Walker, Paula, 2007 April 12

Paula Walker moved from New York to New Haven in the late 1990s, and now lives with her family in the Chatham Square neighborhood in Fair Haven. Walker describes a divide in her neighborhood between residents who own their own homes, and those who rent homes from absentee landlords. The latter class, Walker suggests, tends to be less invested in the upkeep of their residences, and less engaged with the health of the community. Walker organizes weekly events for children in a Fair Haven park in order to encourage community. Walker is also active in the Community Foundation, a grassroots community organization dedicated to Fair Haven. Walker mentions that the New Haven Police Department tends to ignore Fair Haven, suggesting that "unless you're selling drugs or getting shot the cops usually don't respond very fast to most things here." In general, Walker is proud of her neighborhood and pleased to live with there. With a little more pride and respect on the part of certain residents, she suggests, Chatham Square could be made even better.

Interviewer: Cannell, Oliver

Length (min): 103