Last week we did a post commending the "anonymous angels" who placed scarves, hats and mittens around the trees in Muller Plaza in Downtown Oneonta.  The purpose was for them to be used, no questions asked, by anybody who needed to warm up in our during our area's deep freeze.

And then...poof...they were gone.

Some nasty rumors and innuendos about the removal of these items have been going around town about their disappearance.  Most of these rumors are unfounded and seemed mean-spirited.  A lot of them were aimed at our City Manager.  Well, acting mayor Russ Southard has addressed this controversy in a letter to the editor in this morning's (Monday) edition of the Daily Star.  His letter is below.

Thank you Russ for giving us the REAL story, and thanks for your service to our City of the Hills!

The city of Oneonta applauds the efforts of those responsible for placing scarves and mittens in Muller Plaza for those in need to take. Initiatives like this are an example of what makes Oneonta a welcoming and friendly city. This good deed quickly got the positive recognition it deserved and others started to bring hats, gloves and sweaters, too. 

With the increased volume of clothing being donated, the articles were being hung on light poles, trees and fences. It isn't news to anyone the amount of snow that fell in February and soon the clothing was wet, covered in snow and frozen. 

It was brought up at the last FTO committee meeting and discussed and we felt that with the volume of clothing and its condition it would be of better use dry. The committee instructed the city manager to have our DPW department take it down and give it to one of the charities in the city for distribution. Had we known the individual(s) responsible for thinking up and starting this initiative we would have informed them what was going to be done.

As acting mayor, it is my hope that they contact me or someone else at city hall, as we'd like to work with them so this effort can be continued. My suggestion would be drop boxes or clothes trees in the walkway that connects Main Street to the parking garage. This way the articles of clothing are dry and available for use right away. Another alternative is to work directly with one of the many local charities to get this clothing to those that need it.  

Russ Southard

Oneonta

Southard represents the Sixth Ward on the Oneonta Common Council and is the acting mayor. 

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