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Social, Economic & Political Issues Facing the Guyanese Community in Schenectady


Published: August 2, 2010

As a Guyanese living in Schenectady we the people need to expose the truth with what’s going on in Schenectady with regards to the treatment by the City of Schenectady towards Guyanese here are the Social, Economic & political issues on hand.

1. The Development/ Code Enforcement Office penalizes Guyanese homeowners for fixing up their properties. It should be the opposite go after the residents that are neglecting to fix up the blighted properties in the City.

2. City of Schenectady needs investors. The laws against absentee landlords should be reviewed it deters investors to want to come to Schenectady and invest in buying homes. Every property owner should be treated as a customer.

3. The Guyanese community has been viewed in a negative light as a result of the poor actions and judgements by a few members in the community. For example, the Kamla Sahabir appointed by the Mayor on the planning board accused of multimillion-dollar fraud. Has had a negative perception by the people in Schenectady and will overshadow future fellow Guyanese who would be considered highly qualified for a future city post.

4. Crime is the number one issue this upcoming election, like every community crime is present. But the actions of a few should not pass judgement on all the Guyanese living in the City of Schenectady as criminals. The shooting in Schenectady involving a group of Guyanese teens were highlighted by the Police department racial rant in the presence of a Gazette news reporter which proves that the Police department needs to be more properly trained and have a better adequate understanding of a new group of people and to the residents they swear to serve and protect.

5. Freedom of Religion- The City noise ordinance laws needs to be amended with regards to the Guyanese community practicing their religious ceremonies outdoors. It is outrageous that one needs to apply for a permit for a religious function. On the first complaint the Police will come to the premises and warn the homeowner. The second attempt will result in the arrest of the homeowner and or a fine.

6. The proposed Cricket field at Grout park should only be controlled by the City of Schenectady parks commission and not the Guyanese Association of Schenectady or the Schenectady Softball Cricket Association to best ensure that the park interest is well served for the park goers and the tax payers of the City of Schenectady. It is a public park for everyone and every cricket league in the City is welcome to play at the park when it comes to fruition.

7. The City of Schenectady needs to reform its Police Department, Fire Department, and City Hall. There needs to be more diversity in the city workforce to represent the City’s demographics the days of the hiring practice of nepotism are over.

8. There is no true political representation for the Guyanese community when it comes to social, economic and political issues facing the people in the community. The formation of the embattled Democrat driven non-profit group the Guyanese Association of Schenectady as a result is facing accusations from the Schenectady Softball Cricket Association for corruption, power mongering and personal self-interest with regards to the proposed Grout Park Cricket field. As a result the association has failed to address and combat the social, economic and political issues on hand.

9. The Guyanese & West Indian community in Schenectady must become U.S citizens, register to vote and empower themselves as a community. It is the only way to obtain equal and fair representation with regards to political, social and economic issues that are facing the people in the community by creating a major voting block within the community and becoming a voice to be reckoned with.

10. The Guyanese community is an economic engine for the City of Schenectady whether people like it or not. It is the very tax base that allows the city to spend on revitalization projects in downtown Schenectady while neglecting other sections of the city for example the Michigan Ave/ Brandywine corridor. The current administration’s solution to the thirteen million-dollar deficits for next year will most likely result in a property tax increase and more spending. The City of Schenectady is the highest taxed municipality in the region and the trend will continue to drive residents out of the City. There are huge unsold inventories of homes in the City of Schenectady and that trend will only continue if the City doesn’t lower its tax burden on the homeowners. The flow of Guyanese in to the City has slowed down very significantly as a result of the high taxes and the perception in NYC about the City’s unwillingness to cooperate with the Guyanese community.

http://www.caribbeananalysis.c.....nity-in-schenectady/

the guyanese were lied to, just to get them here.......they are here to take the jobs the lazy locals refused to take.......

What jobs? The phony 3,500 hot dog jobs both ANG and SS Savage lied about creating.

     The Guyanese weren't the only ones lied to. Most have fled the high taxes/no jobs of Schenectady County for NYC. This is another area that horrible Mayor SOS has fumbled the ball. Then he wonders why 3 City neighborhoods are on the top 10 emptiest in the State and there are 500 abandoned homes in the City. It's the taxes-stupid.

     #6 on the cricket field is totally wrong. The last thing you want is the current City Park Commission controlling anything. These idiots can't cut the grass. If the Guyanese were smart they would take their cricket bats to Nisky or Saratoga County. That would be an all rounder.

Quoted from benny salami

What jobs? The phony 3,500 hot dog jobs both ANG and SS Savage lied about creating.

     The Guyanese weren't the only ones lied to. Most have fled the high taxes/no jobs of Schenectady County for NYC. This is another area that horrible Mayor SOS has fumbled the ball. Then he wonders why 3 City neighborhoods are on the top 10 emptiest in the State and there are 500 abandoned homes in the City. It's the taxes-stupid.

     #6 on the cricket field is totally wrong. The last thing you want is the current City Park Commission controlling anything. These idiots can't cut the grass. If the Guyanese were smart they would take their cricket bats to Nisky or Saratoga County. That would be an all rounder.

those $10-$15/hour jobs that dont even come close to paying a mortgage/taxes in this backward/backwoods county.......

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Welcome mat rolled back?
By Paul Nelson Staff Writer
Published: 12:13 a.m., Monday, October 25, 2010

SCHENECTADY -- Standing in his half-empty store, Rampersaud Budram railed about how rising property taxes, lousy tenants and an unfriendly business climate forced him to close his State Street discount store and abandon two rental properties.

Budram came to Schenectady from Queens in 2003. Within two years, he'd snapped up and renovated seven run-down residences. Then the prosperous business soured, and two of the homes were foreclosed.

"From that time to now, I lose two to the bank," the 53-year-old Guyanese immigrant said, adding that as soon as he unloads the rest he plans to return to Queens with his wife and two adult children to open a deli or newsstand. "I thought this place was coming up."

The Budrams are members of an ethnic community that came to Schenectady, largely by way of Queens, with skills, entrepreneurial ambition and a willingness to invest in forlorn real estate at bargain-basement prices. They were courted by then-Mayor Albert Jurczynski, who even chartered buses to bring families upstate to see firsthand the opportunities in his city. The newcomers breathed new life into neighborhoods, transforming eyesores into attractive homes. They opened groceries, restaurants and auto repair shops. They started churches and Hindu temples. Their children went to school. But lately, some Guyanese say the welcome mat rolled out years ago is slowly being rolled up.

Junior Hitall said building code officers have targeted Guyanese. On a recent morning, he recounted how one of the officers approached him while he painted his Helderberg Avenue in the Bellevue neighborhood, near the Rotterdam town line. Hitall said the officer told him he needed to obtain a permit, but ignored the peeling paint on a neighbor's home two doors away.

"It's a way of the city gaining money from the Guyanese," said Hitall, 30, who owns buildings on Crane, Elder and Albany streets and Avenue A. In 2005, Hitall said he paid $87,000 for the two-family home on Crane Street that the city assessed at more than $100,000. He pays about $5,200 a year in property taxes.

He said he hasn't had the same problems with tenants and city officials in Port St. Lucie, Fla., where he owns and rents out two newly constructed properties. Hitall said the home he shares with his wife is on the market, and they are eyeing a move to the Sunshine State.

"I don't see anything that would make me want to stay in Schenectady," he said, adding that he no longer tries to convince his brothers back in Queens to invest in the city.......................>>>>.....................>>>>.................http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Welcome-mat-rolled-back-721826.php

I liked how they were buying up the run down homes and redoing them.  Some of the places in Hamilton Hill were looking much better.  Even in Bellevue, they were doing a good job.  I moved out of there because the crime was moving in though.  Maybe making the Hill better moved the crime to other areas.  In a matter of a few months, the street that I once lived on turned sour.  Drug dealers moved in and cars were getting damaged and broken into.  Tires slashed and damage to homes.  Sadly, the papers dont report on this stuff.  

Quoted from Gemini

Drug dealers moved in and cars were getting damaged and broken into.  Tires slashed and damage to homes.  Sadly, the papers dont report on this stuff.  

That stuff doesn't happen under Democrat rule.  You know if it were all Republicans controlling the city and county, if somebody farted out of turn, it would be front page news in the Gazette.  

Last I knew people were getting blasted with shotguns in the city.  Have they been caught?
Shhhhh...read the Gazette and you'll never know.

Quoted from Gemini

I liked how they were buying up the run down homes and redoing them.  Some of the places in Hamilton Hill were looking much better.  Even in Bellevue, they were doing a good job.  I moved out of there because the crime was moving in though.  Maybe making the Hill better moved the crime to other areas.  In a matter of a few months, the street that I once lived on turned sour.  Drug dealers moved in and cars were getting damaged and broken into.  Tires slashed and damage to homes.  Sadly, the papers dont report on this stuff.  

very true....I work with ALOT of guanese.....and they have stories.....stories never reported and the disrespect they receive.....they
were invited by our leaders to do what the local born weren't doing and lazy downstaters that come here for services wouldn't do
either.......

they take pride, unlike those that demand entitlements/welfare

The house I recently moved out of was in the middle of two abandoned homes.  One was completely redone including the roof that fell in about 10 years ago.  The house looks great and was sold to another family that redid the landscaping as well.  The house on the other side looked great on the outside but was terrible on the inside.  They renovated it out and it too was looking great.  

Sadly the neighborhood was falling apart.  It was once a nice place to live with mostly older people and single family homes.  There are some rentals and now those are filled with trouble.  Some people just dont care.  

Greed and power override.  

the problem in schenectady county is their lucrative welfare package. It is over and above what the fed and state mandates!! The dept of social services needs a major investigation. There are people collecting welfare from the county taxpayers that don't even live in the county. They live down state.......in the city!!

The guyanese have taken run down, uninhabitable homes and made them livable! Most are good hard working people. But they too are getting discouraged and rightfully so. Many are planning to walk away from their homes and move back to the 'city'! They say 'at least their are jobs there'!

Taxes are out of control, crime is rampant, there are shooters and rapists on the loose, people are pi$$ing and puking on sidewalks on the Savage's miracle 2 blocks and it is seeping into the boarders of the entire county!

Very true.  I wont state the job that I have but I will say that I deal with mostly welfare families.  It boggles the mind how they can afford to dress and live the way they do while people like myself can barely afford to pay the bills.  My child goes to school with these kids and its unreal.  My sister once tried to collect welfare and she was told that there was a shelter down the street that she could go to.  But yet I see people all the time getting everything they want and more.  I know a lot of people that came from NYC to Schenectady because it was supposed to be a better life and things were improving here.  All races and types of people.  Not just the Guyanese.  These people say the same thing.  Its not worth it.  No one can afford it.  

The Guyanese are facing the same problems as everyone else. Exploding taxes. no jobs, crime and gangs running wild, idiots running City/County government. Property values are crashing as fewer pay anything. No wonder they are heading back to NYC.

Something has to change QUICK! the city is going down the crapper and it is taking the entire county with it!

The elementary schools and the middle schools are reporting gang activity.  In the schools!!  Little kids doing gang signs and talking about stuff that happens like it is casual to them.  Its sickening.