Sticking Up For Schenectady

I’ll say it loud,
and I’ll say it proud.
 I’m a fan of oldie-but-goodie cities.

Cities like Schenectady, which so happens to be

about eight miles from where I live in upstate NY.

I like walking alongside the Mohawk River. I like the Stockade district with its old-world charm and historical landmarks (George Washington stayed there several times during the American Revolution.) And I like Schenectady’s local-owned fooderies that sell my favorite crusty bread (Perreca’s) and lemon ice (Civitellos) and, of course, books (Open Door).

Schenectady is where Rocky Road, my new book, takes place. On arrival, Tess calls Schenectady “a sorry city just asking to be misspelled.” Some people out there agree with Tess’s first impression of Schenectady. (I write first impression because she changes her mind.) Even famous people take cheap shots at Schenectady.

Stephen Colbert joked that Schenectady should be visited by helicopter only. You usually crack me up, Stephen, but not when you mess with my hangout. You've never sat down in the Central Park Rose Garden and soaked in all that beauty. Being there is way better than an aerial view -- see above photo. (Aka Rose in the roses.)

 Former NY Governor Eliot Spitzer compared it to poverty-struck Appalachia. Well excuse me, Eliot, but obviously you haven't toured Union College and Proctor’s Theater. And like we couldn’t hit you with some low blows?

It’s true that Schenectady has struggled for years due to an aging infrastructure, mall mania, and sprawling suburbs. But it’s also true that many Schenectadites refused to give up on this city whose name comes from a Mohawk word meaning “place beyond the pine plains.”  They pitched in with funding, elbow grease and TLC, and its downtown revitalization is the fruit of their labors.

Plenty of cities in the USA have their own Comeback Kid stories. Do you know one? If so, I bet you could tell a tale or two about the good times you’ve spent there.