Comment Archives: stories: News & Opinion: Last 30 Days
Re: “Reductions at All City High may signal trend”
Parents should be cautious of the charter conversion option. Converted charters are not 'real' charters: they have the same contracts and work rules as the district schools. Charters in name only.
Re: “Budget hangover”
This is a sad, sad state of affairs. If the center's counselors and social workers saw more than 5,000 students in the 2011 to 2012 school year, um...that's a lot of kids who received support. And now ten positions have been cut, so other social workers with be over-burdened in an attempt to deliver the same kind of quality care to the same numbers of students in a school district that is currently ranked one of the WORST in our state? Seems like you should be hiring social workers, not firing them.
I understand that counseling programs are expensive, but jail is even more expensive.
Is there REALLY no where else fat could have been cut? Seems like these kinds of support services are critical to the city youth population.
Re: “State says Monroe Community Hospital is back on track”
Jeremy,
Any chance you'd be interested in interviewing past and current residents at MCH to get THEIR take on how awesome it was and is?
Dave
Re: “Analysis finds racial disparity in pot arrests”
In the end it's a personal choice. The outcomes that you experience in life will depend on the choices that you make, not your neighborhood or any other factor. Yes some neighborhoods require (and have) better police coverage than others, so if you choose to sell or use illicit drugs then your chances of getting caught may vary as compared to someone else's. Stay away from drugs and you won't need to worry, or roll the dice and get caught-up in use and/or sales, it's your choice. Marijuana leads to harder drugs and is associated with turf- and debt-related violence. The "everybody's doing it - it's unfair that I'm being singled out" excuse common from those charged with what they view to be low-level activity isn't persuasive. Put the focus on yourself. If you're arrested for marijuana possession, chances are you were involved with open-air drug sales. Police have limited resources to conduct undercover buys therefore street corner dealers are often charged only with possession. Make healthy choices and develop a habit of following the rules, or choose to roll the dice but don't cry "unfair" when your questionable decision making leads to a conviction record.
Re: “Sheppard, Warren events stress dire need”
Truth girl, if you spend more than a few seconds on our site you'll see that we do, in fact, welcome opposing viewpoints. What we do not allow, however, are insults or personal attacks. That will not change.
Re: “Our tone-deaf governor: Cuomo and the cities”
More BS from the bureaucrats.....typical.....NYC should be a district capital (DC) like Washington, DC...we need to chop it off and let it stand on its own, all of upstate pays for all the waste that happens down there.....their budgets for security, cameras, rent control, tax abatements and all the other stuff is in the billions of dollars....I used to live down their and some rents and taxes that are charged are still from the 50's, I think it is 2013....no wonder we are broke, we pay for them and all the poor that get better healthcare than my family and they get it for free.....
We need to reform everything in this country from the local to federal governments, the spending, corruption, consistently creating more and more stupid laws that reduce productivity in the country....we need to get back to freedom, life, and liberty and get far far away from these bureaucrats that think they can save us......
We want less government....MUCH LESS......you bureaucrats have only gotten in the way of private progress....you do not solve problems, you are the problem......
Again, Cuomo is bidding for the 2016 election......he will do whatever it takes to look good at the tax payers expense...especially where all the population is, Albany and NYC.....he has done nothing for NY and will do far worse as a president.......
Re: “Will historic conversions save the City of Rochester?”
not sure how disadvantaged people can create real paying jobs for people that can buy homes......what a dumb concept, give money to people that most likely do not have the skills, education or experience but are disadvantaged, that will pay off big....
going downtown for office locations does not make a lot of sense, first the traffic sucks, there is no parking or you have to pay for it, no one really stays downtown after 5pm because of the potential crime and then walking to your car alone in the dark...not exactly fun for the females......
very poor decisions, the sagamore went over real well......with tax abatements for years and prices of $500k...now the damn things are worth $100k to $200k less than they were....these people that develop and the city think this is NYC....not sure who really wants to live downtown, not the people who pay $500k, they will live in Pittsford, brighton where they have access to all the amenities......
again we have a city mayor that is a lawyer/politician and not a business person...while I understand they are trying but it will work against them once again...it so easy and fun to spend other peoples money, we need to tie their pay to the results of these projects and then see if they are willing to take these risks....right now if they fail, they do not care the tax payers always fit the bill.....tie to their jobs and pay and they will really do their due diligence....
most excellent business people do not want to run for public office because they can have better lives without the incredible BS that they have to deal with at the bureaucratic places that are a nightmare and you cannot fire any of them......plus they crawl up your arse for any tiny problem you had in your past and make it seem like you are a freaking felon, so there you go, you get squeaky clean candidates that suck at what they do, because they have never really done anything in their lives, can you say Obama.....
Re: “Costello lays out CityGate plans for Mt. Hope neighbors”
another waste of tax payer dollars to a city/county where taxes are one of the highest in the nation and where we have not added any really good jobs....also our population for the entire western NY area keeps decreasing.....this stuff makes no sense.......again we have stupid politicians agreeing to things they do not understand with developers who have little risk because of grants from government.......we will go broke again.....
Re: “Sheppard, Warren events stress dire need”
I didn't know this publication censors and removed comments. There was nothing that was unrtue or profane in my comment it was factual and my opinion. It may not be popular iwth a liberal publication but id guess I didnt realise that opposing thoughts would be deleted. Not cool!
Re: “Northampton Park neighbors furious over fair proposal”
Here is a link to the planning of the fair at Northampton by the County (http://www.13wham.com/media/lib/16/e/7/5/e75feac2-3982-493b-ace4-406b72cc230f/agricultural_festival_rfp.pdf). In it, it describes changes to the park, as well as planned uses, which includes rides (which Leg. Colby said WOULD NOT BE AT THE FAIR), alcohol, and the proposed location of the festival site would encompass the area of Northampton Park adjacent to the western boundary of Springdale Farm, in the vicinity of Hubbell Road (both sides). Infrastructure improvements including water lines, electricity, pedestrian walkways, vehicular access roadways and parking. The contractor will also be EXPECTED to construct, at the contractor’s expense, any new facilities associated with hosting such a festival. The County ANTICIPATES that this would initially include three permanent pole barn type structures, each with a footprint measuring 30’ x 60’, two of which would be open, including electrical service and water hook-up, (suitable for livestock and/or poultry holding/exhibition) and one of which would be enclosed, including heat, electric and water service (suitable for interior agriculture related displays), as well as a fenced open-air riding ring with seating. In addition to the agricultural festival, the contractor will be permitted to use the "festival site" for a mutually agreed upon number of dates, not exceeding 10 per year.
With these changes, the park's rural nature will be permanently altered and will impact the many users of the park.
Pat Pawlaczyk
Re: “Our tone-deaf governor: Cuomo and the cities”
Yep. A man of action. It's how things get done. Pass a gun control bill without allowing any input from anyone. It leaves a lot of mess, anger and uncertaintly to be sorted out later, but it as long as Cuomo's political aspirations are served, he doesn't care.
Re: “LGBT poverty bucks stereotype”
Thanks Tim,
The article points out that non-discrimination laws are very important to ensure that LGBT individuals have the same access to jobs. But let's face : even if non-discrimination laws exist, if they are not vigorously enforced, these laws make no difference whatsoever. It is still a very real, and not surprising, fact that many straight males, even liberal ones, are uncomfortable reporting to a gay supervisor, regardless of whether that gay boss is open or not. Straight men feel emasculated in the workforce in such a situation and since so much of the corporate power structure is still based on adolescent male playground politics, highly competent gay males suffer. But our society suffers as well and so do those businesses who end up with less competent supervisors to run the show.
Re: “Elections: Who's in, who's out”
Fien here:
This piece deals only with the primaries. Other parties' candidates will be part of our general election coverage.
Re: “Elections: Who's in, who's out”
Even the stodgy D&C acknowledged Green Rochester is contributing new energy and ideas to the campaign. City – given Fein's longstanding hostility and inexplicable hardheadedness about the issues Emily Good addressed when she videotaped the arrest outside her home – simply ignores third party voices. They must complicate the (yawn) compliant, cop- and commerce-friendly tone you've developed in the last couple of years. City's lead articles used to be a fount of info and hope. Now it's a great guide to food, art and events. Oh yeah. And beer. Good beer coverage.
Re: “[UPDATED] Brockport trustee challenges embattled mayor”
I would suggest voting for Margie. Don't know if she has any ties to rental property. A fresh new paradigm of viewpoints and thinking might be welcomed at this time. I see a vast difference in the way, for example, that Geneseo keeps up their properties and the way Brockport has. It's so sad to see the way some of these beautiful 'once-family' homes have been sliced and diced into 'compartments'. We must avail ourselves to preserve the family and a cherished sense of History as versus laying stakes everywhere for rental property!
Re: “Teachers may take over some schools in Rochester”
The situation in the city (school district) won't change because the key issues aren't being addressed. I talked to teens all over and the ones who have the part time jobs at Wegmans usually are in college and doing well. I do this on my own as I love talking to teens.
Re: “Our tone-deaf governor: Cuomo and the cities”
Keep in mind that Cuomo is responsible to the statewide electorate, not just the few upstate cities. City living is a luxury and should mainly be funded by those people who choose it. People who live outside of the city manage to get along without multiple hundreds of professional police, rec centers, music festivals, etc., and increasingly do not come to a city even for work. As those people manage to mainly self-fund their local governments through their own property taxes, they have a reasonable expectation that cities should do so to the same extent.
Re: “Questions linger about RCSD's plan for longer days”
Media Advisory
Howard Eagle & Ronald Hall Will Officially Launch Campaign To Challenge Democratic Party's, Hand-Picked Candidates For School Board
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 ... 4:00 PM ... 4:00 PM
WHERE: In Front of All City High School (180 Ridgeway Avenue)
WHY: To officially launch their campaign to unseat incumbents, and help end the status-quo.
Ronald Hall was quoted as having said: "We sincerely hope that Rochester City School District parents, grandparents, guardians, and the general, tax-paying, public is ready to join us in declaring, and proving that enough is enough."
Howard Eagle said: "We have out-worked (in the streets), and out-organized the Democratic-Party-Machine, and defeated it in the past. Indeed, we did so in 2011. It is our plan and intentions to do the job twice as well in 2013."
Re: “Elections: Who's in, who's out”
Media Advisory
Howard Eagle & Ronald Hall Will Officially Launch Campaign To Challenge Democratic Party's, Hand-Picked Candidates For School Board
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 ... 4:00 PM ... 4:00 PM
WHERE: In Front of All City High School (180 Ridgeway Avenue)
WHY: To officially launch their campaign to unseat incumbents, and help end the status-quo.
Ronald Hall was quoted as having said: "We sincerely hope that Rochester City School District parents, grandparents, guardians, and the general, tax-paying, public is ready to join us in declaring, and proving that enough is enough."
Howard Eagle said: "We have out-worked (in the streets), and out-organized the Democratic-Party-Machine, and defeated it in the past. Indeed, we did so in 2011. It is our plan and intentions to do the job twice as well in 2013."
Re: “Budget hangover”
Mr. Partner's statement illustrates the problem perfectly - RCSD admin is detached from what goes on day-to-day in their schools. As a former agency employee, I relied heavily on Student & Family Support Center Coordinators to help me ensure that I met my program (funders) goals. School SWs & counselors are already overwhelmed - to think they can step in and fill the void of a SFSC Coordinator is downright foolish. What RCSD will end up with is disorganization, disruption of academic time, duplication of services, violation of student & family privacy, violation of RCSD & school policy, and a lack of awareness among teachers & students as to what services are available and how to access them. The services will be less effective and less efficient, plain & simple.
SFSC Coordinators also act as liaisons to the community - not just the programs located in the school. How will that be replaced? By SWs that can only work with the Special Ed population? By Guidance Counselors that already have a caseload of 300 students? This is RCSD pulling the wool over everyone's eyes - even their own.
This is NOT about money - not when RCSD gives the Hillside Work Scholarship program $600,000 - a program that will only accept students already on the path to success and that will terminate a student with quickness if they fall by the wayside. This is going backwards. Really expected more from Vargas (a guidance counselor himself). What a shame.