Welcome to PoliticsNY.net * PoliticsWNY.com * IlluzziLetter.com


Always First For Local, State & National Political News

  

 

PoliticsNY.Net: ERIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CHRIS COLLINS

 

 

"By vetoing this legislation, Governor Paterson has shown that he is not interested in following the will of the people and the leaders they elect, but rather empowering a state appointed authority."

"This legislation is supported nearly unanimously by a bi-partisan group of county and state leaders who believe the people’s representatives should make long term financial decisions on behalf of taxpayers."

"The Governor’s action is yet another example of Albany ignoring the people of Erie County and forcing another short sided decision upon us. By vetoing this legislation, the Governor is jeopardizing the County’s capital projects, which have not been funded since 2006."  ###

 

PATERSON: I WILL VETO CONTROL BOARD BILLS

 

 

The problem is Paterson probably has no idea what the County is asking him to do.

 

The County is not asking the Governor to dilute the overall authority of the ECFSA.

 

Just put an end to the gridlock with respect to the Capital borrowing program.

 

That is the only question in front of him with respect to the County.

 

Paterson demonstrated this Al Gore like Gravitas while pandering to the Buffalo News Op Ed board Wednesday.

 

The fact is the County just received a bond upgrade by S&P to just less than A.

 

The ECFSA is scheduled to go soft after the 09 budget is approved; that would be "4" balanced budgets with reserves close to $50 Million.

 

Paterson really needs to do his homework before he decides to pander to the Buffalo News.

 

This is "drive by" public policy at its worst. What a disgrace!!! ###

 

 

IRAN - THE QUESTION IS NOT IF BUT WHEN? 

 

"A time for war ... A time for peace" Israel must be allowed to exist without the threat of a nuclear holocaust via Iran. The world cannot afford a nuclear Iran.

 

Its time for war!

 

 

 TEHRAN (Reuters) - "Iran will not "retreat one iota" over its disputed nuclear program, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday.

At a meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator in Geneva on Saturday, six world powers gave Iran two weeks to answer calls to rein in its nuclear activities, which they suspect may be aimed at producing atom bombs, or face tougher sanctions.

"The Iranian nation ... will not retreat one iota in the face of oppressing powers," Ahmadinejad said in a speech broadcast live on state television." ###

 

 

SENECA BUFFALO CREEK CASINO

 

 Seneca President Maurice Johns

 

UPDATE: The Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino got even more complicated when both the United States and the Seneca Nation of Indians filed legal papers asking to have the case transferred to the National Indian Gaming Commission.

The United States filed a motion in federal court, asking U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to transfer the case to the gaming commission.

The Seneca Nation -- which is not technically a party to the original lawsuit -- filed an "amicus brief," in the support the federal government's motion.

That "friend of the court" brief also opposes the casino gambling opponents' bid to enforce Skretny's July 8 decision and put a stop to the slot machines already operating at the temporary site downtown.

 

The case revolves around one major issue: whether the federal judiciary or the executive branch should be the ultimate arbiter in this case. ###

 

U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny will hear arguments on  Aug. 21 on the issue of whether the Seneca Nation can operate the Buffalo Creek Casino in downtown Buffalo.

 

The Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County filed a motion last week asking Skretny to enforce his order that gambling on the nine-acre site is illegal.

 

Three problems:

 

1) The Senecas are NOT part of the lawsuit. Ergo Skretney would have to order the Department of the Interior, the defendant in the lawsuit, to order the Senecas to shut Buffalo Creek down.

 

2) Skretny would then have to order the plaintiff the Wendt Foundation, et al. to post a multi million dollar assurance bond. In the event he is overturned the Senecas can recoup their losses via that bond. Don't know if the Kresse's (wendt), who we love, are willing to risk that much money.

 

3) The 2nd Circuit given the protocols once an appeal is filed would order Buffalo Creek reopened any how!  ###

 

 

GOVERNOR DAVID PATERSON

 

 

 

UPDATE: Governor Paterson will be in WNY Wednesday signing remediation legislation that helps clean up aging industrial sites. Paterson will drop in on a conference of Lieutenant governors from around the US at the Hyatt Hotel in Buffalo. ###

 

Interesting theory out there with respect to the NYS Senate.

 

There are those  who actually  believe Paterson is not being as cooperative as he might be via finances, etc. in electing Democrats to the Senate; potentially giving the Democrats the majority in both Houses.

 

The theory is that if the State Senate goes Democratic Paterson's power would be diluted significantly in a what do we need him for scenario.

 

Ergo the bad blood between Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith & Paterson.

 

The Democratic Legislature would pretty much control not only policy but appointments, etc. weakening the Executive branch considerably.

 

Very interesting theory! ###

 

 

NYS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SKELOS

 

  UPDATE: "Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Center) held a noon new conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Downtown Buffalo, where he talked about real property tax relief.

Skelos met Sunday with Sheldon Silver and Governor Paterson. He says he would like to resume session in the coming weeks to pass Governor Paterson's plan to cap the real property tax at 4%.

Many state lawmakers and Governor Paterson agree something needs to be done to cap and control rising taxes here in New York." WGRZ.com  ###

 

BARBRA KAVANAUGH UNLIKELY COALITION FOR THE 144th

 

  Who would have thought just a few shorts weeks ago PoliticsNY.Net would join long time ally Mayor Brown (Steve Casey), BTF President Phil Rumore, Carl Paladino, Tom Golisano, et al. to unseat entrenched Assemblyman for life Sam Hoyt.

 

No one believes Sam is a bad person, I think? Sam's tenure has just become stale. A series of political clichés pandering to a constituency that can get him reelected - reelected & reelected.

 

I believe even Sam became bored with public service given his multi sourced antics over the last few years.

 

Chairman Len Lenihan is hanging on to the Hoyt flag because he hears the footsteps.

 

The good news for the citizens of the 144th is Barbra Kavanaugh, while we disagree on specific issues, is an outstanding candidate.

 

We will meet Kavanaugh on the cauldron with respect to abortion rights & Gay marriage. However, we can sit with respect at the table of public policy & agree on many issues like education, health care, etc.

 

We are proud to join the unlikely coalition endorsing Barbra Kavanaugh for the 144th. ###

 

Josephilluzzi704@aol.com

 

 

 

COUNTY LEGISLATOR TIM WROBLEWSKI,

 

LEGISLATURE APPROVE EFFICIENCY FUNDS TO MOVE DMV, ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

 "Erie County Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca, South Cheektowaga) and the County Legislature approved efficiency grant requests to help fund moving the Erie County Clerk’s Office Department of Motor Vehicles’ office and the Erie County Attorney’s Office at last week’s regular session

The grant request being made to the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority, which controls these funds, asks for $1,772,000 to help move the Clerk‘s DMV offices to the first floor of the Rath Building on Franklin Street from their current site on Broadway in downtown Buffalo, and to help relocate the County Attorney’s offices.

“I am pleased that the County Legislature joined me in approving these efficiency grant actions that will allow Erie County to operate in a more productive manner,” Legislator Wroblewski said. “The use of these efficiency grants will also save the county from having to provide and spend those funds up front. This effort will produce a direct savings of about $1.7 million to Erie County taxpayers by not having to be spent out of operating funds.”

“We need to continue to work on methods of running Erie County more effectively and efficiently,” Legislator Wroblewski, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, continued. “That is why the County Legislature also authorized the Erie County Sheriff’s Office to accept $750,000 in efficiency grant funds to help replace the aging fleet of police vehicles. These new vehicles will allow our Sheriff’s personnel to operate in safer and more fuel-efficient ways.”

 

July 23, 2008

 

 

Paterson Denies Rift (s)

 "At a press conference after his first Governor’s cabinet meeting, Gov. David Paterson denied offering former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno a job in his administration. He also denied having a strained relationship with Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith.

Asked whether he offered Bruno a job, Paterson paused and then said, unequivocally, “No.”

“I don’t know where that story came from,”  he said. Then he joked, “Maybe he’s going to work for the Post.”

When asked about reports that he was having strained relations with Smith, Paterson responded, “I read in the past few weeks, that I had a big fight with Speaker Silver, big fight with Mayor Bloomberg, my relationship has gone sour with Malcolm Smith, and that I hired Joe Bruno.”

In talking about the reports of strained relations, Paterson said, “I honestly have no idea how that would be the case. Malcolm and I have a friendship goes back to a period before either of us were in office. And I’m sure that will continue.” Albany Times Union

 

 

 

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer

SCHUMER FIGHTS FOR PASSAGE OF GREAT LAKES COMPACT – URGES CONGRESS TO RATIFY AGREEMENT BANNING NEW OR INCREASED SIPHONING OF WATER FROM THE GREAT LAKES BASIN

  "U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced his push for legislation that would ratify the Great Lakes Compact, an agreement among the Great Lakes states to outlaw diversions of Great Lakes water from their natural drainage basin, while requiring the states to regulate their own large-scale water use.

There has been rising concern that the worldwide freshwater shortage would lead other regions of the country to tap into the Great Lakes, threatening the preservation of the water.

“The Great Lakes feeds New York’s economy, environment and drinking supply. The Great Lakes are too precious of a resource to be siphoned off and this compact will work to preserve and protect it,” Schumer said. “I will fight tooth and nail for this compact to pass Congress so that we can sustain one of New York’s greatest resources.”

The Great Lakes serve as an economic, environmental and recreational resource to New York and surrounding states but plans to divert the water from the Great Lakes to drier parts of the nation started to form as demand for fresh water has grown. The states surrounding the Great Lakes are demanding they maintain control of the water that belongs to them.

Recently, all the Great Lakes Governors have ratified the Great Lakes compact to outlaw siphoning of the lakes from outside the region, while requiring regulation of large-scale water usage. The next step is for Congress to ratify the compact.

To ensure that the economic and environmental benefits of the Great Lakes remain rightfully to New York and the other states who share the waters, Senator Schumer is urging passage of the bipartisan Great Lakes compact resolution introduced by Senators Carl Levin and George Voinovich.   

In a joint-letter to the Great Lakes Governors, Senator Schumer applauded their recent action to ratify the Compact and reasserted his support for Congressional passage. Schumer is cosponsoring legislation to ensure passage of the compact by Congress.

Schumer, with others, wrote, “As you know, the Compact will ensure sustainable use of Great Lakes waters by banning new or increased diversions outside of the Great Lakes Basin.  Because the Great Lakes are so intricately tied to the region’s economy and house a diversity of species, ecosystems and natural resources, protecting the Great Lakes from future water withdrawals will ensure the sustainability of this precious resource for future generations…. Recognizing this accomplishment, please know we will support and continue to push for final ratification of the Compact in Congress.  We hope to carry on your leadership, and look forward to working with you to win final federal approval of the Compact.”

 

 

July 22, 2008

 

 

JOHN MCCAIN IN BUFFALO MONDAY

 

 The McCain (R) campaign was in  Buffalo Monday night for two high profile fundraisers that brought in $1,300,000.00. The first a private dinner at former Malta Ambassador Anthony Gioia's home. The second at the Albright Knox Art Gallery on Elmwood Ave. My invitation requests a check for $10,000!

 

PoliticsNY.Net endorses John McCain for President of the United States. ### 

 

SMITH  vs. PATERSON?

 

 "Tensions are mounting between Gov. Paterson and the Senate Democrats he once led as relations with his onetime friend and ally, Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, hit a new low, insiders say.

Frustrated lawmakers are complaining about everything from lack of access to Paterson to his failure to help them with fund-raising at a time when they are within two seats of wresting control of the Senate from the Republicans.

"They haven't done anything for us; all we get is talk," said one frustrated lawmaker who has been trying to get a sitdown with the governor since his March 17 swearing-in." NY Daily News 

 

"GOV. PATERSON secretly offered newly retired Sen ate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno a highly paid post as a "special adviser" to his administration, sources close to Paterson have told The NY Post." full stories  state screen  ###

 

BREAKING NEWS FIRST

 

  Its official: "ECMCC CEO Mike Young is leaving to take a with Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia."

 

"Age: 52 Birthplace: York, Pa. Current Position: President and CEO, Erie County Medical Center Corp. Education: Bachelor's degree, University of Pittsburgh; master's in health administration, University of Pittsburgh.  Experience: President and CEO of Lancaster General Hospital and Health System, 1986-2004; vice president of operations and professional affairs, Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, 1979-1986 Family: Married; two children

 

Michael Young said he operates with a basic formula: "You grow volume; you control expenses."

Young is not defensive, he said. "He uses the data to fix the problems."

Under Young's leadership, Erie County Medical Center, a public facility, recently completed long-running negotiations for a merger with the private Kaleida Health.

Young said he believes he could turn Grady around. Success would bring more success, he predicted.

"This is America," he said. "People like success. Organizations like success. Once you start being successful, people rally around an organization and make it work."   ###

 

 

GOVERNOR DAVID PATERSON PLEASE NOTE!

 

 ERIE COUNTY RECEIVES CREDIT RATING UPGRADE

 

Upgrade Reflects Growing Strength of County’s Fiscal Situation

Erie County Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz announced that Erie County Friday received an upgrade to its credit rating from the Wall Street rating agency Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”).  S&P upgraded the County’s underlying credit rating from BBB to BBB+, placing the County just under an “A” rating.  S&P also confirmed the County’s outlook as “stable.”

“An independent, third party that rates municipal debt for the benefit of investors – not the local government – has determined that Erie County is fiscally stable and improving,” said Poloncarz.  “This rating upgrade from an independent Wall Street agency confirms what I have been saying for the past year: that the County has significantly improved its financial condition and merits an upgrade.”

 

Illuzzi: We call upon ECFSA Chairman Anthony Baynes to rescind the ban on County borrowing in favor of the County. All the satire aside we believe Baynes should stay on as Chairman. We believe the ECFSA can show Wall Street, the State, National & International communities Erie County can at the very least execute our bond program; looking ahead to a 4th balance budget, with $40-50 in reserve transitioning the ECFSA into an advisory board.

 

If not then of course we call on Govenor Paterson to sign the Bill allowing the County to bypass the ECFSA & execute the County's bond program for 07 & 08. Both the County Legislature in the Home Rule Message & State Legislature voting near unanimously in favor of the Bill. ###

 

PRO DEATH (CHOICE) POWERS & DAVIS $$$

 

 

    Jon Powers             "Millionaire Democratic congressional candidate Jack Davis is taking his primary challenger Jon Powers to task today for again accepting campaign donations from western New York strip-club owner. Some Powers' opponents have called on him to return the money.

"It is pathetic and sad that Mr. Powers will say anything, do anything, and take money from anyone to further his aspirations for a career in politics, Mr Davis' campaign said in a statement.

 

"Voters want someone who will stand up to the special interests, not sell out to them."

Of course, it may be easy for Davis to say. He's spent millions of his own money on two unsuccessful runs for the 26th District, which stretches from the Buffalo suburbs to the Rochester suburbs.

And last week he was paying for lower gas for drivers out of his own pocket, drawing criticism that he's literally buying votes."

 

 

BUFFALO NEWS McCARTHY A STAND UP COMEDIAN

 

  UPDATE: I spoke to the individual handling the news desk at the Atlanta Journal - Constitution Friday night at 8:00 pm. I asked how often the paper updated its web site? The response every hour day & night! Then I mentioned we usually never see an update past 5:00 pm on the Buffalo News web site. The folks at the AJC were very cooperative & polite. I would like to thank them publicly for their assistance! ######

 

Bob McCarthy big front page expose': IP Chairs Orsini & Colon wives  received $5,000 from the Jack Davis 26th District congressional campaign for in kind services.

 

Three things: Davis has a history of making these kind of payments to anyone that can help get him elected.

 

McCarthy failed to mention for decades these in kind  payments, e.g., consulting, legal work graphics, etc.,  are border line ways to get the Chairman of all pol parties, esp. the Erie County Conservative Party to advance the candidacies of any given hopeful. The numbers in some cases extraordinary. Rarely if ever have I  read a word from McCarthy & the Buffalo News.

 

Erie County GOP Jim Domagalski is the only County chair over the last few decades who is clean with respect to these in kind payments.

 

Lastly, Jack Davis (polling indicates Powers has little or no chance in Dem primary against Davis) will not get the IP line. Anthony Fumerelle will retain the line. If he should get a Supreme Court endorsement his Committee of Vacancies will fill the slot.  

 

My money is on the best candidate in the race to get the line. Republican Chris Lee!

 

So the entire premise of McCarthy's front page rant  is MOOT once again; at least McCarthy is consistent! ###

 

AMHERST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 

HOSTS BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT  KEYBANK’S SHERIDAN DRIVE LOCATION

 

The Amherst Chamber of Commerce will hold its Business After Hours event on Tuesday, August 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. at, KeyBank, 5173 Sheridan Drive in Williamsville.

 

Josephilluzzi704@aol.com

 

 

Email: "Joe, Bob McCarthy's term "flashing his card at Turning Stone" shows his misleading tatics in this article, when he paid for a nights lodging on his way to Albany for a meeting, When Bob pays for a meal at his employers expense does that consider "flashing his card" 

 

Judy Orsini The proud wife of Chairman Orsini

 

 

 

Obamas: "The Untouchables"

 

by Pat Buchanan

 

 

To watch the contortions over that New Yorker cover cartoon of the Obamas is to understand whom it is impermissible to offend in the America of 2008.

The cartoon is a caricature of Michelle as an urban terrorist in an Angela Davis afro with an AK-47 slung over her back and a bandoleer of ammo in the Oval Office doing a fist-bump with a Barack decked out in turban and Muslim garb. On the wall hangs a portrait of Osama bin Laden. Blazing away in the fireplace is the American flag.

"President Obama and First Lady -- as Seen From the Right-Wing Point of View" might have been the caption. Phil Klein of American Spectator nailed it: "This cartoon is intended to make fun of conservatives as ignorant racists and essentially marginalize any criticism of Obama as moronic."  Unfortunately for the New Yorker, the cartoon misfired. Blow-ups are likely to be as pandemic in right-wing dorms this fall as were posters of "Che" Guevara in left-wing dorms in the 1970s.

Indeed, to a goodly slice of the media, this cartoon is no joking matter. Michelle and Barack had been dissed!

For 48 hours, editors Rick Hertzberg and David Remnick fended off attacks, assuring media interrogators the cartoon's purpose was not to satirize the Obamas but to satirize the caricature of Michelle and Barack in the mind of the paranoid right. Remnick insisted to The Huffington Post, "It's not a satire about Obama -- it's a satire about the distortions and misconceptions and prejudices about Obama."

Why did progressives recoil? Because the more savvy among them sense that, like much humor, this cartoon was an exaggeration that contained no small kernel of recognizable truth.

After all, Barack did dump the flag pin. Michelle did say she had never been proud of her country before now. Barack did don that Ali Baba outfit in Somalia. His father and stepfather were Muslims. He does have a benefactor, Bill Ayers, who said after 9-11 he regrets not planting more bombs in the 1960s. He did have a pastor who lionizes Black Muslim Minister Louis Farrakhan. Put glasses on him, and Barack could play Malcolm X in the movies.

And assume the point of the cartoon had been to satirize the Obamas. Why would that have been so outrageous?

Journalists, after all, still celebrate Herblock, the cartoonist who portrayed Richard Nixon with the body of a rat climbing out of a sewer.

Bill Clinton is still denounced as a racist for saying Barack's claim to have been consistent on Iraq was a "fairy tale" and for comparing his South Carolina primary victory to Jesse Jackson's.

Hillary Clinton has been compared to the sex-starved Glenn Close character in "Fatal Attraction." George Bush's verbal gaffes are endlessly panned by late-night comics and Comedy Central. But Barack gets the special-ed treatment. Our first affirmative action candidate.

The New Yorker made a "damn-fool decision," said George Lockwood, a lecturer on journalistic ethics.

David West of Brookings wailed to USA Today of the cartoon: "It's the mass media at its worst. It perpetuates false information, and it's highly inflammatory. ... It gives credibility to what's been circulating for months, and that's what makes it dangerous."

But dangerous to whom? Again, it is only a cartoon.

Barack called the cartoon "an insult against Muslim Americans." His campaign called it "tasteless and offensive." That they are miffed is understandable. After all, 12 percent of Americans think Barack took his oath on the Koran, 26 percent think he was raised a Muslim, and 39 percent think he went to a madrassa.

Yet, the reaction of our cultural elites is the more interesting and instructive.

For it suggests that Obama is an untouchable to be protected. As an African-American, he is not to be treated the same as other politicians. Remnick and Hertzberg obviously felt intense moral pressure to remove any suspicion that they had satirized the Obamas. No problem, however, if they were mocking the American right.

Bottom line: If you wish to stay in the good graces of the cultural elite, don't mess with Michelle and Barack.

On display here is not only the sensitivity of the Obama folks to portrayals of him as a radical, but the sensitivity -- the naked fear -- of an elite magazine that it might be perceived as lending aid and comfort to any who would dare question the nobility and patriotic ardor of the Obamas.

If conservatives allow such a media to determine the weapons they may use and to limit the terrain upon which they are to be permitted to fight, they will lose this election. They have to peel the bark off Barack.

As for the New Yorker, it emerges from the episode as not just unheroic, but just another magazine desperate not to offend its readership or the people whose approbation it seeks as the measure of its moral worth.

 

 

 

ECMCC Mike Young:

 

Hospital exec from western New York to run Grady

 

By CRAIG SCHNEIDER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 Grady Memorial Hospital officials selected a new chief executive today to rehabilitate the state's largest, busiest and most troubled medical system.

At the same time, they removed the most recent in a line of CEOs whose efforts couldn't forestall a financial crisis so severe it threatened to close the hospital.

The Grady nonprofit board of directors hired Michael Young, 52, who for three years has been CEO of the Erie County Medical Center Corp. in western New York.

"Grady is such a special place for Georgia and the Southeast. It's an opportunity I wanted to take," Young said by phone from Buffalo. "I want to see if we can't put it back on the strong platform it needs to be on."

At the same meeting this morning, the hospital's new nonprofit board announced a $150,000 separation deal to remove CEO Pam Stephenson. Her severance package is three months pay.

Her separation ends an embarrassing chapter in which Stephenson was accused of trying to profit from her hastily arranged and controversial tenure as the hospital's chief and her quick replacement, widely considered inevitable.

Stephenson is chairwoman of the Grady authority which recently transferred management of the hospital to the nonprofit board. The authority she chaired named her CEO with a two-year contract even as the new board was taking over with the announced intention to hire a new chief.

Young, as head of the 550-bed Erie County hospital in upstate New York, noted that the facility, associated with the University of Buffalo, scored high on trauma outcomes and had the No. 1 ranked kidney program in western New York.

Young has more than 20 years experience as a hospital CEO. He reduced emergency-room delays at Erie — also a problem at Grady — and increased admissions and revenues, he said.

"We at Erie County Medical Center were losing $30 million a year [before I came]. Last year, we made $17 million in operating profit, " Young said.

He added, "Grady would be a tremendous challenge and a tremendous opportunity. ... I think Grady is worth saving, don't you?''

 

 

July 21, 2008

 

 

Email: "Joe, I read your news everyday and I have to admit most days I leave your site disappointed not with you but the behavior of our local party leaders and candidates. What is the deal with Joe Mesi chumming up so much with the Working Families Party. So in other words our local boxer is for gay marriage and abortion. This position will certainly keep him out of Albany!

 

Also I have to admit I am very disappointed with our local Conservative Party. Yes, they are behind Mr. Razenhofer but other than that they are not really trying to endorse candidates with true Conservative values. Why doesn't this Truly American Value party pursue it's own candidates and try to win without cross endorsement. In todays day and age there is a core of people who are looking for a True conservative candidate to voter for.

 

Why is it that the Conservatives leave true conservatives on the sidelines and cross endorse Dems and Repubs, probably because they are too intimidated. I am a lifelong  Tonawanda resident and I can not believe that someone like a Jim McGee, as conservative as they come, is sitting on the sidelines. Here is a great example, look at the 28th Congressional District, it is time for a true conservative to run but did Mr. Lorigo pursue one, No. Who is running against Slaugter anyway? Exactly, just go ahead a give her another win.

I wish nothing but the best of luck to Mr Ranzenhofer and will pray that he wins.

This great country of ours was built on Conservative Values. We need to get back to them. Come on Erie County Conservative Party, Wake up." Art God Bless America

 

 

Email: "Dear Joe, After reading Robert McCarthy’s slanted story this morning I must report that I yawned excessively.

Robert McCarthy has always had an absolute anti-Orsini agenda.

 

Even the folks who should care about this stuff are quoted in his story as “it’s no big deal” that a committee would retain Orsini and Colon’s wives as consultants.

Perhaps Robert McCarthy needs a refresher course in Journalism 101. He is truly filling space and contributing very little to his employer.

 At the end of the day and the end of his cute little article, he has shown readers that he, personally, hates Orsini. Other than that – he shows us nothing important.

The Buffalo News has finally and sadly run out of steam… I predict its accelerated demise. Thank God for people like you and the technology that exists today to keep the electorate informed.

Although I am sad with sentiment, I actually can see that the Buffalo News is about to slip quietly and rapidly into history as a paper that once was relevant and worth the 50 cents we paid for it." 

Best Wishes from a faithful reader of PoliticsNY.Net, Chet Kowalski

 

Buffalo Bills: Canadian legislation would make a felony of football

By Marty Gobin

 

Buffalo Bills fans should take notice of Canadian Sen. Larry Campbell, who is enraged that the Bills have signed a contract to play eight games in Canada’s largest city, Toronto.

Campbell recently introduced Bill S- 238 to the Senate, also known as the Canadian Football Act.

The bill, if passed, would prohibit Canadian football teams from playing outside of Canada, and foreign football teams such as those in the NFL from playing inside of Canada.

As backwardly funny as a football ban may seem, it would be no laughing matter for players caught disobeying the law. Violating the proposed law would be an indictable offense — the Canadian equivalent of a federal felony in the United States.

Players could receive up to two years imprisonment as well as restrictions on foreign travel due to the resulting criminal record.

So what’s the justification for making felons out of fullbacks? In the words of the bill’s preamble, Canadian football “contributes to the bonds of nationhood.”

Furthermore, “It is in the national and public interest that an effort be made to protect this Canadian institution from the encroachments of the National Football League or any other foreign league upon Canadian soil.”

Bonds of nationhood? Encroachments by foreign leagues upon Canadian soil? It sounds like the nationalist senator would rather Canadian sporting events look like the 1936 Summer Olympics than let football franchises cater to their fans.

Campbell may claim a ban is in the “public interest,” but the only reason the Buffalo Bills have been able to expand into Canada is because members of the Canadian public are willing to pay for their tickets.

What he really means by “public” are the small minority of nationalist central planners who believe they can legislate financial success for the Canadian Football League with the stroke of a pen.

The only “encroachment” that Canadians need to be protected from is that of a power-hungry senator abusing Parliament’s right to create criminal law, which should only be used for public safety reasons, to tell Canadians which football teams they should be rooting for.

The expansion of the NFL into Canada represents greater financial stability for the Buffalo Bills, which can only improve their facilities and their team, and guarantee that they remain in Buffalo.

For this reason, and because of the fact that in a free society people should be able to spend their own money however they want when not hurting anybody else, Bills fans on both sides of the border should do everything they can to convince Canada’s politicians not to ban the NFL in Canada.

Marty Gobin is communications director of the Ontario Libertarian Party.

 

 

Comptroller Mark Poloncarz

 

Upgrade Reflects Growing Strength of County’s Fiscal Situation

 "Erie County Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz announced that Erie County today received an upgrade to its credit rating from the Wall Street rating agency Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”).  S&P upgraded the County’s underlying credit rating from BBB to BBB+, placing the County just under an “A” rating.  S&P also confirmed the County’s outlook as “stable.”

“An independent, third party that rates municipal debt for the benefit of investors – not the local government – has determined that Erie County is fiscally stable and improving,” said Poloncarz.  “This rating upgrade from an independent Wall Street agency confirms what I have been saying for the past year: that the County has significantly improved its financial condition and merits an upgrade.”

Poloncarz noted that key factors affecting the rating upgrade include (1) the County’s replenishment of its fund balance, or cash reserves, to more than $48 million after dropping to only $4 million in 2005; (2) its moderate debt burden; (3) that the County’s “management practices are considered ‘good;’” (4) the development of conservative, realistic budgeting based on recurring revenues; and (5) increased oversight by County management and the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority. 

S&P did note that while the County is progressing forward it still faces challenges including the expiration of most union contracts and the existence of projected budget gaps in the out-years of the Four Year Financial Plan.  Poloncarz pledged to continue working cooperatively on these issues with the County Executive, Legislature and Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority. Poloncarz said, “I will continue to work diligently with County officials to address the challenges facing the County, which will secure additional rating upgrades that will benefit the taxpayers.”

The Comptroller noted that when the County was last rated by rating agencies, including S&P, in November 2006, they expressed support for the County’s financial progress, but delayed any potential rating upgrade action until the County had demonstrated a track record in its financial recovery, including redevelopment of fund balance.  Poloncarz stated, “S&P’s rating upgrade today shows that the County has a positive track record since I took office in 2006 and is making great strides in our financial progress.”

 

July 20, 2008

 

Weirdos Riot: What's Wrong With the Buffalo News?

by Michael I. Niman

 

It doesn’t really seem like the kind of story that would make the national news—10 US Forest Service police officers arrest a man in Wyoming for crime of being “uncooperative.” Add the freak show specter of “eccentrics” and “hippie types” throwing rocks and sticks, however, and in the era of Jerry Springer, you’ve got the makings of a national news story. Hence, nearly 2,000 miles away, the Buffalo News ran the story under the headline, “5 arrested in Rainbow Family clash with feds.”

 

In actuality, there was a national story, only it wasn’t the one that appeared in the Buffalo News. I was at the scene, conducting research and working with a film crew producing a documentary about the group, which was the subject of my doctoral research and subsequent book, People of the Rainbow (Univ. of Tennessee Press). The alleged hippie riot reported by the News and dozens of other media outlets around the United States never happened. This Buffalo News story, gleaned from the Associated Press wire service, like much of what we read in mainstream newspapers, was based entirely on an official government source, with no “on the ground” reporting or source verification, no independent eyewitness reports, and no quotes from the group in question.

The main problem here, as legendary investigative reporter I.F. Stone put it, is that “all governments lie.” It’s a chronic problem that reporters face—and a point journalism professors have been trying to drive home for at least three generations. You can’t base stories entirely on the narrative provided by one party to a conflict. You can’t base stories entirely on government or corporate press releases or official documents. News stories need to be based on reporting, not stenography.

The Rainbow story, sadly, is formulaic—a police riot followed by false arrests and prosecutions designed to cover up or obfuscate the original crime. The problem here, however, is that with hundreds of credible witnesses, including healthcare professionals, educators, and working journalists on the ground, as well as photographic and video evidence, the official narrative lacks any credibility. That didn’t deter the Buffalo News and other papers that rely on the Associated Press’s network of underpaid punch-clock stringers from running a discredited official narrative, one that in this case appears to have been written by criminals, as the unquestioned truth. Unfortunately this is common practice.

The AP/Buffalo News story begins with this sentence: “About 400 members of the Rainbow Family threw rocks and sticks at 10 federal officers as they tried to arrest a member of the group, the U.S. Forest Service said Friday.”

Contrast that to the local coverage by the Jackson Hole Star Tribune, the nearest daily newspaper on the ground in Wyoming, who began their story with this lead paragraph:

“U.S. Forest Service officers pointed weapons at children and fired rubber bullets and pepper spray balls at Rainbow Family members while making arrests Thursday evening, according to witnesses.”

The Star Tribune went on to add witness quotes—“‘They [police] were so violent, like dogs,’” and “‘People yelled at them, you’re shooting children,’”—in paragraphs two and three. The News, by contrast, edited the AP story by re-writing the seventh paragraph and moving it up to become the second, reading: “Five members of the group were arrested and one officer slightly injured. A Government vehicle was also damaged.”

Are you thoroughly confused yet? Nowhere does the AP/Buffalo News article mention that the Rainbow event has convened annually for 38 years as a multidenominational gathering to pray for world peace and attempt to model a nonviolent, nonhierarchical, utopian society. As for the “injured officer,” he was examined and released without treatment. And the damaged vehicle? The AP/Buffalo News passive voice sentence construction obfuscates the actor—the entity that damaged the vehicle. A witness on the ground claims she ran in terror after stumbling upon a Forest Service law enforcement officer who was bashing in the window of a government vehicle with his nightstick.

I was a few miles away eating dinner in the woods when the incidents in question occurred—and given my experiences photographing police riots, in retrospect, I’m quite happy not to have been there. What I did witness was an ongoing campaign of harassment orchestrated by the Forest Service and directed at the Rainbows. This included federal officers ticketing Rainbows for infractions that are not illegal in Wyoming—and general harassment such as issuing tickets for dusty windshields to gathering participants who had just driven for an hour on dirt roads through sage desert. The narrative that I put together regarding the police riot, after speaking to a credentialed journalist and credible witnesses who I have known and worked with for years, goes like this:

Forest Service law enforcement officers, who had just spent days at the Rainbow Gathering illegally demanding to search tents, harassing women while using latrines, etc., approached a man in the main meadow area of the Gathering. He would be the “suspect,” though it is unclear of what he is suspected. There is speculation that he’s suspected of sharing marijuana—but this is speculation.

The suspect, to his discredit, ran from the feds, into a place the Rainbows call “Kiddie Village,” which is a sanctuary and kitchen for families with young children and expectant parents, as well as a cooperative day care facility. The feds followed, with their weapons drawn.

Once in Kiddie Village, they encountered a large group preparing to eat dinner. A woman asked them to put their guns away. She was immediately arrested for interfering with a law officer, and placed on the ground. People demanded her release. At some point, officers apprehended the original suspect. One officer stepped backward onto the arrested woman. Thinking she had tripped the officer, three Forest Service agents began beating her. The dinner crowd loudly demanded they stop. The 10 officers opened fire wildly in Kiddie Village, shooting pepper-filled (like pepper spray) ammo at specific people as well as indiscriminately firing and hitting others.

 

People screamed and shouted. The officers pointed a Taser point blank into the face of a journalist who was showing his credentials. His presence may have prevented the officers from using greater force. Alarmed parents, hearing the shots, came running into Kiddie Village. Trained Rainbow peacekeepers formed a line, with their backs to the feds, separating them from the growing crowd. The feds shot these peacekeepers in the back with pepper-filled balls. One man alleges he was hit eight times. According to his testimony, when he turned around to ask why they were shooting him while he was trying to help them, they shot him four more times in the chest.

The officers took their two prisoners and left the Gathering via a trail through the woods, possibly shooting indiscriminately at passersby on their way out. They spent the next few days demanding that Rainbows who were leaving the Gathering lift their shirts so that officers could check for injuries caused by their weapons. People with welts were arrested and charged. Once charged, they are magically transformed from victims into defendants. Defendants have the choice of fighting false charges, possibly felony charges, in Wyoming courts, or pleading guilty to misdemeanors with suspended sentences and going home, back to work, and back to their lives. This is how justice works in America.

The day after the attack, the Forest Service put out a press release with their spin on the story. While local press in Wyoming and Colorado reported on the Waco- and Ruby-Ridge-like aspects of a violent and unprovoked federal police attack on a child care facility, the national media ran with the coverup story.

When I got back to the land of electricity and email, I read the Buffalo News story and immediately sent this note to News editor Margaret Sullivan:

 

You ran an AP story (http://www.buffalonews.com/nationalworld/national/story/385003.html) based on discredited official sources. I am familiar with the group in question since they were the topic of my doctoral research and book, and I was on site working on a documentary film. A press release from the group is available at http://mediastudy.com/Rbow-08-PoliceRiot.html.

 

I can also put you in touch with a 3rd party journalist who witnessed the event, for a less biased account. Bottom line - shots fired w/o provocation. Also, your description of the group (eccentrics, young people and hippies) is silly and pejorative.

Shortly thereafter, I sent Sullivan the link to the Star Tribune’s coverage of the incident. As of press time, I have not heard back from Sullivan or anyone at the News, and the false story stands uncorrected.

For the victims of the Kiddie Village police riot, false news coverage by lazy, compliant “journalists” comprises a second, and sometimes longer-lasting and more devastating, attack. The reality of their status as victims is taken away, and their recovery is undermined by the struggle to get reality recognized in an Orwellian world.

The story here, of course, is much bigger than the Rainbows, the Kiddie Village police riot, the Associated Press, or the Buffalo News. It’s a much more important story about honesty, reality, and bearing witness. It’s about how more and more, as journalists turn their backs on their collective responsibilities, we’re becoming a society ruled by lies and misinformation. We now must add to our ever growing list of things for which to struggle the demand for coherent, honest narratives of reality, for the creation of an accurate documentation of the events of the day.

Dr. Michael I. Niman is a professor of journalism and media studies at Buffalo State College. His AV columns are archived at mediastudy.com and available globally through syndication.

 

 

July 19, 2008

 

 

Legislators Support Reducing Legislature from 15 to 9

Say reducing size of legislature would make for more efficient and effective government

 Erie County Legislators John J. Mills, Michael H. Ranzenhofer and Edward A. Rath, III met with the media and interested members of the public on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 9:30 AM to announce their support for a plan to reduce the size of the Erie County Legislature from 15 to 9 members. They believe that reducing the size of the legislature will result in cost savings to Erie County taxpayers as well as help county government to operate more efficiently.

Legislators Mills and Ranzenhofer previously called for such a reduction in their "7 for ‘07" plan. "I am pleased that this idea is gaining support. I want to thank Legislator Loughran for joining with us on this idea. Reducing the size of the legislature has been a priority of mine and this plan furthers the reductions that voters demanded in 2003," stated Ranzenhofer, referring to the reduction in the size of the legislature from 17 members to 15 members. "The Legislature needs fewer and more qualified legislators. I look forward to bi-partisan discussions on this issue."

Legislator Mills added, "The fairest and most effective leadership for taxpayers can only be obtained by sensibly re-drawing districts. The first step is to create a non-partisan re-districting commission, similar to that outline in the County Charter. The commission will be charged with arriving at a plan that best meets the needs of taxpayers, not the needs of any political party."

Legislator Rath discussed the importance of the process. "The reduction of the size of the legislature must be undertaken in conjunction with the most current census data. Otherwise, we will find ourselves operating under a ‘weighted voting’ system such as we were a few years back. Through careful implementation of bi-partisan plan, we can create a more efficient and more effective county legislature."

Legislator Mills concluded by saying, "I look forward to discussing the plans to reduce the size of the legislature in committee. We need to examine all of the proposals and move forward with a plan that best meets the needs of Erie County taxpayers. The concept is gaining support and I hope that all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will work hard to present a plan for Erie County residents to vote on as part of a referendum. Erie County voters, not elected officials, should have the final say on this matter."

 

 

WEEK OF SILENCE: WHEN WILL JON POWERS SHOW LEADERSHIP?

Niagara GOP Chairman Wojtaszek Calls On Powers To Return Tainted Rangel Money

 

Powers under Scrutiny for Large Contributions from Outside the District
    
 Niagara County Republican Committee Chairman Henry Wojtaszek called on Jon Powers to return contributions from Congressman Charlie Rangel.  Rangel has recently come under fire for receiving "sweetheart" rent deals and alleged campaign finance ethics violations.  Rangel has contributed $9,000 to Powers, and the two are expected to hold a fundraising event together in New York City on August 6th. 

 "Powers isn't leading by example; he's following the model of a typical politician.  His ties to career politicians like Rangel, his illegal use of campaign funds, and his questionable acceptance of contributions from outside our district are indicative of the corruption and dishonesty of D.C. insiders," said Niagara County Republican Committee Chairman, Henry Wojtaszek. "The voters of Western New York deserve a candidate who will bring real leadership and real change, not more of the same Washington politics.  It's time for Jon Powers to come clean, and give Western New Yorkers an answer about his fundraiser and contributions."

 In addition to Powers' questionable ties to Rangel, Powers recent fundraising report shows that nearly half of his reported contributions came from outside New York State.  Powers filing shows large contributions from San Francisco, Massachusetts, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Virginia.  Additionally, Powers spent more than $15,000 on travel to places other than Western New York.

"Powers has claimed to have a lot of 'grassroots' support from the district, but his contribution filings show otherwise.  It's another example of Powers' hypocrisy by example," concluded Wojtaszek.  "It's been a week of silence since Powers was asked about his contributions from Rangel and his fundraiser with Rangel.  It's time for an answer and for Powers to give back the money and cancel his fundraiser."

* Powers campaign says nothing about returning contributions.  "Erie County Republican Chairman James Domagalski called on Congressional candidate Jon Powers to show "leadership by example" and return Rangel's $9,000 in campaign contributions...Powers campaign had no immediate response."  (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Ties To Rangel Under Fire, 07/11/2008)

* Rangel To File Ethics Complaint Against Himself. "House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) called … for the ethics committee to investigate his fundraising efforts for a New York City College center that bears his name, denying he abused Congressional resources…Rangel defended his use of Congressional stationary to write to a variety of charitable foundations and private individuals to draw attention to the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service." (Roll Call, 7/17/08)

* Large Contributions For Powers Come From Outside District. "44 percent of the money Powers raised through the last quarter comes from out-of-state." (WHAM 13, 7/16/08)

* New York Times Says Rep. Rangel Has Four Rent-Stabilized Apartments In One Building Including A Campaign Office. "While aggressive evictions are making rent-stabilized apartments increasingly scarce in New York, Representative Charles B. Rangel is enjoying four of them, including three adjacent apartments in a sprawling penthouse overlooking Upper Manhattan, courtesy of one of New York's premier real estate developers. Mr. Rangel, the powerful Democrat who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, uses his fourth apartment, six floors below, as a campaign office, despite state and city regulations that require rent-stabilized apartments to be used as a primary residence." (New York Times, 7/11/08)

* Powers Charged Campaign To Pay Rent. "An Iraqi war veteran running for Congress wrongly charged his own campaign thousands of dollars for renting part of his residence.  The candidate, former Army captain Jon Powers, said … he will pay the money back." (Associated Press, 4/17/08)

* Powers And Rangel Scheduled To Do A Joint Fundraising Event. "House Ways and Means
Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N..Y.) has set up a joint fundraising entity with 10 highly touted Democrats who are challenging Republican House incumbents or are running for open seats…Rangel…will share the money with…Iraq War veteran Jon Powers one of the Democrats running for the seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.)." (Roll Call, 7/9/08)

 

 

 

July 18, 2008

 

 

 

 

PoliticsNY.Net "Joe, Paul Koessler died Thursday morning"

 

 I am deeply & profoundly saddened to hear of the death of Paul Koessler.

 

Paul, the Bridge Authority Chair, a community activist of the highest order.

 

Paul was always available to me & my staff.

 

Paul always was there with a "how are you doing, Joe".

 

I remember when I met Paul it was at lunch with Albie Michaels PHD, UB, we had a great lunch six or seven years ago outside at the Park Lane.

 

Oh! I will miss this man.

Condolences to the Koessler family. God Bless his immortal soul! ###

 

HUNTLEY PLANT UPGRADE DOA

 

As reported here first last year! The Huntley Station in the Town of Tonawanda isn't getting a $1.6 billionstate of the art coal power plant.

 

Truth is Spitzer killed the deal last year. The project was to expensive & the "greens" in his administration were opposed to the project on environmental grounds!

<