WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Expanded nuisance law to be used to cleanup neighborhoods (Hartford-WTNH) _ Getting rid of neighborhood nuisances is the goal of expanding a law currently on the books. Many establishments would be affected by this attempt at crime control, including a strip club in Hartford. The crackdown includes a 'three-times and you're out' rule. News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer reports. "I'm glad to see it go. I'm glad to see it closed. I would like to see it get turned around so it could help the neighborhood." Teezers, a strip club in Hartford, was an unwelcome neighbor in the Parkville community. Residents say it became a hotspot for crime. Andrew Wasilewski, Hartford: "As I was coming down this way I heard police cars coming in here. When I got by it was all cordoned off already. All I know afterwards is that I heard somebody got shot." But a nuisance law that will soon be expanded allowed police to take action and lock it up. It's working across the state. Rep. Paul Doyle, (D) Wethersfield: "Instead of just going after the person caught selling drugs you want to shut down a property that causes a lot of problems in the neighborhoods." Now the expanded law will allow police to go to a judge and get authority to shut down a property once they have three arrest warrants against people at a particular address. It doesn't require convictions or actual arrests. Wanda Greenridge, Hartford: "One day you see the apartments open, the next day you see it locked down." Last summer the landlord of the New Jack City complex sold the building after rather than being forced to shut it down. What about people who are innocent who may live in a building that gets shut down? According to the bill the landlord must pay to relocate them." Rep. Doyle: "The message is you better cooperate and get involved with your property or your property will be shut down." The law was used to shut down a strip club in Norwalk. The Zebra club was located across the street from a church. A bill to expand the law passed the general assembly, and awaits the governor's signature. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Expanded nuisance law to be used to cleanup neighborhoods
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Getting rid of neighborhood nuisances is the goal of expanding a law currently on the books. Many establishments would be affected by this attempt at crime control, including a strip club in Hartford. The crackdown includes a 'three-times and you're out' rule.
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer reports.

"I'm glad to see it go. I'm glad to see it closed. I would like to see it get turned around so it could help the neighborhood."

Teezers, a strip club in Hartford, was an unwelcome neighbor in the Parkville community. Residents say it became a hotspot for crime.

Andrew Wasilewski, Hartford: "As I was coming down this way I heard police cars coming in here. When I got by it was all cordoned off already. All I know afterwards is that I heard somebody got shot."

But a nuisance law that will soon be expanded allowed police to take action and lock it up. It's working across the state.

Rep. Paul Doyle, (D) Wethersfield: "Instead of just going after the person caught selling drugs you want to shut down a property that causes a lot of problems in the neighborhoods."

Now the expanded law will allow police to go to a judge and get authority to shut down a property once they have three arrest warrants against people at a particular address. It doesn't require convictions or actual arrests.

Wanda Greenridge, Hartford: "One day you see the apartments open, the next day you see it locked down."

Last summer the landlord of the New Jack City complex sold the building after rather than being forced to shut it down. What about people who are innocent who may live in a building that gets shut down? According to the bill the landlord must pay to relocate them."

Rep. Doyle: "The message is you better cooperate and get involved with your property or your property will be shut down."

The law was used to shut down a strip club in Norwalk. The Zebra club was located across the street from a church.

A bill to expand the law passed the general assembly, and awaits the governor's signature.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.