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Post by bobbbiez on Feb 23, 2008 19:17:31 GMT -5
Thelma,, No different in W.Utica. When my boys (in the UPD) have been telling me for years now, "get the hell of W.Utica" where I have lived in my home for 27 years, then you know things are dangerous. They know their Mom is a scrapper and can handle herself but now they fear for my life living there.
It's me that won't run. This is my home we're talking about. I can't just give up on it. I will continue to let the scum know, that one of us is moving and it ain't going to be me.
Besides, if we all moved, there would be no one left in Utica except criminal city branching out for more turf and sooner or later will reach those outside the city that think it's only a city problem.
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Post by bobbbiez on Feb 23, 2008 19:32:25 GMT -5
frank, I belong to one of two Neighborhood Watch groups in W.Utica. I head the group on my street. We can only do so much and believe me we are doing everything possible and work together with all the proper departments in the city to help control the crime rate there, but we do need more volunteers to help accomplish that. Without these groups the city departments wouldn't know half of the problems facing us or without the pressure from these groups not much would get done.
As far as the Codes department I have to honestly state they are much, much better then in the past. They are actually doing their jobs now. Again because of the pressures given out by the Neighborhood Watch groups who just won't let any department side on their responsibilities which most have done in the past things are slow but are gradually improving.
Anything can improve but I am fairly happy with both.
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Post by thelma on Feb 23, 2008 19:33:42 GMT -5
Bobbbiez - The other night,, I had to go to the store to buy a pack of cigarettes for my 17 year old GD(even though I gave them up 16 months ago). I went to the Hess Station on North Genesee Street. This store, because of armed robberies in the past, do NOT allow anyone inside the store once it gets dark. Instead, you have to ring an outside bell for assistance and you pass your money thru a window slot on the OUTSIDE of the building.
Whille I was waiting for the attendant to get the cigarettes, two young men in their 20s walked across the street from a restraurant to buy some snacks and the NY Post newspaper. They were amazed that they couldn't enter the store and made the remark "why is the store locked?" I explained it was a safety precaution and they replied "Well, this is not New York City; it's only Utica".
The attendant arrived with my cigarettes and change and as I turned to leave, I couldn't resist making the remark "It is very close to being another New York City with the crime rate we have here".
(No comments about buying the cigarettes! She is only allowed 1 pack a week)
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Post by bobbbiez on Feb 23, 2008 19:42:05 GMT -5
;D I wouldn't say a word about the cigarette situation, because you allow me to smoke in your house on our visits. lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by thelma on Feb 23, 2008 19:52:15 GMT -5
;D I wouldn't say a word about the cigarette situation, because you allow me to smoke in your house on our visits. lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's because you were a guest and I consider you "special". She has to go outside to smoke!!!!!!! |
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Post by wcup102 on Feb 23, 2008 20:20:00 GMT -5
Bobbbiez,
Yes where mu stepson lives is very close to yorkville line. As far as drug houses, these people set up in areas where "normality" of Americana seems to be highest, normal neighborhoods, that have very little police traffic or problems. They are up and running before you know it and most people in the neighborhood look at the house as "having alot of visitors". The they are shocked when it is busted, and the next reaction is "this neighborhood is going downhill". The areas I stated earlier in the thread are the most prevalent, however over the last few years especially, things have spread to Downer ave, Matthews Ave, Upper Noyes St. and into the eastern areas of Yorkville, such as Graham ave and those areas between Champlin Ave and the Utica City line. It really is too bad because those are nice areas. The drug trade is a very lucrative business until you get caught. That is a big part of people, who are eligible and capable of working, that choose to deal drugs, have two cell phones, wear "colors", have baggy clothes, etc.(sorry if I am profiling, occupational hazzard). Anyway the work ethic thing is a whole other animal which I could go on for pages and really make some comments that would enflame or rally people. But I digress. West Utica people need to be as vigilant if not more so with the way Cornhill is having the pressure put on it now. I see in the news that the Downer Ave shooting was accidental and a 60 year old man was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. That means he had no permit and someone was injured as a result of him having the gun and either being careless or reckless with it. He probably had it for protection by the sounds of what some are saying in this thread. All I can say is I hope you "westies" keep fighting to keep your freedoms and sanity!!! Good Luck!!
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Post by bobbbiez on Feb 23, 2008 22:51:45 GMT -5
Wcup, thank you for the best wishes.  We, Westies, will definitely continue the fight but it's so hard when alot of the older good people such as myself who are fighting the battle are dying off. Sh-- we don't live forever.  We need the younger generation to help but they say they're too busy or just don't care. Big problem. They tell me they'll just move out of the city if the problems continue, not realizing that sooner or later those same problems will follow where ever they go. I would like to suggest that we institute some kind of program in our schools to educate the kids especially on the high school level concerning this. Can't see where it would hurt or not benefit the city. What's your thoughts on that? Could really use some suggestions.  |
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Post by bobbbiez on Feb 23, 2008 22:55:38 GMT -5
Thelma, thank you for the nice remarks and your consideration of me not having a nicotine  fit while I'm visiting you. You are a sweetie, girlfriend. |
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Post by thelma on Feb 23, 2008 23:19:51 GMT -5
Your more than welcome, Bobbbiez. I still can remember what having a "nicotine fit" is like and see no reason to make someone else go thru something I wouldn't want to go thru. myself.
My GD is a different story - she is an occasional smoker. If I make it as uncomfortable for her as I can, hopefully she will reaiize amoking isn't worth all the aggravation she has to go thru just to have a few puffs on a cigarette - LOL.
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Post by dgriffin on Feb 24, 2008 0:30:41 GMT -5
Anyway the work ethic thing is a whole other animal which I could go on for pages ..... I worked with crack addicts a couple of years ago in a clinic in Dutchess county. I used to cringe when I'd write up a discharge plan in regards to the guy or girl getting a job and maintaining safe friends. When he got back on the street, the first person to visit him was a dealer, who knew he'd be at his most vulnerable just then. In the projects in NY City, dealers would leave a "welcome home" gift under his door. The addict would attend follow-up outpatient treatment where they would try to get him a job cleaning toilets at Kmart. Even if he was sincere, that would not last long. He would think about when he was king, when he was powerful and when he had money .... lots of it. He would remember what sex was like with drugs. Even the family guys who tried harder and would do well for a year would fall when too many bills came crashing down on them. They knew how to make money fast. And as soon as they got a contact and began to deal, they'd use and the whole cycle started all over again. |
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Post by Ralph on Feb 24, 2008 1:14:53 GMT -5
Thank You Bobbbiez, maybe sometime you can stop by and we’ll have a cuppa joe and I’ll tell you all the hidden secrets!
They say you can’t fight City Hall and some are right. There are also a lot of agencies out there that make it tough to continue the struggle when their livelihood is the struggle itself.
My wife has MS and we need to be on one floor, this old house wasn’t made for mobility.
My neck and back damage aren’t bad enough (yet) to keep me down much, but I cannot shovel a foot of snow anymore either. I can’t move where it’s too cold and she can’t move where it’s too hot, and neither of us can stay here and be beaten to death by the state of the state’s economy.
So off we go!!!
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Post by bobbbiez on Feb 24, 2008 21:51:57 GMT -5
Ralph, with you leaving this area is losing a great asset to our community.
I wish you and yours the best of luck and improved health for the future.
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Post by kim on Feb 25, 2008 9:15:12 GMT -5
Dave,
A friend of mine told me that right across the street from a Utica area alcohol treatment center there is a bar, and that if people who just got out of the treatment center go in and give them their 30 day chip, they'll give them a free beer. Kinda like those crack dealers you were talking about!
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Post by dgriffin on Feb 25, 2008 10:43:46 GMT -5
Yes, on the provider's side, it's all about money.
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Post by thelma on Feb 25, 2008 11:09:46 GMT -5
Isn't everything nowdays? It seems that money is the #1 object now and personal values have taien a back seat to what we are all about.
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We, Westies, will definitely continue the fight but it's so hard when alot of the older good people such as myself who are fighting the battle are dying off. Sh-- we don't live forever. 
We need the younger generation to help but they say they're too busy or just don't care. Big problem. They tell me they'll just move out of the city if the problems continue, not realizing that sooner or later those same problems will follow where ever they go.
fit while I'm visiting you. You are a sweetie, girlfriend. 
