Published on 3/28/2005
Letters To The Editor:
I moved to New London in 1999, inspired by the dream of living in a city poised on the edge of a renaissance. I still hope New London has not yet seen its best days. However, after experiencing a drive-by shooting in my neighborhood, I can safely say that the streets of New London are not getting safer.
Last year, two individuals at the end of my street were shot execution-style in their car and a third was shot in the face. For a small city, these are not small issues.
If there is a silver lining in this, it is in the sustained superior performance of the New London Police Department. On the night of the drive-by shooting, officers responded in minutes, conducted a thorough investigation and gave the necessary reassurance to residents that their safety was in good hands. I hope a similar concern for public safety is alive and well in City Hall. The citizens of New London need to send a clear message to our government that cuts to the New London Police Department have gone deep enough.
We cannot afford to surrender our streets to gang warfare, prostitution and drug dealing. I am willing to make the necessary personal investment in taxes that will assure New London's continued success. I understand not everyone shares that view. However, I am not willing to endanger my family's safety so our council and city manager can balance the budget. There have to be other options and its time we explored them.
I salute the hard-working officers of the New London Police Department. I hope others will join me. The future is in our hands. Let's make sure our safety is as well.
Peter Alden Hyde
New London
© The Day Publishing Co., 2005
For home delivery, please call 1-800-542-3354 Ext. 4700