Woman arrested for drug charges and prostitution

A local woman is now behind bars on drug and prostitution charges after she was arrested earlier this week.

[shannon s]

What is going on in Malone?! Is this the only way people think that they can make money, by selling themselves and or drugs?!! It has been about four years since i have gone back, but someone it sounds needs to wake up and get the problem(s) under control, and fast! This is to bad because it has so many good things going for the area, the whole small town feel, the big old homes, are just beautiful. I don't know what it will take to make the changes that are needed, but heres and idea how about some positive PR, what about talking to some big name companies and pulling them in, maybe give them a tax break for say the first 3-5 years, get them there somehow, anyhow and then KEEP them there! People up in the area need the work and insurance benefits that usually comes with some of the larger companies employment.

[james carley]

The problem is to many from other areas moving to the town and most are low income, druggies and ex cons brought about by the prisons they bring their families up from the cities and when they get out they stay in the area and push the drugs and prostitution

[angry gnome]

The problem is jobs are hard to come by .And it's hard to survive on min wage .Last i checked it costs money for a place to live,power and food .So they are just doing what they can to survive .

[shannon s]

I understand the lack of jobs in Malone and Franklin County in general, my brother in law has been out of wk for a long while, two years in March infact. However he goes out and trys to do yard work for anyone that needs it and is willing to pay, even twenty dollars, hey every little bit helps you know. The lack of jobs though is not in my book a free pass to doing things that are not legal, wrong is wrong. People would not bs so understanding if that person sold one of there children drugs, or slept with one of there sons, husbands, fathers, etc,etc. All i am saying is there has to be a better way here. I don't have all the answers never claimed to, just concerned that such a nice area is falling into the pits so fast. Also i had a question, how come people who know that jobs are scarse don't relocate? I mean no jobs that would encourage me to move if it meant that i could better care for and provide for myself and or my family. I understand a lot of people grew up in Franklin County, as did I. However much i still love it in the area i know that i can not survive in Malone. Therefore i must settle for a visit every few years. Anyway just some of my thoughts, for what they are worth.

[angry gnome]

True but the thing is the way things are here makes it hard to save up to relocate .If there was a way to have some big companys move back maybe things won't be so bad. Last time i was there the 2 biggest companys were Reynolds and Alcoa .With taxes in NY being so high some have no choice to pull out and move to a place where taxes are cheaper.

[shannon s]

Yes and i recently heard that they are going to be closing Reynolds, and they may have already closed Alcoa, but don't quote me on Alcoa, because its been a while since i have heard so they may have been talking of doing it and not actually done it yet. I know my dad used to work at the GM plant there towards Massena and on the border, that to is now closed. Last time i was home and went out that way ppl had plastered it with spray paint! What a shame, gosh that is a wonderful area and i would move back in a heart beat if work and schools were in better shape.

[Trumpeterny]

There has been talk of the plants closing, but only the GM plant closed completely. Reynolds and Alcoa are still alive and kicking. They are building a new ethanol plant somewhere in between Bombay and Massena. This should help employ some people if one of the Massena plants closes, and if all of the industrial efforts in that direction remain as they are, then more people will be attracted to the area simply by the possibility of a job at the new plant. Check it out here: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-165951767.htm...

[Lady of Lake]

shannon s wrote:

What is going on in Malone?! Is this the only way people think that they can make money, by selling themselves and or drugs?!! It has been about four years since i have gone back, but someone it sounds needs to wake up and get the problem(s) under control, and fast! This is to bad because it has so many good things going for the area, the whole small
town feel, the big old homes, are just beautiful. I don't know what it will take to make the changes that are needed, but heres and idea how about some positive PR, what about talking to some big name companies and pulling them in, maybe give them a tax break for say the first 3-5 years, get them there somehow, anyhow and then KEEP them there! People up in the area need the work and insurance benefits that usually comes with some of the larger companies employment.

Hi Shannon,
Part of the problem with the northern New York area is that the media most often excludes them. In fact, in Central New York, news and weather broadcasts lead the listener to believe that the Watertown area is the northern border of New York State. They see Syracuse as "Upstate" and Watertown as Northern New York. Therefore, we rarely have any information as to what is happening in Northern New York State....it is for the most part, non-
existent in terms of the media. When a major ice storm hit Northern New York a few years ago, I phoned local news media in Central New York, inquiring why we were not hearing anything about Northern New York State (Ogdensburg, Massena, Potsdam, Malone, Plattsburg, etc). The conversation was immediately turned to Watertown .....and not by me. I explained that there is a northern part of the state other than Watertown. I was then told they didn't have enough people to "cover" those areas that I've mentioned above (Northern New York State area). As long as Southern NYS and Central NYS sees Watertown as the "cutoff" for the northern part of the state.....EMPLOYERS WILL NOT BE HEARING ABOUT THE REAL NORTHERN NEW YORK! Most people from Central New York truly believe Watertown is THE Northern New York State....and then there is the northern border....then Canada!

[Lady of Lake]

james carley wrote:

The problem is to many from other areas moving to the town and most are low income, druggies and ex cons brought about by the prisons they bring their families up from the cities and when they get out they stay in the area and push the drugs and prostitution

Hi,
It is true what you say...but other areas of NYS have prisons and all that prisons entail. Much of the problem of Northern New York State (and I'm not just referring to Watertown.... people in Central and Southern New York believe that Watertown is the "cut-off" for Northern New York....they exclude that area NORTH of Watertown, rarely mention it)is that they are not frequently mentioned by the media. For some reason, the media mostly recognizes NYC, Syracuse, and WATERTOWN (Watertown in THE Northern NYS city). People in Northern New York would benefit from having their cities and towns being included as part of the state! Somehow the media needs to be reminded of this...TV, radio, etc. As far as most people are concerned....Watertown is the Northern New York of New York State...and bounded by the Canadian border!

[Lady of Lake]

shannon s wrote:

What is going on in Malone?! Is this the only way people think that they can make money, by selling themselves and or drugs?!! It has been about four years since i have gone back, but someone it sounds needs to wake up and get the problem(s) under control, and fast! This is to bad because it has so many good things going for the area, the whole small town feel, the big old homes, are just beautiful. I don't know what it will take to make the changes that are needed, but heres and idea how about some positive PR, what about talking to some big name companies and pulling them in, maybe give them a tax break for say the first 3-5 years, get them there somehow, anyhow and then KEEP them there! People up in the area need the work and insurance benefits that usually comes with some of the larger companies employment.

Hi Shannon,
Your idea about tax break for companies for the first 3-5 years.....companies that are being established overseas are being given this opportunity. Several years ago I did some research about companies that manufacture tools and equipment used in mining and discovered that some of these companies are given 5-year grants in order to become established. In our whole state, companies not only have to meet pollution and environmental regs but are taxed and penalized to death. You are correct. Northern New York needs someone to come up with a "package" of what they would offer a potential employer....should the employer come to the Northern New York area. Employers need incentive.....

[shannon s]

I know taxes are so out of control up in that area. Fourteen years ago my parents moved us to NC, in part due to the cost of living in Brushton, between property taxes both city, county and then school taxes, don't know how anyone up there can afford that. I don't know the tax rate in NY, Franklin County area however our tax rate is .49 per 100 and we have no school tax. NY state is trying to line someones pockets somewhere. Until people in control so to speak in that area make changes, then its this simple, there won't be any. By the way does anyone know who the town manager is in Malone? He or she needs to be agressive about approaching those potential companies, and if they can't or won't do that then it is time to hire another one better abled to do the best job possible for the area. I mean i don't want to sound as if i am talking down about the area because i love it there, but i could never go back and make a living, however if i could i would be there in a heartbeat! Like i said i grew up in the Brushton area and i would love to have my family home back on Hill Street, and have the whole small town feel. I have it here in Waynesville, however we have over 10,000 people in our so called small town and it is growing at a very fast rate,infact we are even having a shortage of doctor's and dentist's that are taking new patients. So i would not want to see that much growth in Malone but there certainally needs to be much more than there has been in the past.

[james carley]

Always remember the old adage "Life stops at Albany" they never factor in the North country. When people ask me to this day where are you from i say northern ny and they say albany

[rozShoem]

james carley wrote:

Always remember the old adage "Life stops at Albany" they never factor in the North country. When people ask me to this day where are you from i say northern ny and they say albany

Hi,
You are so correct. That oblivion to the North Country is so evident. Some areas of Central New York have really been marketing themselves so that vacationers and tourists visit. I know there is now a culinary center in Canandaigua and wineries (they have the Wine Trail....). A lot of several businesses, gift shops, specialty clothing shops, etc. have sprung up over the last several years and also once that began I noticed that more people are moving into the area. Housing developments consisting of fairly expensive homes are springing up all over the place. Some people tell me that they are retired or about to retire and have moved to this area from large cities such as San Diego, San Franciso, Chicago.....escaping crime in large cities. They too are saying that their taxes in those cities had increased to the point that they would not be able to afford those homes throughout their retirement years. I've noticed that foreigners from other countries have increased in numbers over the last few years in Rochester (from Africa, Asia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, etc). Many properties in the Adirondacks are now owned by Canadians and people from NYC as well as other areas of the country. The economy is a mess. Before people could rely on taxes to keep government programs going...but with few or no jobs in much of the country these programs are going down the tubes. As far as I'm concerned we ARE in a recession.....all of the indicators of a recession ARE and have been in place. Adult children with their children have moved back home with their parents, people have lost good-paying jobs with good benefits and are now lucky if they can find a low-pay part-time job w/NO benefits because their employer keeps their hours low to avoid paying benefits. So many home foreclosures....and this did not just begin 5 or 6 months ago...this has been happening over the last few years. The home burglaries and business break-ins are soaring, especially in the city although I've noticed an increase in the country as well. I noticed that someone says that familes of prisoners have moved nearer to prison where relative is imprisoned. This is the norm....all over the country. The unfortunate thing is that they immediately file for programs and services in that area without having paid taxes, except possibly for a short time on items purchased when shopping. They are not paying school or property taxes and if they have several children the children have to go to school of course and the school budget has to increase due to extra children in the school district, etc. Many cannot afford rent, may live with someone for a while....but after the required period file for housing assistance through social services. If a 16-year old in their household becomes emancipated and demands his/her own apartment, social services is usually left footing the bill for this. If they have no health insurance and are no/low income....Medicaid covers this as well (can even be 6 months retroactive). This is one of the reasons WHY counties across New York State are having "fiscal" problems.... In the past, enough business chipped in on taxes and counties may have been able to afford supporting the masses....however, now private citizens are left shouldering the burden by themselves. It is a sad state of affairs.

[rozShoem]

I visited Massena Ny this past fall and I thought that it looked so beaten down financially.... Someone else said that it reminded him of something out of The Grapes of Wrath. This is so very sad, but Massena is not alone .... many other places across the nation are in the same boat. It is unfortunate. Some of the places are able to build up some tourism through strategized and intense marketing programs. The seem to identify something that they are famous for...known for and play that up to the point that people become interested and visit the area in droves. The focal point can be anything from a vintage clothing store to a gift shop to a cheese shop...almost any kind of specialty shop.... A lot of places are becoming a community of enterprising artisans, crafts people, etc. In some ways, this is a healthier type of workplace.

[shannon s]

I totally agree that all of the people that move to upstate do not and should not be allowed to apply for assistance. first of all it is costing the state of NY way to much, like you said the burden lies on the taxpayers, who can not afford it, since they can not even afford to live themselves, just scrape by the best way they can. The sad thing is i bet if someone working and living in the area all of there lives applied for social services they would be denied, probably told you make a few dollars a month to much. What they don't consider is that even by there standards a few dollars to much in the eyes of the system is more than a few dollars to short for the people to live on. Yet people new to the area can get anything that they want across the board,hardly fair i know however it is happening all over it seems, we the taxpayers pay for all of these people, now i don't like to pass judgement on anyone, but these days i feel like maybe this country needs to stop allowing anyone that wants to come here from coming. That of course won't help the problem in the hear and now, but over the long haul it can make a difference. Of course to make this happen we need someone in office with a backbone first! We also have alot of people moving into our small town and the first place they come is to my building, which happens to be social services, i see it all, they can get a lot of help, also these young girls having babies, man they can just ask and recieve. On the flip side let a grnadmother come in who is raising her grandchildren and ask for something simple, and nope your check is to much per month. I mean what kind of a country are we, we reward the ones doing bad, and hurt the people that live and have lived the right way in the world. Again this hardly seems fair, but what are we as american people to do, we don't make the rules, or the laws, though most of us try to follow the laws to the T,funny though doesn't seem to get me anywhere, probably not getting anyone reading this very far either. I would hate to think that we would have to go back to the days of protests, but at this point i would almost try anything to get our country back on the right track, and the jobs back for our people who have lived here and they along with there families have paid taxes for many,many years.Well thanks for reading my blubbering, since again this is just my two cents worth.

[mr max peabody]

prostitution? omg girls can give it away for free but let them try and earn money and its a crime, please