"Let's Get Mount Pleasant Out of the Dumps"

The council and citizens started off praying peacefully for our children and our community as a whole and as the night went on, many were yelling and preaching for the same things.




The Schenectady City Council Meeting began promptly at 7 pm on April 23, 2012. Mayor Gary McCarthy read the Pledge of Allegiance and the role call began at 7:18. Mrs. King was the only absent member for the night.

But, more importantly, Mr. Oxford WAS present. A regular member to the council meetings, James Oxford cares about the children. He addresses Public Hearing 167, which attends to vacant lots.

“With the summer ahead I get worried, lots of kids are playing in these vacant dwellings and I'm worried one will get hurt," says Oxford. The council replies by saying that they hope Mr. Oxford calls the police whenever he sees this occurring. But, to him that is not enough. These buildings need to be shut down and demolished. 

The Mount Pleasant area he is referring to, has graffiti, drug dealers, shootings and garbage everywhere. Oxford and his neighbors are fed up. They propose that the city start a Neighbor Helping Neighbor service which will consist of neighbors helping each other to plant gardens, paint over graffiti and more. They want to know what they can do to help get funding for their neighborhood as soon as possible.

A very angry and disappointed citizen gets up to speak about his street in this same neighborhood. Mr. Rodriguez lives on Moyston Street in Schenectady. He has cancer and is getting older and sicker, yet him and his neighbors continue to plow the end of their street every winter because the city does not. He pays $4,000 a year for taxes for a street and property that he puts all of his heart into, while the city just stands by and lets it fall apart.

"I don't need my three minutes because I will be back every week and I will bring more people until something is done," he stated.

Not Even 10 Cents Saved

Council member Vincent Riggi addresses his fellow council members in a fit of anger and frustration. His speech was definitely the most impacting of the night and his voice raised higher and higher with every word. "You have to weed the garden before you expect things to grow.... Nothing has been cut from the budget. Not even 10 cents. I'm WAITING... I am the majority. I and we, need help. We have problems, we realize them, now let's address them.


According to one man, rumor has it that firefighters are getting $20,000 raises while the city continues to bankrupt itself.

There's no doubt that something needs to be done and I am positive that these next few meetings will bring change and excitement as these citizens continue to fight for what they deserve.

For more info go to : Schenectady City Council

-Mariko Cree Mosher