In a letter to MyRye.com, Robert Piovesan says two Purchase Street businesses were put in jeopardy by poor planning.
September 4, 2011
To the Editor:
Sept 3 2011 another picture perfect Holiday Saturday in Rye. A day store Owners dream to wake up to. Armed and ready to serve their customers, they get in early to make sure that everything is prepared for when the first customer walks through the front door. This is a day especially made for the stores that serve food. For 2 such stores, Poppy’s Café and Upper Crust Bagels, who open at 7 AM and the rest of the stores on Purchase St that open later, the beautiful gorgeous day they thought was going to be a busy one for them, instead turned into a nightmare. The nightmare caused by a bunch of INCONSIDERATE people that run this city. Whom may I add is voted in by these store Owners and their customers.
As we all know in this town, there has been work going on fixing the sidewalks. Putting bump outs and new sidewalks on the corner of Purchase and Locust Sts. Now when all of this work first started, the work was being done at night. Now on this picture perfect Holiday Saturday, Purchase St was closed to all traffic. Why? Because someone in City Hall told the people doing the work that it was ok to do the work on this day. And from what I hear, the people doing the work said they couldn’t get the cement on a Friday night. Really? How did they get the cement they needed all the other nights they worked? Now, this probably would have been a less of a nightmare if City Hall would have done what they are supposed to do. Inform the Store owners that this was going to happen. At least the Stores might have been able to be better prepared. Or since Poppy’s and Upper Crust are closed by 3:30 PM, why couldn’t this work been done in the afternoon? But as usual, City Hall disregards the needs of the very people who keep this town running. And of course when you need to find a Council Member, none are to be found. Why? Because they are out enjoying their Holiday weekend! Some Owners called the Rye Police Dept only to be told that they THE POLICE were never informed of this either and that there was nothing they could do.
To get into the stores, the workers put planks from the street to the front doors. If you have ever tried to walk on these planks you would know that they are NOT safe and they bounce as you walk on them. Is this a way for a City to treat its Senior Citizens who want a cup of coffee or a bagel? How about a family with small children? Did ANYONE in City Hall realize or care that someone could have gotten seriously injured?
All I know is that if not for the Loyal Patrons of these stores fighting their way to get that cup of coffee, a lot of these stores would have had to close. And because this City has allowed landlords to charge outrageous rents, some of these store Owners need every penny they can make.
So the question remains, WHO in City Hall is responsible for such a reckless and uncaring action as this. The NIGHTMARE on Purchase St. Stay tuned because there will be a Council meeting that will be what I suspect a NIGHTMARE for the inconsiderate people who run this town.
Robert Piovesan
Cedar Place
Rye
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