by Paul Bass | Mar 14, 2013 9:12 am

One said it unfairly targets black people. Two others applauded the basic conceptthough one said it took the city too long to embrace it and still needs more government back-up.

Those views emerged Thursday morning about New Havens Project Longevity as the three announced candidates for mayor gathered for their first joint forum.

The New Haven Register hosted the forum from 8 to 9 a.m. and live-streamed it on its website. The Registers Shahid Abdul-Karim (at left in photo) moderated the discussion with Democratic candidates (from left next to Abdul-Karin) Gary Holder-Winfield, a Newhallville state representative; Sundiata Keitazulu, a Newhallville plumber; and Justin Elicker, an East Rock alderman. All three are seeking to succeed Mayor John DeStefano, who plans to retire at years end after two decades in office. Other candidates are expected to emerge in coming weeks.

The three offered differing takes on Project Longevity, a joint federal-city-community campaign that targets violent drug gangs.

The project began late last year as part of Police Chief Dean Essermans broader efforts to revive community policing in New Haven.

Modeled on successful similar programs in other cities, Project Longevity identifies the small number of people committing the most shootings in town; maps out their gang affiliations, then brings them to call-ins with prosecutors, cops, social workers, educators, and community leaders. At the call-ins, theyre told that if any one member of the gang commits a shooting, law enforcement will swoop down on all members of the gang and lock them up on any charges they can find. Prosecutors vow to give the cases highest priority. At the same time, leaders offer immediate front-of-the-line spots in programs offering job-training, housing, continuing education if the gang-bangers agree to go straight. Click here to read more about it; click on the play arrow to watch the principal of New Havens Adult Ed deliver the programs message.

Since Project Longevitys roll-out late last year, the city has grown relatively quieter. After a 50 percent drop in murders and 30 percent drop in shootings in 2012, violent crime has continued dropping precipitously so far in 2013. Its too early to attribute the drop on any one of a host of new community-policing initiatives or to judge the long-term impact.

So far, Elicker said in the Register forum Thursday morning, he likes what he sees in Project Longevity.

Continue reading here:
Project Longevity Divides Mayoral Hopefuls