Buffalo Rising Online

Nov 29th 2007, 12:42pm By Elena Cala Buscarino

According to the Rev. Terry King of Saving Grace Ministries, the initiative by the Division of Parole to create a group home for level 3 sex offenders at 31 Tonawanda Street makes perfect sense, "These are people who would be allowed to get apartments anywhere they like without being monitored in any way. We're talking about taking the next busload to a group home where they would be under near constant supervision. GPS does work."

This sentiment was in direct opposition to the crowd of residents who poured into the Northwest Community Center for last night's meeting addressing the issue. More and more rows of chairs had to be added for the crowd of more than 150. After opening remarks by Richard Mack, publisher of the Riverside Review and member of the Black Rock/Riverside Good Neighbor Planning Alliance, those in attendance were invited to speak, called on by the numbers they were assigned upon arrival.

Sister Mary Beth runs a group home on Bailey Avenue for young women, aged 16 to 25, that is near other Saving Grace Ministry homes. She said that her young charges come from abusive situations, and are further abused via catcalls from the SGM resident men. "One of these men exposed himself to a girl who was waiting for a bus on the corner," she said. The sister then named some of the men, telling the crowd what their offenses were and noting the high risk of repeat offenses for level 3 offenders.

Of the nearly 50 people who got up to speak, some of the points brought up were the proximity to parks, schools, and the bike path. John Benson, who grew up in Black Rock, but now lives in North Buffalo, noted that the group home will be near railroad tracks that run through the city to the international border. Though he feels that every human deserves compassion, he stressed that he feels the home on Tonawanda Street is a bad idea. "When I was a kid, I could walk those tracks all the way to Linden and Crescent. What's going to stop them?" he asked.

Several residents said that they would move if Rev. King and Saving Grace Ministries were successful in this project. Many asked how Rev. King, a parolee himself, would feel if a home such as the one he has proposed were to be built next door to his house in Williamsville. Some of the women who stood to speak were themselves victims of rape and sexual abuse. Still others, not even aware whether King was in th room, chided him for the use of the title of reverend before his name.

Rev. Terry King (center)

Jeff Benjamin, owner of The Viking Lobster Company on Tonawanda and Amherst Streets said that the economic fall-out from the proposed home would have an adverse effect on his business. "I share your problems. My clientele come from Clarence, East Amherst...about a fifty-mile radius. They have a certain perception of the area, asking, 'Will I be safe? Will my car be safe?' We reassure our customers, but remember that most of the [Altemio] Sanchez attacks took place right here on the railroad tracks," Benjamin said. "I looked at a Minnesota website on level three offenders. They shouldn't be in an urban setting, and the main problem is concentrating them." Citing the talks property owner Ed Hogle has had with Buffalo State College, he said, "There has to be a better use of this property. This could be the death knell for the local economics."

One prevailing sentiment brought up over and over again was the fact that the Black Rock/Riverside area has worked very hard in recent years to improve quality of life issues for its citizens, and that this would be a tremendous set-back to an area that was home to many businesses and families. A law student named Jennifer stood and said that she was new to the neighborhood, that she'd done her grad work researching level 3 offenders, and that they couldn't be rehabilitated. "I want to buy a house here. My friends want to buy houses. The neighborhood is growing. They're getting grants. This home will be a liability," she concluded.

Two members of the city zoning board were present. Warren Glover and Anthony Diina made the meeting, the Rev. Dr. James Lewis had another appointment, and Joseph Pandolfino and William Collins were unable to attend, though Glover said they would be well informed by the December 19th meeting that will decide whether a zoning change would be granted. At present, the parcel is zoned M2 for industrial purposes. Within city zoning laws, a facility such as the one proposed would have to be 1,500 feet from certain entities that cater to children. Presently, even if residential use were granted, the facility would be within 1,500 feet of a day care, and would require a variance.

In addition, the meeting was attended by Timothy Wanamaker Executive Director, Office of Strategic Planning; State Senator Antoine Thompson, Council Members Joseph Golombek and Dominic Bonifacio; and William Parke Community Planner, Office of Strategic Planning. Assemblyman Sam Hoyt submitted a letter in his absence that in essence said, "The zoning board can stop this."

Rev. King didn't speak during the meeting, saying, "It's all been said." Conceding that this is a highly charged issue, King said, "It's time to sit down, take a breath and focus on the overall issues."

The McCarthy family took one of the shortest turns at the microphone. While his wife sat in the audience, the young father brought his two small children to the front of the room. As for not wanting the home in his neighborhood, "These, are my two reasons," he said.

The McCarthys