Comment Archives: stories: News & Opinion: News
Re: “Pedal empowered”
I commute all the time--yes, even during the blizzards of winter. My main problem is being bullied by motorists. I ride on the correct side of the road, except when nearing an important turn that would be difficult if I stay on the correct side. I keep a very steady pace. I'm more observant and defensive than motorists who are too busy texting to pay attention to the road. I do waver but that's because of a debilitating brain disease that damages my nerve cells, so it's not like I'm wavering on purpose.
During my commutes, I have had motorists bully me by pulling in front of me and braking hard. I've had motorists honk at me, scaring me, and causing me to crash into trees or mailboxes. I've had motorists flash me repeatedly with their brights at nighttime (I have several visibility devices--they DID see me), causing me to crash into ditches.
I follow the rules and I'm still bullied. Why is that? While I agree we need to adopt a more cycle-friendly infrastructure, what is paramount is we need to teach motorists that cyclists are not toys.
Re: “Pedal empowered”
I think some riding education is necessary if it's not already being done. When I approach a cyclist riding exceedingly slow, against traffic, wandering left/right at least 2ft...on and off the sidewalk...it's very disconcerting. They inspire no confidence, and this irritates drivers. Teach people that bikes aren't toys. Ride them properly at a decent pace, obey all traffic laws and motorists will respect cyclists.
Re: “Pedal empowered”
"a business that offered bicycle valet parking to customers" The whole point of riding a bike is NOT having to park it, this sounds like a pointless idea.
I think the most important thing to get people to ride to work is showers/locker rooms. Most people need to look presentable at work, and if you're anything like me you don't look great after a bike ride. I never rode to work until I started working somewhere with locker rooms, now I ride every day March-December.
Re: “Degrees of debt”
I wrote to the author of this article and he suggested I post here for informational purposes as he is not sure when he can do a follow up story. I suggested to him that he offer some help to people who find themselves deeply in student loan debt. At Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rochester, we offer a student loan counseling program. This program was launched in 2012 due to the overwhelmingly large number of requests from our clients and non-clients to add this service. CCCS can help you find options to get this debt under control and paid off. We have been in the Rochester community for 42 years helping Rochesterians with their unsecured debt, housing and financial education. Call us and see how we can help- 546-3440 or visit our website at www.cccsofrochester.org
Re: “West Main Street church is structurally sound, says new report”
Donald, if you could get Mr. Maye to return my calls, I'd love to speak with him about this and other matters regarding the church.
Re: “Gay, married, and taxed”
Good point, j.a.m. Obama got his tax hike on 'the rich' that he wanted so badly. However, that same tax law raised the payroll tax on those who work for a living - check your pay stub. Obama didn't crow about that like he did about sticking it to 'the rich' did he? Now he want more tax hikes to' balance' cuts in spending. The reality is that we've had the tax hikes, and now the spending cuts must come.
Re: “West Main Street church is structurally sound, says new report”
Marvin may is a friend of mine and does not want the building torn down . He's being leaned on just like all the other black businessmen and home owners who have lost property to city officials who steal through scheme . I saw the post and had to tell you what you don't knowv
Re: “Gay, married, and taxed”
A liberal complaining about taxes is like an arsonist complaining about the smoke.
Remember, paying taxes is a great privilege. The more you pay, the more grateful you should be for the privilege of involuntarily supporting feeble-minded old widows and little crippled orphans. As President Obama so poignantly explains, every tax break you selfishly claim — you monster! — forces our dear leader to choose between a poor child and a disabled child.
Re: “The Squirrel that gathers causes”
The Flying Squirrel has a proven commitment to building real community. I am proud to have them as a neighbor.
This contemporary group of young, engaged people might represent the next generation of urban leaders.
Dedicated and inclusive.
Viva la squirrel!!
Scott Williams
Chair .Vision Steering Committee. Corn Hill Neighbors Association.
Re: “The Squirrel that gathers causes”
"The Flying Squirrel Community Space"? Sure glad this venue isn't in Holley. It would have been shot full of holes a few weeks ago.
Speaking of flying squirrels, is Bullwinkle's still open? Or did things get too rocky for them?
Re: “Paging Officer Friendly”
The police could start by cleaning up the MASSIVE piles of sh*t left by their horses when riding on a street with no event or any other reason for horses.
Re: “Morelle steps into MCC fray”
Ah Joe Morelle... described by one adversary as "tough, shrewd, calculating", he has kept the local Democrats from being obliterated in the last two election cycles, but not by much. Completely incapable at getting the base out in non-presidential years, resulting in voting rates of 15-20%, his "shrewd" calculus for legislation last year was a proposed mixed martial arts bill and a pay raise for a supposedly "part time" legislature that is already paid a $79,000 base salary and a $34,500 stipend for his so-called "leadership" position, on top of which come additional stipends called "lulus" for committee chairmanships and living expenses in Albany. I believe Joe stands to bring in close to $130,000 this year. Not to mention health care benefits and pensions that start at age 65, even if members are re-elected. NY pays its legislators the most buck for arguably the least bang. In 2004, NY had over 17,000 bills introduced, 3,428 paid staff (more than 2x the next state), and more legislative committees than any other state.
The only reason Morelle has gotten involved is that Tom Wilmot, a Democratic dinosaur, owns the Sibley building and as a key Democratic contributor, Wilmot expects Morelle (and Richards) to carry his water for him. If you ask students, faculty and staff at MCC's Damon Campus, they WANT to move. The Sibley building is obsolete, dangerous and in bad need of repairs. Why should STUDENTS have to go to school at an old department store? Nazareth College students don't. St. John Fisher College students don't. U of R students don't. MCC students at Brighton don't. I thought the Democratic Party gave a damn about "Democracy". If they did, the democratic choice is to let the campus go to Kodak, as the majority of the people it impacts WANT to go to Kodak. Morelle and Richards ought to keep their noses out of it. It's not MCC's job to anchor economic development for downtown. That's Richards, Brooks and Morelle's problem. MCC's job is to educate their students the best way they know how. This means moving to the Kodak site. Morelle and his watercarriers will just have to DEAL WITH IT.
Re: “Domestic violence”
I was wondering where one goes to be trained as a "social intervention artist" and how we're to know if such an "artist" is a good one?
Re: “Domestic violence”
So are you saying our military likes drone striking innocent civilians? Really?
Re: “Morelle steps into MCC fray”
I believe that Joe Morelle is a good intended elected official, but, he suffers from being the chair of his party. He is too busy as representative of Irondequoit and majority leader of the Assembly to be focused on Tom Richards and his representations to Winn development that he would guarantee them MCC rent if they bought the Sibley Building!
Truth be known, a Democrat contributor, Tom Wilmot, stiffed the city with the building and, the only way that taxes will be paid is with Winn as the owner, we get that. But, to force our kids to be in an unsafe environment in a building they do not want to be in to satisfy the needs of an out of town developer is politics at it's worst!
Joe is my party chair, but, he should not be. He cannot represent his elected constituents and carry the water of the Mayor at the same time. He should resign as chair and let the MCC board run their college! And, the Mayor should stop being and obstructionist to the benefit of an out of town developer. SUNY oversees MCC, not the Mayor of Rochester...and the County Lej pays the bills locally, not City Council!
Re: “Scouting ways out of the culture war”
I respectfully and staunchly disagree with Stephen Hoitt, and take exception with his claim that the Boy Scouts "do not teach kids about sexuality." There are many ways through which children learn. Teaching and learning are infinitely complex processes, but there is a very simple reality that Hoitt overlooks. By explicitly banning gay members, the Scouts are in fact teaching children about sexuality. The message that is sent to Scout members and also to greater society is one of intolerance and exclusion: "Straight is right. Gay is wrong." The not-so-subtly "hidden" lesson Scouts communicate and de facto sanction everyday through this Anti-Gay policy is that to be gay is to be less, to be avoided, to be shunned. Through your choices and policies, you teach. Hoitt's overt denial of this implicit connection strikes this reader as politically expedient and insultingly insincere.
Re: “Rare political rancor in Pittsford”
I don't have a horse in this race either - just an avid interest in local business/real estate developments. Prior to viewing the plans for the site, I didn't understand what all the fuss about. However after watching the developer's drive-through clip on YouTube, I now understand and share the "Village People's" hesitations.
The proposed development is WAY too big for that location. It would be one thing if there were an alternative entrance/exit, but since there is no possible alternative due to railroad tracks and the canal, this will undoubtedly exacerbate the traffic nightmare that the previous comments described. This would be much more palatable (and realistic) if it were scaled back about 50 percent.
Re: “Rare political rancor in Pittsford”
You said it perfectly, as a former business owner at 3100 Monroe Avenue for 15 years, on a daily basis I saw the snarl of traffic going into the village. I often longed to have lunch and shop in the village at the lunch hour, but had to plan for extra time, if I wanted to spend my lunch hour in the Village. I always found the village so inviting and said, if not for the traffic, I would live there. Well, now I do, only because I've retired and have the time to make allowances for the formidable traffic. I quickly learned to plan my trips to Pittford Plaza and walk the village for shopping, to avoid the horrible traffic. You don't neat to a rocket scientist to see that this development is a huge mistake. How great to have a docks, a dog park for recreation, but how horrible to have a modern sky scrapper "with balconies" ( as one female public servant said) to sell the project. Who are these people of power? A classic example of misuse of power. These people surely are NOT rocket scientists, but dummies who worship at the alter of greed.
Re: “RPO announces 2013-2014 season”
Looks to be an outstanding season shaping up ! Congrats to Owens and Rice and the RPO Board for getting rid of the dead wood and the “artistic vision” fluff and for persevering despite the annoyance of having to spend their valuable time dealing with petty distractions. We who truly support the RPO look forward to being exposed to a series of dedicated and professional guest conductors as the search for a new music director gets underway.
Re: “Pedal empowered”
Making our Rochester, NY streets safe and accommodating for active transportation (walking and bicycling) is one of the most robust actions we can take on addressing Climate Change in our region.
“Transportation sources emit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. In 2010, transportation contributed approximately 27 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.” (EPA)
So, if we can get folks in vehicles to share the road with pedestrians and bicyclist and get pedestrians and bicyclists to follow the rules of the road, many more will see active transportation as a viable way to get around in our community and take signification action on Climate Change. Already, the City of Rochester has done much on bicycling as transportation: ROC the bike! http://www.cityofrochester.gov/rocthebike/