Entries Tagged 'opinion post' ↓

I waited to see what Rus Thompson’s take would be on this before sounding off with opinions of my own.

New York State Thruway Authority members give up perk

(WIVB) - Members of the New York State Thruway Authority are giving up a nice perk.

Board members gave in to public pressure Wednesday and agreed to stop using their free E-ZPass tags.

The move comes just one day after the New York Daily News revealed that about 60 past and present board members, many of them multi-millionaires, had received the free tags for life.

Rus Thompson’s reply to it all:

Oh, whoopie frikin do….. 7, only 7? Like this will have a big effect on toll revenue. This practice started in 1965 in union negotiations, there are thousands of these out there. This will do nothing and is simply pandering. Is it a start? Only time will tell. My god there are many, many other places to go to in this bloated budget and the corrupt system.

This does not impress me in the least bit. Do something real, something substantial…. Or our hands tied and we are at the behest of the NYSTA…. Read the noGItolls website for some more real waste.

Agreeing that this move to halt lifelong Ez-Passes for TA members isn’t as substantial as the media/news is making it out to be. IMO, The Thruway Authority thought they could escape pressure by thinking the public would be pacified with them giving up this perk.

Do we buy it? Hell NO!

Today I had one of them 24-7 “news” stations on and they played Obama’s speech in Oregon.

Obama dissed Bush as a President, and all I could yell out to the TV (knowing the fool can’t hear me) “You’re the law making body of this government!”

I find it rather ironic that any Senator can call the President of the United States out as bad, while they are elected as our law makers….. they have the power to write NEW laws of which the President can vote for or against. At no point whatsoever did the senator say that he wrote laws of which the President marked as veto.

The topic was on cost of living….. and Senator Obama could only find the words to shame President Bush while he’s holding a Senate seat.

Kettle… this is black, Black…. this is kettle.

It’s a sarcastic question, but one that is true. I was sitting on my porch, enjoying the nice weather and a girl passed by screaming as loud as she could into her cell phone at her boyfriend. You see, I knew all of her “business” because she was announcing to the general public that he (quote) shouldn’t have left her. As she’s passing by and having this conversation with someone else, she sees me sitting there looking at her, she actually has the nerve to give me a dirty look (like I’m all up in her business) when I was just sitting there on my porch… minding my own business. I mean to say, if she really wanted to have a private conversation with her bad ass boyfriend, she’s the one who should have kept it private, right?

Another time I’m walking down the street and a guy is passing by…. do I really wanna know that his girlfriend is a “trampy ho”?

Do I wanna know … someone on their cell phone is talking about where their rent money is going to come from while I’m standing in line at the store? Since when is someone else’s personal finances anything 20 strangers should know about?

Do I wanna hear someone yelling very loudly on their cell phone “dude, I can’t hear you in this stupid place!” ?? Is the place really “stupid” or they’re PO’ed because the call on their Cricket has been dropped?

Working in customer service, the last thing I’d like to hear is a person talking on a blue tooth telling their party to “hold on” ….like me telling them how much they owe is too much of a bother during their conversation when they were the one who stepped up to the counter where I work at. WTF would they think if I was on my cell giving them the same “hold on” attitude they’re giving me?

Do I really want to hear a guy saying “I told you not to call me on this number” ???

Do I really want to hear an over reacted drama (teen) queen talking about how Snookie did Poopsie wrong???

People, if you’re on your cell phone and you’re out in the public…. I don’t want to know your personal problems because you don’t have enough common sense to keep your private conversations PRIVATE!

People, if you’re out in the general public, don’t get all pissed off that others have no choice but to listen in on your conversation….. because you’re the one announcing your intimate affairs to everyone around you.

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!

This is a serious question that has to be asked. I was at a community meeting tonight in South Buffalo. There were about 80 people attending including mostly block club leaders whom were prepared to address their concerns with Mayor Brown. A camera crew from Channel 2 showed up. Sounds like it would make a great “community involvement” story for the 10 & 11 O’clock news right?

Not a chance… (pause to roll my eyes). They remained outside for the Mayor to arrive, asked their question and left while the Councilman, Legislator, Chief of A District Police and many others representing the City of Buffalo also attended. To put it mildly, Channel 2 news never entered the meeting room where block club leaders were awaiting the Mayor so they can ask questions, express their concerns, voice their frustrations, etc.

I have often expressed distaste of Channel 2 news in the past, but today’s ignoring of neighborhood interest was the limit. Now I really know, they are NOT on the side of which they announce to the public that they are.

Betcha they’ll air a “shocking video” not from our area as a “news extra” at some point tonight though. (pause to roll my eyes again).

I read on the Main Page of WNYmedia a story about how San Francisco thinks they know Buffalo well enough to say “street cams” are hindering rather than helping.

Hog Wash!

Friday, March 21, 2008

(03-20) 13:40 PDT San Francisco - —

A new UC Berkeley study of San Francisco’s 68 security cameras appears to indicate what many city officials have long suspected: The controversial devices perched at the city’s roughest street corners don’t have much of an effect on violent crime.

The researchers examined 59,706 crimes occurring within 1,000 feet of the cameras between Jan. 1, 2005 and Jan. 28, 2008. While homicides within 250 feet of the cameras were down, they spiked in the areas 250 to 500 feet from the cameras - indicating people just moved down the street to kill each other.

Other violent crimes had no change. The only cameras’ only positive effect appears to be the 22 percent drop in property crime within 100 feet of the cameras, though people broke into cars parked near the cameras at the same rate as they did before the cameras were installed, according to the study released today.

The cameras have been a point of contention in recent months between Mayor Gavin Newsom, who wants 25 more installed, and several members of the Board of Supervisors and Police Commission who say they’re not doing any good and are an invasion of privacy.

Pushing drugs on a street corner is not an invasion of privacy, nor is waiting for a bus when the cams are rolling. Everyone I talk to in my neighborhood are welcoming of the six cams being set up on corners that are known “troubled spots” in the community. The City of Buffalo Surveillance Cameras are for the safety of the general public, no matter what a San Fran study says about Buffalo

It’s only “Big Brother” if you’re doing something wrong!

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!

I’m going to give a great quote from a great song (by Joe Diffie) “we bitch about a dollar, when there are those without a dime”.

The economy? not a factor.
The war? not a factor.
The poor? not a factor.
Crime rate in America? not a factor
Homeless vets? not a factor

When selecting the next candidate for whatever office, have we nothing left but to reduce our questions to the status of their Sexual Orientation first?

Gov. Paterson
Gov. Spitzer
Gov. McGreevey

One of my most fave movies is the 1986 classic teen film, Pretty in Pink. I can watch over and over, never getting tired of the “love & friendship” theme.

I recently discovered how much I looove watching Two & a Half Men.

Wouldn’t it be great to seen an episode where Molly Ringwald & and Jon Cryer come together again?

I saw this story on the news and was appauled to see such a hypocritical display of politcal BS just 3 months into his elected seat.

Chris Collins said back in March 2007:

As a longtime resident of Erie County and a business leader, I am concerned about a dysfunctional county government that has continuously resisted reform and failed to create economic opportunity for our residents. With a hard control board managing its affairs, there has never been a darker time for Erie County. We are at a crossroads, and we need a bold leader with a vision to reform County government.

It is time for a new approach to county government, one that doesn’t look to the past for answers, but instead looks to the future. A future that puts taxpayers first. A future that creates the economic opportunity Erie County residents deserve.

But, in today’s news it says:

The Erie County Legislature did not vote Thursday on whether to approve a new county attorney. But Erie County Executive Chris Collins says the legislature balked because his choice for the job is a woman.

The county executive’s choice for the job is Cheryl Green and he wants her to earn $124,000 per year. He says it’s already appropriated in the 2008 budget.

But there is a variable minimum for the county attorney, meaning the salary can be as low as $93,000. Instead of a vote, the legislature sent it back to committee; sparking a change of tone.

To me, making a government that works for the people instead of against means hiring a position at the bare minimum to save the taxpayers by the promises he’d once campaigned on.

To me, trying to hire a person & paying them $31,000 more is NOT the intentions of which he was running for office and becoming elected as our next County Executive, but as always in the wonderful place we call home…. it’s nothing short of “business as usual” in Erie County, NY.

Exactly how the heck can you “reform a government” by paying someone $31,000 more and then turn on the legislature shouting gender biasness?