Providence Place, Waterplace Park, the Westin Hotel and its neighbor, the Courtyard Marriott all sparkle in a new downtown that has won wide acclaim. Just a few blocks away, however, on the darker side of downtown, merchants are complaining of drug deals, vandalism and burglaries — and a police department that has until now seemed oblivious to the problems.
Paul Brooks, president of a merchants association and owner of Chasen’s, a gift shop on Dorrance Street will close his store in May, a result, he has said of the deteriorating conditions downtown.
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Shortly after Brooks made his remarks, Providence Police Chief Richard T. Sullivan paid him a visit to discuss the problems. Sullivan was quoted as suggesting to Brooks that he should have come to him with the problem. Sullivan said he was also unaware of the problems, and suggested that instead of witnessing drug deals, some might have been vagrants selling cigarettes.
Whether it’s cigarettes or a whole marijuana plant, there’s an atmosphere far different than the glitter that resides only a few blocks away. Westminster Street and its environs, even at mid-day is a tough place in which to do business.
We’re surprised at the new chief’s response.
We expect public safety officials to take the initiative in keeping in touch with local merchants, not waiting for them to come knocking at the chief’s door. And we’re surprised that only now the department is encouraging its officers to be more visible in the Westminster – Dorrance Street areas.
There are plans to revitalize this area of downtown as well. But no revitalization can be successful unless the merchants and their customers are comfortable that there is a responsive police department, one that doesn’t wait for problems to erupt, but one that understands and responds to the concerns of its business community.
