×

Politicians Must Enforce The Law Or Resign

My wife and I moved to Jamestown in 1960 – I was to start a new job as a salesman on Jan. 2, 1961. Our first child was born on April 6, 1959, our second child was born on Feb. 21, 1960, and we were expecting our third child (the first of our children born in Jamestown at WCA Hospital) on Feb. 19, 1961. Our fourth child was born at WCA on May 3, 1962. I became a salesman and in September 1963 we bought our first house at 121 Lakeview Ave., Jamestown. It was one of the oldest homes on Lakeview. It’s still there. We owned it for 13 years. I was 30 years old and our oldest child was 4 years old. While there I was a Boy Scout master and my assistant was Sam Alessi, a local attorney and Jamestown judge.

Lakeview Avenue was one of the best residential streets in the city. When the leaves were off the trees you could see Chautauqua Lake. They were big, beautiful homes. Eventually the people moved away or died out and the homes were bought by others. Many were made into apartments and rented out to questionable tenants. The street went downhill. I eventually bought into another business and in Jan. 12, 1973, purchased 49 and six-tenths acres in the town of Ellicott. Eventually, the farm was purchased by another family and JCC offered the heirs $400,000 and they accepted it. The college owned the 49 and six-tenths acre farm.

Now the college, who owned a home on Lakeview Avenue no longer needed it nor the cost of maintenance and the farm was just across the street from JCC. So they decided to sell the house on Lakeview Avenue, the Sheldon House. During the last several years Lakeview Avenue was beginning to look a lot like the old wonderful avenue – people were taking pride and spending lots of money fixing it up because the zoning was only for residential properties. Mrs. Lampard owns a house, in my estimation it’s the best on Lakeview Avenue – her oldest son John Lampard is a young executive about 30 years old. He put in a bid for $200,000 for the home on Lakeview (zoned residential).

Another man in Jamestown who has done a lot and can build or buy anywhere knows its zoned residential only but he knows all the politicians. Lynn Development muscles his way in with a bid of $250,000 after talking to Mayor Sam Teresi. They go with it and are trying to change the zoning laws and let him but the house and move his business office there. Where is our honorable mayor who should protect his people and adhere to the laws? A leader defends the law and protects his people. If the politicians in Chautauqua County don’t follow the law they should resign their positions.

John Lambard is trying to do what I did on Lakeview Avenue – he’ll do it better. Don’t kick them in the teeth.

Kenneth P. Fitzgerald lives at 50 Norton Ave., Jamestown.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today