Police address concerns of downtown Lynn residents

LYNN – Lynn Police vowed to increase their presence and put up speed limit signs on Munroe Street at a meeting Tuesday night with the Downtown Lynn Neighbors Association (DTLna) to discuss the concerns raised by residents of the renovated lofts there.?We can?t promise a lot, but we can increase presence and have the traffic unit back out there after the new year,” said Deputy Chief Leonard Desmarais, who led the discussion, which included about five downtown Lynn residents, City Council President Timothy Phelan and Ward Five Counselor Brendan Crighton. Sgt. Ned Shinnick of the Lynn Police traffic division and Lt. Kenneth Berg, area commander for MBTA also took suggestions from the residents.Responding to anecdotes from several residents whose cars have been damaged by errant drivers cutting through Munroe Street from the Lynnway, Shinnick said he could begin the process of putting up speed limit signs as early as Wednesday, but warned that it might actually make some people drive faster because the speed limit, determined by the state, is 30 mph on that and many other Lynn streets.?The average speed was actually 20-25,” Shinnick said, referring to an 11-day period during which he recorded the number of cars passing through the street and their speeds. “About 14 out of 37,000 were driving between 41 and 45 mph, and we?re not gonna stop them until they get over 40.”Renee Farster, who has lived on Munroe Street since December 2005, had a car totaled while it sat outside her house, and the car she got to replace it was recently vandalized. She made several suggestions at the meeting, such as putting in a speed bump or flashing lights to deter drivers from speeding.?It?s a wide street and people feel they can pass on it. It just doesn?t feel safe,” she said. “I almost get hit all the time.”Desmarais said the police were very empathetic to the needs of the residents, but that the city is lacking funds and many road concerns, like speed bumps and the adjustment of posted speed limits, are a state matter.Phelan said speed bumps cannot be present on public roadways, but said the addition of workers from the new Visiting Nurses Association building, which has leased 60 parking spaces in the neighboring MBTA parking lot, will deter crime.?More people means more eyes, and that?s a step in a positive direction,” he said.Residents said they appreciated that Berg and the MBTA have designated a car to patrol the area at all times, but suggested putting in cameras to prevent break-ins and vandalism within the train station parking garage.?We have a car specifically dedicated to the Lynn garage and the Central Square area, but from what I?m hearing, it?s obviously not enough. We need to have them get out of the car and walk around,” Berg said.Mary Chalmers, who spoke on behalf of the Mayor?s office, said she would talk to the Department of Public Works about the possibility of installing flashing lights in front of the lofts, and about repainting existing crosswalks at either end of the street.DTLna member Seth Albaum, who helped organize the meeting, made one suggestion to the group that didn?t involve the police or the city at all.?We have to be out there,” he said. “The more people, the more confidence I feel. As a community, we need to be putting more people out on the street doing positive things.”Taylor Provost can be reached at [email protected].