To the Editor:
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, Democrats in the City of Poughkeepsie will have a choice to make in the voting booth. Please consider the following before you make your decision.
As a fellow Democrat who has known Fred Knapp for over 25 years, the choice for me is a simple one. Throughout his years in public service, Fred has remained true to his Democratic ideals. He has been a consistent advocate for senior citizens, working families and young people. Whether it is on a county level or on an issue specifically dealing with the city he cares so deeply about, Fred has never wavered from his basic convictions. Many times this has resulted in what can only be called “bad press.”
That’s why I believe Fred Knapp has the ability, the knowledge and the vision to do a better job as the next mayor of the City of Poughkeepsie.
Alida Ransom
Poughkeepsie
To the Editor:
As long-term residents one block away from the very large church proposed by the Faith Assembly Church on the corner of Spackenkill and Boardman roads, we are opposed.
Other people have well expressed the problems with traffic safety and noise for people who travel Spackenkill as well as for our neighborhood. We would like to express our opposition based on the potential destruction of the character of our neighborhood. We have lived here since September 1960, surrounded by homes, small churches, small schools and a pleasant research and development facility.
The proposed church will have more than 2,300-person capacity; almost as large as the Civic Center in the City of Poughkeepsie. Over 120,000 square feet for concerts, holiday services and school events is certainly going to change the character of our neighborhood. Let’s not bring city-type problems to our neighborhood. The proposal also calls for a school of 350 students, compounding the congestion problems.
Since most of the children will be driven by their parents, eliminating a bus probably produces 10 soccer-moms driving the family car twice a day. We understand that under SEQRA the environmental impacts that must be considered include “existing patterns of population concentration, distribution, or growth, and existing community or neighborhood character.”
We are very concerned that the proposed construction of a mega-church will negatively affect the character of the neighborhood we have enjoyed for the past 47 years. We asked the town Planning Board to give a positive declaration and further ask to conduct scoping and require preparation of a Draft Environmental Statement for this project to consider this change in the character of our neighborhood.
Arthur and Nancy Scott
Poughkeepsie