Why does Lackawanna "lack" a Community/Recreation Center?

[andreahaxton]

This mornings news on ch 4 shows the Erie County Legislators lobbying for more money for Buffalo community centers. They want extra money to keep the centers open until 9pm to keep the kids off the streets so they will keep busy and hopefully there will be less juvenile delinquents.
Makes sense to me--it surely is a win-win for the city and all citizens. A center will also bring many needed jobs to our city and numerous services people have to seek elsewhere. Lackawanna statistically has been for decades on the record and known throughout WNY to be a blighted area so ......WHY DO WE LACK A COMMUNITY CENTER when they are all over Erie County?!

Our Seniors had a Community Center built by the politicians so they could congregate to socialize and eat, do crafts, where clubs meet and programs are held. It is a great place and human needs are being fulfilled by the government AS IT SHOULD BE. I love our Seniors and give them alot of credit for pushing themselves to keep busy and get out and about!

Other Citizens and most importantly OUR kids need a safe, inviting,motivational and educational facility for the very same reasons the politicians built the Lackawanna Senior Center years ago!

When I was a kid we lived in Angola for awhile--I could not wait for Friday night to go to the dances at the youth center and had to do good in school all week for the privilege to attend.
Boy are we missing the vote, I mean boat on this one! Friendship House is prime location for the entire City and able to be redone for a few million to be realistic. What is the price on a young mans life when he turns to selling drugs and gets into the bottomless court system when he gets a record. Just giving him the possibility of hope through other people might have saved him and his family from the system. He could be mentored from the older guys who have walked in his shoes while they all shot some pool in a safe public environment.
Not a total cure but a Community-Recreation Center will bridge the "lack" of human needs in a holistic manner that are not being serviced in our schools, the city itself, or sadly in homes.
Lackawanna, I, and many others have been asking city officials for many years for this center---WHY and WHO do you think are responsible for dropping the ball? I believe some shady deals have taken place and........

p.s.Did you see the paper this morn about the upcoming Senate race?-maybe team polanski and company are too busy with other things than to worry about what is lacking in Lackawanna, especially the First Ward!

[WNYresident]

A center will also bring many needed jobs to our city and numerous services people have to seek elsewhere.

Wrong type of jobs. Please don't push for more tax payer supported jobs. I'm not saying a community center is a bad thing but don't view it as a positive way to create jobs. it's not.

[zanna vaida]

The issue should be focused on community programs for kids, teenagers, and adults, instead of a building. The city has many buildings that aren't used and managed properly. Heat and electric cost counts as expenses but buildings are empty. How to balance income and expences? Does a rec. department head need training in budget management?

I believe the city will start the annual winter program soon and use high school building. Why isn't it advertised on the city web and for the general public? This is the issue.

Only a few kids attend because others aren't aware. It's kept secret.

Another important issue is the use of residency card. This is where income kicks in and balances the budget? How many local residents have an ID card in order to attend programs? What programs?

I conclude my views with the same statement, "The focus should be on developing diversified programs, instead of a community center. We have many empty buildings where programs can take effect immediately."

The programs can be similar to West Seneca and Hamburg Learning Centers.

[mnb811]

The issue should be focused on community programs for kids, teenagers, and adults, instead of a building. The city has many buildings that aren't used and managed properly. Heat and electric cost counts as expenses but buildings are empty. How to balance income and expences? Does a rec. department head need training in budget management?

I believe the city will start the annual winter program soon and use high school building. Why isn't it advertised on the city web and for the general public? This is the issue.

Only a few kids attend because others aren't aware. It's kept secret.

Another important issue is the use of residency card. This is where income kicks in and balances the budget? How many local residents have an ID card in order to attend programs? What programs?

I conclude my views with the same statement, "The focus should be on developing diversified programs, instead of a community center. We have many empty buildings where programs can take effect immediately."

The programs can be similar to West Seneca and Hamburg Learning Centers.

It's kept secret only because the powers that be do not want any kids other than their friends and families there......

[mnb811]

Wrong type of jobs. Please don't push for more tax payer supported jobs. I'm not saying a community center is a bad thing but don't view it as a positive way to create jobs. it's not.

Guess you never heard what the FRIENDSHIP HOUSE did for kids.Actually helped them get jobs and employed them in several buisnesses.

[WNYresident]

Guess you never heard what the FRIENDSHIP HOUSE did for kids.Actually helped them get jobs and employed them in several buisnesses.

Who funded friendship house?

[zanna vaida]

Don't know too much about the status but I believe it had 501(3)K status. Local residents who grew up in Lackawanna can correct me if I'm wrong.

Having a non-profit status opens HUGE doors for donations: federal, state, county, private, in-kind donations-just name it. Having and creating partnerships will benefit all for name recognition and credibility.

Keep in mind, matching funds are very important part in obtaining grants/help and stabilizing a budget in today's economy.

[zanna vaida]

Somebody's reading and paying attention to Speak Up WNY. Read an annoucement about a new event for children: http://www.ci.lackawanna.ny.us/recreation.html It was posted today.

It's a change!

[mnb811]

Don't know too much about the status but I believe it had 501(3)K status. Local residents who grew up in Lackawanna can correct me if I'm wrong.

Having a non-profit status opens HUGE doors for donations: federal, state, county, private, in-kind donations-just name it. Having and creating partnerships will benefit all for name recognition and credibility.

Keep in mind, matching funds are very important part in obtaining grants/help and stabilizing a budget in today's economy.

A lot of the Friendship House funding came from the United Way if I am correct.