Hartford neighbors hope classical music will drive away vagrants
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Residents of one Hartford neighborhood hope Beethoven and Mozart will help drive drug dealers and prostitutes out of a local park.
Activists have hatched a plan to pipe classical music through speakers in Barnard Park in hopes of annoying petty criminals so much that they'll leave.
As an added bonus, they say, the music will make the park more pleasant for people who want to walk or eat lunch there once it's cleaned up.
Resident Carol Coburn said she came up with the idea after reading about similar efforts in West Palm Beach, Fla., where she said crime decreased as much as 40 percent in parks where classical music was played.
Cities in Canada and Australia reported success with similar efforts.
"If you're someone who wants to go there on your lunch break, you'll probably enjoy the music because it won't be played too loud," said Hartford police Lt. Harold Even. "But if you're one of these people who hangs out at the park all day engaged in illegal activity, it's going to get on your nerves."
The plan is sounding a sour note with some people. Among them is Edward Cumming, director and conductor of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, who says the idea vulgarizes classical music that is meant to be enlightening.
UCLA musicologist Robert Fink said the plan makes Hartford's crime-fighting efforts look desperate.
"Beethoven is not going to save you," he said. "There are many ironies in this proposal, not the least of which is the fact that some of the greatest composers in history are now being viewed as some kind of bug spray or disinfectant."
But others suggest the plan, which still needs city approval and funding, could work.
Domenic Vallera, who manages a 24-hour gas station near the state Capitol, said his store has played classical music to keep customers mellow for about seven years.
"It's not very hip, but everyone can relate to it," Vallera said.
And Jose Vega, who works for the Community Renewal Team, said it's a great idea that could help educate and calm people who use the park as a hangout.
"It might be a great way to open up their minds to other ways of living their lives," he said.
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