User login



Recent comments
- Doug isn't acting tough, he...
by Bea McManis - I love you chris!!Everyone...
by Sam boyles - Posted by Mike Mancuso on...
by Bea McManis - Ever been robbed at knife or...
by Chris Charvella - Give him a night or a day...
by Chris Olin - Brittany's good, for sure. I...
by Howard Owens - Why no follow up story on...
by Anne Marie Godeer - Drivers are crazy these days,...
by Doug Yeomans - Traumatized? What did you...
by Doug Yeomans - The system put In place...
by DOUGLAS MCCLURG
Recent posts
- Blue Devils drop semi-final game to Westhill
- Three from Genesee County to be honored at annual sports award dinner
- Dairy farmers being asked to weigh in on anti-trust issues at GCC meeting
- 'Living composer' visits Batavia elementary school
- Successful Vegetable Gardening Offered By Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Students evacuated from Le Roy High for bomb threat
- Today's Deals: Foodie Friday
- Conversations with Calliope- Victims and Spirituality
- Conversations with Calliope- Victims and Spirituality
- Batavia man faces federal complaint for sharing files on sex site

Site Sponsors
- 3 D Wine & Spirits
- Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle
- Affordable Floor Covering
- Alberty Drug Store
- Alex's Place
- American Home Remodeling
- Anglican Community Church
- Baker's Frontier Kitchens
- Barrett's Batavia Marine and Sporting Supplies
- Batavia Downs Casino
- Blue Pearl Yoga
- Bonarigo & McCutcheon
- Bontrager's Auction
- Bontrager's Real Estate
- Carlson's Studio
- Cedar St. Sales and Rentals
- Center Street Smokehouse
- Charles Men's Shop
- Classic Home Improvements
- The Color Salon
- Country Cottage
- Crazy Cheap Cars
- D&R Depot Restaurant
- Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern
- Dog Grooming
- The Enchanted Florist
- Fastec Automotive
- Genesee Dental Group
- Glitz and Glamour
- Great Kutz
- Hair Studio 25
- H.E. Turner & Co.
- Holland Land Office Museum
- House of K
- The Insurance Center
- Jackson St. Grill/Belladessa's
- John's Service Station
- Ken Barrett
- KleenAll
- L.C. Mosman
- Lamb Family Medicine
- Lawley Genesee
- Lewis and Lewis
- Main St. Pizza Company
- The Mane Attraction
- Margarita's
- Mark Lewis Agency
- Matteo & Mullen, CPA
- Matty's Pizzeria
- Max Pies
- Movies in Motion
- Neptune's Garden
- Next Level Fitness
- O'Lacy's Irish Pub
- Oliver's Candies
- Optique
- Pauly's Pizza
- Pellegrino Auto Sales
- Present Tense Books
- Pudgie's Lawn and Garden Center
- Roxy's Music Store
- Sallome's Italian Deli
- Select Collision
- Settler's
- Sloat Tire
- Small World Realty
- South Main Country Store
- St. Joseph's School
- St. Paul's Pre-School
- Southside Deli
- T.F. Brown's
- Valle Jewelers
- WNY Fireplace Outlet
- Wortzman Furniture
In search of decline — can't find it
After a chat with City Councilman Bob Bialkowski this morning, I went in search of the "pockets of decline" that he mentioned. Bob said to check out the southside of the city around Jackson, Maple and Thorpe streets, if I wanted to find the "problem" neighborhoods.
That was where I thought to find the trash and debris, the buckled-under homes and general malaise. Not so. At least not by this city boy's estimation. I've seen streets in Rochester, streets in Buffalo, New York, Chicago, even some in Canandaigua that would make those Batavia blocks look like paradise on high, like a stroll through Green Acres.
At the very worst, I spotted some peeling paint, a couple (maybe) ramshackle porches, a stray tricycle or two, a leaf-swollen gutter — maybe. But really, what I saw as I drove down Dawson Place, Ganson Avenue and Thorpe Street were people. What I saw were people outside, sitting on their stoops, walking their sidewalks, talking to each other, mowing their lawns. I saw a community. I saw regal, Victorian-looking homes, a little bruised, sure, but not broken, not even bent.
So, maybe I wasn't looking in the right place. Maybe I wasn't looking with enough intent — I should say I was driving my car. Maybe those homes are rotten and rotting from the inside, really putrid and crumbling, which could explain why everyone was outside, hanging out. Or maybe — and this may be closer to the truth — maybe some Batavians have unusually high standards, higher standards than I have ever cultivated myself.
What do you think of these (and other) neighborhoods in the city? Are they in decline? Are they run down? Do you live there? Is that how you see it? Is Councilman Bialkowski on the ball? Or is he over the top?
- philip.anselmo
- Login or register to post comments
-
March 20, 2010 - 10:00am - 11:00am
-
March 20, 2010 - 10:00am - 4:00pm
-
March 20, 2010 - 10:00am - 4:00pm
-
March 20, 2010 - 4:30pm - 7:00pm
-
March 22, 2010 - 8:00pm - 9:00pm















