Have the Guardian Angels made a difference in Greenport?

A MIX OF IRE AND PRAISE

For all the attention, however, local opinions on the Guardian Angels remain varied — from distrust to a shoulder-shrugging “Why not?” to outright support. In general, interviews revealed that businesses tend to be more accepting than residents, especially in Greenport.

“I think they’re terrific,” said Claudia Helinski, owner of Salamander’s on Front Street. “If the Guardian Angels can provide any positive influence whatsoever for kids without parental guidance, that’s a good thing.”

Ms. Helinski said she’s aware of increasing gang activity in Greenport and hopes the Guardian Angels will mitigate their influence.

“It’s a far reach for the Guardian Angels to come out here [from New York City], but not too far for gangs,” she said.

Several businesses on Main Street in Riverhead also offered positive opinions on the group’s efforts.

“They are an added presence to other, more official venues,” said Steve Siegelwaks, owner of East Main Street’s Green Earth Grocery. “Perhaps it can help all of us get to that place of safety after hours.”

Outside the tourist hub in each downtown area, most residents offered some variation on, “Well, they can’t hurt.”

But others remain unconvinced of the Guardian Angels’ efficacy.

“The times I have seen them, they’ve been on their phones,” said Lisa Labbe, who lives near Third Street Park in Greenport. “They’re a more antagonistic presence than a productive presence.”

A woman working at Mr. Roberts in Greenport, who declined to give her name, said the Guardian Angels are ineffective.

“I see only really old people — if they see a fight, they cannot do anything” she said. “We all pay enough taxes. Police can do their own job.”

Some worried about the message the Guardian Angels’ presence sends, claiming that their visibility makes it seem as if the North Fork is a hotbed of gang warfare and rampant drug use.

“They’re a visible symbol that [Greenport] may be a troubled area,” said Jack Weiskott, a Fifth Street resident. “It’s not actually troubled, but the Angels emphasize what some people already think: that Greenport is iffy.”

The Angels have encountered indifference from Southold police, too.

Chief Martin Flatley has said several times in the past year that they lack specific knowledge of the area’s needs and that his hiring of eight new officers in November was sufficient. He did not return several requests for comment on the subject over the past week.

Sister Margaret Smyth of the North Fork Spanish Apostolate, a Hispanic outreach organization that’s active in both communities, said the Guardian Angels contacted her when they began patrolling Greenport, and spent their first few outings near St. Agnes. Since then, however, she has not seen them in the village.

The group never spoke to her in Riverhead, Sister Margaret said. She noticed them once walking near Riverhead High School, but said she has not seen their patrols near the railroad station. Moreover, she added, the families that come into the Apostolate seeking help have not mentioned seeing the Guardian Angels in Riverhead.