Downtown Business Owners Bring
Frustration to City Council

By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director


It’s time for the taxpaying citizens to start having some control of our city again.

Steve Cavallaro made that statement to Bradford City Council on behalf of himself and several other downtown business owners who are fed up with loitering, bad language, bicycle and skateboard riding on sidewalks, and other types of bad behavior.

Cavallaro of Cavallaro Paint and Decorating; Kathy Obermeyer of Real Living Avista Properties; Todd Hennard, owner of the Main Street Mercantile and other buildings; and Nancy Graham, owner of The Tin Ceiling Gift Shoppe, presented council with a proposal that they hope would transfer control back to the business owners and their customers.

“We don’t even feel like we have any control over what’s going on downtown, yet we’re the ones paying the lion’s share …” he said, adding that they would like to see more police foot patrols, and enforce the ordinances that are already in the books.

“It’s getting ridiculous with kids on the bicycles, the skateboarders up and down the street all day long --- loitering in doorways of businesses …”

"It’s getting to the point where you feel you can’t do anything nice anymore without your property being violated or getting told to -- ‘go jump in the lake’ is a nice way of putting it,” he said.

Cavallaro, Obermeyer, Hennard and Graham did all say they appreciated the work the police department is doing; they are just hoping for more of a presence on Main Street.

Cavallaro added that they just want to get “our sidewalks and streets under control.”

And if the police have to impose fines?

“Hey, it’s more revenue for the city,” he said, adding that he’d rather see those people get a fine rather than one of his patrons get a parking ticket for parking in front of his store.

Obermeyer said, “I can’t even describe what’s going on anymore. It is just absolutely pathetic.”

She said she’s not just speaking for herself.

“This is a conversation I’ve had over and over and over again with people who live in this community,” she said, adding “It’s not knocking the police station in any form.”

Hennard said he was out of town Friday and when he drove back into town he quickly went from being happy to being embarrassed.

He was happy that the hotels were filled and Bradford drew such a crowd for the events over the weekend. But he was embarrassed by the antics he saw downtown – people screaming at each other, stumbling down the street with open beer cans, whipping pop bottles against buildings.

“We don’t have the answers,” he said. “We’re coming to you saying, ‘What can be done?’ We’re at our wit’s end.”

Graham said she’s had customers come into her store asking what’s happening on Main Street.

“They don’t understand just the presence of all the crazy people on Main Street,” she said.

“We’re fed up,” Graham said. “Penalize a few of them. Give a few of them a fine, and I think word will get out.”

After the business people, and a few others, spoke on the issue, Mayor Tom Riel said there are concerns about Main Street but he said council cannot address many of those concerns.

“You can’t regulate the F-word on Main Street. You can’t regulate somebody who has too many tattoos – or they’re too cheap or they’re too ugly or the image on the tattoo. You can’t … pass an ordinance to require a certain amount of dental care that someone might have. You can’t regulate strollers. The Supreme Court makes it almost impossible to prosecute somebody for loitering,” Riel said.

He said Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Director Ron Orris is leading an effort to have surveillance cameras installed on Main Street, the side streets and alley ways. Riel suggested that concerned citizens contribute to that effort.

Police Chief Chris Lucco, who is in favor of the surveillance cameras, said, “The bigger problem is the caliber of people. We can’t do much about that.”

“If they know they are being watched, they’re less likely to misbehave and if they can’t be there misbehaving, they might not be there,” Lucco said.

He also encouraged people to contribute to the surveillance camera effort.

Listen here. (includes a discussion about tattoos/tattoo parlors)

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ...
since 1947

Comments

Anonymous said…
Okay, so are they persecuting all the mentally challenged people? That's all I ever see out on Main. You want to cut down on foot traffic? Start nailing the jaywalkers. Next time I'm cut off by someone who is too lazy to walk an extra 20 feet and use the crosswalk, I'm going to run them over. And if the shopkeepers are paying "the lion's share" get rid of the parking meters, that's the real reason we don't EVER go down to Main. Unless it's on the end near Tops where I can park for free. I suppose we should move the parades elsewhere as well, don't want people accustomed to sitting on the sidewalk if they can't do it any other time. I had just found out there's a yarn store in town and was planning on riding my bike down some day, but since there's no bike lane and we're not supposed to use the sidewalk or ride in a manner that will slow down the flow of traffic, which rules out riding IN traffic, then I guess I can't patronize that store as my discretionary income disappears quickly when I'm feeding it into my gas tank and the parking meters.
Anonymous said…
How about the drug problem on Bank Street? I know for sure there are 2 houses that need to be taken care of!There is more drug traffic on this street than there is traveling through town!
Anonymous said…
If there was anything else to do maybe people wouldn't hang out there so much. Take everything away and that's what you end up with.
Mrs. Christina Jordan said…
I took my two young children to see an afternoon movie last week, while standing outside with them a group of children maybe ranging from 8 to 12 years old started to say rude comments to me in front of my 4 year old and 6 year old. Needless to say this is why I barely ever take them anywhere around main street. I actually fear going down town unless I'm in my vehicle. And by the way, the children that were harrassing me for no reason except to be rude, were dressed very well, and seemed to have all their teeth and had no tattoos that I could see. So as for cleaning up the image of our town, I don't believe any one at the meeting was talking about how a person looks or how poor they were when they were expressing their views.
Anonymous said…
Problem with this town is there is nothing for the kids to do and IF they had something to do they arent taught to respect anything so they would destroy it or turn it into a boxing ring. The adults here seem to not care how their kid acts in public and a shame to say but they dont even care that they are rude and disrespectful at home too. As far as the adults that " hang out" down town most are also just looking for something to do also. I HATE downtown too.. I agree we should be aloud to run down the J-Walkers ..Thats why the crosswalks exsist..Not just to paint on the road. I also think the meters should be taken out.. Our lil city is poor and to stick a meter then cry about how the businesses have to close due to NO business is rather ignorant. If we are too broke to shop we sure arent wanting to drop a quarter just so we can drive over the biggest pot holes in the state! People are afraid to walk main street. Have U ever drove down main street and looked? I swear the people are their own mommas cousins sisters brothers husband!
Anonymous said…
First of all people need to stop giving people an excuse, "mentally challenged." The only reason these people are mentally challenged is because they didn't finish school, drink their day away and top it off with drug induced chaser.

Something needs to be done about downtown. I will not even go to the movie theater because of the children. There is something to the comment, "if my children ever acted that like it would be last time they sat for a while."

The problem needs to start at home, get generations off of welfare! The original program TANF introduced by Roosevelt was meant to provide Temporary Assistance lasting no more than two years.

Make families responsible for their children. No child under the age of 12 should be downtown unsupervised. There has to be a law about it.

Put up no Loitering signs, then the police can do something. Enforce a dress code. I shouldn't have to cover my childrens eyes, what about lewd behavior too? I want to teach my children about sex not the locals.
Anonymous said…
Not every MR person who is down town is self induced so its rather ignorant of anyone to think they ALL are. I agree with most of anything else that has been said on here. Another point is ... there are what.. 5 bars in that block.?..What the heck do adults do in Bradford besides work, Breed or drink? Not to mention the drugs all over this city.... Bradford rotts for kids and it sure doesnt offer anything better.
ted said…
Anonymous # 1; Your a retard. Really lets consider a few comments. 1st of all, your not running anyone down. 2nd, it's $.25 to park downtown. so because you don't want to pay the $ it's ok for you to park on private property where you don't patronize that business?? How bout if someone was to park in your driveway? how would you feel. 3rd, we see people riding their bikes downtown LEGALLY EVERYDAY!!! I have been in Bradford for 15 years, and have NEVER seen, or heard of anyone being ticketed for riding their bikes in the road in a legal manner.
Anonymous said…
Anonymous #1, you really make no intelligent point at all!!! So the problem w the way the kids downtown are acting is exactly what again? the parking meters? Are you saying that the people that actually get off their butts and try to do something to improve life in this town, are now subject to the harassment that takes place in and around their livelihoods?? And when they make a VALID complaint, to the proper boards, they also get your harassment?
Anonymous said…
Why not simply videotape the actions of the people that are disrupting the public and post them on youtube, w/ a headline like City of Bradford takes their Main St. Back!!! Then advertise and encourage everyone to do the same. I was a former downtown business owner for several years, and the store owners take a lot of pride in what they do. We could also show the police what we have taped, and if anything, disorderly conduct charges could be pressed. GO GET EM BUSINESS OWNERS!!!
Anonymous said…
Former downtown business owner...

It doesn't matter if you are a suit making six figures income or a welfare leech that never worked a day in your life. The problem is the misconduct and lack of respect. It's just that simple. Ask the suit to dress down and you might see an arm or a chest full of tattoos. Or ask that welfare leech why he's on welfare and he may have a legit reason... Enforce the law. The bums and the delinquent children and teens in this town need to be addressed from a whole new way of thinking and a completely restructured social system called positive parenting. Be free, be American... But abide by the laws and have some respect! Stop passing the freaking buck and stop claiming that you are the grand solution of it all...
I'M BOB PRICE said…
THIS IS A BUNCHA BULLCRAP, YOU ASK ME!

I'M BOB PRICE!

SEE YOU AT THE MEETING IN AUGUST!
Anonymous said…
Ok, I LIVED on Main St for 2 years. It was by far the worst experience ever. Why don't the police do their jobs instead of focusing on parking tickets? How about they go out and FINE these people who think it is ok to litter, loiter and abuse property? Every single night I saw the same group of people sitting outside the bank, or that store on the corner of main and chestnut. Stop spending the citys money on stupid things (Bradford signs on bridges) and put in bike lanes. I have been around enough people to know that they will push and push, just to see how far they can go. The law enforcement needs to step it up! You can't blame people that have tattoos. I have tattoos and I am actually quite successful. I know many people that have tattoos that are the same. Don't even think about stereotyping or categorizing people that have them. It is a personal preference and does not mean anything. Maybe we should stereotype against people with nice cars or fancy homes? No, we don't do that. So, don't do it for personal appearance. It is irrelevant. I think it would be silly to pay double to put cameras in. Why not just make the people we already PAY for do their jobs?
Anonymous said…
Nobody said anything about people with tattoos except the mayor who said "we can't limit the number of tattoos people have". I'm not sure why Bob Price is so upset unless the folks at his establishment are the ones responsible for this (which I'm not implying, but I am implying that if you walk into a bar and yell slut, only the girls who have a reason to think you are talking to them will look.". We are talking about the welfare trash that disrespects the downtown area. They benefit from our taxes then turn around and disrespect the very pele putting food on their table. I worked at Tops for many years and on food stamp day they would downright destroy the store. They were raised by trash parents and grew up to raise trash, and now they're kids are trash. We need to move them away from main street, or petition the township to allow us to open businesses out there away from the trash and start over on our main street. But as long as thousands of them are going to live bunched up in chicken coups next to main street, the problems aren't going to go away.
Anonymous said…
It's not the cities job to "give your children something to do". One of you can open a business giving them something to do if you like, or you can just be a better parent and teach them to not be disrespectful. Our downtown area is a joke, I watch drugs being dealt on Mainstreet all the time. Something needs to be done, the kids from the University are too afraid to leave campus because of the circus that Mainstreet is turning into.
Anonymous said…
I was in town this past weekend to pick my 2 kids up, they spent the summer in bradford. It was sad to see how bradford has become so run down just in 2 years. we stay at the best western (which was very nice) so we could walk to the different resturants and activites that were going on. Due to the rain alot was canceled but i do have to say it didnt stop some people, its sad that kids on bikes wont move while you are walking or even say excuse me, the language and rude comments and dirty filthy people that cant even dress decent im sorry to say that if ur 250-300 pounds u should not wear spandex or tank top they should be fined for indcent exposure. The garbage that layed in the streets and parking lots and in peoples yard was terrible. Im glad to say that i moved out of bradford and wont be back for a while. I hope things do change for the hard working people that are making it their home and a living. It was digusting and if i was the city council i would be very embaressed to have people from all over the country come in for the case reunion or any other function. One way to get these people from haning around town is give them a broom and a garbage bag and put them to work because if u fine them you wont ever see the money! Best of Luck to those who are trying and Thanks for a nice time while i was there.
Dr. D said…
There are several people on here who are missing the point of the nature of the complaints. The merchants have a valid point, as do the few intelligent patrons on here who have made their cases in the name of decency and safety. The glaring issue is that right in the middle of Main Street, is Williams St., and not even half a block down Williams, at any point in the day, you can spot four or five police vehicles just sitting there. It's unfortunate, but we have entered the age of selective law enforcement; if the infraction is not egregious enough or the fines hefty enough, like a DUI, for instance, the cops may or may not enforce that particular law. It's all come down to the almighty dollar. It costs money to run a police force; the salaries, the gas for the vehicles, the wear and tear on those vehicles, the police facilities, the equipment, etc. All these things cost money; and, the bean counters have got every infraction and every potential arrest converted down to dollars and cents. If the register starts to lean towards the red, you can bet that only the most egregious offenses are going to be considered. Why else would all of those police vehicles be sitting there idle until Friday and Saturday night, when all the drunks converge on Players and The Corner Bar. It is hilarious, though, how the Mayor himself, twists the whole meeting around into a bitch session about peoples' appearances. Just like he's ignored questions concerning the allocation of policemen to provide escorts for Dice Runs. Some Mayor, isn't he?
Anonymous said…
Ok so my thoughts..first instead of blaming this person or that person why don't we all ask where are the parents. Ya there is groups of kids destroying stuff that are all old enough to know better but not 18. So that's when cops start enforcing the curfew for one. After parents start having to pay for the fact there not watching there children I bet it slows down. And as said above instead of spending money on painting main st why don't someone open something for people to do. Not only kids but what about older people that don't waste there lives away at a bar. Buildings are falling down and streets falling apart and the downtown activity is uncalled for. Not many reasons to want to stay in bradford. it doesn't do no good to fix all the small things when there are huge things wrong. And I think it starts with better parenting. I seriously had to call the cops because I went outside last weekend and there was a girl old enough to walk but not talk standing infringe of my house on Jackson ave in a diaper and a handfull of popcorn. Cops come lady few doors down realizes her kid been missing for at least 20 min and comes out and gets her kid. Cops show up and basically say well you got your kid don't let it happen again. Seriously then I'm not sure what's wrong with this town maybe things like that.
Anonymous said…
Personally I see problems on main street indeed. But like My man Bob said this stereotyping thing is also a bit ridiculous. It's pretty bad when I'm out at like 1am and see a bunch of kids who haven't even hit puberty yet roaming around acting all tough shouting and throwing things, making fun of mentally challenged people. That's gotta stop I think the main problem here is the kids with no one watching over them. i was in Subway last week eating my meal peacefully and a group of about 8 kids probably ranging from 6-12 came in and asked for cups for water, no problem there but when they come over to the pop machine and start filling it up with sprite saying things to eachother like "Is she watching" or "Dude she's looking right at you" then that becomes a problem and I was disgusted. Something in this town does need to change and security cameras are not going to fix anything that is only going to take more money out of our pockets. Another thing is, my friends and I all meet at Tops at the top of the parking lot right across from McDonalds I'm sure you all have seen. A cop came by the other night and kicked us all out for loitering, like seriously? It's 11pm and the parking lot has 5 other cars in it. Are we blocking traffic? NO. Can other customers get around us? Yes. Are we breaking any laws, even loitering? No... Laws for loitering state that as long as people can around or passed those gathered in a place - by law - cannot be forced to disperse. Also, give us a bike lane, thanks.
Anonymous said…
Interesting reading.... I wonder if the people who are involved in heading up this charge know who is truely on their team. Might want to consider a team member change to be taken seriously. sayin

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150989166698922&set=a.10150116040258922.294461.662288921&type=1&theater&notif_t=comment_mention
Anonymous said…
The guy who tried opening a strip club on Main Street wants surveillance cameras, and the newspaper that exploits the handicapped by allowing what everyone in this tiny town knows is a fake personal ad about Las Vegas prints this.
This is a town where an art show runs in conjunction with a motorcycle show.
Everyone is laughing about this article.
PROTIP: They're not laughing WITH you.
Anonymous said…
i resent that statement about tattoos, its ignorant and just stupid. Thats like someone giving you a dirty look for the way YOU prefer your hair. Its our bodies and we shall do as we please with them. Dont judge a book by its cover, my tattoos represent people and things that mean the world to me. If you insult my tattoos i dont take it lightly. Yah people clog the pathways with bikes and skateboards but is that really that bad? would you rather them be inside playing video games? at least this is a healthy means of transportation not to mention that its "green" and doesnt burn holes in our already dwindling atmosphere. some of this suff is utter bull. this needs some more thought and not just a bunch of stiffs mad because their buisness isnt doing so hot in an already deprived and suffering economy. point the blame else where. Not the tattooed miscreants or people not messing up our planet.
Anonymous said…
Bob is part of the problem. Attracting the good along with the bad. Amazing artist, great work, however, was unsanitary in New York and now attracts the "hoodlems" of Bradford. That street corner is artistic beauty scattered with a bad image.
Anonymous said…
A sad sad state of affairs, our police chief, mayor and council need to do their jobs. We pay their salaries, thet are supposed to be accountable to us. I see the sense of entitlement here in full force by some of the intelligent comments posted. The big problem is that the police answer to no one, especially the mayor, and probably the chief. the mayor and a lot of the officers dislike each other, and the mayor is supposed to be the top cop boss. anarchy!
Anonymous said…
Nothing will happen until it is brought to the attention of people above their heads
Anonymous said…
Interesting article! I guess these idiots don't realize that a person doing business on Main Street doesn't have to walk, talk, dress or look just like them to BUY something on main street. I guess he wants to be Hitler and have everyone LOOK and ACT like him! SCARY!! I've never seen anything BAD on Main Street. I guess I'll watch my P's & Q's when I'm walking down it from now on!!
Anonymous said…
All I can say is WOW! It all goes down to the basics.
1. The parents need to teach their children to respect one another and the surrounding facilities. Without proper guidance the children run rampant in the streets. However unfortunatley we cannot control how people raise their children, but we can control what goes on in the streets.
2. The cops need to enforce the rules of the city. If infractions are being done, then enforce the punishment. I don't care how old or young the children are. Rules are rules, and they aren't going to understand that there are consequences for breaking them if they never get fined. I understand taxpayers dollars pay for the gas, and maintenence on police vehicles. Bradford is NOT that big of a town where we can't have good old fashion cops WALKING the streets to enforce the laws.
3. By us judging people on how they look, what they wear, how many tattoos or piercings they have, only teaches the future generation to judge as well. It's true looks can be deceiving but if you take a closer look and actually talk to those sporting the "offensive" things, you will find that 99% of them are regular people with jobs, a family and a upstanding citizen.
4. I DO NOT LIVE IN BRADFORD! But I can tell you as far back as I can remember, I have ALWAYS heard bad things about the town. It's not just recently, it been years. And to alienate certain businesses now, is wrong. It's not any ONE business that is causing the town to fail, it is a collaboration of things that need to be addressed!
5. Businesses do need to be responsible for what goes on inside their store and at their store front. If the actions of people are obviously offending others, then they need to be removed. If you can't make them move, then call the police and have appropriate actions taken.

BRADFORD could be a wonderful town if given the chance to succeed. And the change starts now, with you acknowledging that their are problems and finging solutions to them.
~Donna~
Anonymous said…
OK so you're saying that because people have tattoos they are bad people?? i happen to have nine tattoos, mainly because i was dating a tattoo artist and excuse me, but i pay my own bills every month, help contribute to those less fortunate, frequent main st shops so they DO recieve money to pay their *lions share* and because I have tats, i'll be labeled a troublemaker?? well, im 36 and have never been to jail,never recieved a ticket for any reason and happen to be friends with Dominic Cercone.. so please council members, watch exactly how you express things..
Anonymous said…
Alright where do I start... The cops say it would be to much money to patrol? So then how come every tome I drive past Tim hortons do I see city cop cars there? And why did I follow the city darango out derrick road who was going about 60 miles a hour yesterday? Maybe if they did there jobs right we would actually save money. And another thing. Is this how Steve cavallaro cleans up main st. By hiring people like rich cavallaro to paint businesses on main st? I see him painting one day and read about him robbing a lady at knife point for drugs? Maybe the answer starts with somone with more than money and a ego to try and clean the town up. Not sure about anyone else but not exactly the guy I want cleaning up the town.
Anonymous said…
I feel an excellent question has already been asked, where are these children's parents?? If these children are the future of Bradford, why not make an effort to correct the situation now?? Here is another question, if these children are obviously not being supervised as all children should, Where is CYS? Why aren't the police stopping these children that are obviously not being supervised and not contacting CYS on the spot?? Or atleast scaring the life out of them a little, I realize that it's not a police officers job to "babysit" but someone has to give a crap, and it's not just the police officers fault either, if your so worried about your store being vandalized by CHILDREN why don't you care enough to take care of the situation? Because its not your problem?? Because you don't have enough time?? SERIOUSLY PEOPLE THESE ARE CHILDREN!! Alot of them are raising themselves! You can't teach yourself when your 8 whats right and wrong when you don't know! And check this out, if these children are forced to be supervised, and stay with there parents or older siblings that have jobs, when the the parents get tired of having the children inside they are going to go outside or for a walk down mainstreet, parents ARE going to have to fork out money for their children, forcing parents to parent I think would be the most affirmative action because of three reasons, because the children won't have a chance to act out negatively, it would bring more money to these businesses, and it would force at least half of Bradford to grow up since they had children at too young of an age anyways. .parents would have to be responsible again.
Anonymous said…
Wow. Sadly I'm a few months late responding to this but nevertheless I have to get a word in. I've never worked with people who are MR but I do feel as though they're some of the nicest people you will ever meet due to my experience coming into contact with them. If you're going to look at someone walking down Main Street in Bradford and automatically judge them based on appearance you have deep issues and may want to step out of your Bradford comfort zone and go see a real ghetto. Hence the council making reference to the national average in comparison to the box you live in called Bradford. I feel as though many of you are small town minded. I have never seen people sleeping on Main Street at night and while you may see an occasional straggler it's not like people are getting mugged, harrased and stabbed every day, in fact I'd have to say it happens very rarely unless you put yourself in that type of position by possibly LOOKING DOWN on them or coming at them in an ill manner for how they were conceived, born or raised.
As far as the "druggies" or "Dealers" walking Main Street, most of the people I know that do drugs WORK FULL TIME JOBS and SELL for extra money. Newflash: Poor uneducated people that aren't dressing approprietly are not the source of the drug problem. WHY? They don't have money. They don't have vehicles to get drugs and they're not capable of doing enough math to understand half of what goes into drugs/dealing. These "druggies" on Main Street that you're referring to that are involved with drugs are going to one place and that's the HISTORIC RIDDLE HOUSE BUILDING located in HISTORICAL DOWNTOWN BRADFORD where they hook it up in more ways than one for little or no money.
People riding skateboards and bicycles? I agree with at least people are going "green" because if we don't start taking care of the planet now there will be no planet. At least these people are taking care of their bodies which in turn helps our evolution while avoiding use of our planets resources that we are running very low on and will be out of someday. Hopefully the Store owners of Main Street will be old and disabled by then and they can't drive anywhere because their generation has used all of our planets resources without replenishment or balance of them and they have to WALK on MAIN STREET like the poor/uneducated/MR/people to go somewhere and they have nowhere to stop and sit in their old age because they decided twenty years ago it was wrong to sit on a bench on a public street in a small city. When you're old and frail store owners of Bradford and I see you when I'm in my prime walking down Main Street and you're acting out because you're SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL DISORDER LIKE DIMENTIA or Alzheimers and all you want is a drink or to sit down in from of the closest store front and relax for a minute I'll remember this article and I will tell you to move and call the cops.
To end this. I've always supported small business and despise Walmart for being a monopoly but open your eyes. Wal Mart has people loitering and walking around buying nothing all day and they can do that to kill time in this town. No one ever tells them to shoo. Why? They might buy something. If you have enough time to worry about what's going on out front of your business and you think it's affecting what you have to offer to the public with your business you're wrong. If I really liked something I would go anywhere to get it regardless of whats going on outside so maybe the people ON MAIN STREET aren't the problem... Eh?

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