Residents Say No Juvie Center in Their Back Yard

Bridgeport residents don't want the DCF facility for girls

By AMANDA RAUS

Updated 7:00 AM EST, Fri, Nov 20, 2009

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State Rep. Chris Caruso is one of many fighting a proposal that would put a juvenile detention center for girls at 115 Virginia Ave. in Bridgeport.

"We're going to fight this every step of the way, and we're not going to permit this in that neighborhood. It's wrong. It has to be rethought, and it has to be stopped," Caruso, D-Bridgeport, said.

At a meeting held at Beardsley Park on Thursday, Bridgeport residents also expressed their concern about the new center and told the state Department of Children and Families they don't want it in their back yards.

"This becomes another reason for people to pack their bags and leave, and watch a neighborhood deteriorate, property values disintegrate, and then what? Then it looks like lower East Main Street," said Steven Auerbach, of Bridgeport.

They told the state that they want the juvenile detention center in another city, not in Bridgeport.

"My sign says it all: Brookfield not Bridgeport. The governor should consider putting this jail in her community. The people of Bridgeport have had enough," Caruso said.

Residents are also worried that the facility will bring criminal offenders into their neighborhood. With a young daughter and elderly mother, Milly Nieves said that's her major concern.

"I do not want to be at work worrying about, God forbid, somebody runs out of the place, jumps over the fence and comes knocking at the door or uses my back yard as a hiding place," Nieves said.

DCF says the building will only be a treatment facility for girls who, many times, are victims of abuse and neglect and aren't a danger to anyone but themselves. Still, DCF did listen to residents' concerns and said they will take them under advisement.

"It's been our plan to move forward with this project here as we presented. This evening we heard some things we do need to take into account and we will be doing that," said Brian Mattiello, of the state Department of Children and Families.

But for now, DCF also says the Virginia Avenue site is the best fit for the facility.