To the editor:
For some time now, the Second Street Dunkin’ Donut drive thru has been discussed in the Viewpoints section. Reading the most recent opinion named “Dunkin’ Donuts fiasco” [“New blood may focus out-of-touch village board,” June 22] has completely set me off as Russ Tarby states that “trustees ignored its residents” and goes on to say there were “nearly a dozen” residents who publicly spoke out against allowing drive-thru restaurants in the village. “Nearly a dozen” as in not even 12. That leaves a large majority of village residents not opposing the drive thru plan. He also states that this approval “failed to fulfill the vision of the village’s Comprehensive Plan 2025.” It is my understanding, as reported in this paper, that this plan, approved in 2007, focused on noise and not traffic.
Mr. Tarby chooses to maintain a constant negative focus that this week includes a spin that I find offensive. Now he is attacking the village board, saying they “ignore its residents” and “demonstrated their lack of leadership,” saying “even Onondaga County planners care more about the village traffic problems…” He goes on to say that he hopes that new village board cares about “what’s right for the people of the village, not for businessmen who are more concerned with profits than with people.” I have come to realize that nothing positive will be said regarding the elimination of two very visibly vacant and prominent buildings right in the middle of our village. Replacing these with a fresh new modern building/business that is clearly supported by many village residents as only “less than a dozen” have expressed concern.
Having worked at two of the three businesses located on this small block over the past 20 years, I can tell you firsthand that the parking and egress for these properties is currently not ideal and adjacent businesses have this area boxed in. Snow removal is a problem. A solution is trying to be made that will improve our village. The opinion of one writer to squash any progress not deemed good for the village by him is not representative of the majority. If you want the village to continue to be supported by walking traffic and a younger demographic then “some” catering should be made to attract that group of people. I currently see no young families strolling the village, so what are we trying to preserve? I am quite sure that the Wolak’s ESW Realty, LLC would not consider this area for one of its Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants if they did not determine that there is a demand large enough to support this location.
Village resident are continually invited to object at the end of every opinion piece yet only “nearly a dozen” have done so. Accept change that may be other than what you deem as village-appropriate, Mr. Tarby.
Katrina Russo
Liverpool resident, employee of two former village businesses
—
Shame on you, Russ Tarby
To the editor:
Shame on you, Russ Tarby, for labeling our village board as “out of touch” and “not responsive to the constituents who elected them” because “nearly a dozen” expressed negative opinions over a Dunkin’ Donuts in our community. Since when has less than 1 percent of our 1,545 registered voters become the majority?
I for one am opposed to looking a vacant buildings in center village. Our last new construction was a new deck added to a local restaurant/bar. What do the constituents want? Let’s see.. another methadone treatment center like the one that just recently opened down the road without us even having knowledge of it until after it opened? Or perhaps a bigger parking lot for the Retreat?
You say we want a pedestrian-friendly village. I walk the village daily with my dog without issue. We can’t change the layout of either Route 370 or Route 57, so how about we change our way of thinking toward progress and increasing our tax base?
I support the officials of our village and the decisions they have made over the years, and I further support a Dunkin’ Donuts to walk to.
Susan Tillotson
Liverpool
