My husband and I are Guyanese-Americans, registered to vote, who relocated to Schenectady six years ago. Since that time we have worked hard to make our home, as well as our city, places we could be proud of. About a month ago, while at work, our home in Mont Pleasant was broken into in broad daylight. Our home was ransacked and I’m sad to say that all of my personal jewelry ($20,000 worth) was stolen. The financial loss is hard enough to deal with, but what is much worse is the fact that much of my jewelry had very, very sentimental and family connections attached to it. The money is one thing, but I know I can work hard and replace the lost value. What can’t be replaced is the priceless sentimental value of some of the jewelry items. I am heartsick over that. Also, I no longer feel the same about my home. How could I? Whenever we come home, my husband walks around the house to make sure none of the windows have been broken and someone is waiting inside. Is this a way to live? I have tried, in vain, to talk about this to the police. It really seems like nobody cares. I know of four other Guyanese families that have been broken into in Mont Pleasant. Are we being targeted because we work hard and have nice homes? Where I work, my Guyanese coworkers have told me that the way to get the attention of the mayor and the police would be to butcher a goat in my back yard. The mayor and the police would then be there at the drop of a hat! How sad is that? NAIMWATTIE SINGH Schenectady
So, everybody watch when NAIMWATTIE SINGH's house is broke into again, since they were robbed, then told all the public that they're going to replace it in a while. I'm sorry, but it seems that sometimes, all the PD's care about is getting some extra money, not protection.
This is in reply to the Aug. 26 letter, “Guyanese need more attention and security.” First off I’d like to say to Mrs. Singh, I am sorry that your house was burglarized, I find it hard to believe, though, that you are being targeted because you work hard and have a nice home. Like you and your husband, my husband and I are also registered voters but have lived in Schenectady our entire lives, work hard and have a nice home and have had our share of burglaries. Our vehicle was stolen from our home and dumped in the lake at Central Park, we have had a car window shot out with pellets and the most recent is someone siphoning gas out of one of our vehicles. My husband too, like yours, walks around every morning to make sure that all is safe. Do we feel targeted? Of course we do, but to ask for “extra attention and security” is selfish. I’d like more attention and security and so would the rest of my neighbors, but let’s face it, it’s not going to happen. Your family is not the only family in Schenectady nor the only family who has been victimized. You mentioned that you have spoken with the police and “nobody cares.” It’s impossible for the police to monitor every home in the city. My suggestion to you and your family, buy a security system. We have certainly made some wiser security decisions for our property, which do not include the police monitoring our property. CRYSTAL SCHMID Schenectady
Just read Crystal Schmid's column carefully. I'm baffled here....why are these people still living in this high taxed, crime ridden city of Schenectady? Unless they can't get anyone to buy their homes due to high taxes, sell the damn house and move out of the city!!!!!
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil, The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Just read Crystal Schmid's column carefully. I'm baffled here....why are these people still living in this high taxed, crime ridden city of Schenectady? Unless they can't get anyone to buy their homes due to high taxes, sell the damn house and move out of the city!!!!!
Unfortunately, I can feel their pain. Many refinanced during the "lucrative years" of cheap mortgage rates, then used the proceeds from their homes to pay higher heating costs, higher taxes, higher prices at the markets/stores - and some lost their jobs during the "downturn". They now owe more on their home than they could possibly hope to recover in a sale. Their new mortgage payments, with the adjustable rates are higher than anyone expected them to go - many tried to change to a fixed rate, only to be denied or have their mortgage sold to a company that's first reaction is repossession.
It's a catch-22 for many, Unfortunately.
As a renter/leasee in the city, I am SO happy to have had the opportunity to get the hell out. I'm now comfortably living in Schenectady County - but outside the bullcrap of the city life. I don't have to worry about the landlord being forced to sell the house because of higher taxes, being evicted due to repossession or having it sold out because he can't afford the mortgage. The house I'm in now - in an upscale community (Niskayuna) has a LARGE lot, 3 bedrooms, full basement, 2 car garage - and the taxes are roughly 1/3 of what they were in the city. ONE THIRD! Crime is virtually non-existent. Services from Police and Fire are fantastic (Volunteer Fire Departments ROCK!) The house we left, 3 bedroom, small lot, no garage, smaller square footage and no basement was taxed so high it forced the owner to sell to the "best offer".
Yes, we pay for trash pickup ($20/mo - $240/yr instead of the city @ $400) - we pay for water .. I think that's like $15/yr. But it's a HUGE difference compared to city life.
Would I ever move back to the city? I can't see it happening. Do I still love the city? Absolutely. I would never consider buying property in the city though.
Single Party Tyranny Begins January 20, 2009 - Stay Tuned.
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil, The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.
I work with a large guanese population at my work and they will all be leaving soon.....taxes, mortgages, grants etc all ripped out from underneith them.... did someone fail to edumacate them???
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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