Bridgeport v. CT over detention center

People are fired-up over talk of putting a juvenile detention center in Bridgeport. That is not sitting well with some city leaders and residents. And Thursday night they had a very vocal say.

The meeting was an effort by the state to repair their relationship with Bridgeport; neighbors say they had no idea this was in the works.

Many came out at a public hearing, at the Beardsley Zoo, Thursday night to protest proposed construction of a juvenile treatment and detention center on Virginia Avenue, which would be surrounded by homes.

Willy Caribe revealed he is blown away by a plan to put juvenile detention center right across the street.

"We didn't know anything about this, this is a bomb ya know?" said Caribe.

Bridgeport State Rep. Chris Caruso [D], of Bridgeport, is so upset he is suggesting a suburban alternative.

"Maybe the governor should look at putting it in Brookfield where she lives and lets see what her neighbors would say and lets see what she would have to say about it," he said.

The State Department of Children and Families [DCF] wants the $15 million juvenile detention center for girls. The agency said a secure facility is needed because these clients in crisis often run away.

Residents simply call it a jail.

"Find somewhere else far away, somewhere isolated. This neighborhood is not the place," said Caribe.

The city of Bridgeport already has a juvenile detention center in an industrial area near downtown. The state rep said people make room here or renovate the Hamden Hills facility for boys which is slated for shut down.

"The state is a Goliath but Bridgeport can be pretty big when there is something we are fighting," said State Rep. Caruso.

"It's obvious to me, Bridgeport has become some sort of a dumping ground," said Millie Nievez of Bridgeport. "I don't do public speaking, so this is a first time. So, that's how opposed I am," said Nievez.

Nievez wasn't alone.

"I found out by watching your news. I was watching Channel 8 news when it came out, and I was stunned. We were never notified, I knew nothing about it," said Nievez.

Gary Kleeblatt, spokesperson for the Department of Children and Families, said neighbors would not be in danger if the girls could even run away. They are not a danger to the public or property, but a danger to themselves and end up being a victim by a perpetrator.

The process of this whole project is currently under investigation by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal who is examining to see if proper procedures were followed.