Recent Comments
Re: “New York plastic-bag ban debate intensifies”
Not only do we need to ban plastic bags, we need to ban plastic drink bottles too. They are everywhere. I was just on a backwater swamp tour in Louisiana and there were dozens of bottles tangled up in the weeds along the shore. We've all seen stories about the plastic problem in our oceans. We need a better option.
Re: “Fast casual Thai cuisine comes to North Winton Village”
Fantastic Thai food. Fresh and delicious, just like out in Perinton. If you want equally fresh and delicious Chineese food, try the new Shengjing Garden on Park Ave. Equally impressive.
Re: “In Grove Place and PLEX neighborhoods, hopes and fears of development”
Plex residents. Look north to Corn Hill for a possible solution to parking problems. Parts of Corn Hill require resident parking passes to park weekdays in order to combat people trying to beat paying for parking downtown. Perhaps this program could be expanded to Plex to ward off non-resident students from parking in the neighborhood.
Re: “Feedback”
Regarding Gino Fanelli's "Be honest about downtown", I think he's way off the mark by saying "Crime in downtown is not a myth, and stating that is pretty irresponsible to your readers." The myth City is trying to dispel is not that there is crime downtown but rather the myth that crime is rampant downtown or that downtown is not a safe place to live or visit. I've known many people who live in the Greater Rochester area that believe this myth and avoid coming to events downtown because of it. That is a shame. City actually makes a strong case against the myth, which I find to be accurate and responsible reporting.
Mr. Fanelli implies City, when referring to downtown, is really talking about the East End. Not so. City clarified they are referring to the area inside the inner loop and maybe a few blocks beyond. I'll extend the definition of downtown to include the area defined by RPD's Central Section Map (http://www.cityofrochester.gov/RPDCentralS…) which includes High Falls and the Stadiums, Corn Hill, and a large section of the South Wedge. He states that "bars and restaurants are primarily found on the East Ave Strip" or possibly on St. Paul or Clinton. I guess he hasn't spent much time in the South Wedge, Corn Hill, Alexander, East Main/University, or Monroe Ave to frequent the many fine restaurants and bars in those areas. All, which are perfectly safe to visit day or night, by the way.
The fact is, the myth extends to the entire city rather than just downtown. I find that many people think the entire city is crime ridden with little pockets of "safe havens". The opposite is actually true. The city as a whole is relatively very safe with pockets of higher crime. The pockets may be a few city blocks here or there or even larger sections of neighborhoods, but certainly not the entire city. Mr Fanelli gives many examples of where he has witnessed the good and bad in the city, which I fully believe. I will counter his comments about Corn Hill, however. By his account, you can't walk down the street in Corn Hill without being approached by a drug dealer. While I'm fully aware that drugs are used and sold in that neighborhood, I can say that during my five years living in Corn Hill and being active in PAC-TAC, I never saw it first hand. I still review crime stats for Corn Hill which show it is a very safe neighborhood. I live in North Winton Village now and find that neighborhood even safer.
Is there crime downtown and the city in general? Yes. Is it rampant? No. Should you stay away because of it? Absolutely not!
Re: “Carousel panel going to RMSC”
JOHNNY, I can't say if the children were white that the image would be removed but I can say racist imagery isn't limited to imagery of people of color. Do some research online regarding racist imagery of Irish and Italian Americans, which I find equally offensive. I'm happy to see the panel is going to be removed.
Re: “Right of refusal”
I live in a very nice apartment that is well maintained, for the most part, by my landlord. We recently had a city inspector come through and he found a few code violations with smoke detectors (not in the proper locations), lack of carbon monoxide detectors (which I didn't know was required), and a broken porch step (which I had been nagging my landlord for months to fix). I'm happy the inspector caught the violations and that my landlord quickly addressed them.
As for the argument as to why renters are subject to inspections when homeowners are not, it's simple. As a homeowner, you are responsible for the maintenance of your property. If you want to let it fall into disrepair and squalor, that's your business and you are the one who will suffer the financial consequences. As a renter, my landlord is responsible for the maintenance of the property. If the landlord lets the property fall into disrepair, it is the tenant who suffers, often with little support to get the landlord to take action. I see inspections as protection for the tenant. Waivers are a bad idea.
Re: “Pittsford’s Westport review budges a bit”
If the proposed project in Pittsford is anything like Corn Hill Landing, I suggest that residents keep fighting for a project that fits the community. Corn Hill Landing is too big and blocks views of the river along Exchange Street from Plymouth to 490 and the multi-story buildings dwarf those across the street. Mark IV also doesn't play well with neighbors.