pedestrian Crossing Signs - removal for winter

Thought I'd make everyone aware that most (maybe all) of the popular, in-street pedestrian crossing signs will be removed for the winter. These signs - State Law, Stop for Pedestrians in crosswalks - are still just a "trial program." None (in our neighborhood) are permanently anchored and thus can't be left in place during snow removal season. Also, Transportation, Traffic & Parking (TT&P) wants to inventory and assess the signs. Many have been hit and damaged. They are also evaluating requests for more of these signs in addition to their own analysis for "how many and where" throughout the City.