Thurston Road Safety Meeting

I just got back from the Thurston Road Safety Meeting hosted by, City Council member and Chair of City Council's Public Safety Committee, Adam McFadden that was held about open-air drug markets and public safety issues.

I felt it was a pretty well attended meeting. I counted about 50 people, many who were actively involved in the discussion. What I brought away from the meeting was that Adam personally wants to help make Thurston Road, and subsequently the adjacent streets, safer by eliminating drug dealing, and violence that plague the area. From what was discussed, I feel that if followed through, his idea and plans can and will have an impact in our neighborhood(s). Below is a general outline from the notes I took. For more detailed information, I suggest you contact Adam directly. I know he would love to tell you all about it.

Thurston Road Public Safety Meeting
Wednesday August 25th 7pm
Rochester Presbyterian Home 256 Thurston Road

- Idea that there are many little problems creating a large problem
*Open air drug dealing
*Drug houses
*Late night street violence after bars let out

-Work smarter to solve problems.
*Informing residents what does it take to close drug house/open air markets.
*Where, if any, should new cameras go.
*Create a website to report, track and follow up on problems.
*Have bars and night clubs pay, as part of incurring points on their license, for "event police" similar to the East End.

-Keep pressure on Adam to make things happen.
*Monthly meetings (Third Wed of every month at the Presbyterian Home)
*He will involve the Police Dept, City Hall, City legal Dept, DSS, and others into the process and at meetings.

Adam McFadden discussing his strategy.

During the meeting we all were invited to pin-point where we thought were drug houses, or open air drug markets. Where we would like to see more cameras, or where there is a safe space in the neighborhood.

Contact Adam:
Councilman Adam McFadde
178 Farragut St., Rochester, NY 14611
mcfadda@cityofrochester.gov
(585) 428-7538 (Office)
(585) 279-0508 (Home)
http://www.cityofrochester.gov

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Permalink Reply by Adam McFadden on September 23, 2009 at 9:29pm

I made a mmistake in my posting because I said the the fourth Wednesday and I meant the last. The meeting is September 30th at 7:00 pm

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Permalink Reply by Adam McFadden on September 23, 2009 at 9:25pm

Shawn my bad I meant the last WEDNESDAY of the month the mailer is going out from city hall to everyone who attended last month. The meeting is September 30th at 7:00 pm my apologies for the confusion I am to blame because I confused the fourth WED with the last. Trust me I have a BIG announcement to make.......

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on September 23, 2009 at 9:41pm

I hope so! My partner Anthony and I keep playing a guessing game to see if we can come up with what we think it is. Can't wait!
-Shawn

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on October 1, 2009 at 8:07am

Hey Adam, I was unable to attend the meeting last night. For those of us who were not able make it, could you give us a report on what was discussed, and other developments? Thanks -Shawn

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Permalink Reply by Adam McFadden on October 1, 2009 at 9:44am

Shawn will do give me a couple of hours I have to review the notes to make sure I leave nothing out.

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Permalink Reply by Adam McFadden on September 23, 2009 at 9:43pm

The Meeting Dates are as followed:

Wdenesday September 30th
Wednesday October 28th
Wednesday November 25th
Wednesday December 30th

All meetings will begin at 7:00 pm

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on September 23, 2009 at 9:49pm

Thanks Adam! :)

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Permalink Reply by Shane Bertou on September 25, 2009 at 12:24pm

Probably relevant to this conversation ...

Last night after returning home from the Rhinos game I watched a drug deal take place on the corner of Thurston and Penhurst. Besides the one person I saw making the transaction, there was also a large crowd of young men gathered on the corner by LJ's.

I called the police and they sent two squad cards which drove right past the group. I waited a few minutes for them to return but they didn't. I called the police again and complained and the two cops eventually returned, got out of their cars and asked questions of the group. They drove off and the group eventually dispersed.

With the 7-11 now closed, I'd hate to see that corner become a regular hang out. But if the police have a regular presence there maybe we can prevent that from happening. If you see anything suspicious, call the police.

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on September 25, 2009 at 8:47pm

Shane, I suppose it's possible that the police who 'drove by' without stopping were on their way else where, but it really concerns me that this seems to happen a LOT in our neighborhood. I am NOT ANTI-police, but have had far too many experiences of police NON response that concern me!
I've called police for things like unlicensed motor bikes flying down my street and going into a house with a LOT of specific activity. I've given all of that detail to 911 only to see police come down the street, slow down (not stop) and move on without ANY intervention. I was involved in a situation in which a neighbor threatened (several times) to "KILL" another neighbor and saw that police came to the scene and did NOTHING- didn't take a report, didn't write anything down, etc. I've seen police drive down Thurston when vehicle are parked illegally (i.e. on the sidewalk) and do nothing. I've called about suspicious activity at a drug house on Thurston that we were asked to report information about and have watched police drive by and do nothing............ on a few occassions when I have expressed my concerns about the lack of response, I've been told to "call the lieutenant" or "call 911 again", etc - and i have sometimes done this, BUT there is something really wrong in our community if getting a response requires a citizen to follow up, call others to follow up, etc.
I have met a lot of terrific police officers and know that many of them care deeply about their jobs but i regularly wonder about why so many of us see so many illegal things going on and the police seem to not see it or not do anything about it........

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Permalink Reply by Mark Sweetland on September 25, 2009 at 11:42pm

Margy,

You are entirely right. I have had similar experiences, but the response should be not "call 911 again." It is their responsibility once you have called. Unfortunately it does not seem to work out that way.

There is illegal parking every minute in front of the post office at the corners of Thurston Rd. and Enterprise St., so people can run into the post office. Unfortunately, a few years back, this caused a car to smash into mine, and both were totalled. It also caused medical bills and treatment for a neck injury. What does it take to get police to enforce the laws?

You are right, all the officers I have met are great people, and I walk PAC TAC. But laws are not being enforced.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Fasolo on September 26, 2009 at 3:02am

...and this is the major problem right now. Shawn and I talk about how the permissiveness that takes place around here is compounding the problem. These people know damn well they can get away with what they do and thus continue to do it. And so... now it's the neighborhoods responsibility to police, enforce codes and pick up trash? What the hell do we pay taxes for anyway? Honestly what the hell is wrong with Rochester as a city, that it will only recognize 1/4 of it's geography as worthy of proper attention while the rest of it goes down the tubes. The disfunction is astounding.

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Permalink Reply by Hilary Homer on October 1, 2009 at 5:24pm

Anthony, I say this all the time. I'm the worst "community activist" in the world because I refuse to be one. The best thing we can do for our community is insist that the city take our neighborhood's problems seriously. If we try to do the job ourselves, the city will be more than happy to leave the work to us. I don't accept that.