Surprise, surprise. Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown has been endorsed for re-election to a third term by the Executive Committee of the Erie County Democratic Committee, County Chairman Jeremy Zellner announced Thursday.
Zellner cited Brown’s efforts to reduce crime and beef up the police force, his reduction of property taxes for businesses and homeowners, and the $1.7 billion in economic development currently under way in the city.
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When Dipson Theatres announced Thursday it would no longer be presenting films in the aging North Park Theatre on Hertel Avenue, it was feared its screen would go permanently dark.
However, Buffalo attorney Thomas J. Eoannou, who owns the building containing the theater, said he is partnering with Left Bank Restaurant owner Michael G. Christiano to keep the North Park open.
“It’s going to remain an art theater,” said Eoannou. “It would be an awful shame to mothball it. It’s just a beautiful, beautiful place.”
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Wendt & Bennett Beaches Open for Summer; Refurbished Rich Marino Gazebo at Como Lake Park Available for Reservations
ERIE COUNTY, NY— The Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry has announced the opening of Wendt and Bennett beaches, as well as numerous improvements at Como Lake Park, as the summer recreational season begins. All Erie County beaches and parks are open and available for use.
Wendt beach in Derby and Bennett beach in Angola offer stretching sandy spaces, amenities for families and recreational enthusiasts, and unparalleled natural settings. Wendt features a beautiful beach for swimming when lifeguards are on duty, as well as picnic tables, a playground, and a shelter available for rental. At Bennett, beachgoers will immediately notice that the old bathhouse wall, which had blocked access to the beach while attracting vandalism, has been removed. In addition to extensive natural areas, Bennett now features an open and inviting beach with swimming, sunbathing, boating, and other summer fun activities available.
“The Erie County Parks Department is once again excited that another beach season is upon us. As part of our continued effort to make improvements, this year the parking lot at Bennett beach has been improved and some on-site amenities such as new picnic tables, grills, fencing, and an information kiosk have been added,” said Commissioner Troy Schinzel. “Working with our colleagues in the Department of Environment and Planning, we are also beginning to address the environmental benefits our beaches provide, such as the critical role that the beautiful but fragile dunes play. We are hoping to restore some of the damaged and heavily impacted dune areas back to the conditions seen in years past. We encourage all beach goers to enjoy themselves here, but to do so in a safe manner and within the established rules.”
From May 24 – June 14, both Wendt and Bennett beaches will be open Friday – Sunday (and holidays) from 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM. During this time, however, lifeguards will not be present and swimming is prohibited. From June 15 – September 2, both beaches will be open 7 days a week from 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM. During this time lifeguards will be present from Thursday – Monday with swimming permitted at those times.
The Rich Marino gazebo at Como Lake Park was inspected in Spring 2012, when it was discovered that structural and stabilization concerns that had been developing over years had noticeably worsened. The gazebo was immediately closed in order that an approved design for repairs could be provided and subsequent work begun. During this period of design and repair, Erie County approved and committed the financial resources necessary for the replacement of roofing on both the gazebo and nearby cook shelter. These roofs were recently completed, and the gazebo is once again ready to take reservations.
Additional renovations completed at Como Lake Park since Fall 2012 include roof replacement on Shelter #1, extensive carpentry work and improvements to Lancaster Place, and roof replacement and subsequent improvements at the Bowen Grove Shelter. Also, working in close cooperation with the Erie County Department of Public Works and the County Highway Department, as well as with contracted vendors, Parks personnel were able to complete significant improvements to roadways and parking lots within the park. Forthcoming roadway and parking lot improvements, along with upgrades to the Casino, have been authorized and are scheduled for completion by Fall 2013.
For more information on the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry, or for information on how to reserve a shelter at an Erie County park, visit http://www2.erie.gov/parks/ or call 858-8355.
POSTED BY ANDY BOROWITZ
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who for the past forty-seven years has served as a weekend scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, angrily resigned from that position yesterday, effective immediately.
Justice Scalia quit his post in a terse resignation letter that read, in part:
“Some of the happiest memories of my adult life have been as a scoutmaster. Huddling under blankets around the campfire, and so forth. But now, all of that has been ruined. Ruined.”
Shortly after sending the letter, Justice Scalia destroyed his scoutmaster uniform in the blazing fireplace of his Supreme Court office.
Later, he went across the hall to share his decision with his close confidant on the Court, Justice Clarence Thomas, telling him, “There’s nowhere I feel safe anymore, Clarence. The military? The N.B.A.? Nowhere. I guess the only place I still feel safe is the Supreme Court. This is still a safe place, isn’t it?”
Justice Thomas said nothing in reply.
Once upon a time there was a frame, 2-story home located at 350 Abbott Rd. in South Buffalo, NY. It was built around 1920, like all the other frame structures that line Abbott Rd. on both sides for miles.
The home was built well, had good owners for years, but fell into the hands of fraudsters and scammers. It became a victim of white collar crime.
Why was this structure demolished? Why is there only a vacant lot there now? 350 Abbott Rd. never had a chance once Kathleen Martin, A.K.A. Kathleen Flynn, got her hands on it.
According to Erie County property records, 350 Abbott Rd. was purchased by the Lackemier family in 1974. It was well maintained, landscaped well and fit in perfectly along this middle-class, blue collar neighborhood.
In 1981 it was purchased by the Clarke family, once again, it was maintained, repairs made as needed and the mortgage always paid on time.
Then in 1989, it was purchased by Kathleen Martin, A.K.A. Kathleen Flynn, a vice-president of the mortgage department of M & T Bank in downtown Buffalo. It was the beginning of the end for 350 Abbott Rd.
Martin enjoyed the house, during the 1990′s, but soon began to dislike the area and decided to move to Orchard ark about 1993. Martin, then turned the long-time owner occupied property into a rental property. Martin then purchased a condo in Largo Florida and rented the Abbott Rd. property, often re-financing to suck out the available equity and never really reducing the principal balance. By 2003, Martin grew weary of maintaining the property and tried to sell it. After a year, with no bites, Martin decided to refinance the home once more, this time, turning to a rival lender! Martin had a mortgage with M&T, but as her employer, they had recourse on her if she stiffed them and stopped paying the mortgage. So, Martin, well versed in the business of mortgage, re-financed through Charter One Bank and Wells Fargo.
Martin paid off M & T and stiffed the rival lender, never making even 1 payment! Some call this mortgage fraud, some say white collar crime, some simply wink and nod at Martins corruption!
After the Martin fraud, the home was foreclosed and now bought by East Coast Capital Company. This time, scammers, Joshua and Jessica Douchette bought the property and began their own mortgage scams, Ponzi schemes.
In May 2007 word of these scams was brought to the attention of then-Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo prosecuted the Douchettes and the property sat vacant until 2010. Finally, after mortgage fraud by Martin, and house scamming by Douchette, 350 Abbott Rd. was purchased by a dentist, who privately tore down the structure, way before its time.
All that remains now is a vacant lot. The Douchettes were punished but ironically Martin is still employed at M & T Bank and continues working in the mortgage industry untouched by her fraud and financial misconduct.
Justice or business as usual for M & T Bank? They got their money in the Martin re-fi, so they wink and nod at Martin’s corruption!
(Buffalo, NY) Bloodline Handmade, a bespoke men’s tailoring company that makes all garments exclusively in Western New York, announced their upcoming launch on June 6th in Buffalo.
Bloodline Handmade gives their clients the opportunity to choose fabrics and material that are sourced from all over the world. Their manufacturing process as well as their team of tailors, cutters and seamstresses is entirely local. The Bloodline Handmade mission is to produce a product that is completely customizable at a price point equivalent to a quality, ready-made Italian suit.
“The reception of Bloodline Handmade in the Buffalo market has been overwhelmingly successful to date,” said Bloodline Handmade Founder Jason Blood. “By word of mouth alone, our team has been busy filling orders. I’m excited about upcoming launch to officially showcase Bloodline Handmade to all of Western New York.”
“Western New York has a lot of style and charm and I’m excited to open my business here,” Blood added. “After traveling all over the world, and living in many places, I can’t picture a better place than Buffalo to launch a bespoke men’s line. It is my dream that Bloodline Handmade will become a benchmark of style in the Western New York area.”
The Bloodline Handmade Launch party will be held in Buffalo on June 6th. The event is by invitation only, however, a limited number of spots have been made available to the public. Those interested in attending can visit www.bloodlinehandmade.com to reserve a spot on the guest list.
Letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency Details Strong Objections to Audit Findings, Continues Call for Withdrawal & Rejection of Conclusions
ERIE COUNTY, NY— Yesterday, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz issued a formal response letter to the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“OIG”) regarding that office’s March 29, 2013 revision of their audit entitled “FEMA Should Recover $48 Million of Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to Erie County, New York – Severe Weather October 2006” (“Revised Audit”). This Revised Audit is a significant amendment to the original audit first released to the public on February 8, 2013.
“The fact that OIG was compelled to issue a Revised Audit two months after their original audit was publically released is significant,” said Poloncarz. “In doing so, OIG repudiated its major findings and created multiple new and previously unstated reasons and alleged factors in continuing to demand that the County repay FEMA $39.4 million. This new letter is in response to these new—and still legally wrong—findings, the flawed process OIG conducted, the inappropriate motivation behind this audit and revision; and the flawed public policy that, if applied nationwide, would jeopardize the health and safety of all Americans during future disaster situations. I am still calling on OIG to withdraw this deeply flawed audit, and I am also calling upon FEMA to reject the audit’s findings and decline to seek payment from Erie County or NYSEMO.”
Click here for a copy of the County’s Response Letter or OIG’s Revised Audit.
Previous News on the Subject:
3/14/13: Poloncarz Issues Response to October Storm Cleanup Audit
2/27/13: Poloncarz Calls Federal Audit “Legally Wrong” in Seeking Recovery of $48 Million in October 2006 Storm Disaster Relief
And the place to start is at the top.
The sexual misdeeds attributed to Brooklyn Democratic party boss and Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez are disgusting. It is a good thing for New Yorkers that he quit the Assembly on Monday.
However, the handling of this scandal from beginning to end by Sheldon Silver shows it is time for him to call it a career and step aside as Speaker of the Assembly. If he won’t take the honorable way out, state Democratic leaders need to replace him.
Lopez, a party heavyweight, faces no criminal charges, but it is alleged that he sexually harassed his young female staffers for years. The allegations became public in August 2012, when Silver censured Lopez and stripped him of his committee leadership for abusing two women who worked for him.
In sports, coaches get fired for poor performance or for the conduct of team members. Why should our leaders be exempt from real-time accountability when so much more is at stake – big decisions about public policy, the use of your money, the course of our future?
Answer: They should not be. This team’s conduct is so foul, it’s time to fire the coach.
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Some people have asked me why I would want to throw my hat into the political ring and the simplest answer is that I feel compelled to try to make a difference. Woodrow Wilson said “There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.”
I feel that I can apply my strengths in the political arena. I do have a business background, a legal background and a political science degree. I don’t mention these things in a boasting manner because I truly feel that one of the main qualities one must possess to be a public servant is humility.
I want to earn this job through this campaign, earn your trust through my conversations with you and my actions and earn some invaluable life experience in the process.
Can you share with us your thoughts on the following items:
1) On June 11th, the politicians on the town board are forcing the public to vote again on downsizing the board from 6 to 5 members. The public previously voted overwhelmingly 70% to 30% to downsize, but the politicians don’t want to do it.
Where do you stand on this? Should the board be reduced to 5 members or do you think it should stay at 6?
2) What is your position on term limits? Several members of the board ran for office knowing there were term limits in place. Once people get a taste of the power and perks of public office they never want to leave. Attempts have been made to eliminate the term limits in place now.
What is your position on term limits?
3) Recently I filed a Freedom of Information request seeking a copy of the Town Supervisor’s schedule from 2012. I am curious as to how top elected officials spend their time. To his credit County Executive Mark Poloncarz provided me his 2012 schedule without any problem and without blacking out the names of individuals he met with regarding county matters.
Mr. Weinstein forwarded his schedule with the names of people he met with on town business blacked out. Not very transparent and I am appealing his refusal to provide me a clean copy of his schedule.
Do you think the Town Supervisor should provide a copy of his meeting schedule that includes the names of people he is meeting with? Why would an elected official who is serving the public want to keep secret who he is meeting with?
Paul Wolf
***
To be fair to Mr. Cadmus. I would also like to hear the answers to the above questions from:
Steve Sanders
Tricia Dunn
Mark Manna
Barry Weinstein
and anyone else who is looking to run in Amherst this year.
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