Description
more needs to be done to prevent this coffeeshop from becoming a hangout for the homeless. (i don't deny that more needs to be done FOR the homeless, but this one business should not shoulder that burden/suffer because business is driven away.)
every time i visit here, i hear disrespectful language yelled across the store, conversations about drugs including potential drug deals right in the store, and generally offensive conversations. it is very frustrating that this happens often in front of children and first-time visitors to new haven.
i see the same several faces every time who commit these acts. after one guy yelled "f you" loudly across the entire store, i turned and made a motion to calm down with my hand, because there was a 3 or 4 year old in line behind me. he responded with " bl*w me".
bars can ban certain customers who do not behave themselves. can starbucks begin to do the same?
31 Comments
BB (Registered User)
應答 Win (Registered User)
DD Lover (Guest)
juli (Registered User)
point well taken, dd lover. i imagine the problems we described are not limited to where we alone have witnessed them. i only noticed it at starbucks because i go there on my way to work.
i think that any actions taken by starbucks could also be adopted by dunkin donuts or any other business with lingering clientele that is disrespectful or dangerous to others.
i am happy to see that town green is actively involved in this issue. many thanks, and let me know where i can help.
can't wait to move out of new haven (Guest)
Win (Guest)
I think all should take notice of the hard work that Lt Sweeney and her Downtown unit have done this week to clean up some of the questionable daily activities at the corner of Church and Chapel and on the New Haven Green. Much of this activity spills into coffee shops, especially the shop on the corner of Church and Chapel. Arrests were made this week and we should all stay watchful and if questionable activity is notcied - call hte non-emergency number and report it. 203-946-6316
Thank you Lt Sweeney!
Mutumbo (Guest)
oram (Guest)
I assume most of those loitering outside starbucks are drug addicts. We shouldn't equate homelessness with the crazy, loud, brazen addict behavior.
Citizen (Registered User)
There are four different areas that surround that Starbucks location. Three of the four are areas that need to be fixed. Directly across the street is the green, but mainly - the CTTransit bus stop. That place could really use some help, especially if CTTransit want's to attract people, and not give themselves a bad impression.
Next, we have Chapel Street, towards the east. That entire section is very low class. It should be interesting to see how 360 State Street complains about it. Then, we've got Church Street. The fire-damaged building needs to be re-built, and once Gateway is built, I'm sure we can expect more pedestrian activity and maybe even some retail. Next section is the club district - that's fine. Just watch out at night.
Anyways, I'd really start with finding some money to redo the CTTransit station. Put some grass there, bushes, flowers, whatever. Get rid of those terrible wooden benches, urine all over them. Replace them with more modern benches. Redo the whole area entirely - new signage, schedules, put some paint on the road marking that it's for buses - I constantly see cars driving up and blocking the buses. Just redo it. Maybe the area will start looking nicer.
KenyaSunshine (Registered User)
really? (Guest)
Andrew (Guest)
to really?:
While I see your point (I myself prefer to go to Bru on Orange St. just a few blocks away) I think this issue is much larger than an individual's choice about where to get their morning pick-me-up.
Whether or not money spent at that Starbucks stays in New Haven, creating an atmosphere that is unfriendly to businesses and commercial activity right in the heart of our downtown is an issue that needs to be resolved.
Ted Banion (Guest)
Anonymous (Guest)
juli (Registered User)
you think it is a solution to just say "that's life"?
i think it is a solution to confront addiction instead of allowing our community to be overrun with seriously dangerous activity.
Anonymous (Guest)
Reopened NewHaven (Guest)
Reopened Steve (Guest)
Starbucks Retail Customer Relations
(800) 235-2883
Mon – Fri 5 AM – 6 PM (PST)
David Streever (Registered User)
Anonymous User:
Sounds like the homeless have more rights than us, if screaming "b*ow me" and dealing drugs are one of their "rights". If I behaved that way I'd be kicked out and probably in jail. Why spend your time telling other people what to be upset about?
This is a real problem, and one that Starbucks can hopefully address. Maybe NHPD can address it by policing the Starbucks?
The Life Guard (Guest)
David Streever (Registered User)
Folks this will only be fixed if enough people see it, vote on it, and call Starbucks and the NHPD to complain.
Let's see some actual pressure put on these organizations to fix the problem. NHPD should be coming by here at least twice a day, speaking to the people who are sitting around acting crazy, and reaching out--community policing.
Starbucks employees need to be proactive and call NHPD when the drug dealers and others start acting crazy.
I'm not a big fan of Starbucks with it's "hands-off" lackluster approach to being part of a community. Let's make them engage the community & clean up their act.
Reopened Car-Less Lady (Guest)
I live, work and play in New Haven; my entire life is lived out(on foot) within New Haven-proper. I love New Haven and believe this little city has so much to offer—culture, activities, events and a thriving day/night-life. Unfortunately, many people avoid coming into New Haven and consequently miss out on all our city has to offer because of the blatant and offensive criminal activities taking place on many of New Haven’s busiest streets. The corner of Chapel and Church Streets(Starbucks) is a prime example of just this. If Starbucks is unwilling to ‘clean up’ their storefront—inside and out—our city will suffer the consequences of their negligence. Letting this corner fester will only deter people from wanting to visit, live, play, or even invest in New Haven. We need to clean up all of these crime-ridden hot spots, but primarily the Starbucks on Chapel and Church Streets.
The Car-Less Lady
David Streever (Registered User)
Car-less lady, right on. The green is in many respects the "face" of our city. If we allow it to be a lawless area, visitors will believe that our city is lawless.
Can anyone post the PDF poster of this issue at 360 state? do they have a residents bulletin board? the 180 residents who are there now would probably be interested.
Reopened Car-less Lady (Guest)
David Streever, Thank you.
Joining forces with 360 State is a great approach. That said, I’m sure someone reading this could reach out to Mr. Becker, speak to him about this issue and ask for his support. Another great organization to involve on this issue is New Haven’s REX Development—www.rexdevelopment.org—they(and, I’m not doing them justice with this simple explanation) help market/grow the tourism-factor in New Haven County; they could suggests the negative consequences of this unwanted loitering and it’s direct effect on New Haven’s tourism industries. If we want to attract people to live, work and play here, we need to clean up these crime-ridden hot-spots, and stop letting these loiterers affect New Haven’s bottom line($).
Car-less Lady
Citizen (Registered User)
Reopened Concerned (Guest)
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
Reopened Will (Guest)
Remember the Shakespeare Lady? everyone thought she was so cute reciting those Shakespeare quotes... she made several $100's a day. Well, go to Niantic womens prison and see where that got her. At her end she was assaulting customers and police, thanks for the spare change she spent it all on Crack. ALL PEOPLE DO GIVING CHANGE IS SUPPORTING THESE PEOPLES INNER DEMONS!! I do understand some suffer from mental disorders but the majority are drug /alcohol dependent. BTW their hospital trip to detox costs the city over $500 just for the Ambulance ride alone!! So keep giving up your change Yalies...
Anonymous (Guest)
Carless lady is right when she says:
"If Starbucks is unwilling to ‘clean up’ their storefront—inside and out—our city will suffer the consequences of their negligence. Letting this corner fester will only deter people from wanting to visit, live, play, or even invest in New Haven."
She probably remembers that it was one gunshot fired in Chapel Square Mall that spelled the bitter end for that place. Families stopped going there overnight.
E (Registered User)
I have a very good rapport with Starbucks managers and employees at that particular branch. Lets not blame them....they have done all they are allowed to do. Their hands are tied. They did remove the big comfortable chairs to help discourage sleepers, they rearranged and removed some hidden-from-sight tables behind that short wall. They are doing the best they are allowed to do. They cant just kick people out because then thats discrimination, they do clean but it gets destroyed very quickly by the public. They can only ask people to move from the front door if they are smoking or blocking the steps. Other then that, its up to the owner of the building to implement further action because its not Starbucks building.
Lets bring it back to perspective here, the issue lies with the people who are causing the disturbance and the cops that hang around do very little to get foot traffic moving and prevent loitering.
Rainy, snow and cold days are the worst and this business REALLY suffers.
關閉 Win (Registered User)
Over the last several years, Starbucks and the NHPD have worked very hard to set a new standard of behavior in starbucks and I think this issue should be closed at this point. It doesn't feel like the starbucks that was reported in 2010.
-Win