There are weeks when negative news and samplings of
the unlovely seem to predominate in Lockport.
At these times the editor at The Lockport Page scampers to seek out happy news to
achieve balance.
The call now goes out to a Lockport resident with a special store of wit, experience, and
optimism!
Some may recognize her as an original LHS "Glad Girl"; she's seen it all
and keeps on smiling.
With the shield of a nom de plume and a $1 honorarium, she's delighted to smile on our
pages.
Your contributions to her page are welcome although she usually can't give
personal replies.
She's on-line now. Where else? ...but at: Pollyanna@Lockport-NY.com
Happy To Connect The World To Lockport
The
Lockport Home Page: www.Lockport-NY.com
THE PICTURE OF LOCKPORT
The Editor called me up Saturday morning and asked if I knew what had happened to the Tourism Gazebo that had been in the lobby of City Hall for so many years. I had noticed it "gone" the last time I was in to pay our family's (increased) water and sewer bills but had no idea where it went. "Why, Yes, Jefferson Drive is just a bit from my home," I assured the Editor, but I had not seen it over there. Actually, although it's only a block away, I haven't been on Jefferson Drive for over 15 years. It is a "no outlet" little street where none would go unless they live there. He told me he was alerted that Alderman Patrick Schrader had the Gazebo moved to boost his popularity with a group of folks who live around the cul-de-sac at the end of Jefferson Drive. Oh, My! I said I'd walk over and take a look!
Well, there it was! Right at the end of Jefferson Drive where nobody in the city would look to find it! With its two rocker chairs and padded seat cushion. It's encircled by about six homes that enjoy the privacy of living on the cul-de-sac and nicely positioned in its own little park. Oh, how nice! And how wonderful of Alderman Patrick Schrader and Mayor Tom Sullivan to take care of these half-dozen residents! So...how shall I say, "out of the way" that not just "anyone" will stop by and enjoy it. Like having your own little park and gazebo for drinks and evening chatter and having the city taxpayers foot the bill for this little accommodation. Wonderful, wonderful! I called back the Editor and invited him over for Saturday afternoon tea at our home after he'd gone over to take pictures. And, I said, "Be sure to get a picture of the wonderful new paving job Schrader & Sullivan had done on Jefferson---the folks on many of the city's through streets which have been going to pits and pot holes due to paving budget restraints will appreciate that someplace, somewhere, someone (albeit only a few) are enjoying driving on smooth new blacktop!" I saw one of the cul-de-sac residents drive up in her Cadillac and the car and driver must have felt like they were on Millionaire's Mile at Palm Beach!
I understand the neighbors sit out there evenings with their cocktails and enjoy talking about what a wonderful Mayor we have in Lockport and praising the skies for having such a dynamic get-things-done alderman. In fact Pat, who lives just off Jefferson on Gaffney, may be invited to stop by. Alderman Schrader is my alderman, too. But I suppose I belong to the "wrong party" to get invited to the Jefferson Drive cul de sac parties in the City Hall Gazebo.
How charming! Why not do something like this on every little street corner in Lockport? Cocktails at 5!
Keep your sunny side up!
August 2001
Happy To Be Home!
It's been an especially long but delightful winter season in Naples, FL this year but wonderful to be back in Lockport for Easter and the start of real spring!
So nice for the Lockport Home Page Editor to drive down to Naples to visit on the afternoon following Lockport Day up at Fort Myers in March. Over lunch at Tommy Bahama's he said to expect some surprises on our family property when I get back in Lockport and---Oh, My! Those new property tax assessments were in my mailbox! At our home the assessment went up so that, according to the informational mailer the City Assessor sent along, our effective new tax load will increase about 32% next cycle for school, city, and county taxes! Wonderful, wonderful! We can afford it. After all, the property values have been going down so sharply in the Lockport Crime District and all the places where front yard parking has been getting out of hand---somebody has to make up the difference. I feel so fortunate to live in a neighborhood where folks don't do that front yard parking thing so I'm delighted to pay about one-third more taxes next year!
And speaking of taxes I remember how the folks
at the Lockport Board of Education fibbed about what the tax increase would be for the
city before the last budget vote. The business manager said "only" about
3%. Oh, but my school tax went up 9% last year with no revaluation or reassessment
for property. I've never met Mr. Morninglory over at the Board offices but I was
thinking of him while shopping this winter in Naples. For making it possible for me
to pay 6% more in taxes than he promised, I thought I'd bring a little gift back for
him. I've never even seen his picture so articles of clothing were out.
Someone said, "Well, do you know how Pinocchio looked after not telling the
truth?"
Oh, yes, and a gift for the School Superintendent who seemed to forgot about her contract and decided to call it quits in Lockport a few years early and move down to Florida! Well, I made just the right selections for them both in a Naples book store! Perhaps it would be indecorous of me to make the gift presentation at a Board of Education meeting but I wonder if they'll be able to schedule me in for a more private presentation.
Oh, so lovely to hear that our Lockport Mayor is talking about joint ventures and cooperation with the Town and the Town Supervisor is agreeable! Wonderful, wonderful! That would probably mean some payments to the city from the town for all the support they get from our Lockport Police Department and the use all town residents get from our City Parks. Of course we wouldn't expect them to sell us any water when our Tonawanda-to-Lockport Water line is shut down for repairs. That water valve out on Summit Street just works one way---for the city to send water to the town. For those who don't like the canal water during those periods...let them sample one of the fine imported bottled waters! Former Mayor Swan started things going in the right direction when he proposed turning all the leads Lockport City gets from big business interested in moving in over to the Town IDA---because they can do a better job! Yes, we can do more for the town and let's do it!
Well, dears, I'm still unpacking the trunks from the travel back. I promise, however, to write again soon. In the meantime...
Keep Your Sunny Side Up!
April 2001
Some Signs Of Growth In Lockport!
Who says there aren't signs of growth in Lockport? I know the population continues to shrink here and we've just lost Corson Manufacturing but let's look at what is growing! Although the sunshine of Spring growth may seem to be hidden as we enter Fall, if we just reflect a bit we'll see the sunny side!
For example, how about that 9% growth in school taxes for city residents? School officials were able to churn that out despite a resounding defeat of the school budget at polls! That's growth for important payroll to benefit our school employees in dollars and in numbers! Wonderful, wonderful!
And the city is doing its part, too! The latest talk is a little under 3% increase in our city taxes. Now, I know, that's not as much as the big 9% the school district gave us but consider that we had another 3% hike in city taxes last year! That's a total of 6%! So taxes are growing at a faster rate than the city is losing population and faster than the inflation rate! Our editor reports another $120,000 giveaway is in the budget for the Dale Association --- the private senior citizens club that even I belong to! Delightful! But we should be fair. If we gave away a few thousand more to the Elks, Moose, Knight of Columbus, Stamp Club, Coin Club, Masons, The Lockport Town and Country Club, etc. we'd see even higher tax rate growth!
It's not that city officials aren't trying to grow their budget. Thank you, Mayor Sullivan for (according to page 9 of the budget) proposing a 3.6% raise for yourself and a 12.5% raise in your expense account! Oh, and not to forget the $16,000 plus in public money the mayor is sending, albeit a round-about-way, to that Erie County group so they can start up a webpage in competition with The Lockport Home Page. Wonderful, wonderful! And thanks to the legal eagles for proposing that the "professional services" budget line be doubled to $20,000. And a 10% raise for the "Payroll Benefits Administrator." So what if the cost of living increases are only 3%? And oh, Yes! Yes! a 9.1% raise for the Community Development Director --- even though development and growth in the city has been a failure by most accounts. In fact I see big raises being proposed for most all city department heads! A wonderful reward for them for coming up with those greatly increased budget requests!
And if the city and school district haven't grown our tax burden enough, let's just wait and see what Shirley & Company have in store for us with the new Niagara County budget! Something to look forward to. It's more than a month and a half to Thanksgiving but I'm already planning on sending "Thank You" cards to our public officials for helping grow Lockport!
Keep Your Sunny Side Up!
Polly
October 2000
Why Not, Tenant Licensing?
I had been a bit concerned about the Landlord Licensing proposal. Not that I'm against any move to stop neighborhood blight, you understand. But as the law was proposed it would have had an impact on my winter-in-Florida plans. You see, our family often rents out our Lockport home for the winters. We are very selective about who we rent to, only family and friends, but we do charge rent. Oh, not the market price such (fully furnished) very upscale residence would normally demand, but a modest charge. The deep discount is made up by the assurance we have of someone we know living in our property and looking out for it while we are away. But under the Landlord Licensing plan we would have had to be "licensed" to do this little winter rental each year. And that could mean bureaucratic snoops touring our family home and looking into our private assets and retreats. So, I was a bit relieved when the plan failed to get the Council support it needed. "See," I mused to the family, "everything always works out for the best."
But we do feel civic responsibility. We've been pondering the problems of Washburn Street, Genesee, and many other once grand addresses which have been tarnished by naughty tenants. After all, let's admit, it is the tenants that run these properties down, not the landlords(who just permit it). And so, out of ashes of defeat for Landlord Licensing, comes a promising new proposal of Tenant Licensing! How wonderful the possibilities!
I'll leave it to the clever chair wheelers at City Hall to work out all the details. But the plan would be quite simple. In order to rent a home or an apartment in Lockport every tenant would need to be licensed. In order to qualify for a license, a tenant would need a satisfactory "tenant rental record." First time renters, without a record, would have to establish one someplace outside of Lockport. Or, post an extra large security deposit which the city would hold at no interest. In fact, if we could hold enough of these deposits we could cover the cost of allowing Lockport Hospital to use nearly a million dollars of city taxpayer money at no charge! Oh, I can see, you're all very interested already! Wonderful, wonderful!
Tenants would get "demerits" for acts of poor community citizenship which could lead to them losing their license to live as tenants in Lockport. 100 demerits, for example, could mean banishment from Lockport for at least one year. "Tenant Monitors" would substitute for absentee landlords in checking on behavior and handing out demerits. Compensation of the Tenant Monitors would come from a fund built up by tenant fines. This would be a delightful employment for property tax-paying Seniors who need to supplement their Social Security. The City would issue the Tenant Monitors fashionable little outfits so they would be instantly recognized but without the persona of some kind of police.
Consider these examples: Leaving a tire or other unacceptable refuse out for collection---10 demerits. Excessive noise at any time---5 demerits; after 11 PM, 10-demerits. Parking on the front lawn or over city sidewalks---5 demerits. Allowing children to run loose to a neighbor's torment---5 demerits. Inadequate animal control---10 demerits. Improper containment of garbage---10 demerits. Drunken or unruly behavior---40 demerits. Failure to pay rent on time---40 demerits. Police calls to tenant living areas---75 demerits. Drug use, collection, or dealing: 500 demerits! Each demerit would also carry a $3 fine payable to the city. Dear friends, you needn't have gone to finishing school to see how Lockport behavior would quickly improve! If not, our city coffers would swell with money to pay the firefighters to help out the Building Inspectors with property audits and we'd be able to afford to hire more policemen for better city protection! I'm sure you see...this plan is just gorgeous!
Everybody wins! Even the tenants would be winners! Those who built up so many demerits as to loose their tenant licenses could move to Niagara Falls or inner-city Buffalo where their life style would be more appreciated!
Now, please, don't e-mail around proposing that I be appointed to any political committee or given any special recognition. Our family prefers to advise in more subtle ways without pubicity. We try not to take delight in authoring any schemes but rather rejoice privately as we collect the non-public benefits. However, I can't wait to see the smile on a certain sourpuss landlord I frequently encounter winters doing his thing along the West Coast Florida strip. Oh, will we have a laughter over lunch when he comes down to Naples! Wonderful, wonderful!
Keep your Sunny Side Up!
Polly
Summer 2000
Polly:
I wish you better luck with your proposal than we had with ours.
My advice: Don't have a public forum on the issue. All the bad tenants in Lockport will come out to attack you. Trust me. I speak from experience. Take care,
Jon May
Citizens Advisory Board------------------
Dear Polly,
I read your story on tenant licensing and the one on county taxes and thought to myself that perhaps one is related to the other.
Properties and cities for that matter decline when government and economies that support them are in decline. Such are things in the city of Lockport. Yet the town enjoys a boom time. Why not do as the wonderful city of Toronto has done and create a "metro Lockport" by extending the city borders to include the town. With the additional tax revenue a sorely needed influx of cash would arrive, and with the additional tax base the fixed cost of government could be spread over so many more citizens. Fire and police services could be readily extended since most calls are city based and many of the local volunteer fire agencies have experienced declining enrollment. The entire area could share in the growth that the town has had.
I am sure that the town would expect some reduction in government to be inline with the current structure that they enjoy. All in all it would seem to be a reasonable concession. It seems that something like this would be a great shot in the arm for both the town and the city, and boost the desirability of some of the older neighborhoods. This in turn would reduce the decay taking place on Washburn, and perhaps cause a revitalization of some of the nicer homes there.
Jim Baker
Paying County Taxes
I have been in Naples, FL part of the winter but just received, forwarded from Lockport, a lovely reminder of events at home. My Niagara County taxes have arrived for payment! Wonderful, wonderful! Some of my neighbors in the city wonder why those of us in the city, who pay city taxes, also must pay county taxes. In fact, those of us in the three cities pay more County taxes than those who live outside the city! And despite a promise by the politicians that our County taxes were not going up this year, I just looked in my check book and saw the amount paid last year. This year it's more! I recall the rhyme most of us learned at the Lockport High School on East Avenue (or before), "Liar, liar, pants on fire!"
All this tax talk started while a group of us from Lockport were having afternoon snack and drinks across the street from Naple's 5th Avenue Deli & Bakery Saturday. It was decided that we should all try to come up with reasons why Lockport city property owners should be happy to pay Niagara County taxes! Of course, I was elected to send these encouraging reasons back home via the Lockport Home Page. We call it...
TOP TEN REASONS WHY
LOCKPORT CITY PROPERTY OWNERS, SHOULD ENJOY PAYING COUNTY TAXES!
#10. Somebody has to help pay the extra $6,000 to the Election Commissioners.
#9. To help pay the cost of maintaining all those country roads
even though those of us in
the city never need them. It's nice to know that others enjoy them.
#8. How else could County government continue to expand with a
declining population?
Someone has to make up for all those who are moving out!
#7. So that all the town and village fire departments can have the
services of an expensive
county-operated fire dispatch service. If we didn't help out, county property owners
in villages and towns would have to pay more!
#6. To help maintain all those county-owned public buildings in
the city that are tax-exempt
from city property taxes yet still need a full compliment and more of city services!
#5. To help make up for the taxes NOT paid from the Indian
Reservation and to be sure
residents there receive full County services, regardless.
#4. To provide the base support and authority for the County
Industrial Development Agency
so they can continue to help business move out of Lockport and into the towns.
#3. To pay for the massive air force, navy, and army now operated
by the Niagara County Sheriff's Department.
We only see them in the City when they stop at a County building---but they're out
there---
hundreds of them---and the price tag is bigger every year!
#2 To pay those generous welfare benefits to encourage the
"undesirable fabric" who move into our
area from Orleans County and points South. They love settling in our city and live
in a manner
to lower our property values (but not our taxes).
And The Number One Reason Why...
We Should Take Delight In Paying County Taxes:
Because we stay quiet and keep returning the same
legislators to office
and they continue to please us by ignoring the city except when
they want something from us such as tax revenue!
This all sounds so heavenly that perhaps we could suggest to the residents of the Town of Lockport, that they would enjoy paying Lockport City Taxes...since they don't have any Town taxes to pay!
I'm heading back north soon. In time to pay my County Taxes!
Keep Your Sunny Side Up!
Polly
April 2000
Thanksgiving Thoughts
Living in the city of Lockport we have so much to be thankful for to our elected government officials. They know of our desire to give to all and yet we are content to get nothing in return. They have faithfully satisfied us in this regard throughout 1999 and there's every indication they'll be doing even more for us in the New Millennium! Special examples of their thoughtfulness stand out:
Let Lockportians pay twice. When folks can't pay their school taxes in Niagara County, the county itself steps in and pays them (out of County taxpayer assessments) so that our school districts won't have to do without. That means, all property taxpayers from all over the county kick in to make up the difference. How thoughtful. However, according to a blurb by Tom Prohaska in the Buffalo News, if the property is in the city of Lockport (or the city of North Tonawanda or Niagara Falls) ---then the city taxpayers make up the difference---the county pays nothing. Yet city taxpayers still contribute to all the delinquent property taxpayers in the county, too. If this doesn't seem fair, we must realize that life isn't always fair. We should thank our State and County Legislators for allowing us in the city of Lockport to learn this lesson, albeit the hard way.
A "little something" for little Lewiston, nothing left for Lockport. Thanks to Congressman John LaFalce who sent me a lovely newsletter telling of all the (our) federal money he has "fought" to get for governmental units in his Congressional District. Among the communities who will be receiving these benefits, John's letter relates, one is in Niagara County. It's tiny Lewiston---that upscale community that enjoys one of the highest per-capita incomes in Niagara County. They will receive $145,960 so they can hire two full-time policemen. Oh how thoughtful of John! Otherwise Lewiston might have to extract a little more tax money out of all that high-value multi-million dollar property that fronts on the Niagara River. No mention by John, however, of more money for Lockport Police who complained in 1999 of inadequate funds to buy two-way radios---or for taxpayers here who must fund policing a still-growing Crime District populated by a delightful assortment of characters moving in from Buffalo and Orleans County (where John saw to it that the Sheriff's Department got $110,775). Wonderful, wonderful!
Maybe it's because we were too polite to ask. New York State allocates $200-million to local governments for bridge repair. Actually, $140-million of that amount comes from federal taxes. A couple million finally filters down to Niagara County. $450,000 goes to the Town of Hartland, $400,000 goes to the Town of Royalton, $300,000 goes to the City of Niagara Falls, $425,000 goes to the Town of Wilson, $351,000 goes to the Town of Somerset etc.,...$0 goes to the city of Lockport. And why is this? Perhaps our City officials are too polite to ask. After all, haven't we proven we're capable of fixing bridges with local money---such as the ones on Stone Road, Niagara Street, Jackson Street, and North Transit? And we're known state-wide for our patience, what with having three bridges over the canal out of operation at the same time! Well, we should be proud and thankful that our city officials don't ask and we don't have to take these handouts. Pride! It's wonderful!
Keep your sunny side up!
Polly
November 1999
Hello~
It is a delight to be on-line and to be sought out for commentary. Like most everyone around the Lockport Page, I've lived Lockport all my life, even when traveling south in winters, overseas during a war, and now about the US to enjoy extended stays with scattered family and friends. One of the joys of growing older is that most of us do grow smarter. As this happens we get some of our greatest kicks watching others go through the process of life discovery and then insist that we all appreciate the marvelous new (to them) ideas that they have developed. After all the years and experiences, I'm so happy I can still laugh about segments of life, and be glad that no matter where I am my love for Lockport can be worn on my sleeve without apology.
While writing for a cyber publication in 1999 is new to me, I'd rather not adapt my acquired word crafting for this new media. When that adaptation is called for the editor will make it, relieving me of many details of putting thought groups and comments together. However, I'll be seeing everything here that goes out on-line before it is published and I'll be happy with it or it won't go on the web. I know this is going to be a fun project!
Some few of you may recognize me but most won't. That's wonderful. I'm sure the descendants and fans of the late American writer, Eleanor Porter, will be understanding. We usually don't get to choose our own names. Our parents give us one, and often, later in life, we get several more. I've been happy with all my names including the one I slowly acquired over the years.
Keep your sunny side up!
Happy To Connect The World To Lockport
The
Lockport Home Page: www.Lockport-NY.com
THE PICTURE OF LOCKPORT