MarkyMannn

I met Jeff Gordon about 8 years ago. A class act that few people could match. Very personable and patient. Talked a minute or 2, and posed for a pic with my 2 sons. The guy expresses himself very well and comes across very smooth

All right, a serious reply. When Giambra took office he talked about consolidation of state, county & town services so as to eliminate waste and lower costs. I thought the best opportunity would have been to consolidate all snow plowing within the county. It should have been relatively easy and painless, at least compared to other political hot-beds. The county needs a more consistent effort to clear all streets within the county. We do a poor job when in the suburbs streets are cleared 3-4 times, while city streets have yet to see a plow. Everyone in the county should see the same results. Especially with so many suburb people working in the city, it is the right thing to do for everyone

You forgot: "stop and see what that hooker is charging"

Was it last year or 2 years ago, when he was headed to the Ralph on gameday and rolled his truck. And then, uninjured, sat out the game brcause he was shaken up. I guess they had to cut his belts when he landed upside down. That must have been a helluva landing after that. Still, Farve would have played, no question. What upset Mike? His spinner rims won't spin any more?

This morning's news: Unemployment benefits- the county is self-insured. What that means is the county, after laying someone off, must pay their severance and unemployment benefits. In the short term, it costs less to keep people. What a mess!!! Giambra was at the airport, flying out on vacation. See ya in a couple weeks. When the going gets tough, the county exec leaves town

- 2003 Epiphone Les Paul Custom Alpine White...got it used for $450 and couldn't see one scratch on it - 2004 Alvarez Acoustic Artist AF60CK...amazing tone - 2003 Line 6 Spyder 2 112 amp w/ FBV4 foot pedal...great deal

EXACTLY! I split my seasons last year, and was going to do the same this year. But now not having spent the $$$ I usually spend to go to 4-6 Sabre games, no reason to split. Thanks Goodenow I don't give Bettman near the same amount of blame

I voted Fiedler. Thought I was the only one and see he leads the voting. Not the greatest arm, but tough and smart, he'd work for a couple games

OK, I won't argue your Drew assessment. But what can you base the JP part on? The guy was rookie, comes in, gets hurt, misses half the season, threw 5 passes, admits he wasn't ready for a game, and generally panicked and ran with the ball. Lets give him some time to prove something before you throw all these superlatives on him and compare him to Kelly

The rear shocks should be no more than $100. The struts could go $250 or more, plus I believe you need an alignment too after installation. What was your problem that you needed an O2 sensor? I'm thinking I'm looking at the same thing possibly

Why are we cool on te Sabres? Lets see, mediocre team, expensive to go see, boring on TV, and no chance to win the Cup. The team, even the entire sport, was much better in the early 90's with Pat L and Mogilny at their peak here.

In my 30 years of working, one year was on a temporary county job. I was lost. There was like no incentive, mission, purpose, whatever you want to call it. Just come in, do it, and leave. In the private sector there is so much drive. I guess it is called profitability and competition. Maybe that one movie had it right, Wall Street, "greed is good" I also worked for Tyco, greed is not good in their case

Eddie Rutkowski for a long time has been second in charge of the NYS Parks dept. What the hell does he know about parks?

You're right. I believe some local towns do contract that out. And mine contracts out re-cycling

I doubt if any one ever wants to see someone loose their job. But as times change thru the economy and technology, job roles change too. There used to be a lot of manufacturing jobs in WNY. They're gone, and people adapt. And I sympathise because it is never painless. All you can do is try to prepare for it and increase your own personal skill base to make you valuable to a future employer. That can increase your chances of employment

Trash is not a county task, the city and towns do the trash

The solution to the strike is at Niagara Falls. You just have to get it. You wade into the water just above the Falls and...............

I agree. While jobs and population are leaving, public sector jobs and their drain on the local economy are growing. The number I heard was county jobs has grown in 10 years from 7,000 to 10,000 Does any one know how those 10,000 jobs are broken down? How many at ECMC, Social Services, Parks, Highway, etc.......I just can't see how they can have that many people. That number is amazing

I sat next to Ted Cottrell on a flight. I didn't talk to him too much about the Bills though and his job. My logic was how would I feel if Ted C sat down next to me and asked me about my field, "so how about that just-in-time inventory?"

A few other observations come to mind Went to the downtown office of the EC Parks dept. First thing I noticed was how it looked like a private sector office from 25 years ago. It was like being sent back in time. Every desk has stacks of in/out trays, typewriters(!), and paper everywhere. 2 computer terminals in a back corner. Talk about backward Stop EC Sheriffs patrols and their costs. The State Police are obligated to provide coverage, they overlap, and we pay the SP any way. I went to my son's parent/teacher meeting. I had the last appointment of the day. She complains to me that it is 4:10 right now, and she got here at 7:30 Wish I had those hours, and July & August off too WS highway dept starts at 7am. When I'm passing by the local Tim Hortons at 7:30, there must be a half dozen trucks in there. Where's the accountability?

There are too many spending programs. At least NOT the kind that will attract new businesses. Yeah, it'll bring in new residents, welfare reciprients who need Medicare. Those services we provide by the bucket

In my mind, what makes that outrageous is the biggest private sector employer in Erie County is the GM engine plant, at 3,000 people. That's just not right

A lot of other thoughts, in no order, and maybe some emotional or irrational, I don't care any more. 1) 10,000 people work for the county! Doing what?!?!? We really need that many? 2) With state, federal, county, local towns and villages and schools, how many people work for the above in Erie County? Maybe 40,000 as a guess. No wonder our taxes are where they are 3) Giambra should resign, his credibility and management skills are a joke. No one wants to see him here any more 4) DeBenedetti is a bigger joke. He'll vote for the extra % if he can resign and take a $120,000 post with the Water Authority. Then he crabs about patronage 5) There is no real effort still to re-shape goverment. Increases taxes and continue with how we always do everything. 6) How many years until we are at 10%, 3 years, 11% in 5 years? Why not? 7) Today the Legislature says the 9% will be temporary

I was thinking about starting this thread myself the last couple weeks. The Ridge has been closed 2-3 weeks now. Although they let sledders "tresspass" and go down the hill by the Casino. ATV's and snowmobiles however are completely forbidden. And why? Taxpayer punishment? Not a single park worker is out of a job yet. They are all still there, just closing the park to punish the taxpayer and bring negative publicity to the whole fiasco. Where I live, West Seneca, a week ago when we had snow, county roads did not get plowed until the next day. Town roads where fine The riding at the park REALLY bothers me. I pay hundreds of $$$ per year in insurance and registration, and the one legal time of the year I can ride in Erie County, the county closes it? "F" them all, shut down the whole county

Everyone always says that. Isn't MLB setting attendance records right now? Probably 3 years after the NHL comes back, they'll have att records too. At least if they cancel the season, I hope we don't have to hear about it again for 6 months