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Updated 07/10/2012 07:58 PM

Oswego residents urge city to cut down on bus services to private parties

The Oswego Common Council is considering a change to the city code that would limit where private bus companies can transport students. The move is in response to complaints about buses dropping intoxicated students off in neighborhoods at night to attend house parties. But as our Candace Hopkins tells us, the code change could have unintended consequences.

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OSWEGO, N.Y.-- "We have been subjected to all night partying, swearing, fights on our lawns, littering and most of all, mobs of kids in our neighborhood,” said Oswego resident Phyllis Di Miers.

One by one, frustrated community members took to the mike Monday night at the Oswego Common Council meeting, urging city officials to find a way to cut down on disruptive college parties within their neighborhoods.

"It's getting way out of control and the bottom line is now we have residents who on some weekends, live in fear," said resident James Castiglia.

Some believe that fear is driving home owners out of the city and that the private bus companies that pick students up on campus and bring them directly to the parties share the blame.

"They're also making it so easy for them to party, especially the freshmen, they may have the address on Twitter or some social media, but they don't know where that address is and the buses are taking them right there," said Castiglia.

Many residents believe by stopping the bus companies from dropping the students at house parties within neighborhoods like this, that the size and popularity of those parties will greatly diminish. Which is why the common council is considering a change to the city code that would limit the buses to operating solely on main roads, like Bridge Street.

"We shouldn't be condoning underage drinking at house parties, we shouldn't be dropping off people to participate in parties at houses that are disturbing the quality of life in the City of Oswego," said Common Council member Michael Todd.

But the two bus companies disagree and say their services are vital to controlling drunk driving and without them, other drivers could be at risk.

"How many lives have we saved, how many people have we helped. You know, now someone might hop into a car and say, it's only a few blocks we can do it and then there's the problem," said D Bus owner Lee Walker.

Both owners have vowed to fight the changes. A public hearing on the proposed changes will be held July 23rd.