Newburgh, NY: Police State (New York, Ithaca: apartment, homes, movies)

[kimC]

I was a senior at NFA the year they had the swat team on the roof of the high school. What a trip that was.

[mcccmar45]

I love newburgh - it is very much part of my childhood since my grandparents were early newburghs in the 1880s and lived there until the late 1960- what has happened to newburgh cries for justice - shame on those who live in those homes and dont take care of them - it doesnt take money - it takes PRIDE - my grandparents had no money either - but they kept their home spotless - and were good neighbors- in the late 1950s newburgh was in lifemagazine as one of the 10 best places in the country to live - looking at it today one can only be fille with disgust at the people who have destroyed it -

[mcccmar45]

I concur- Newburgh NY was one of the best places in the country to live up until the early 1960s when some birdbrain decreed that anyone collecting welfare had to live within that city - and when sweet ors and the fabricoy pulled out . It is a shame to see the lovely city that my father grew up in and his parents and grandparents lived in from 1860 until the mid 1960s destroyed by people who dont care enough to pick up their trash or shut the doors to their homes. Its a pity - and I get angry whenever I visit there and remember what it was - and see what has been done

[jmclowry]

What stores should be open at those hours anyways? and what residents... besides criminals are really out that late at night? What is with everyone blaming the police for everything and saying they are not doing their jobs adequately. Maybe if you were an officer in the city of newburgh for a week, you would see that it's not that easy. My father was a cop in the city of newburgh for 27 years so I know many officers there. I know what they have to go through. They try to help people and instead get attacked for it. People really shouldn't made accusations like that unless they are in a position to do so. If you're a city of newburgh cop and you feel that way, then it would be fine to say so, but if you're just some civilian who thinks they can go a better job.... well... .then take the police test and do it. You probably wouldn't last a week dealing with the violence and crime they deal with everyday.

[jmclowry]

The stores that need to be open after 11pm are open... no other reason for anything else to be open. I live upstate now temporarily... and the local ordinances are the same... stores close early... and you know what??? that's why there is so much less crime up here and there always has been.

[Hinton Bound]

Having grown up close to the area, I feel sad for the people forced to live in Newburgh. Yes, I know, no one is FORCED to live there, but sometimes the economics don't allow a move elsewhere.
I've lived in Virginia Beach for about 15 years now. When I moved here there was a neighborhood called Ocean View. It was run-down crack houses, flop-motels and just plain 'ol Ghetto. A very forward thinking real esate agent decided to start buying up the property, mostly from forclosures, and got city counsil to start condemning (which I disagree with from a Libertarian stance) the drug infested hotels. Over the course of 10+ years, the pace has made quite a turn around. There are now millon dollar homes, and business is returning. It just takes one person with the desire to change things. Oh, and a good bit of money

Reminds me of a saying I heard " Opprotunity is missed by many because it's dressed in coveralls, and look like hard work.
~Mark

[michellebelle]

Originally Posted by jmclowry

The stores that need to be open after 11pm are open... no other reason for anything else to be open. I live upstate now temporarily... and the local ordinances are the same... stores close early... and you know what??? that's why there is so much less crime up here and there always has been.

The point is this is suppossed to be a free country. Not a gestapo. Now we are required by law to have id on us at all times. It is law that if I take my dog for a walk, I have to have id. Can we say Nazi germany? Now they are working on a national id card.

Now people are being told what their hours of operation will be. Even though it is their business, they are being told how to run it.

Who gets to choose what businesses need to be open after 11pm? Who is all knowing enough to make that decision for others? Instead of freedom you have dictation.

The only people who will be affect by a law like this are the people who obey the laws. The rest are lawbreakers, they won't stop just because there is now something in writing saying they can't do it. Drugs are illegal, it hasn't stopped drug trafficing.

[Hinton Bound]

Originally Posted by michellebelle

The point is this is suppossed to be a free country. Not a gestapo. Now we are required by law to have id on us at all times. It is law that if I take my dog for a walk, I have to have id. Can we say Nazi germany? Now they are working on a national id card.

Now people are being told what their hours of operation will be. Even though it is their business, they are being told how to run it.

Who gets to choose what businesses need to be open after 11pm? Who is all knowing enough to make that decision for others? Instead of freedom you have dictation.

The only people who will be affect by a law like this are the people who obey the laws. The rest are lawbreakers, they won't stop just because there is now something in writing saying they can't do it. Drugs are illegal, it hasn't stopped drug trafficing.

Ahhh Michelle, you see the light that so few can! You're 100% on target, but sadly, the rest of the folks (the majority) don't even see the train that's a comin' straight at them.
~Mark

[eastendbill]

Originally Posted by Jason_Els

Newburgh's, "quality of life," left 30 years ago. The city council is rife with corruption and the fact that it was once beautiful makes its current ugliness all the worse. How you stay there I don't know.

I couldn't agree more. Newburgh was beautiful. To the original poster: I think the steps the city council are taking might be necessary to save the city and bring back what was once a terrific place to live.

In a span of five years the town went from "lovely" to "questionable" to "what the hell happened here?" Unfortunately there is a myth out there that a town that hits rock bottom bounces back. I think that was true in suburban NY, (you really can't call Newburgh "upstate") 20 years ago. It doesn't happen anymore because it isn't financially feasible. Sure, Yonkers has rebounded incredibly, but they are 11 miles from one of the biggest cities in the world.

Newburgh and cities like it have become a little too far out of the loop to make it worth rehabilitating. The only thing that would make it worth it is if they turned it into a bedroom community but you can't do that with a high crime rate.

I suggest you buy your beer a day ahead and leave it in the fridge til you get home, because it's only going to get worse.

[eastendbill]

Originally Posted by michellebelle

The point is this is suppossed to be a free country. Not a gestapo. Now we are required by law to have id on us at all times. It is law that if I take my dog for a walk, I have to have id. Can we say Nazi germany? Now they are working on a national id card.

Now people are being told what their hours of operation will be. Even though it is their business, they are being told how to run it.

Who gets to choose what businesses need to be open after 11pm? Who is all knowing enough to make that decision for others? Instead of freedom you have dictation.

The only people who will be affect by a law like this are the people who obey the laws. The rest are lawbreakers, they won't stop just because there is now something in writing saying they can't do it. Drugs are illegal, it hasn't stopped drug trafficing.

Just for the record folks: It's always been a federal law that you have to carry ID on your person at all times, however, it has become more enforced as of late for obvious reasons, either real or perceived. Most people don't know that. It's like that in every civilized country (even Germany) believe it or not.