Utica businesses try to block food pantry from moving in

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published April 17, 2013 at 10:46 PM EDT

Some Utica business owners are looking to stop a food pantry from moving into their area.

Calling the idea "a step in the wrong direction," shop owners are expressing concern that "Feed Our Vets," a not-for-profit whose mission is to help homeless veterans, wouldn't be a good fit for downtown Utica's redesigned Genessee Street.

"Feed Our Vets" presently operates in a different downtown area, in a building that may be sold, which has prompted the organization to purchase a site.

Utica Common Council First Ward member Frank Vescera tells WKTV he has received complaints from a number of Baggs Square area business owners: he believes there is time to address the concerns before the closing of the purchase by "Feed Our Vets" of the Hall of Fame building.

Central New York News

Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

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