|
Bad
Medicine
To
the Editor:
I
read your recent article in Metroland about the Rite
Aid stores attempting to destroy our past [“Rite Aids for
Everyone!,” Newsfront, Feb. 21]. As a former resident of Averill
Park and Troy, I’m shocked about this. The very fact that
Hoosick Street is allowed to bring any new business
into the clogging traffic is horrible.
I cannot believe serious consideration has been given to tearing
down those houses for yet another chain drug store (that already
exists). Since when are bargains more important than history,
not only for us but our children (and hopefully theirs)? The
fact that likely pieces of the Underground Railroad face possible
destruction should be illegal.
The proposed destruction of the Grove moved me to tears. That
building existed before the Declaration of Independence, before
America was a country. The very foundation it rests upon is
older than the laws that are unable to help it. Perhaps Rite
Aid should think of all of the history and memories the Grove
has within its walls. It has been known in more recent years
as the “G Building” of Hudson Valley Community College. Granted,
a lot of us had some great fun there during our college years,
and beyond. Even in the middle of a good party, we were amazed
at the history. Driving by now, I see the shingle cornerstone
of that beautiful old house. I think of the hundreds of people
who stopped there on journeys on foot. I think of older people
in the area who went there during its restaurant years, before
I was born.
Why isn’t there a historical marker? And if there is, why
can’t the building be saved? My son attends HVCC and the parking
problems and traffic still plague the school. It has
been that way for over 30 years, long before the strip mall—and
now they want to build a drugstore to add to it? As it is
now, students have to leave home an hour or more early just
to get a parking spot or walk from public transportation.
It’s still hard to get to class on time. And we’re putting
all students and faculty at risk for accidents. Many are pedestrians.
Will Rite Aid provide the “right aid” if someone gets killed
or hurt by a customer zooming from their drive-thru?
I am very interested in anything that can be done to stop
this madness. I will be forwarding this article to all of
my friends that live in the county: students, faculty, protesters
and the like. And people who are parents of HVCC students.
It’s high time we do something before the wrecking ball swings,
and destroys yet another memory in that county.
Tedi
Toca, Rotterdam
Oh,
Deer!
To the Editor:
Regarding
Shawn Stone’s “Crossing Boundries” [Feb. 28], for starters
I’m just damn glad that I never came across C. Ryder Cooley
as she appeared on the cover back when I used to double-dose
on acid. I mean, I still wouldn’t have lost it, but the forced
self-control would have been on overdrive to be sure.
Secondly, her artistic spirit inspired within me the urge
to don a leotard/Pan fusion outfit and prance about on stage
to Claude DeBussy’s Prelude to Afternoon of a Fawn,
with all-new choreography in which a big, naughty, “pederast”
buck tries to swoon me . . . a big black buck at that!
Bernard
Continelli, Rensselaer
Don’t
Bank on It
To the Editor:
“Parklife”
[Newsfront, Feb. 28] once again illustrates the Tutunjian
administration’s policy of shoot first, ask questions later.
A closer reading of the letter from the Office of Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation reveals that the state attorney
attempted to confirm the facts of the status of the Kennedy
Towers parkland with the City of Troy. “Unfortunately, several
calls from the Agency’s Counsel’s Office to the City of Troy’s
Corporation Counsel were not returned.”
Omni Housing Development (the firm which recently did the
rehab of the Kennedy Tower and thus an extensive title search
of the parcel) also informed the city of the probable public
parkland status via a voice mail message to the Mayor in late
2007.
Councilman Dunne is correct in attempting to assess the competency
of the city’s corporation counsel. Simply by returning phone
calls at the outset of the SEFCU proposal, the corporation
counsel would have had an accurate assessment of the parcel
and the steps necessary to transfer clear and legal title
would have been determined. The sale would have been completed
without a cloud of secrecy and illegality and the mayor would
be at a groundbreaking. Instead, we have an angry SEFCU looking
at sites in other communities.
Mitchell also claimed in the Metroland article that “the Troy
Housing Authority donated this property to the city of Troy,
to use as a park during the duration of what they called ‘the
project.’ The deed clearly articulated that . . . the project
was the construction of the Kennedy Tower, which has long
past been concluded.” Again, a closer reading of the letter
from the state clearly states that “the Public Trust Doctrine
would require the City of Troy to obtain alienation even after
the life of the project because, as stated in the Handbook,
once a parcel of land is parkland, the only way that status
can be altered is through an act of the [state] legislature.”
Mitchell may serve the interests of the mayor in expediting
complicated transactions; unfortunately he does so without
any understanding of the law.
Mark
Jackson, Troy
Metroland
welcomes typed, double-spaced letters addressed to the editor.
Metroland reserves the right to edit letters for length
or clarity; 300 words is the preferred maximum. You must include
your name, address and day and evening telephone numbers.
We will not publish letters that cannot be verified, nor those
that are anonymous, illegible, irresponsible or factually
inaccurate.
Send
to:
Letters, Metroland
419 Madison Ave., Albany, NY 12210
e-mail:
metroland@metroland.net
fax:
463-3726
|
Site
Search 
