Good point, about DSS. What on earth ever possessed them to do the exterior that way? That was more of a danger than the lady's steps. Remember McCheese's arrogant, mealy mouthed, and embarrassing performance over on Baker Avenue this past winter? Was that "doing a good job"? He was dismissive of the people's complaints there, too. I think when an emergency vehicle on a call gets stuck in the snow, that is more of a hazard than the lady's steps as well. The only job he can do is one that involves threatening senior citizens on fixed incomes with a fine. Why can't we see the inspection report for the Jay Street building? Why does the DA have it, but not the news media?
It has been stated over and over again - that these are warning citations and that the city will work with people to help resolve the issues. It has been said over and over again - that there are agencies that will assist elderly people with home repairs. It has been said over and over again - that after past code enforcement sweeps over 80% of the code issues cited were resolved WITHOUT EVER HAVING THE NEED TO END UP WITH A COURT APPEARANCE OR A FINE. Bottom line - the city is NOT the bad guy here .. the city is just doing its job. No one is the bad guy -- unless of course it is some scummy slum lord who will refuse to make any effort to comply.
Frankly - with you -- I am torn between whether you can't understand simple English and reasonable, rational statements -- or whether -- you just choose to NOT understand.
First - your number went from 75% to 80%. Second - even at your 80% number of compliance without a court appearance or fine, you still seem to have no sympathy for the 20% to 25% that DO HAVE TO GO TO COURT OR GET A FINE. Your attitude seems to be "too bad for the 25% of financially strapped residents that can't comply with arbitrary regulations, it's their fault they don't have the money to pay for their house to be repainted because the paint is peeling - serves them right".
See, that is where you collectivists have it wrong about the libertarian or individualist. You think they are selfish and all about "me-me-me". But it's actually just the opposite. There is a reason people can't maintain their homes in the city. It's because of the oppressive taxes on residential property. Most people don't sign a mortgage contract on the biggest purchase they will most likely make in their lives, JUST TO WATCH IT FALL APPART. A reasonable person would know that. An unreasonable person would think that 25% of city homeowners neglect their property out of choice. Reasonable people think that people can't maintain their property out of circumstance. Circumstances created by a property tax policy that puts an unreasonable tax burden on residential property.
First - your number went from 75% to 80%. Second - even at your 80% number of compliance without a court appearance or fine, you still seem to have no sympathy for the 20% to 25% that DO HAVE TO GO TO COURT OR GET A FINE. Your attitude seems to be "too bad for the 25% of financially strapped residents that can't comply with arbitrary regulations, it's their fault they don't have the money to pay for their house to be repainted because the paint is peeling - serves them right".
See, that is where you collectivists have it wrong about the libertarian or individualist. You think they are selfish and all about "me-me-me". But it's actually just the opposite. There is a reason people can't maintain their homes in the city. It's because of the oppressive taxes on residential property. Most people don't sign a mortgage contract on the biggest purchase they will most likely make in their lives, JUST TO WATCH IT FALL APPART. A reasonable person would know that. An unreasonable person would think that 25% of city homeowners neglect their property out of choice. Reasonable people think that people can't maintain their property out of circumstance. Circumstances created by a property tax policy that puts an unreasonable tax burden on residential property.
The over 80% reference is not "my number" it is quoted in the Daily Gazette article .. and any 4th grader will tell you that over 80% is over 75% -- so I was stating the same thing.
Your statements about what you call "my attitude" are clearly something that you pulled out of your a**. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that I have ever said or posted to imply that. I have said all along that the city is willing to work with property owners and that there are a number of programs out there to help folks who are elderly, disabled or have other difficulties.
The BOTTOM LINE is that you and your nayboob buddies insist on perpetuating your campaign of negativity, lies and misinformation.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Saying "bottom line" doesn't make you sound smart. Notice only one person, who doesn't live here, or pay taxes here, or pay taxes anywhere, has come out in favor of what McCheese has done. If the city wants to HELP property owners, why aren't they helping property owners?
The over 80% reference is not "my number" it is quoted in the Daily Gazette article .. and any 4th grader will tell you that over 80% is over 75% -- so I was stating the same thing.
As usual Madam Xlax employs the nayboob technique: when they have nothing to say .. they just make up lies. The real questions are: Why do the nayboobs slectively ignore the fact that past code enforcement sweeps led to something like 75% compliance without any property owner being fined? Why do the nayboobs want excuses to flaunt the law and allow properties in the city to go neglected and pose safety hazards?
Your statements about what you call "my attitude" are clearly something that you pulled out of your a**. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that I have ever said or posted to imply that. I have said all along that the city is willing to work with property owners and that there are a number of programs out there to help folks who are elderly, disabled or have other difficulties.
The BOTTOM LINE is that you and your nayboob buddies insist on perpetuating your campaign of negativity, lies and misinformation.
Lies, misinformation, negativity? Take it up with Wanda Neale. I don't live in the city, but I've looked at property for sale in the city and know how much taxes are on some of those sh*t-holes. I just sympathize with this woman telling the Gazette reporter that taxes are too high. She doesn't want help from the city government in the form of a threatening citation and a deadline to repair her property, SHE WANT HER TAXES LOWERED SO SHE CAN AFFORD TO DO IT. You are coming across as if you think the reason Wanda isn't maintaining her property is because she is willfully neglecting it and she needs a friendly reminder from the city government. Wanda doesn't need over $100k worth of city salary(cop, fireman, code enforcement agent) walking up to her door issuing her a citation, she needs money in her pocket to pay for the maintenance of her property. Daily Gazette “This is just awful,” said Wanda Neale, 73, who has lived at her home on Hattie Street for 19 years. “I pay my taxes, and taxes are so high. They’re picking on people, and that’s not right.”
52. HANDRAILS. Section R311.7.6 IRC 2009 R311.7.6 Handrails. Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of each continuous run of treads or flight with four or more risers.
Yes, a bunch of bureaucratic vomit. Because a fall from three risers high has been deemed safe by some dim bulb bureaucrat.
The bottomline: The Mayor and city employees are sincerely doing a good job. They want to work with people to improve their homes and neighborhoods and they welcome a call from anyone who has questions about how to do that.
Gentrification isn't helping homeowners out.
It's helping themselves to the homeowners homes, with the use of code enforcement sweeps and steady tax increases.
The taxes caused the unmaintained properties and code violations.
The code enforcer simply creates more hardship on those who invested in the city, but are being given the boot for not being able to sustain city McSpending.
It is gentrification by taking the homes of the poorest in the city, in order to not look so shabby surrounding the rich who get all the tax dollars,
which caused the unmaintained houses to begin with.
There are many many many slum lords in the City of Schenectady. Many who DO NOT live here...nor haven't checked their rental properties in YEARS!!! It would be refreshing if the GAZETTO did a story on ALL the slum lords. This would include......municipal housing....they too are sh!tholes. Most of the rentals are section 8....with property owners who are 'out of towners'. Anyone looking to apply for section 8 in the City of Schenectady? There is a THREE YEAR waiting list!!! What's that tellin' ya?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Discouraged by code enforcement efforts Re May 11 article, “Schenectady code sweep upsets homeowners”: My family is in the process of considering a move to Schenectady. We are drawn to the city by its cultural diversity, many resources and reasonable housing prices. We are a professional family with children, and the first reaction we get from nearly everyone has been, “No, not Schenectady.” They talk about the problems in the schools, crime rates and high taxes.
To those people, we have argued and praised the city, praised programs like the arts and International Baccalaureate high school programs, and looked forward to community gardens and engaged neighborhoods. The high tax burden is a concern, but we have pointed out what we will be getting for our money in the community. We are active, engaged citizens who want very much with our family to be part of Schenectady’s bright renewal.
Or we did, until we read Tuesday’s article about code enforcement in Schenectady, ending with a quote by the mayor, saying: “Those individuals that put their interests above the common sense and good of the community, I don’t want them here as property owners.”
I admit, reading that, along with Mayor Gary McCarthy’s implied statement preceeding it (unsupported by any reliable statistics) that code enforcement equals a decline in violent crime.
While there are legitimate reasons to enforce building codes, I failed to read in the article of any mayoral commission to help low-income and elderly homeowners make repairs, or property tax relief for the poorest residents who may have to choose between Schenectady’s high tax rate and maintaining their property. The assumption that one only fails to maintain property because of disregard for community values seems enormously disrespectful, as well as ignorant of the realities of poverty.
And I thought twice for our own family — what happens if a job loss or a medical emergency means we can’t make a major repair on short notice? Moreover, do I really want to live with my multi-racial family in a community that is confused about whether crumbling steps are equivalent to a fire hazard, or that thinks broken-windows policing, which often works in a discriminatory manner, is a good thing for everyone? We are still drawn to Schenectady, but some of my enthusiasm was dimmed by the mayor’s words.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I've met people like that, bt, they don't make sense to me either. What does make sense, however, is her next to last paragraph. It boils down what we've been saying here. We aren't the only people who notice what's wrong with McCheese's lousy attitude and dumb ideas. So, another person doesn't understand how crumbling concrete and fires go together. She must be one of those nayboobs!
The bottomline: The Mayor and city employees are sincerely doing a good job. They want to work with people to improve their homes and neighborhoods and they welcome a call from anyone who has questions about how to do that.
And as a couple others have mentioned here, tell us DV, WHY, tell us WHY the McCarthy's millionaire political crony Galesi was not EVER cited for a code violation on the NEW DSS building???????????
Have you got an answer for that??????? Why wasn't cited and FORCED to repair it within 30 days???????
But young families paying mortgages with a home value LESS than the payoff of the mortgage, and paying THE HIGHEST TAXES anywhere around here, incomes under $40,000 and taxes of typically $6,000 to $8,000. They get cited, tell us DV, tell us FROM WHERE do they QUICKLY (within 30 days) come up with money to make repairs???????
Didn't think you would respond.
And by the way, DV, think of such a young family who might have a porch or a garage that is cited and must be taken down and rebuilt. Remember McCarthy is making these families pay for the demolition of the OLD DSS building on Nott. The billionaire Galesi has the money available, not need to apply for a private loan, and McCarthy gets a LOAN for the billionaire, a LOAN that these young families must repay.
So tell us DV, young families are paying to demo the old DSS building owned by a political crony billionaire. But when the young family has to make repairs, demo something, where do they get money from??????
Cat got your tongue??????????????? Typical, you will NOT answer that question, nor address the TOTAL UNFAIRNESS of this because you will have to admit you are wrong.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
My previous remark about not understanding people like this woman needs explaining, because I want it to be clear that I think she's doing a decent thing in standing up for the homeowners, even though she doesn't live here herself. She certainly writes a good letter.
McCheese keeps bringing more and more discredit on himself and this city. Somehow I can't envision a Roger Hull, or anybody, making a stupid statement about "common sense" after sending his minions out to bother the poor, besieged homeowners. I can't envision anybody else standing on Baker Avenue smirking and mouthing meaningless words about a process or something, when trying to defend being unable to get snow off a street, days after a snowstorm.
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