Entries Tagged 'Erie County' ↓

New York Assembly Approves Toll Elimination Bill
New York State Assembly votes to eliminate a toll booth from Interstate 95 over noise and air pollution concerns.

The New York State Assembly moved on Monday last week to eliminate a toll booth from Interstate 95. Members voted 87 to 47 to abolish the collection of tolls at the New Rochelle toll plaza on the New York State Thruway. Motorists on this stretch of I-95 currently most stop and pay $1.50 or use E-ZPass, and the toll is scheduled to rise to $1.75 next year. State Assemblyman George S. Latimer (D-Westchester) introduced the idea of stopping the tolls because they imposed unfair burdens on his constituents.

“Daily commuters from Westchester, the Bronx and Manhattan pay a disproportionate fee to use this section of the Thruway, compared to every other corridor across the state,” Latimer wrote in support of his legislation. “Further, the presence of this toll plaza serves to direct northbound traffic onto local roads, particularly U. S. 1 (Boston Post Road), through the developed corridors of New Rochelle, Larchmont and Mamaroneck, adding to local congestion and air pollution.”

It’s as if our state law-makers don’t feel WNY taxpayers have them very same “unfair burdens” like downstate. We are in deed Home of the screwed! I haven’t had the chance to converse with Rus Thompson on the matter, but it’s safe to say he’s probably as “fed-up” as my blogging name.

Damn! That says a lot of the people whom are to be leaders of our area.

There’s a article in the Buffalo News about living on $2.95 a day. The challenge was presented to a few politicians for two days… and they failed.

The “poverty challenge” was put forward by the Homeless Alliance of Western New York, which earlier in the week called on community leaders and lawmakers to join in solidarity with the 30 percent of Buffalo residents who live at or below the federal poverty line of $866 (or $1,466 for a family of three) in income per month.

A realistic approach to stretching a dollar would have been for them to be poverty-stricken for a full month. A full billing cycle of rent, gas, electric, phone, internet, cable, food, credit cards, auto & health insurances. Now add in a couple of kids.

During the challenge, LoCurto gave up cable television and the Internet, saving about $2.48 against his budget. But he continued to use his cell phone, drove to work and maintained his health insurance.

“That left me with a budget for the day of negative 82 cents, before I started eating,” said LoCurto, who represents the Delaware District. “I don’t function if I don’t have three meals a day, and they weren’t elaborate meals . . . What do you do if you have to buy a $4 bottle of Tylenol? You don’t have dinner that day?”

A realistic challenge would be for these politicians to actually have their paychecks reduced to the poverty level for the full effect of being the working class poor. When you play a game with monopoly money, you know it’s only a game. But when you’re looking at a real budget with real money and finding away at real survival of supporting a family…. it no longer becomes the thought of “let’s pretend you’re poor” it becomes you’re actually living in the poorer lifestyle. A lifestyle of which making ends meet is a daily struggle.

A further realistic “challenge” would be living as the working class poor for a full year, so when minimum wage is increased & an economic stimulus check is being issued by the government, you’ll see how the cost of living adjusts your budgeting for the year…. a budgeting of going without more because food prices jumped through the roof & utility rates are robbery in broad daylight. After 12 months you see you’re further behind.

The alliance developed the challenge to call more attention to poverty in the second-poorest large city in the country, according to U. S. Census Bureau data.

When a lesson is to be taught with monopoly money, nothing is ventured…. nothing is gained, and politicians are no less ignorant when it comes to living a poorer lifestyle. They lived it for 2 days and then went back to their richer living. I bet the $4 bottle of Tylenol doesn’t seem so expensive now, does it? No rules have been broken today by any politician because you drove your child to daycare.

The “fed-up” in me is saying the effects of lifting people out of poverty is more than playing pretend for two days, because for people who are struggling more than myself it’s more than 48 hours of budgeting bills and modes of transportation. It’s more than 48 hours of making smaller meals so your food supply lasts a little longer. More than 48 hours of opting not to buy a new pair of sneakers for your children because you don’t want the electric cut off in your home.

This poverty challenge was a failure before it began, because the poor are still poor and the politicians get to go home with their financial security still in tact. Thanks for playing the game though.

Another installment of: Home of The Screwed! This one at a local level.

In today’s Buffalo News is a story about Erie County Legislator Timothy Kennedy who while lobbying for Motorola, accepted campaign contributions toting up to $1,250.

State Board of Elections records indicate Kennedy, a Buffalo Democrat, received a $1,000 donation from Motorola Inc. last year and another $250 from its local dealer after he launched a loud campaign against a technology competing with Motorola’s.

Kennedy believes it isn’t a conflint of interest because he accepted money more than 5 months after:

“The fact that individuals gave to me more than five months after I began shouldn’t raise any eyebrows. It’s not a story,” he said. “Those who gave to me believed in what I was doing.”

Um, does anyone know how to spell KICKBACK???

We all know that New York State is no stranger to the aged-old concept of “you do for me, I do for you“, but for a local politician to flat out deny any impropriety to the News is 110% arrogant, IMO.

Asked if had considered not accepting the contributions, Kennedy said only that he had been consistent in his arguments and anyone is free to give to his campaign.

“I work in the best interest of taxpayers,” he said. “If I had taken contributions prior to this or had changed my tune, then I believe this would be a conversation worth having.”

Only a true politician will leave his treasure chest wide open for anyone to toss their contributions in and then look the other way when such money is put into question. That’s not what’s in the best interest of the people he represents… it’s putting his election cycle first, plain & simple.

You’re only as good as not getting caught with your hands in the cookie jar.

Erie County Executive Chris Collins says that by cutting the number of cell phones it saves the County $150K. Being one of 921,390 residents in Erie County, I feel I am owed a grand total of 16¢ when all’s said and done.

Pay up Mr. Collins! If you’re going to talk about saving within the County, I want to see what’s going to happen, I’d like it to be in the form of what I can put back into my own pocket.

I don’t suppose you’re going to do anything about the County/government taxes that’s on my cell bill every month since talking about “savings”, are you? Um, I didn’t think so.

For my 16¢, I’d prefer it in cold hard cash in my hand. One dime, one nickel, one penny. And you can ignor the the $2.61 that I pay in Government fees to At&T each month.

Home of the screwed indeed!

I know this is a little late, but I hadn’t knew of the whole story until now (life gets in the way of news). To be perfectly honest… I’m still shocked as all hell though.

For a diehard like myself who not only exercizes my rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press and my responsibility to question our elected leaders from time to time… all I can say about Tom Christy being forced off the air is WTF?

This is just another fine example of “Managed Media” by elected officials whom feel they are above being questioned by the people in a Country designed for the people.

The station said in the Buffalo News:

“During the past several months, Mr. Christy has begun interjecting his personal opinions, which have often been critical, about government activities, particularly those of the Niagara County Legislature and the Niagara County Industrial Development Authority. This has resulted in complaints from viewers, and several officials, including the county manager, will no longer agree to appear on the program,” wrote Thomas Riley, LCTV’s executive director.

While the Constitution of the United States of America says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It’s a sad day in America when one is stripped of their First Amendment right for the appeasing of a TV station’s ability to indecently protect the people we elect into office.

I hope to see/hear Tom Christy on the airwaves some time very soon in the future. He’s too good of an interviewer to be held down when “accountability” means so much, especially in a place like Western New York!

They’re fedup, and they have every right to be. From here in Buffalo throughout the entire Country, today’s protest is no April Fool’s. Truckers are taking a stand by shutting their trucks down, a stand that is fully moral of supporting, especially in this time when the cost of everyting keeps rising. We have state and federal leaders who continue ignoring the people of whom they are to represent.

Some truckers hit brakes to protest gas prices

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - - At Jim’s Truck Stop in Cheektowaga, Sammy Johnson is parking his rig for the day, not hauling freight to protest the cost of deisel now well over 4 dollars a gallon.

Sammy Johnson, trucker, “We all stick together it might work, but a couple trucks ain’t gonna do it. It’s gonna take all America, all the drivers to shut it down to get fuel rates that we want it to be.”

But on the cb radio it was hard to find many other independent truckers doing the same.

Sammy Johnson, trucker, “How many of you drivers gonna strike today.”

Ron Mumme, trucker, “There’s a lotta talk about it, talk of violence, and that’s childish and ignorant.”

Ron Mumme decided not to protest, but agrees with the reasons for it.

Ron Mumme, trucker, “It’s about rates, it’s about us getting what we need to get to keep our trucks on the road.”

Tim Francis, trucker, “Everything’s gone up, tires, oil fuel.”

Tim Francis, trucker, “Everything goes up but the rate and Buffalo is the worst place in the world to get a decent rate.”

This was the scene in Chicago this morning, where some truckers parked their rigs in protest on a busy highway. In New Jersey some truckers proested outside of a service stop and then slowly drove down the new jersey turnpike, but around here, by talking with truckers in Cheektowaga and Pembroke we found most trucks were on the road.

Although you are not protesting today, what would you want the general public to know?

Dee Francis, trucker, “They can expect their prices in produce and groceries in general, everything’s gonna continue to rise simply because we can’t afford to be out here at these prices.”

Story by George Richert (WIVB)

A serious warning from Channel 2 news:

Buffalo Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson has issued an alert tonight for anyone traveling through Buffalo and Western New York.

Gipson says his department recieved credible information about a possible gang initiation on Wednesday evening. Gipson says the gang members may drive around the community and hit drivers from behind. If this happens to you, police ask that you stay in your vehicle, drive to a well lit area and call 911. Gipson suggests you ask for a uniformed police officer when calling. If you do not have a cell phone, you are asked to drive to a nearby police station.

Gipson says he has informed other police agencies about this warning and will have the Buffalo Police task force on patrol Wednesday evening.

When is the madness going to end? I think my picture says it all…

Western New Yorkers speak up about thruway toll hikes

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) - Western New Yorkers finally got their chance to speak up about planned toll hikes along the thruway.

News 4’s Melissa Holmes has more from the south Grand Island tolls.

The price of tolls, like the ones at the Grand Island Bridge, are a huge subject of debate these days.

Supporters and opponents of the toll rate hikes came face to face Tuesday night in downtown Buffalo.

Buffalo developer Carl Paladino said, “They’re using money that is sent to operate upstate New York Thruway down to New York City. That’s wrong.”

Western New Yorkers didn’t hold back during Tuesday night’s public hearing at the Buffalo Public Library.

Some drivers are furious over the Thruway Authority’s plan to raise tolls another five percent each year over the next two years.

Some local lawmakers say the authority is not using enough federal money given to the state for road maintenance. Most of that money stays with the State Department of Transportation.

At the same time, some drivers say they are willing to pay a little more if it means roads will continue to be maintained.

Ron Klinczar said, “For the reason of continued safety, for me as a motorist and everybody out on the highway, I support the toll increase.”

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael Fleischer said, “We have been trying to develop a plan that’s fair, to provide a safe transportation facility.”

We want to know what you think about the rising toll prices. Leave your comments below the story.

Tolls at the Grand Island Bridge are now a dollar, and Thruway Authority leaders say these will not go up.

They also say they are looking into the idea of creating discount programs, especially for commercial truck drivers.

Story by Melissa Holmes, WIVB.

I lifted this from the home page of WNYmedia.

DECIDING PRUDENT BORROWING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS
Written by Lynn Marinelli
These are the items identified by the County Executive’s Office:

GENERAL PROJECTS: Ralph Wilson Stadium ($2,800,000) , Botanical Gardens ($1 million), Convention Center renovations ($5 million), code compliance ($700,000) and county buildings roof replacement ($700,000), highway vehicles replacement ($700,000), and Old County Hall rehabilitation ($500,000).

HIGHWAY PROJECTS: Capital overlay ($3,800,000); Federal aid road reconstruction ($1,002,100), intersection improvement ($181,150), road design ($116,160); unanticipated road and bridge construction ($75,000) and design ($10,000); FEMA road reconstruction ($485,000) and design ($95,000); Hopkins Road construction ($790,000) and design ($225,000); and preservation of roads and bridges ($11,500,000).

SHERIFF: Correctional Facility roof ($2,500,000) and video surveillance upgrades ($175,000); renovations to Yankee Compound ($800,000); Holding Center medical unit renovations ($150,000), roof replacement ($2,500,000), and improvements ($500,000); and health records module upgrades ($700,000).

PARKS: Improvements to Chestnut Ridge Park Casino ($750,000) and Wendt Beach Mansion ($150,000).

DIVISION OF INFORMATION: computer replacement and upgrades ($1 million), data information storage ($300,000), SAP expansion ($160,000), business/disaster planning ($250,000), and fiber optic network ($290,000).

HEALTH: Medical information system ($900,000), security improvements at clinics ($200,000), Medical Examiner cooler/freezer system replacement ($155,000) and X-Ray equipment replacement ($85,000).

EMERGENCY SERVICES: Public Safety communications ($1,400,000) and Training Center renovations ($2 million).

LIBRARY: Replace Fuel Tank – Parking Lot – Storage Space ($150,000).

ENVIRONMENT & PLANNING: Times Beach improvements ($100,000) and bicycle trail construction ($300,000).

BOARD OF ELECTIONS: voting machines ($500,000).

COMMUNITY COLLEGE: equipment ($1,800,000), building restoration ($700,000), Campus security ($700,000), and Flickinger roof replacement & HVAC equipment ($1,750,000).

The 2008 County Budget proposed seven other projects, not currently included in the executive’s list, such as Frank Lloyd Wright boathouse ($800,000), Buffalo Zoo ($1 million), Clerk’s office purchase of equipment ($100,000), Bethlehem Steel site redevelopment ($2 million), downtown library escalator replacement and asbestos removal ($2.23 million), more than $500,000 cut from bike trails, and over $800,000 removed from bridge projects. Also not included was a legislative request for $500,000 toward city of Buffalo roads.

If memory serves, Chris Collins beleived in running government like a business. As it turns out one of the biggest “businesses” is top of the list in receiving more taxpayer funding for capital improvements. Run government like a business or just another reason for corporate welfare? What a shame! When the hell is Ralph Wilson going to get (our losing) Buffalo Bills to stand on their own two feet without a contract & a hand out of taxpayers money?

Think about how much money could be saved, or used for other needed things (see quote below) if the Bills were sent packing or forced to pay their own way for a change in Erie County?

Just as homeowners determine capital improvements, so does government, mostly with public health, safety, economic development and community projects. Decisions are weighed on needs versus wants, priorities, costs, timelines and market conditions.

I don’t see how corporate welfare fits into any of the above government making “decisions”. Obviously priorities & costs don’t fit, and neither does health, safety, economic development and community projects.

Next to patronage, the Buffalo Bills are the biggest form of pork spending in all of Western New York, thus sealing the deal that New York State will always be Home of the Screwed!

Dear Governor Paterson,

I watched as you were sworn in as the newest Governor of New York State. I heard you generalize several times about how NY’ers are embarking on a new day…

“Regardless of the circumstances, we move forward.”

In taking the concept of “moving forward”, I repost from March 7th, 2008

Governor ——-, as a life long New Yorker from Buffalo, I also urge you to sign Senate Bill S.6824 & Assembly Bill A.10003 which will remove the Grand Island tolls. Governor ——-, I urge you to consider “upstate” as an equal part of New York State.

“Moving forward” means being the influence to have the sign in this picture taken down once and for all.

Sincerly,
Fed-Up in WNY