The Eviction Of Innocence

My old friend (as in we've known each other a long time....) and former Air Force buddy wrote this.  He lives in the bustling metropolis of Tonawanda, New York, a booming city of 15,000 residents.  Life seems wonderful in that small town - until the wicked witch of Tonawanda moves in across the street.  Read on.  It's sad that in America today the government continues to bend to the will of the few (or the one) rather than the will of the majority...

Take the fight to the city council, Frank!  Don't let one miserable person destroy your paradise!


THE EVICTION OF INNOCENCE- It's a small city, barely over 4 square miles. It's a young city, not even 100 years old until 2014. Even the population is modest, just creeping above 15,000. The residents show up for the high school football game, and members of the council have counted among them graduates from that same high school. It's small town USA. It's the City of Tonawanda, the last little burgh at the western end of the Erie Canal, where it empties into the Niagara River. It is also my home.

I moved here in 1984 to live in a cheap apartment, until I could find a house in my hometown of Kenmore. I never left. This year, I celebrate over 2 decades of volunteer service to the Fire Department, where today I serve as a Captain and a Peace Officer. I stand with other members in my community who volunteer their time, energy and yes...money in the form of fuel and manhours, to help protect our neighbors and preserve our way of life. It's a close knit community, where there is barely 1 degree of separation between everyone who calls this little city 'home'.

In 2006, my wife and I relocated to Broad Street in the City, just a block from the old "Village of Tonawanda Square" where the gazebo plays host to musicians, wedding photographers and kids pretending they're on stage. I live across from a small park that runs between Broad and the next street over, Morgan. The park wasn't always there, as some 50 years ago, it served as a flood control ditch owned by the state. When proper storm drains were constructed, the State filled it in, and the City turned it into a green space. Slowly, over the years, a little bench, a little shelter, a swing set, a slide and jungle gym. It was in fact the deciding factor in buying this particular house. What could be better than a wonderful, green park and playground across the street from our front porch? 

For several years, we have watched our children playing there. They neighbors get together and have and "opening" and "closing" barbeques of hot dogs and pot luck. It's where puppies are taught to fetch, kids learn to play basketball, young mothers can take a rest and see their children from anywhere in the park, have a picnic, play soccer and laugh! As it is a "break" in a double-sized block, the morning dog walkers use it as a cut-through, and never, ever let their dogs "use it". The users keep it clean, and roll the trash bin to the curb ourselves. We watch eachother's children, and take care of our 1/4 acre patch of grass. We petitioned for every repair, improvement and amenity. It is our park.

Barely 3 years ago, a woman purchased one of the 4 houses that rims the park. Almost immediately, she began to take the children to task. The kids are too loud. The kids are letting the ball hit the fence. There is an adult with a cigarette. The dogs are barking. The older kids are swearing. There are people walking through there after dark. The swings are squeeking. My children came home more than once, saying that they didn't want to play there because the neighbor was outside screaming and swearing at everybody. Then I come to find out that she also put cameras on the outside of her house, ALL aimed toward the playground, NOT on her property. Yes, she is videotaping minor children, 24/7, including audio. I had gone to see the cameras this past weekend, and confirmed that in fact, this was occurring. Much to my dismay, it is completely legal, as she is videotaping a "public area with no expectation of privacy."

Signs appeared in the fall last year. "Closed from dusk until dawn." Okay...I see that. "No dogs allowed"...Um...well, that's odd. "No Alcohol"...hmm...well, the cookouts will be a little less fun. "No smoking". Okay, another rule...sends the parents that smoke to the street, out of the park. "No swearing". What? The number of complaints of violations, ALL of which are from the sole resident, are resulting in citations being issued by law enforcement, which has no choice but to respond to her calls, and cite those in violation, pulling them away from important matters and patrolling.

Yesterday evening, as I pulled into my driveway, one of my neighbors came over. She informed me that yesterday evening at the council meeting, the neighbor had successfully lobbied to have the basketball court demolished and removed. It seems that the council and the Mayor have grown weary of her complaints, and as no other resident was there to defend the basketball court, it will be removed. At no time did anyone ever say anything, because nobody knew it was open to debate. It's a playground. It was there for decades before she moved in. She saw it before she made an offer on the house. Hey, you move in next to the airport, you're going to hear planes. You move in next to a basketball court, I think you're going to hear kids playing!

Our kids are in our view. They are playing games. They are making friends. They are learning sports. Their parents, neighbors, friends all get together and live as a community. They are not out boosting cars, doing drugs, or making babies. They are not walking the streets, idle minds, looking for "activity". They are wholesome, all American kids, being kids!

We are all signing a petition, and making calls. We are informing all the neighbors, but the simple fact is that the Mayor has issued a demolition order to the Parks Department, just to get this ONE woman to shut up.

What was her response to the council and mayor? Was it a 'thank you'? Nope. Her next words? "I need to complain about the grass."

Hop on your bicycle, and take your little dog with you!