Clinton Park destruction unjustified

With the exception of a few days in DeGraff Hospital when I was born, I have lived my entire life in the City of Tonawanda.

This does not justify my opinions being any more valuable than someone who moved here yesterday, but I write as one who wonders if I am watching a community that doesn’t care anymore.

I have always felt that there are so many things that make our little city unique and more a “home” than some of the overrun, traffic-congested towns around us with no character to speak of. I have watched over all my years and have been sad to see many of the landmarks disappear, but have been happy that a few still remain for future generations.

My content was shattered when I drove by and saw the beginnings of tree removal in Clinton Park. I looked at it without getting out of my car and thought, what a shame that some of these trees were damaged so much from the October Storm that they had to be removed. A day or so later, I realized that what I had thought was a necessary removal had turned into a complete destruction of this Tonawanda landmark. I have encountered so many people since whose reactions range from total disbelief that this was allowed, to anger and disgust beyond words.

Admittedly, I am far from an expert on diseased trees, but I walked the entire park and looked at every stump that remains of the once beautiful, graceful trees that took years to gain their stature. There is not one stump that shows any signs of rot or disease and the most sickening thing of all for me was that each and every one shows the remains of a beautiful, solid piece of wood.

I am told that there are “certified arborists” who would have reviewed these trees at no cost to the city, but even if there was a cost, it is criminal that it was not done. Someone has allowed, approved and sanctioned the absolute destruction of what was once one of those unique, little places of peace and beauty in our city. It is destroyed for my lifetime and into the lifetimes of my grandchildren.

Who was it, and what is going to be done to stop this from happening on every street in our community? Every place you see an orange ribbon is a potential victim along almost every street. Many need trimming and I’m sure some need to come down, but for heaven’s sake — get an expert’s opinion before you damage this little community beyond recognition (and it appears they are running amok in Veterans Park with ruts we will trip over all summer).

If in fact, “we leave department heads to run their departments,” as I’ve been told was said, and this is a product of that attitude, then why, as was said by a former mayor, do we have a mayor?

Gayle Syposs

City of Tonawanda



E-mail was disrespectful to taxpayers

There was a recent article in the Tonawanda News regarding Tonawanda Councilman Rick Davis sending an e-mail to the city engineer.

I obtained a copy of the e-mail. It should be readily apparent to anyone who reads it that Davis was attempting to circumvent the bidding process. Furthermore, my understanding is that Mayor Ron Pilozzi is in charge of soliciting bids for city projects and supervises department heads.

The Tonawanda News should have printed the e-mail verbatim in order for the public to see its contents. Thank you Mayor Pilozzi for speaking out and watching for our tax dollars. It would behoove all taxpayers to read the e-mail and see the blatant disregard that Mr. Davis has for the taxpayers of Tonawanda.

Kenneth Horn

City of Tonawanda