An Open Letter to Mayor Robert J. Duffy

Shawn O’Hara
60 Penhurst St
Rochester, New York 14619
October 24, 2009

Mayor Robert J. Duffy
30 Church Street
Rochester, New York 14614

Dear Mayor Duffy,

Today the 19th Ward witnessed another outrageous and senseless act against our community, with the suspected arson at 202 Trafalgar Street. We are devastated. Again.

Not less than a week ago our community was rocked by the flagrant, broad daylight, shooting of a young person on Thurston Road. And now, six days later and only blocks away, a resident of 40+ years and her son, as well as a new family to our city have been left homeless by this disturbing event.

For years our community has been fighting to lift ourselves up in an effort to end the violence and make our streets safe. But we are getting tired Mr. Mayor, and we need some help.

As you may know, the Southwest side of Rochester has one of the oldest community associations in the country, with our 19th Ward Community Association. We are also the home to many active block clubs, neighborhood groups and organizations that are fighting to make our streets safe, walk-able and crime free. We have marched. We have organized. We have held candle light vigils. But as quick as pulling a trigger, or lighting a match, all of our hope, energy and enthusiasm is extinguished. Our residents are tired, scared and feed-up. With many of us feeling helpless.

As the Mayor of this great city, I ask you to please consider committing more resources to our neighborhood. Such as fully staffing our Neighborhood Service Center, installing sound responding street cameras, and aggressive enforcement city codes, and laws such as littering, illegal parking and traffic violations. Coupled with these basic service improvements, it would be beneficial to implement and fund the final phase of the Thurston Road design study.

With these investments and improvements, the 19th Ward would not only become a more desirable place to live and work, they would also facilitate the increase of property values resulting in increased revenue for the city. But aside from the monetary benefits, we should consider the emotional well being of our community as a whole. Think of the positive effect on a child, knowing that they can walk to school safely without the fear of being shot. Think of the positive effect for a block club that can meet to plan a street fair, instead of planning on how to help a burned out family. These are the small things that happen, when we invest in our streetscapes, repair our building facades, and encourage business development. It is time Mr. Mayor. It is time to help us lift ourselves up, and end this seemingly endless battle against decay, violence and crime. It is time.

Sincerely,

Shawn O’Hara
Resident 19th Ward Rochester, New Yrok
Student Rochester Institute of Technology
Founder/Administrator Location19.org

Cc:
Patricia K. Malgieri, Deputy Mayor
G. Jean Howard, Chief of Staff
Darryl W. Porter, Assistant to the Mayor
Richard Hannon, Director of Special Projects
Dana Miller, City Councilmember At Large
Adam McFadden, City Councilmember South District
David Moore, Police Chief
Charles Reaves, Commissioner, Recreation and Youth Services

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Permalink Reply by Mark Sweetland on October 28, 2009 at 9:23pm

Margy,

Get the point about Dave in India.... but I guess in a city administration, it's the same as with a large corporation.

Not that I am defending them, just saying they have their own way to deal as efficiently as possible.

And I think it is important to write the Mayor's office or the Police Chief's, to inform them of a concern. But then it is more efficient to take direct problems to the people who will deal with them, and perhaps that was what the speaker was suggesting.

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on October 28, 2009 at 9:27pm

Isn't that what 311 and 911 are for?

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on October 28, 2009 at 9:32pm

Yes, I think that is what he was saying BUT we also know that sometimes going to the 'higher' authorities is the only way to get something done. Regardless, saying it 3 times seemed unnecessary but it was clearly a message he was trying to send.
ALso, he and our CPO weren't exactly on the 'same page' about who to call re: drug house issues - Kristin gave us information about how to contact her, 311 OR the drug hotline. The speaker (Lt. Morabito) wanted us to call only 311 OR the hotline because of how information is handled, etc......
I hope that someone else will share more about the meeting because i am too tired and don't feel particularly hopeful that anything is going to change right now.

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on October 28, 2009 at 9:47pm

Thanks for the update Margy. I agree, we need some new ideas and actions coming from the city. I think that Street Watch could work, but it's not going to clean up Thurston Road. The thing I always find interesting is that they only ask for our help in reporting incidences. But how about a community wide brain storming input session. We know our neighborhood and how it works. They are only looking at it from the other side of the lens. Maybe something L19 members should pull together.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Sweetland on October 28, 2009 at 9:57pm

Shawn,

We have had about three such input/brainstorming sessions in the last four years. Nothing has ever come of them, and some (RAIN) even have grant money to address this issue. Good thought though. For now, push for Street Watch, and more enforcement of laws such as parking, noise, litter, etc.

My suggestion is the NSC.