Gunshots two nights ago, Westfield Street

I just found out from my neighbor what my husband and I THOUGHT was just some banging from the refinery behind us at 11 pm-ish on Tuesday night was actually shots fired. 7-8 of them, to be exact. She spoke to someone at the police dept and confirmed this. There is no other news to report at this time, but stray bullets did hit a house or two (466 Westfield was apparently hit). Police wouldn't say much, but just a warning to Westfield Street residents. Ridiculous we can't even feel safe in our own damn neighborhood.

Jes K

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on April 7, 2011 at 9:50pm

we had a similar scenario on Marlborough about 2 years ago- 12:30 AM - gunshots, speeding away vehicles and a lot of calls to 911. the ONLY good thing about it is that some 20 or so neighbors came OUT of their houses, onto the street and greeted the police as they arrived. As far as we know, nobody was hurt and we didn't find any damage to homes but it is indeed ridiculous and very disturbing to have gun shots so close by. Let's hope that the *$&#^ &#&$(@ who was firing the gun shots is the same person who got arrested a few days ago - police found drugs and a handgun in his vehicle! It would be comforting if we could know that some of these 'bad guys' are no longer riding around here with their weapons and drugs.

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Permalink Reply by DeWain Feller on April 8, 2011 at 4:45pm

We cannot tolerate gunfire and other violent crime in our neighborhood. The 19th Ward Community Association is taking crime issues seriously. If you have any suggestion for combatting crime in the 19th Ward, we are more willing to listen to new ideas.

There are two monthly meeting that I want to make sure that you are aware of. The 19th Ward Public Safety Committee meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Presbyterian Home, 256 Thurston Road. The meeting are open to the public.

The Police-Citizen Interaction Committee (PCIC) meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month (the next one is April13th) from 7 - 8:30 PM at the Staybridge Suite hotel, 1000 Genesee Street at Brooks. The PCIC is an excellent way for citizens and the police to exchange information.

DeWain Feller

President, 19th Ward Community Association

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Ives on April 9, 2011 at 2:25am

I live at 466 Westfield. My wife and I were very suddenly awakened by very loud, rapid gun shots. The dog started barking and the cat ran under the bed. My first thought was to roll out of bed and hit the floor. It was about 10:49 pm. We waited a minute before investigating because we were afraid to look out the window. The police were here by 11p.m. They took my name and phone number. I noticed the back window of the car in front of my neighbor's house was shot out. My wife asked the officer if anyone was in the car and he said "no." I discovered in the morning that the car in front of my house must have also had a drivers side window shot out because there was glass in the street. After work I examined my house and I did not find any bullet holes. I'm pretty sure my neighbor to the south has two holes in his siding.

Do I feel safe? No.

Can the police do anything more than they are doing? Probably not.

I have lived here about 5 years now. This house was broke into about 3 years ago. They stole my laptop, bikes, playstation...

The only real solution is to move. But the thought has crossed my mind that if we have discussions about the crime in this area we devalue our homes and make them more difficult to sell.

I do wonder though, did the shooter(s) have a target, or were they just randomly going around shooting? Is this fun for some people? Or was this some kind of message to someone on the block?

Chris Ives

Westfield St.

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Permalink Reply by Jes Karakashian on April 9, 2011 at 10:52am

I'm glad you guys are OK and your house wasn't hit. The shots were LOUD, sounded like they were right next to my window, and I'm on the opposite side, quite a few houses down from you. I know I laid awake for awhile afterward...I convinced myself it was just the trucks at the refinery again, they are always dropping things and banging around at all hours.

At least once every summer cars are broken into. I suspect neighborhood kids as they always steal the dumbest things. (Case in point: my bowling ball two years ago.)

It was probably some dumbass kids with no brains in their heads shooting for fun. Either way, I have a three year old child here, and I don't think I want to stay here much longer. Between this and the sex offenders all over this immediate area, it's making this neighborhood less and less attractive to raise a family in, at least for me.

I barely know anyone who lives on this street. We should try and organize a gathering of sorts. It's always good to know who lives in your neighborhood.

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Permalink Reply by John Boutet on April 10, 2011 at 6:04am

Hi Jes,

I highly agree with you that it would be great if you could help people get to know each over on Westfield Street. Spring is here. People have been cooped up in their homes for the long winter. It is the perfect time of year to initiate a gathering. There is probably nothing you could do that would be more effective in improving the conditions on your street than to get people talking and watching out for each other. I'm sure many of the people on your street have children and share your concerns. Build on that.

There are several streets in the 19th ward that have started block groups lately. Last year the E2 Block Club in the Enterprise/Post/Ellicott area was one of the ones that got off the ground. If you read the comment on their group's Comment Wall starting with Mark Sweetland's post back on May 13, 2009 you'll see that the thing that finally got things going were the cookouts on an empty lot at the corner of Enterprise and Post. People came out, shared some food and conversation and signed-up to be part of a block group. One thing that was heart-warming to see at those events was that several times kids who came by to see what was going on went home and got their parents out of the house to come over to join in the fun. In some cases the kids signed their parents up for the block group whether they came or not! When you watch a 10 or 12 or 14 year old signing their family up to be a part of their community, it chokes you up a bit and gives you hope. One word of warning though, as Mark will verify, bring more than one sheet of paper for sign-up. The kids write big!

Here are a three links I've dragged over from the 19th Ward Picture Album and Video Links discussion that is in the 19th Ward Community Association group on Location19:

I included the Barton Street Block Party because I think there is a big opportunity for you on Westfield Street to block off the street for events of this type. You don't have an empty lot, but you have a unique street in the 19th Ward. You have a long densely populated street, 0.8 miles long with no cross streets! When yours street is blocked off for an event of this type, all through traffic can easily bypass your street on Genesee Park Blvd. Fortunately you have a lot of access street that connect to Genesee Park Blvd. which means local traffic has access. All those side streets make a block party on Westfield Street all the more valuable for the 19th Ward because it can be a block party for those side street residents also. This is a tremendous opportunity to organize several block groups through one fun events on one street. It might be an annual event or a seasonal ones. I'm sure Margy Meath can tell you how much organizing the Marlborough Road Neighbors group has meant to their street. Doing the same on your street could make the Westfield Street area a really solid anchor for the west side of the 19th Ward. I'm sure you could get the help of the 19th Ward Community Association, the NSC (Neighborhood Service Center), PAC-TAC and volunteers from other block groups to help you organize such an event. Jesse Knoth is the name of the young man who was involved in organizing the Barton Street Block Club and helped organize the Barton Street Block Party in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Here is a link to a NeighborWorks Rochester article that shows you what a difference one person can make. He is Secretary of the 19WCA again this year and I'm sure he can share with you most of the information you need on what goes into putting on a street block party.

There are about 200 homes on Westfield Street and over 200 more on the side streets. That translates to several block clubs. We have about 45 households in the West Melrose group I help maintain. That is a comfortable size. We would like nothing better than to have block groups form all around us. That makes all of us safer. You are going to want to be part of the block group in your immediate area and get to know and have contact information for the neighbors in that group. The thing that I think is exciting with the layout of Westfield Street is the effort put into the common street party event could help foster the development of several block clubs in parallel along the length of the street and onto side streets.

Earlier today, after reading your post, I was out walking our dog with my friend Bill Nichthauser and we decided to walk over to check out your street. We've PAC-TACed on Westfield Street many times over the years but usually in the evening. We walked over on Ravenwood and stopped to talk to Archie and Michele Brundridge at the corner of Genesee Park and Ravenwood. Archie had said "That's a nice dog you have there" and that started the conversation. Archie and Michele have lived at that corner many years. I brought up the question of the possibility of a block group being organized in that area and they were interested.

We continued to Westfield Street and turned south. At 201 Westfield a young man was in his driveway cleaning his car and again a conversation was struck up when he commented on the dog. We stopped and talked for a while. He grew up in the area. His name is Chris Carter. We talked about crime issues and how things were going in the neighborhood. Again when I asked if he would be interested in getting involved in a block group if one was formed he said he would.

We continued down to 466 Westfield and I saw Chris Ives and his dog in the back yard and called out to him. He came over and we talked about about all that has been going on. Again, when we discussed the possibility of participating in a block group to get to know neighbors, he was interested.

Three "yeses" for three inquiries on one pleasant dog walk isn't bad! :-) That type of response is in keeping with what Mark and Bill and I ran across when we handed out invitations for the cookouts that helped organize the E2 Block Club. We heard more than once from the longtime residents we spoke to "That sounds great. We use to have get-togethers like that years ago. I don't know why we stopped."

This is a good time to get people talking to one-another again and there is no better way to do it then through fun events. I think you can find a lot of people willing to help you make it happen. I'll be glad to do what I can.

John

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Permalink Reply by Jes Karakashian on April 10, 2011 at 7:19am

Wow, John! Thanks so much for the information! I agree that a block party/neighborhood group would be a fabulous idea, and it's something I have been thinking about. Unfortunately I think with the impending construction (rather, DEconstruction) of Westfield St. starting very shortly, organizing a block party where we take over the street would be difficult at best. They are about to rip up the entire street to replace water mains and then repair the street and I believe sidewalks as well!

I'm trying to think of another way to organize a meet and greet this spring or summer. As you said, Westfield is no small street! I'd love for people to contact me with thoughts and ideas. I'll be brainstorming and checking out the links you've sent me, and hopefully will be able to come up with something!

Thank you again!

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Permalink Reply by John Boutet on April 10, 2011 at 12:29pm

The construction work will be a challenge to deal with. Chris and I were talking about that. Getting a small gathering off the ground this spring on some section of the street that is not being worked on should be doable I would think. That would be a start for planning a bigger shindig for when the whole street has new curbs and looks great. We need to get people in the know on the construction work involved. Councilmen Adam McFadden and Dana Miller and the NSC and 19WCA would be good places to start.

Dewain's suggestion of going to the Police-Citizen Interaction Committee (PCIC) meetings 2nd Wednesday of the month (the next one is April13th) from 7 - 8:30 PM at the Staybridge Suite hotel, 1000 Genesee Street at Brooks is a good place to start making the needed contacts. If you can get in touch with neighbors who have been active in calling 911 and/or have had breakins, you would probably be talking with highly motivated individuals for starting the organization nucleus on which to build. Crime Prevention Officers (CPO's) at the PCIC meeting have access to that information and can probably help you coordinate making contacts.

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Permalink Reply by Dan DeMarle on April 10, 2011 at 9:23pm

We have for several years, held a Sunday night 15 - 20 minute meeting on our street. We will be restarting after a hiatus next week. We all come out and talk, get caught up, sometimes someone brings out a desert. We meet on a regular basis. We have done 5 PM, 6 PM, and 7 PM. Its a way to share news, share phone numbers and emails, and to get to know each other. It can start with just a few people, and then the kids or adults go knock on doors and remind others to come out. Texting helps to. Its a very simple way to start to build community and to not feel so alone. it also helps everyone feel safer. No-one expects a community to grow over night, but great things start with one hello and a knock on a door.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Ives on April 10, 2011 at 12:53pm

Correction: the time was 11:50 pm.

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Permalink Reply by DeWain Feller on April 10, 2011 at 9:18pm

The 19th WCA will definitely help with organizing a block party or any other block event. I big thanks to John for supplying so much information to Jes, and for already starting to test the waters for a block club.

I would encourage everyone in the Westfield Street area to join the 19th WCA. Please check out http://www.19wca.org/. We even have an option for residents to join for free. Individual memberships start at $15. The more members that we have, the more that we are in tune with the needs of our (quite large) neighborhood, and the more the residents have a say in the policies and directions of the Association. We have a new Executive Committee that is very open to new ideas and new members. Also, the more members that we have, the more pull we have with City Hall to get our needs addressed.

At present, the District that contains Westfield Street and first block of the the side streets (District 12) does not have a Delegate. That means that we have an information gap in our Delegates' Council when it comes to our westernmost district. We would love to set up a district meeting in District 12 and have a new District 12 Delegate voted in.

The 19th WCA is very supportive of block clubs. Block club members don't need to be 19th WCA members, and block clubs can set whatever policies and activities they want independent of the 19th WCA, but communications with the rest of the neighborhood is always a good thing.

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Permalink Reply by John Boutet on April 11, 2011 at 1:38pm

I had emailed CPO's Kristin Runyon and Carl Dickerson at the NSC office last night to make sure they were aware of this discussion and would be ready with useful information if you can get interested neighbors from the Westfield neighborhood over to this Wednesday's PCIC meeting 7:00pm at the Staybridge Suites. Kris has been out with an injury but is back half time.

Here is the response I received from her today:

John,

I got my plate pretty full considering I am only here half days for now. Can you reach out to anyone you have contact with on Westfield, and perhaps put something on location19 specifically to Westfield residents. I will be at PCIC this week and will put together a ‘block club’ package for them and will stay after to speak to them about getting organized. I have time to work with them now that I am back. If you can see what you can do to get them to PCIC, I think that is a great first step!

Thanks John.

Kris

Officer Kristin Runyon

Southwest Neighborhood Service Center

923 Genesee Street

Rochester, New York

585-428-7635

kr0615@cityofrochester.gov

Jes and Chris, and anyone else who knows residents in the Westfield neighborhood, please make as many neighbors as you can aware of this opportunity so you have a good turnout at PCIC. Hopefully Wednesday will open the door for getting neighbors united in the Westfield neighborhood.

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on April 11, 2011 at 8:34pm

Block clubs can be a great way of getting to know neighbors, developing relationships, sharing information, etc. Our Marlborough Road Block Club was an idea that my next door neighbor and I had talked about for a year or so before actually doing something to make it happen. A shooting that occurred ON our street was the catalyst to move from talk TO action.

Initially, some people got together because they were concerned about safety - discussions about this issue evolved into other discussions related to various interests - i.e. appearance of homes, lonely/isolated neighbors, street beautification, the desire to have more fun, etc.

In the 5 or so years since we started the block club we have initiated and maintained some projects and traditions including: flower pots placed at the end of our street from late Spring to early Fall, planting daffodils on the tree lawns of all home, annual MLK event, annual Christmas caroling, 2 block parties, outdoor movie nights, bbq cookouts, Ravenwood garden clean up, mini 'clean sweep' on Marlborough, a feral cat project, 'porch watch', development of a Marlborough Yahoo group, hosting public safety information events, etc..... all of these activities (and others that I may be forgetting) occurred because people CARED ENOUGH TO ACT. Some events/activities involve just a few people - other activities involve lots of people working together. The point is this - find out WHAT people care about - use that as the catalyst to do something. Keep asking what people care about and always welcome new involvement, input and participation. We have several nearby neighbors from other streets who are 'honorary' Marlborough Block Club members - they don't have a t-shirt yet but they have always been welcome at our events :-)

THINK BIG, START SMALL, MOVE FAST!