Schenectady’s North Side students merit more sidewalks

Why are there so few sidewalks on the North Side of Schenectady? A city of our size, with three schools in such a tight geographic triangle (Schenectady High, Zoller Elementary and Oneida Middle School), should have sidewalks so the children can safely walk to school each day.

I have been discussing this for five years with various administration, school board, city council and county representatives — and have gotten nowhere.

If you walk out of Schenectady High school and head north, you are not even off school property before there are no sidewalks to walk on — at Grand Boulevard and McClellan Street the sidewalks end.

If you leave Oneida Middle School, within a block of exiting and walking north or east, there are no sidewalks. At Zoller, some of the children are dismissed right into a parking lot. There are no sidewalks around the perimeter of the school at all.

Schenectady city representatives said the only way to possibly get sidewalks installed is when a street is repaved, and even then all residents on the street must sign a petition requesting a sidewalk (as there is a fee for a sidewalk that each property owner must pay over time). All that went out the window when Rosa Road was repaved a few years ago, and sidewalks were installed. No Rosa resident signed a petition. Most didn’t know sidewalks were being laid. This shows that somewhere there must be a hidden, “magic” process to get sidewalks installed.

The North Side is not the suburbs; we need sidewalks. I am asking that the school district partner with the city, county and state to derive funding for sidewalks on at least one side of every street. In addition, until the sidewalks are installed and children can walk to school in relative safety, I believe bus transportation should be provided for these sidewalk-less children who live “too close to school” and would not normally be bused.

You can’t mandate a child attend school, and then not provide safe passage such as sidewalks and crosswalks for him to get there.

Debbie Roberts

Schenectady

Beware the Obama who surfaces after the election

In her Aug. 30 column, Mona Charen very succinctly describes the chameleon-like behavior of Michelle Obama now that her husband is running for president. Butter would not melt in her mouth as she addressed the Democratic National Convention last week. It seems that “for the first time in her adult life,” she is proud of her country.

In the case of Barack Obama himself, I think the description “trojan horse” would better suit him. As he waits at the gates of the White House, one has to wonder exactly what his real intentions are if he is elected. I am afraid we would see a different Obama come next year. The trapdoor under the horse will open, and out will come a lot of things that we did not bargain for — such as the appointment of a heavily left-leaning staff, appeasement in foreign policy and massive increases in government spending with the associated increases in taxation.

I do not think I really know Barack Obama. He puts on a really good show and is undoubtedly very charismatic. What he really intends to do as president I do not know, but his track record gives me great cause for concern. I cannot support such a candidate. I will be voting for the McCain team.

Sidney J. Woodcock

Niskayuna

Fonda Fair’s racing pigs have it made in the shade

This is in response to the moronic Sept. 1 letter [“Pig ‘races’ part of animal abuse at fairs”] from Jennifer O’Connor of PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals).

Ms. O’Connor writes her charges of cruelty to animals from Norfolk, Va., and I doubt she’s ever been to a fair at Fonda or anywhere else in New York, as her statements are totally out of touch with reality.

I went to the Fonda Fair this past Sunday and happened to go by where the pig races are held. At the time, the pigs were asleep in their pens under the shade of a tent, with plenty of bedding and clean water. They certainly didn’t appear stressed, overcrowded, or having any problems at all except for the kids wanting to pet them.

The “track” they race on is an oval that might be a whole 50 feet in length. I had to come back to see them race as they only run three times a day — a race taking eight to 10 seconds to complete and they get a treat at the end. They certainly weren’t being abused.

Ms. O’Connor and the folks at PETA really need to get a life instead of trying to force their strange beliefs on the rest of us, whether it be about pig racing or eating turkey at Thanksgiving.

Marc A. Smalkin

Colonie

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