Reader feedback 1.12.05

BOOSTING DOWNTOWN

It is my sincere hope that the new Center City Task Force will
prove to be a proactive, positive force for transforming Rochester’s downtown.
Given that, I was slightly disappointed to read in “Taking Downtown to Task”
(December 22) that the group’s first effort is to expand free parking.

            Paid
parking may be a nuisance to some, particularly with Rochester’s suburban-mall
mindset, but I would argue that our urban core is diminished by an excess of
open parking lots and garages that are dark and empty spaces most evenings and
weekends. These spaces do not contribute to the critical mass of housing,
retail, and entertainment uses and street level activity that make downtowns
vital.

            It has been
proved time and again that people will get to their desired destination no
matter what the perceived obstacle, like parking, may be. In fact, many urban
experts say that crowded sidewalks and streets are a sign of a healthy
downtown. The Main Street corridor, east and west, is hardly that. And to
dismiss destination-retail out of hand is another misstep so early in the Task
Force’s mission.

            Instead,
attracting a gourmet food store and a wine shop, perhaps to the highly visible
Sibley’s space at Main and Clinton; bringing a Target to Midtown Plaza; pushing
for a new Amtrak station gateway; and transforming the historic railroad station
that is presently Nick Tahou’s into a Frederick Douglass Museum and mixed-use
development would finally put the revitalization of the downtown core on the
right tract.

            Bill Condo, Greece (Condo worked with the
Boston Redevelopment Authority as senior project coordinator for the Theater
District/Downtown Crossing area; was executive director of a not-for profit
community-development group in Arlington, Virginia, similar to the Greater
Rochester Enterprise; and in Rochester, headed the Western Erie Canal Heritage
Corridor Planning Commission prior to the expiration of state funding.

SCHOOL AND COP AS MOM AND POP

Mary Anna Towler’s article on community-police relations in
Rochester (“The Big Divide,” December 22) and the report that it analyzes are
fine as far as they go. Most violent crime, however, is committed by young men
one or more of whose parents are or have been absent, neglectful, or jailed.
Until this fundamental wrong is righted, nothing much will change, no matter
how earnestly community leaders deliberate or how many cops sign up for
sensitivity classes.

            Schools are
now routinely expected to perform child-rearing duties that traditionally and
rightly have been the responsibility of parents; indeed, they are expected to
rescue some kids from their own childhoods. Thus schools must spend a lot of
time, manpower, and money trying to get kids to the point where they might
actually acquire some of the education that, traditionally and rightly, used to
be 99 percent of what we once asked schools to provide. It seems to be the sad
working assumption of Ms. Towler’s piece and of the report that from here on
out, this is going to be “life as we know it” — that for a lot of kids,
school and cop will have to serve as Mom and Pop.

            And then
there are drugs: “Despite the enormous expense… the anti-drug efforts have not
been successful,” quotes Ms. Towler from the report. Almost exactly three years
ago (December 2001) Rochester leadership formed a task force that was supposed
to come up with “new strategies” for winning the “war on drugs.” It seems
reasonable to ask this task force to give an account of itself. What new
strategies has it inaugurated? What has it achieved to date? What progress has
it made in defeating drugs in Rochester?

            Perhaps Ms.
Towler could make this task force the subject of a near-future editorial.

            The “war on
drugs” has been lost over and over again. It’s time to face facts and
decriminalize drugs.

            Peter Dzwonkoski, Westmoreland Drive, Rochester

TAX BREAKS FOR BUSINESS

COMIDA exposed! My hat’s off to Krestia DeGeorge and his
interview with Bill McCoy (“Following the Money and the Benefits,” December 29)
exposing COMIDA for what it truly is: a “good ol’ boy” network.

            The
original premise of COMIDA was to bring manufacturing jobs into the city and to
places that were depressed, but the agency keeps changing and bending the rules
to accommodate its peers.

            Almost a
year ago to this date, I had read an article on COMIDA and became curious as to
where my tax dollars were being spent. I only saw jobs leaving and no
manufacturing jobs coming in. I started attending COMIDA meetings and was
appalled with the businesses that were getting financial assistance.

            My personal
favorite project wasn’t mentioned; Tennis Heaven Reality received financial
assistance to renovate and reopen a vacant tennis and swim facility in Mendon,
which its neighbors don’t even want. That will certainly boost our economy.

            Tax breaks
and other incentives given to private businesses are revenue losses to police,
fire, schools, parks, libraries, and social services. Also, helping companies
like Frito Lay build distribution facilities here is a short-term benefit for
construction jobs but a long-term detriment, because they take profits back to
Texas or Florida on sales here, and that drains money from our economy.

            Your
article was a breath of fresh air, because this topic does not get the exposure
that it deserves. The fabric of our community is unraveling at a rapid pace, and
the citizens are to blame if they continue to be apathetic.

            I have
renewed energy, thanks to your article. There are people interested in improving their environment.

            Barbara Orsino, Baker Street, Webster

STOP BUSH

President Bush needs to keep his hands off the only American
program that has proven to work over many years.

            He and
other wealthy Republicans are trying to dismantle a system that has served us,
the non-wealthy majority, well. Social Security is, and would be, fine if only
the president would replace the money he removed from the Social Security fund
to bolster other programs that are in trouble, thanks to the unbelievably
catastrophic mess he has created in Iraq.

            Frankly, I
believe he is using scare tactics on this and other proposals to take our
attention away from the failure of his foreign policy on almost every front,
especially the new killing fields of Iraq. I see many stickers that say
“Support our Troops.” You bet I do! I support them enough to want
them home safely, continuing their lives.

            No matter
what face he tries to put on his policies, it is apparent that his lack of
consideration for American citizens is again demonstrated by his proposals for
dismantling Social Security. Do not be fooled by his terms “reform”
or “privatization.” He wants Social Security gone.

            Frances Roach, Crittenden Way, Rochester

WRITING TO CITY

We welcome and encourage readers’ letters for publication.
Send them to: themail@rochester-citynews.com or The Mail, City Newspaper, 250
North Goodman Street, Rochester 14607.

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from the same writer more often than about once every two months.

This article appears in Jan 12-18, 2005.