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Post by thelma on Feb 23, 2008 8:18:39 GMT -5
www.uticaod.com/homepage/x2052199383A woman was shot on Downer Ave. in West Utica last night. Police have a suspect in custody - no further details known. I wonder if any of those cameras are going to be placed in West Utica which appears to becoming another Cornhill.
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Post by frankcor on Feb 23, 2008 10:07:11 GMT -5
Should they put them in Clinton too, which has experienced more murders than Cornhill and West Utica combined so far this year?
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Post by wcup102 on Feb 23, 2008 11:20:33 GMT -5
That happened three blocks from my step son's house. West Uticans have been complaining alot lately about the amount of crime. It is probably due to the fact that cornhill has been targeted alot lately with police and they are beginning to move. It isusually around the Stark St, Warren St, City St, Lenox Ave, lower Whitesboro st area for the most part. This is the first incident that I know of that has occurred that far west. They may rename West Utica as West Cornhill, LOL!!!
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Post by thelma on Feb 23, 2008 11:53:11 GMT -5
wcup102 - From what I heard, Downer Ave is very close to Yorkville - that is how far crime has expanded in the West Utica area.
These hoodlums are taking over Utica just like cancer does when it invades your body. How much time will it take before it gets to your neighborhood and mine? Scary thought.
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Post by bobbbiez on Feb 23, 2008 14:17:36 GMT -5
Wcup102,, it's funny you came up with that saying about W. Utica being called W. Corhill because we who live in W. Utica and have been fighting the migration from Cornhill for over 10 years now, gave W. Utica that labeled years ago.
We "Westies" have had many, many incidence in our neighborhoods but for some reason it doesn't get blown up in the paper like Cornhill's does. If they do make the paper it's usually a very small article that you need a magnifying glass to read.
I live on a very small one block street in W. Utica with only 11 houses on it just 2 blocks from the city line in Yorkville. Just on my street alone we have had over 10 crack houses busted, not to mention the ones we got rid of by talking and pressuring the absentee landlords to evict some dealers. Right now again, we're in the process of assisting the Oneida Drug Task force, the UPD drug task force and Metro in getting rid of another hugh crack house on my street. I have allowed these forces now and in the past to use my home as a surveillance post.
About six years ago during a drug bust across the street from my house a Policeman was shot at through the door by the dealer. Thank God the Officer was not hit. Three years ago 2 druggies ran through my property while I was sitting on my porch after they shot one of their cronies in the elbow, (still say we should give them shooting lessons ;D). They threw the gun in my backyard as they ran. Lets not forget that in the early 80"s a man shot a Officer on Jason St., in W. Utica. The Officer's wounds were not life threatening but he was lamed for life. The man is still in prison and I'm sure he will not see the light of day. That was the beginning of W. Utica's down hill race.
There have been plenty of these things happening in my neighborhood and it's been going on for over 10 years now and that's only one small street almost out of Utica, not to even mention the many, many other shootings and etc. etc., things that are taking place in the rest of W. Utica.
We, Westies, have voiced our problems and anger to the right departments in the city for many,many years now and they have been the ones to ignore our warnings for W. Utica and have only concentrated on Cornhill. I live here and I know that and I'm sure Raplh can verify that as fact also.
I personally feel they kept it hush-hushed for too long not to panic the citizens of Utica in finding out just how bad things really were and how fast this cancer, (as Thelma described it as), was spreading. Now it is out of control completely and all of a sudden people are worried that W Utica is becoming like Cornhill when it's already been like that for years now.
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Post by kim on Feb 23, 2008 14:32:21 GMT -5
Back in college one of my friends lived in West Utica, on Downer Ave. I cannot remember his exact address, but I'm thinking he might have lived in the house where the shooting was! If he didn't live in that house, he lived next door. I spent a lot of time there while in college. Lot's of parties. We also used to go to Burt's pretty often as it was within walking distance. Is Burt's still there?
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Post by bobbbiez on Feb 23, 2008 14:37:10 GMT -5
;D
Kim, he probably doesn't live there any more. If the house was in the first block of Downer Ave off of Whitesboro st. then that was the one my sister lived across the street from and got all evicted. lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by kim on Feb 23, 2008 14:42:40 GMT -5
No, he doesn't live there anymore...he sold the house to his sister years ago. I have no idea if his sister is still there or not as we've lost touch over the years. It was not a rental when he lived in it...he owned it and was fixing it up, which is why we could have parties there all the time....it was always in a state of construction so we didn't have to worry about any messes! I think he finally got it pretty well fixed up before his sister moved in.
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Post by Ralph on Feb 23, 2008 15:13:50 GMT -5
Well, Bobbbiez is right, West Utica has been going downhill for a long time. And though I hate to point fingers at anyone, the former Councilman for that area had a lot to do with it. He was constantly insisting there was no problems there, poo pooed the existence of drug dealers, prostitutes and slumlords.
And of course no one really wants to admit there is a problem. When I was facilitating the meetings over there years ago I tried to point out it was moving that way. A few like Bobbbiez knew it and tried to do what they could to stem the tide, but the rest didn’t want to hear it or just said they wouldn’t put up with it, then went home and closed the curtains.
While I believe that most of the City officials were aware of what was going on, I just think they were at a loss themselves as to how to deal with it. Maybe hoping it would leave Cornhill for there and then they would worry about it, I don’t know, maybe a little “head in the sand” at the same time hoping it would just go away.
It didn’t.
The only thing I can tell you is that it will get worse before, or if, it ever gets any better.
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Post by dgriffin on Feb 23, 2008 16:08:03 GMT -5
How sad. I lived in West Utica and on Cornhill when growing up. Hager St and Brinckerhoff Ave. These were mainstay neighborhoods for working men and their families. The heart of America, really, aside from family farms in the country. By the time my parents left there in 1980, the area had already begun to decline. Absentee landlords were cited as a problem. People leaving who wanted to be on their own plot of land in the suburbs also contributed. They were pulled out of the city. Their neighbors who stayed behind were later pushed out. When did it all begin, and why?
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Post by midtowner on Feb 23, 2008 16:37:39 GMT -5
If I recall from having very limited knowledge of Utica history, the term "Cornhill" was not derogatory. I feel, personally, that crime happens everywhere and when we all decide to blame certain areas, connotations, and geography for problems, we forget that it is an individual person that commits these acts. Not a demographic or such a generalization.
Years ago I worked at both Byrne Dairy and Great American on Oneida St. and walked both home and to work and back home again at various hours of the day and night, and was never bothered. I lived in the middle of Miller St. at the time.
Here's to hoping that the coffeehouse that I manage will be a bright spot in the minds of West Uticans. Being somewhat on the fringe, on Lincoln Ave., we still hope that we are a good neighborhood influence. Too bad GroWest isn't living up to it's namesake and focusing on West Utica proper and completly. They are now doing work all over the city, mostly I've heard of work on Rutger St. in East Utica. Plus they are facillitators for a loan for Varick St. building owners. Currently, I am trying to run a business on Varick St. myself, but am deciding that it may not be the spot. There is not enough walking traffic, not enough retail environments and not much support from neighboring businesses. The new project across from my business, will be just another unnecessary bar, and will not include any daytime traffic or retail. My next door neighbors' business will have a daytime lunch hour, with the brew pub environment, but still won't be enough of an encouragement.
Kim, I think Burt's, turned into a few bars later on, I think it's now "The Venue", most recently "Champ's"...
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Post by bobbbiez on Feb 23, 2008 16:42:01 GMT -5
Dave,, Ralph and I explained why. The problems being ignored by the proper city departments for too long and the total concentration on Cornhill is the main reasons. I'm 64 years old, was born and raised in W. Utica and while growing up it was once known as one of the better parts of Utica. Yes, it is very sad and hurts me greatly to see it as it is now. Ralph, Can you believe that former councilman you mentioned is running for legislator??? You know I'm working against him. ;DOver my dead body will he get that position. I'm doing everything in my power to see to that. We do have hope in our new councilman. He is working very hard to correct the problems we bring to him and is working right by our sides to correct the wrongs in W. Utica. Have a big complaint against you. You're leaving us! We need you and I for one will be very sad to see you leave. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the work, time and efforts you put into trying to improve our area. You will be missed by many, myself included but I wish you the best of luck for the future.
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Post by frankcor on Feb 23, 2008 17:54:10 GMT -5
Bobbbiez, is the Neighborhood Watch in West Utica effective in any way? What kind of response do they get when they report a crime?
What kind of codes enforcement is going on there? My impression is that compared to Rome, codes enforcement in Utica is non-existent while Rome is fairly agressive. And Rome still has deteriorating neighborhoods.
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Post by frankcor on Feb 23, 2008 17:57:59 GMT -5
Midtowner, if I recall, Lincoln Ave isn't what I consider a dangerous neighborhood but what do I know? It seems there are many vacant lots near your cafe so it doesn't seem like you'd get a lot of foot traffic there either.
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Post by thelma on Feb 23, 2008 18:57:19 GMT -5
My sister and brother in law lived on Elmwood Place in Cornhill when they were newlyweds in the early 60s. They use to enjoy walking down to a Bakery on James Street where they could get freshly made bread, and enjoyed the park right across from their front door.
Now, anyone living in this same area needs to wear a bullet proof vest!
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