I have always believed that Niagara County is a well-grounded community, full of good-natured and caring people. I had never witnessed the elitism, materialism, and class warfare that so often tends to taint suburbia. People here tend to genuinely care about and look out for one another regardless of social standing.

This lack of pretentiousness has existed amongst our people because here, in Niagara County, most of our population consists of - or has roots in - hardworking blue-collar or farming families. These salts of the Earth have always had a great understanding that real riches are defined by the quality of life one gains by the companionship of their family, friends, and community, and not the almighty dollar.

But, alas, I was wrong. Most of the county may still be this way, but there exists a disturbing pocket of humanity in Wheatfield that is anything but what I thought we were. A veritable army of concerned homeowners – 400 strong at just one meeting alone - is up in arms over proposed low-income housing and, despite their hollow proclamations to the contrary, this group actually considers itself so much better than the "poor" who could be living in their neighborhoods. Sadly, elitism has reared its ugly head in Niagara County. Elitism by nature is no better than racism and in some cases they are one and the same.

This disgusting disease is so obviously apparent by action alone. In recent years development has been almost ongoing in Wheatfield and the town is the crown jewel of Western New York, more or less the only town that is growing despite a sour New York economy. Rarely have you heard dissenters over this wonderful growth. That is, until now, when the "poor" are moving in.

And, boy, are these dissenters everywhere! From town meetings to internet message boards to people’s homes, this is the issue of the day and all these protesters seem to believe their home values will go down, crime will go up, and Wheatfield will become a sorry place to live in the future. They are nothing more than an army of Archie Bunkers as their talk is besieged with innuendos and outright lies about what "poor" people are: criminals, crackheads, burglars, rapists, and "wellies". To consider these souls the norm of low-income individuals is stereotyping at its absolute worst.

The most important thing the ill-willed Wheatfield residents must understand is that most people do not try to be "poor". People always want the best for they and their families and try their hardest to achieve that. But, along the way, things can happen. Damning circumstances may have occurred which brought them down…job losses, bankruptcy, a death in the family, poor health. These "poor" may even be in a stage of transition in their lives, striving for a new and better life.

Therefore, at any given time, a "poor" person could be any one and every one of us. She could be a little old lady living on her own. He could be a young man fresh out of the armed forces and starting a civilian life. She could be a single mom trying to eek out a living for her children. He could be a young college graduate, soon becoming a teacher in the area. They are all people we know and love. They may be poor monetarily, but not poor in character. Why would you not want these people as your neighbors?

That question makes me wonder if maybe the elitists are right in some strange way. These "poor" may actually be better off elsewhere. Remember that one of life’s greatest lessons is that you are only as good as the people you surround yourself with. If the "poor" found themselves surrounded by the Wheatfield elitists then, surely, the "poor" would one day become just as depraved as the elitists. And, yes, that is not the sort of people we need more of in Niagara County.