Waiting
Reflections on living through a year of September 11:
For
the first time in my life, I now understand how the intelligent, educated,
cultured, sophisticated people of Germany fell for Hitler, and how they fell
first for the rhetoric/metaphor of war and then blithely for a real war.
As
they say, let it never be said that it can’t happen here.
Welcome
to the 1930’s! 1939-1945 is just around the corner.
Gilbert G. French, Wisconsin Street,
Rochester
Transplant hope
I was thrilled to see your July 9 cover story on organ
donation. Thrilled because you discussed such an important issue and made it a
cover story. Thrilled also, because it really hits home to me, since 19 years
ago I was the recipient of a cadaver kidney.
I
waited on dialysis for almost two years for a transplant. Having a machine keep
you alive is not a pleasant existence, and two years seemed an eternity. Today,
that amount of time seems inconsequential compared to the wait people face, as
stated in your article.
As
current president of TAO (Transplant Awareness Organization), I am involved
with a group of over 100 members who have had a live-saving transplant. Other
members of our group include transplant candidates, family members, and organ-donor
family members. Our group, along with many other local organ-donation
organizations, works hard to promote organ and tissue donation. We are working
to make sure that everyone gets the chance for a new life that we had.
We
are pleased whenever an article on donation makes it to the public’s attention
because it creates awareness. We have to spread the word to promote organ
donation so that potential transplant recipients can have a chance to lead a
normal healthy life.
Thank
you for featuring this story. It could mean life or death to a patient in the
Rochester area.
Karen Gledhill, Aspen Drive, Rochester (Information
on TAO and its work is available from Gledhill at her Aspen Drive address)
River walk
Another example of stellar city planning in Rochester: the
east bank of the Genesee River at the River Park Commons housing project. How
many tens of millions were spent here? Beautifully done, quite scenic,
especially at twilight on a summer’s eve. Now, quickly strewn with broken
40-ouncers and gangs of predatory adolescents from the adjacent housing.
Totally
unusable. Hello? What were you thinking? Wasn’t this foreseeable? Those were my
tax dollars you just wasted. Thanks.
Matthew Davis, Bellevue Drive, Rochester
Caller I-D
Last month I was pulled over by a state trooper for using my
cell phone while driving. That phone call cost me $100. Who do I call when I
see a police officer using his phone when driving?
Jon Adair, Mt. Vernon Avenue, Rochester
Rundel Park improvement?
One of the most valuable assets in the City of Rochester is
its eight preservation districts. Each is different and distinct to Rochester’s
history. The largest of those eight is the East Avenue district, designated in
the 1970s. That district enjoys the multiple honor of being listed on the
National Register and being a New York State and Federal Preservation District.
It
takes a considerable amount of time and research to designate a neighborhood a
preservation district. In the case of East Avenue, three major city streets —
Park Avenue, University Avenue, and East Avenue — and all the cross streets
are included. The historic contribution of this district to the fabric of the
city is off the scale in value. But one development continually presents
itself: “capital improvement.”
A
case in point is the city’s regular street maintenance and reconstruction. In
1984, the city decided to install new fiberglass poles bearing high-intensity
sodium-vapor lights on Rundel Park. It was part of a money-saving program for
the city. But the neighbors stated very clearly that the new program was not
good enough for their historic street.
The
neighborhood association president at that time, Caroline Snyder, reminded City
Hall that malls on city streets, which date from the 19th century, were granted
landmark status in 1970s and should be protected. “Since this is designated a
landmark site,” she said, “we shouldn’t have to do that.”
It
should be remembered that landmark designation always stays with the property.
It does not go away. But it can be eroded to a point that the property isn’t
worth as much as it was when first designated.
The
neighborhood won its battle in 1984. Today is different. Rundel Park has lost
its battle to be preserved. It has been clear cut of its trees, and the light
poles are being replaced with new Milwaukee Harp lamp posts, in order to widen
the street for cars.
Why
the difference from 1984 to 2002? For one thing, people who live on the street
have changed. Another difference is that the street is now zoned R3, meaning
that each house that was originally built as a single-family dwelling can now
have multiple families. At certain times of the day, cars are parked
everywhere, on a street meant to be park-like.
According
to the city ordinance, preservation districts are created because they are
found to be in the interest of the health, prosperity, and welfare of the city
and its residents. Among the purposes: protecting areas of special character;
safeguarding the city’s historic, aesthetic, and cultural heritage; stabilizing
and improving property values; fostering civic pride; and enhancing the city’s
attraction to tourists and visitors.
One
option for Rundel Park was to leave the mall alone and improve the zoning
regulations, say, rezone the street to R-1 (for single-family residential use).
But the neighbors, mostly tenants, wanted the changes, and landlords had no
desire to change their rental property.
So
preservation of a historic district and a city jewel loses again.
Jeanne de Keyserling, South Avenue,
Rochester
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2002.
