OUR TOWNS BLOG

Neighbors, Councilmember Clifford, the Mayor and Senator Schumer Host Pool Party

Kenneth Warner
Rochester

ID=86132748In these first long hot days of summer, everyone would love to have a pool in their backyard, right?

Not if you’re one of the neighbors who live along West Boulevard Parkway and back up to the railroad tracks. Because the pool they have is standing, stagnant water created by debris, brush and tree limbs along the CSX right of way.

And apparently, CSX could care less about the mosquitos that breed there.

That is until now.

With concerns about Zika and West Nile Virus, neighbors turned to City Councilmember Molly Clifford for help. They had repeatedly contacted CSX about the problem, but without success. And so, Ms. Clifford brought out the big guns. She contacted Chris Zeltmann, Senator Chuck Schumer’s guy in the Rochester office who asked his boss if he could intervene.

Now, I have to tell you that I’ve known Senator Schumer since he first ran for office and, there is nobody … and I mean NOBODY who cares more about the people he represents than Senator Schumer.

Not only did he write a letter to CSX, he’s coming to Rochester today to view the situation first hand.

This afternoon at 1:30, the Senator, Mayor and Councilmember Clifford will hold a press conference on John Coleman’s backyard deck overlooking the stagnant pool.

Mr. Coleman will be joined by a couple of other neighbors -- Cory Tylenda and Nancy Owens -- as well as Norm Jones, the City’s Commissioner of Environmental Services.

Maybe this time, CSX will do something about it. All that’s needed is for CSX to give it’s ok to use the right of way. The City will provide the clean-up.

Funny how sometimes it takes an act of congress to solve a simple problem. But with everyone jumping into the pool, so to speak – the West Boulevard neighbors, Councilmember Clifford, Commissioner Jones, the Mayor and Senator Schumer – maybe it will get done.

Please Note: In the ever-important interest of complete disclosure, readers should note that Councilmember Clifford is my significant other of almost 20 years.