Letters to the Editor for Oct. 8

Neglectful absentee landlords ruin once-fine neighborhood

I live on Hampton Avenue, near Central Park in Schenectady. We chose this area due to its location near the park and what appeared to be a peaceful neighborhood.

Unfortunately, due to a problem I am certain others can relate to, this has not been the case. I am speaking of the problems directly resulting from absentee landlord situations.

There are two duplexes owned by absentee landlords that are ruining the block for the rest of us. The tenants are not monitored and the properties are poorly maintained. The continual problems infringe on all of us — loud parties, fighting, drug activity, garbage.

One unit is like a romper room for kids. I don’t even know where they all come from! They are of all ages, left unattended and play in the street — screaming, yelling, swearing, fighting. One has temper tantrums and the mother locks him out of the house, so he screams his head off and kicks at the door.

One night we were assaulted by what sounded like M-80s going off. The adults get drunk and sit on the porch; the more they drink, the more they swear and the louder it gets.

The other unit was recently busted for narcotics which, up until the raid, resulted in all sorts of wonderful characters (picture a man on a Harley wearing a skull mask!), needles disposed in front of your home, etc. It’s nuts.

This week, numerous residents had their vehicles busted into, resulting in thousands of dollars in damages and stolen goods. The absentee landlords don’t care because they don’t live here and don’t have to put up with it. They get their rent and go about their lives.

Well, I am here to say we are sick of it and won’t tolerate it any longer! There are plenty of decent people out there they could be renting to. And, yes, they are responsible for their tenants and knowing what goes on. They don’t have the right to bring down our neighborhood this way. They don’t have the right to bring down our property values!

We worked hard to purchase our homes and to care for them. If they don’t have the same respect for their property, they should sell the units and get out of here. Please.

B. J. Marra

Schenectady

Palin ‘disses’ debate rules and Constitution

The most frightening theme that emerged from the Biden-Palin debate was Palin’s willingness, even eagerness, to break the rules. She did it in front of our eyes by refusing to answer legitimate questions. And she seems to plan to do so in an even more aberrant way if elected: by claiming, even extending the anti-constitutional powers asserted by the Cheney vice presidency.

One function of debate rules is to minimize nonessential differences between candidates (read “level the playing field”), so that their responses to issues are the center of attention. Anyone who tampers with the level playing field seems not to have grasped core American values. As far as her wish to continue defying the Constitution, well, let me just say that she actually had me looking up the definition of “anarchist.”

No, we’re not there yet. But we may be at a point where we can legitimately wonder what she means when she claims she’s a “maverick.” Is she claiming merely to be independent? Does she realize that a U.S. air-to-ground missile is named the “Maverick?” My sense is that there is plenty of destructive potential in a person who ignores the rules to avoid fair questions and looks forward to ignoring the Constitution. The saving grace is that, while the Maverick is destructive, it has a very limited range. I feel, after the Oct. 2 debate, that I can say the same about Sarah Palin.

Mary Clemens

Amsterdam

Not all Catholics so rigid about taking Communion

In response to the Sept. 28 letter by Toni LaFond, I have to disagree with her opinion that non-Catholics should be denied Communion.

Thirty-eight years ago, I married a Catholic man. Back in those days, the non-Catholic partner was required to sign a piece of paper stating that any children they might have would be raised Catholic. I had no problem with that. I was a member of the First Reformed Church, however, and I always enjoyed attending St. Helen’s with my girlfriend. Interestingly enough, she was not “allowed” to visit my church, per her parents.

Around the time our two children made their First Communion, I considered converting to the Catholic faith. I never followed through with the conversion, however I had many conversations with a very kind Sister from St. Helen’s Church. I told her I wished I could receive Communion with our children, but wondered if I would be allowed. She told me that if I felt that strongly about it, I should indeed walk down the aisle with our children and receive the sacrament.

As far as I know, Protestants and Catholics still worship the same God, and I’m sure he welcomes us all to his table.

Donna Hart

Schenectady

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October 11, 2008
11:08 a.m.

[ Suggest removal ]

shadowcat ( no real name given ) says...

dear wmarincic:
don't EVER give up. once you do then you've lost everything. that's what people who don't care rely on, the rest of us allowing them to degrade our neighborhoods, our property values and decent way of - living.
A few ideas:
- Take pictures
- document dates & specific incidents
- Write letters to the tenants, the owners; you can get property ownership info from the tax assessor and various online sites.
- write letters to the news media, the mayor, other gov. reps etc
- talk to your fellow homeowners chances are they feel the same way but don't know what to do or are afraid to say anything.
there is power in numbers but don't be afraid to do what you can on your own. when you write your letters use the word "we" and "us" instead of I or me.
after the rash of auto break-ins we actually started talking to our neighbors. they all felt as we did but for yrs no one had taken a stand. now we are.
take back your neighborhoods and boot these losers out!