Danvers residents have had enough of the teenage "hoodlums" who are wreaking havoc in their downtown area. From weaving in and out of traffic, catcalling, trespassing on private property, and causing chaos near businesses, the community is fed up and calling for immediate action. In one recent incident, a group of teens allegedly attacked a disabled man at a local park, sending him to the hospital. Residents are now demanding that the authorities take decisive steps to address this growing problem and restore a sense of safety and order in their town.
Enough is Enough: Danvers Residents Demand an End to Teen Chaos
Residents Speak Out: "These Kids Are a Goddam Bunch of Hoodlums"
At a recent Danvers Select Board meeting, residents made their voices heard, expressing their frustration and calling for a solution to the ongoing problem. Antoinette Anderson, the mother of the disabled man who was allegedly attacked by the teens, minced no words in her condemnation of the perpetrators. "These kids are a goddam bunch of hoodlums," she said, recounting how the teenagers had previously given her the finger and yelled at her. "Then, they go and damn near kill my son, who wouldn't hurt a flea. I have had it up to here," she added, raising her hand to her forehead. Anderson vowed to take legal action, saying, "I've already hired a lawyer, and I will sue them for every damn penny they will ever make."Chris Anderson, the disabled victim, also pleaded with the Select Board to take action. "I was scared to death of those kids," he told the board. "It breaks my heart every day, and I can't sleep at nighttime. It's hard. Can you guys do more for me, please?"
Calls for Action: "These Kids Cannot Be Doing What They're Doing to People"
The Select Board acknowledged the gravity of the situation, with Chair Daniel Bennett stating, "It is obvious that there is work to be done." He assured the community that the chief of police would address the board about their plans for handling the situation at the next meeting.Select Board member Maureen Bernard apologized to Chris Anderson, saying the incident "never should have happened." She echoed the sentiment of the residents, declaring, "These kids cannot be doing what they're doing to people. We need to take control."The outgoing town manager, Steve Bartha, noted that the police department was aware of the ongoing issues, but Chief of Police James Lovell was unable to attend the meeting due to a conflict. Bartha emphasized that the police would "do what is within the law to keep people safe."
Lack of Accountability: "There Are No Repercussions"
Several residents spoke about the perceived lack of accountability for the teens' actions, with some noting that the perpetrators often get away with their behavior because "there are no repercussions."Select Board member Michael Dean said he had drafted a proposal for the police department to return to community policing, with the aim of building a paper trail against the perpetrators and increasing the police presence on the streets. "Public safety has to be No. 1," Dean said. "If we can't take care of one person, then we aren't taking care of anybody."Fellow Select Board member Dutrochet "Dee" Djoko agreed, stating, "This matter has gone on too long, and it just has to stop. Our children deserve to feel safe, and so do we. No one should be worried when they walk the street. That is unacceptable." Djoko emphasized the need to distinguish between "kids being kids and being criminals," and stressed the importance of taking the situation seriously.
Calls for Reviving the Downtown Improvement Committee
Resident Rick Bettencourt, who owns a business in the downtown area, expressed his frustration with the current state of the town. "I'm disgusted on the way downtown Danvers is starting to look," he said at the meeting. Bettencourt called for the return of the downtown improvement committee, which he had actively participated in when he first opened his business in 2005. He believes the dissolution of this committee has led to a lack of leadership in addressing the issues downtown.Bettencourt urged the Select Board to work closely with the police department to "stop these kids from terrorizing" the downtown area, emphasizing the need for a coordinated effort to address the problem.
