I'm sure most of you have seen the article in the Sunday Corning Leader titled 'C-PP officials upset over flyer'.
There are numerous points that we will be addressing regarding the article and comments. Give us a little time to organize it all.
Perhaps the first thing we can do is reprint an email that was sent Friday afternoon to Bill Cameron, public information coordinator for the C-PP School District. Mr. Cameron sent a very polite and professional inquiry on Friday morning, which I responded to later in the afternoon.
He responded back, saying in part, "Yes, it would be great to talk with you so please feel free to contact me. I will be here awhile longer today – but also available next week during the regular working day too... " As I told him, I would be happy to speak with him and will do so next week.
From my communication with the C-PP School District:
Mr. Cameron,
Thanks for contacting us. The flier that was sent out had SavingOurParish.com's website and post office box clearly printed in the return address. Some of us associated with SavingOurParish.com are known to the community through the efforts to preserve St. Vincent Catholic Church in Corning.
Christine Sharkey, of Corning Enterprises, has spoken to me and my husband regarding the flier. As you can see, the flier is concerned with Providence Housing Development Corporation’s offer to buy the St. Vincent church property and redevelop it into senior housing.
You can read it all here.
Guess you have really dug yourself a hole now Mrs. Garrity. Why can't you own that you ARE the operator and spokesperson for the SOP hypocrisy? You just want to take everyone down. Well, congratulations, now you have made enemies with 90% of the parish, employees throughout the CPP School District, as well as all "Say Yes" voters... you have completely lost my support.
ReplyDeleteI just recently caught up with the All Saints ill-planned move to trash St. Vincent's. While reading your "controversial" flyer I was especially astounded to see my lawyer, Rick, is working for the housing development company. Then upon reviewing All Saints website I see his brother Steve is on All Saints parish council. Can you say conflict of interest?
ReplyDeleteThis is just wrong, therefore I will begin searching for a new law firm for my personal & business legal matters.
I wonder what founding partner, Tom, God rest his soul, would think of this situation.
St. Vinnies Class of 69
The CPP School Board is incapable of understanding the english language and following rules. What part of "Debt limit" do they not understand? Therefore its no surprise they cannot handle the valid assumption Northside Blodgett will become low income senior housing. A competent school board would have updated the communities school facilites by now. By simply moving forward within the debt limit any number of projects could already be in use. Need some examples check out other communities like Campbell-Savona, Bath, Letchworth, Wayland-Cohocton, etc. etc. Do not blame the "Saving Our Parish" folks for your inability to accomplish anything except merge sports in the last ten years.
ReplyDelete10:05am Word of advice to Corning Enterprises- stay out of this. Run the school district, like you have been doing for years but leave the parish alone. Really, have you nothing better to do than worry about a few votes from the Northside? You'll get your 50% and your 100 million dollar deal.
ReplyDeleteSteven the only hole that was dug was the one by the CPP Facilities and Corning Enterprise for coming up with an idea that Saving Our Parish in any way, shape or form wanted to sway the facilities vote. The only purpose we have is that of Saving St. Vincents Church. Let me repeat; the only purpose we have is to SAVE ST. VINCENTS CHURCH!!! The flyer had only one purpose and that was to make the residents aware that there is the possibilty of two housing developments within one block of each other that are being proposed by two totally unrelated groups. The first group Providence Housing has stated the purpose of their purchase offer is to demolish St. Vincents Church and build housing. In this mornings leader article the second group represented by Ms. Sharkey of Corning Enterprises also stated that " the school property could be used for senior housing". I am part of the Saving Our Parish Committee and I will tell you that we have no official spokesperson or leader. We work collectively and prayerfully on all decisions that are made. There were no enemies made by anyone on our committee because the flyer that was mailed stated only factual information. The Saving Our Parish Committee is in no way connected to anyone or group connected to the CPP facilities plan; frankly the schools and vote is the furthest thing from our mind our only purpose is to SAVE OUR CHURCH!! Gretchen Garrity along with many others on our committee have only one purpose Steven and that purpose is to SAVE ST. VINCENTS CHURCH!! I hope I have made myself clear. If you are not of the same mind of saving the church that is fine; but an apology is in order to Ms. Garrity. We at Saving Our Parish will continue to work hard in a professional and christianlike manner and would hope that those people using this blog will do the same.
ReplyDelete10:05 Agree. I'm frustrated with Corning Enterprises and their influence on this city and our school district. Ms. Sharkey has been pushing hard for the mega-sized school and sends her children to little Notre Dame High school. Hard to understand but please, please let's not let this become a school district/ church issue because it's not. It's a neighborhood/church issue. Keep the school district out of it.
ReplyDeleteI am FOR the facilities plan and AGAINST the sale of St. Vincent's. Bob Recotta, Christine Sharkey, Cathy Weil,et al, please explain my position??
ReplyDeleteKathy
Steven - Issue no apology whatsoever, I, too, am disappointed thoroughly in Gretchen's actions... You are no match for the school district or the Corning execs. Hope your children sleep well tonight knowing their mother is putting their education in jeopardy... If they don't know now, rest assured they will hear all about it at school tomorrow I presume.
ReplyDeleteI am against the facilities plan and against the demolition of Saint Vincents but the 2 are not related at all. I voted "NO" long before the Saint Vincent's Church was on the chopping block. For the district or the Leader to try to discredit the SOP is a new low for both. Shame on them.
ReplyDeleteCarol
Why does the truth bother people so much? The flyer stated fact. Citizens and parishioners can make up their own minds without people threatening the Garrity’s and their children. The residents can determine the potential impact upon their community, neighborhoods and property value. As a property owner within a block or two of both enterprises I am concerned. But I am more concerned with the loss of the Church which has been a critical part of my life and the lives of my family members. Bullying is not a pretty or acceptable thing no matter who you work for. Get your tactics out of gutter and darkness and let an educated and aware citizenry make its own decision in the light of the day.
ReplyDeleteFear mongering? The district is notorious for this. "If you don't vote yes, the school buildings will crumble before our eyes". "If you don't vote yes NOW, there will be no more money available..." So many threats from the district. It's laughable that Corning Enterprises would take a prefectly factual and quite innocent neighborhood flyer and become threatened by it. I can't beleive that they are so concerned about getting their majority vote- it's a given. Also, their pattern of linking everyone who opposes their plan to Mr. O'Brien is also laughable. Really, as if we need help seeing the snake in the grass. SOP people- continue your fight to save your Church. Forget about those who will try to twist and distort your intentions. And, by the way, I don't reside on the Northside, but if I did, I would be very concerned about the potential of 2 new housing complexes within a block of each other.
ReplyDeleteChris
Mark, putting kids education in jeopardy?! please give that nonsense up. What a ridiculous thing to say.
ReplyDeleteHow many times will the school board make us vote? Oh yeah until they get what they want! The flier is only an opinion that obviously has raised good questions for the northside residents. If the flier is so untrue then why all the fuss? Why bother going after the SOP so negatively if in fact there is no truth to it? If they have nothing to hide then make the community aware of what will happen to the Northside Blodgett property when the vote passes. This is their way of trying to take the negative light that they have been shed in and put it on those who just want everyone aware of what COULD happen. Wouldn't you want to be totally informed before you went to the voting booth?
ReplyDelete