Section 4: Appendices

Appendix 1. List of Tables - Alphabetically Arranged
Appendix 2. United Way for Cortland County
Appendix 3. Clients Served in the Last Year by Age Category
Appendix 4. United Way for Cortland County - Waiting Lists
Appendix 5. United Way Key Informant Survey Results
Appendix 6. Resource Inventory for Youth with Risk Behavior
Appendix 7. Summary of Community Visioning
Appendix 8. Focus Group Summaries
Appendix 9. Your Opinion Counts

Appendix 8. Focus Group Summaries (by date)

1. CAPCO HEAD START PARENTS — 3 participants

*Head Start staff attended this focus group. Although parents signed up, none attended. The staff noted the lack of self-confidence and reluctance to speak as reasons. The staff spoke mainly for themselves but included parents' perspectives.

One of the Cortland attractions attended by the participants and parents was the YW and YM's Winterlude. The event should have had more publicity and been more accessible for people without cars. Public transportation should have been provided. Better publicity through the schools would have helped. The YWCA had provided Head Start parents with about 40 free passes to this event.

Many of the families that use the Head Start program need assistance with tax returns and they wanted a YWCA just for low-income folks. The school and work schedules don't match so it's hard for parents to coordinate transportation for their kids.

They thought that the community was pretty safe and that there are good summer recreation programs including the "lunch bunch" and arts and crafts.

Final concerns from the Head Start staff were: that Cortland is becoming known for its poverty and low morale; that there are few industries left in Cortland to offer high paying jobs to allow families to make a decent living; Cortland split into 2 segments by income – rich and poor; owning a vehicle and paying for gas is expensive; no dentists for required dental screening for Head Start kids.

2. SENIOR CITIZENS WHO PARTICIPATE IN SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER ACTIVITIES — 6 participants

Many of the activities that were enjoyed by the seniors dealt with outdoor activities such as musical concerts in the parks and at the high school (Syracuse Symphony), the Pumpkin Festival, golfing, gardening, and traveling. Many of their favorite recreational activities were based around the Senior Center, as well. These seniors felt that many older residents do not take advantage of the Center because they think that they are not old enough, they feel that it is only for poor people – a welfare program, or they have no idea of the programs offered. This results in many having little interest in the Center.

The seniors made frequent reference to how Cortland was better in the old days. They also had many ideas as to how Cortland could be improved. Downtown Cortland was "emptying out" and should be brought back. More stores were needed such as ladies clothing and children's stores. Parking is a big problem downtown. Nothing opens up until ten in the morning "wasting half the day." Stores should have uniform hours.

A great deal of pleasure was expressed that Cortland had begun to fix up and clean up the Court House Park using it for events such as concerts and the Pumpkin Fest. It is easily accessible for the seniors in the high rises. It was noted to have been a drug hangout. There is a need for more coordination of government resources -- Cortland and Cortlandville might share resources -- like the fire department building.

Other concerns: doctors too specialized; doctors and lawyers are too young and don't know how to deal with elderly, and not many facilities for older people to go to for help--expected to take care of themselves. Many of them have to rely on their busy families for assistance. More programs are needed and more publicity is essential. Such programs would include buses and transportation on the weekends and home help for maintenance and cleaning tasks.

Children need more imagination and less TV. People need more computer skills. Get the bars off Main St. The county should not wait 10 years before they start repayment on bonds.

Good things about Cortland: high rises, slower pace of life, swimming and park facilities, location, pretty good hospital, good neighborhoods, SUNY Cortland shares its facilities/resources with the community.

3. SENIORS CITIZENS MEETING AT THE CAPCO BOARD ROOM — 6 participants

Outdoor activities tended to be the favored leisure activity. Activities frequently attended by this group included Winterlude, cultural conference and the Red Cross Craft Fair. There should be better coordination of community event dates -- a community calendar with all these events a year in advance.

A great concern was expressed for the elderly middle class when they can't take care of themselves. Their income is too high to go into state funded supportive housing and private housing (the proposed Wegman's project or Kendal) is too expensive.

Another oft repeated concern was the inefficiency of city and county governments due to lack of sharing. There is duplication of road equipment and vehicles City/County cooperation, a paid county administrator, and fewer county legislators were proposed solutions. "Why do all the emergency vehicles in the county have to respond to a single incident?"

Other concerns: Cortland is lucky to have a hometown newspaper but the writing is not good quality, it ignores certain news and it is very impersonal. Cortland is too provincially minded. People object to every new business proposed. Cortland does not keep its young people. People want to be involved in local government and in their community but there were few forums and they were not well publicized. People can’t run for the county legislature because most meeting are during the day and most people work outside the home. An objection was voiced that legislators are paid $75 for each committee meeting they attend. ED Note: The actual amount is $25.

Finally, Cortland should especially welcome commuter couples that use Cortland as a bedroom community to the larger cities where they work. The mayor should keep the community more informed of planning processes. Make people feel like their input is welcome and that they should be involved in community change.

4. YOUTH CENTER TEENS — 6 participants

These six youngsters saw the Youth Center as the only real place in the community to hang out. They liked band nights and Karaoke. The local community sponsored events enjoyed by these youth were remarkably similar to those mentioned by the other focus groups - centennial concerts and other music in the parks.

There was great concern with the recent presidential election. Most felt that the election was not fair. There was some alienation with politics as a result. One said that they would only vote if someone worthy were running. Two of the six said that they would not vote at all. The youths felt that they would not be listened to if they made suggestions to the community leaders and that adults in general don't listen to them. If they spoke to the mayor they would tell him to have people shovel their walks, and that he is "not doing a good job."

None of the respondents thought that they would be in Cortland in ten years. Half (3) responded that they would be dead or in jail - these were all males. They noted that the only jobs for young people are low paying and in the fast food industries.

The good things about Cortland are: the 23 bars, the Youth Center and that every thing is centralized in the city.

Most of these youngsters reported being on the computer everyday. Two did not like them. Most did not see much value in school. Through the Youth Center, some were volunteering at Loaves and Fishes and the SPCA. Litter in the streets and parks, recycling, pollution and rainforest destruction were noted as their environmental concerns. Plant more trees was a suggestion.

School lunches were "disgusting and unhealthy–too greasy." Half of the respondents said that their families were involved in healthy behaviors–only diet was mentioned.

5. PERSONS IN WHEEL CHAIRS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES — 2 participants

Participants liked to attend plays at the college (though not always accessible), get out in nature and use the Internet to communicate with friends. There was a strong interest in attending community-sponsored events but the lack of accessibility sometimes made this impossible. They need: larger wheelchair paths, wheel chair seating at events, more attention to accessibility by event planners, parking with adequate space for wheelchair lifts, and better public transportation for the disabled. Transportation out of the county by public means is not available or not affordable. There should be sponsored trips to out of county malls and events. People in wheel chairs cannot shop down town because of heavy store doors and the lack of parking. People in wheelchairs must use the street because the sidewalk has too many cracks. There is a need for a wheelchair/bike path. No local public transportation at night.

Other problems: a lack of honest employees to aid people with disabilities, the need for better and overtime pay for these aids, more flexibility of aids hours, Cortland doctors more educated about spinal cord related injuries/G-tubes. Housing is a problem. Wheelchair folks under represented in HUD spending. "It is difficult to have a social life when you cannot get into a home." Section 8 housing was appreciated.

Cortland is friendly due to its small size.

6. PERSONS WITH OTHER DISABILITIES — 5 participants

These folks enjoyed outdoor activities, reading, garage sales, and the computer. They frequently attended community events included the Red Cross craft fair, New Year's Eve celebration downtown and college plays. These events could have been made more enjoyable by providing signers for the deaf or scripts ahead of time, warming/cooling huts during outside events for those people who can't handle extreme temperatures, and better wheel chair accessibility. The need for collaboration between city and county administrators was expressed. With 19 legislators, it's hard to get an answer. To get things accomplished more effectively, Cortland needs a county manager. (This theme has been mentioned in several other groups.) There are too many safety officers and too little coordination. One person expressed a concern for the politics involved in the water board struggle. She also said that no one listens to the little guy–a feeling similar to that expressed by the teens at the Youth Center.

They need people to assist them with little tasks such as grocery shopping, car trouble and carrying heavy items.

7. VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE -- 6 participants

As teenagers, participants had plans to meet and marry someone nice and to have a family. These plans were initially smashed due to partner abuse. Four of the six had also experienced parental abuse. In retrospect, they admitted that poor partner choices had disrupted their life plans tremendously.

Life in the shelter is difficult and with children, it is especially so. There is embarrassment, no privacy, and their lives are so totally disrupted. Their kids must give the shelter address to their school. They want to leave the shelter as soon as possible.

Transitional housing was cited as a major need. Section 8 Housing seemed to be more reliable housing than that provided through DSS. Landlords did not want to rent to DSS clients because DSS did not pay the rent on time. One person gave an example of affordable housing as a 3-bedroom apartment for $500/mo. with $120 for utilities. Several folks spoke of being in crisis but needing to threaten agencies in order to get emergency food, assistance. When the basics were not available from DSS on a timely basis, these victims of violence felt pushed out onto the community for food (soup kitchen) and necessities such as diapers (Catholic Charities).

The needs in their lives were for: stable and better paying jobs and some job flexibility for their parenting responsibilities.

8. DINERS AT LOAVES AND FISHES — 6 participants

Participants enjoyed attending the Maple Fest, the Pumkinfest, the County Fair and the Country Music Park. Life would be better: if there were not such huge disparities between the rich and the poor; if there were more car shows, more music for the 20-30 year olds; if there was a place to dance for adults; if no dogs came to the above mentioned activities; if there was a dog walk; if there was better public transportation; and if people volunteered more.

These folks had problems with stress, expired food at the food pantry and insufficient supplies of food and food stamps. Medical problems were also monumental.

The things in the community that they would change related to negative community attitudes toward the disabled and people with problems. There are too many bars in Cortland. There should be more crossing guards and lower speed limits on the south end of town–they are low priority. Change and enforce the kid's curfews and make Main Street two ways.

They would like opportunities to talk to the mayor. One person although very disabled does lots of volunteering in the community and she has called the news media (not the police) to get rid of a child molester.

One of the members had had a severe accident, one had many chronic diseases including cancer, one was pregnant, two walked with walkers and one faced some massive surgery. Half (3) thought that their health would be worse in 10 years and two thought (hoped) that it would be better.

They thought that the best things about Cortland were: their friends and the friendly people, the Salvation Army and the grocery stores.

9. DINERS AT LOAVES AND FISHES II — 6 participants

The greatest issue for this group appeared to be their health and the health care system in Cortland County. The next concern was for the sidewalks improperly cleared in the winter. They were very unsafe for walkers and especially people with disabilities. Three of the six participants used canes or walkers. All stated that they had many health problems.

One of the members had had micro-valve replacement during a triple bypass. After recovery, his doctor urged him to return to work. Although he did not feel strong enough, he needed to work in order to insure future social security benefits.

The system forces you not to work; if you have large medical bills, you can't afford to work. Emotions flowed on this issue. They said that employers do not hire people with pre-existing medical conditions. So, they felt that the system set them up to fail. One had gotten a job a while back and was told that she made too much for Medicaid coverage, so she was forced to quit so she could get the medical care that she needed. Now she gets Medicaid but can't improve her standard of living. She was "caught between a rock and a hard place–a catch 22." One of the participant's husband works, but he cannot afford health insurance because there are too many other household needs. The group felt that HMO's were not needed but that vast health care reform was. Cortland County has only one health care facility that accepts Fidelis. Because of this, people have to make many tiresome trips to Ithaca, Syracuse or farther. Those with failing or poor health find this travel very difficult.

The Murray Center should pay higher wages. The lack of part time jobs and good transportation were problems. One in the group described how Cortland had turned away offers from Ithaca's TOMCAT line and Syracuse's bus company. With the present system, transportation remains difficult and expensive for the poor and disabled. Only the wealthy can afford the YWCA or YMCA. There should be more smoking secession classes and less emphasis on drug and alcohol abuse.

The good things about Cortland were: the subsidized housing, senior citizen high rises, the people and the Youth Center. They enjoyed the Dairy Parade, the Maple Festival, and Music in the Park. Most of them stated that they liked to read as a leisure activity.

10. CINCINNATUS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS — 5 participants

The five students think that the school is "good about providing healthy eating." They say that the best thing about their school is the advanced state of computer technology. Much of the town's life revolves around the school.

Like every group of youngsters, however, they want more things to do in their community. They need more access to transportation. They mentioned the Fourth of July celebration (especially the fireworks) as great fun, but they needed more varied activities added to it. The same was so for the Corn Festival–more variety and not necessarily so school based.

Environmentally, they were concerned with the trash along the highway, the air and water quality. Opportunities to volunteer come from the nursing home, the fire department, church and working on a campaign to stop child labor in sweat shops.

With regard to their futures, only one of five found himself in Cincinnatus in ten years and that was due to a family farm. The rest could not think of a job that they would hold in their town. Most liked their town right now because it was small, not crowded and "it had everything you needed, stores, a bank." But others thought that there needed to be more stores, a better school, better teachers, a place to roller-blade, and rehabilitation for the run down parts of the community and downtown area.

Parents needed to be more involved with their kids, the schools and the community. Teachers needed to make a better effort to get to know their students. Some teachers have an attitude. They give time in class and they consider that enough. Good teachers don't stay.

There is some fear associated with the weird kids in school, the "foster kids who push their way around and cause trouble," and "the kids from the city."

11. SUNY CORTLAND COLLEGE STUDENTS — 5 participants

The Education and Physical Education programs drew these students to Cortland. The students seemed to like the Cortland community even though they rarely interacted with the residents (townies). Two different communities exist --the college and the town. Students wanted more exciting things to do in Cortland and wanted community to be cleaner. But there was a great sensitivity among the focus group members that some students do not respect this community. One participant was from another college community and she said that her town would not tolerate the mess and destruction caused by the students here.

They want more malls, parks, diversity among the people, and job opportunities that will make people want to come and stay here. Two thought that Cortland should be modernized.

Several mentioned the PumpkinFest as something that they enjoyed. They thought that the best things about Cortland were the college, the faith community and the stores.

12. SUNY COLLEGE STUDENTS -- 7 participants

Students were attracted to SUNY Cortland because of the Teacher Education program and sports; their friends were here; and they said that Cortland was ranked the 6^th best college in the country.

The campus is not diverse — no exposure to people of different cultures; people are not open-minded, even so for some professors. It was noted that if students wanted a more diverse environment, they needed to go to a larger city. Freshmen shouldn't have cars on campus. They would get more involved with campus and community without cars. Parking is a problem.

Like the previous group of students, they wanted more things to do in the community. Drinking and partying present too many temptations to students.

Town and school are two very distinct entities–sometimes values clash. But students were pleased that townspeople say "hi" to them on Main Street. They noted that Clayton Ave. has been destroyed because of the students — some have lost respect for the community. Concern that student rudeness, appearances and vandalism make all students look bad. "I'd move if I lived here."

Cortland's poverty (loss of Smith Corona) and lack of education of citizens was noted, as was the high rate of child molestation and incest. The community's dependence on the college was observed.

It's a drinking town with lots of bars. That's what people do for leisure. Otherwise it is bland here. Pumpkin Fest, Dairy Parade, and Take Back the Night March (anti-violence) were noted.

Half of the houses in Cortland should be condemned. Landlords buy off code enforcement. Fraternity houses are the worst. Fire/safety hazards are a concern. There should be more hangouts (not bars). More community pride needed.

13. GROUP SIMILARITIES

A need for improving Cortland's downtown was expressed repeatedly – bring in clothing stores for men and women and children, open up stores at an earlier time and have store hours coincide with each other. Improve the parking downtown and on campus. The number of bars on Main Street and in Cortland was of concern to all except the youth.

Government could listen to the people more. Consolidating various departments of city and county government would eliminate some duplication and save money. The county should have a paid administrator and fewer legislators. The lack of snow removal from city sidewalks and the litter associated with the bars and the college students were of concern to students and non-students alike. The decline of the housing stock and the need for more code enforcement were frequently mentioned.

Health care was a great concern especially among the poor and disabled. If a person had a great amount of health expenses, they were necessarily dependent on Medicaid. If they got a job, no health insurance was available but they were told that they made too much money to qualify for Medicaid. So they quit their jobs in order to pay for their family health needs.

Most groups appreciated the small town nature of Cortland and the friendly people. They thought that it was a beautiful area.