This is in response to letters written by those who oppose the Peace Bridge plaza expansion in Buffalo. First of all, the writer from Lancaster doesn’t live in the community and is not aware of what the residents have to put up with, such as crime and deterioration.

The next writer speaks of selfishness. Who is calling the kettle black? Residents like this are only interested in saving their own or their friends’ houses. She states that this project would be a waste of taxpayers’ money. At least the Bridge Authority is willing to contribute $25 million for the revitalization of the neighborhood. How about the creation of jobs that will take place if this plaza is built?

Finally, we have the writer who states that people live in the 84 houses that would be demolished. Did it ever occur to her that the majority of people who live there want the project to happen?

The authority wanted to demolish the rat-infested homes on Busti Avenue. But again, along come the obstructionists, Sam Hoyt and David Rivera (whom we never see in the this area, incidentally) preventing the elimination of these firetraps. Again, progress is stopped.

Joseph A. Paternostro

Buffalo