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Another Police Substation on Main Street?

By Kerri Provost

September 22, 2011

Though it only takes seconds for the police to reach Main and Asylum from the current substation across from the Hartford Public Library, a new substation was approved for this location, which is across from a major bus stop.

The following letter from Mayor Segarra was submitted to the City Council:

"Dear Council President Winch,

"Attached for your consideration is a resolution authorizing the City to enter into an agreement with Konover Commercial Corporation for the use of the kiosk located at the northwest corner of Asylum and Main streets as a police substation.

"There has been a recent increase in 'flash mob' violence around the northwest corner of Asylum and Main Streets. It is believed that this increase is due to the location being a high-traffic bus area where Connecticut transit routes intersect and hundreds of passengers, including teenagers on school days, change buses. The violence has made area business owners, their employees and their customers feel unsafe in the area and has brought negative publicity to Hartford via both print and electronic media.

"The Konover Commercial Corporation owns the kiosk on the northwest corner of Asylum and Main Streets and wishes to donate the use of the kiosk to the City for the purpose of establishing a police substation. Both I and Police Chief Roberts believe that such a substation, because of its highly visible location, will increase the City's public safety presence at a vital downtown crossroads, will be a deterrent to future violence, and will be a source of early warning sould a disturbance occur.

"In return for the donation of the use of the kiosk, the City will grant the Konover Commercial Corporation a tax deduction in the emount of the value of the donated/waived monthly rental fee. Konover will, free of charge, paint the out-building to the kiosk's rear. The City will install appropriate signage and will pay the monthly utility bills of the kiosk.

"We appreciate the willingness of Konover Commerical Corporation to assist in solving this public safety issue and urge the Council to consider the attached resolution favorably.

"Respectfully submitted, Pedro E. Segarra, Mayor"

This kiosk was formerly a newsstand.

While the area could use police presence more than others — go stand at that bus stop for ten minutes and see (or smell) the range of activities going on — it seems to duplicate services provided just blocks away.

This kiosk was formerly a newsstand.

While the area could use police presence more than others — go stand at that bus stop for ten minutes and see (or smell) the range of activities going on — it seems to duplicate services provided just blocks away.