BILLS02138

Great job everyone. You might want to include the entire legislature on your emails. drbarry15@erie.gov, debenedetti@erie.gov, kuwik@erie.gov, holt@erie.gov, ranzenhofer@erie.gov, marshall@erie.gov, smith@erie.gov, dusza@erie.gov, wroblewski@erie.gov, cswanick@erie.gov, lynnm@buffnet.net, jzchase@erie.gov, mccarville13th@erie.gov, elise@cusack14.com

OK, Debenedetti and Barry - two Erie County Legislators - went too far when they requested the BILLS to forego a $3.56 million payment the franchise needs for maintenance at county-owned Ralph Wilson Stadium. The payment is part of a long-term lease negotiated between the county and the Bills in 1998. You just don't !@#$ with the NFL. Tampering with the lease - which would null and void it - is the LAST thing this community needs. With taxes as high as they are - and a county budget in excess of ONE BILLION DOLLARS - keeping the BILLS is the LEAST we can do... and paying this $3.56 million dollar payment is NOTHING compared to all the over paid Erie Country workers, unions, and PORK! WE MUST BOMBARD these two legislators with EMAILS letting them know you disapprove of their actions. WE ALL KNOW how tenuous this issue is. PLEASE DO YOUR PART ASAP. Email info: debenedetti@erie.gov -- Legislator Al DeBenedetti represents the 6th District, which includes the Riverside and Black Rock sections of the City of Buffalo, as well as parts of North Buffalo and the West Side. drbarry15@erie.gov -- Barry A. Weinstein is Legislator for the 15th District, which covers the Town of Amherst and the Village of Williamsville.

You folks are depressing - find something else to talk about.

I just heard it on the news here in Boston. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/foot...hihospitali.ap/

wow

Bass Pro Moves Towards Developing Buffalo Store GO FISHIN IN THE BUF Waterfront development in downtown Buffalo is finally taking a giant step forward. Bass Pro Shops is moving ahead with its plans to redevelop Memorial Auditorium as part of a project costing more than $120 million. A memorandum of Understanding was signed on Monday, according to company officials. The memorandum is a positive step in speeding the project along but financing details still need to be worked out. Bass Pro intends to open the 250,000 square foot store sometime in the year 2007. It is hoped the outdoor superstore will kickstart more retail development and attractions along the waterfront.

You proved my point nicely. I'm certain you live your life with a very large void. Good luck to you Jeff - don't mean any disrespect - I'm sure we can all agree - that Buffalo can be such a better place... Just tough decisions right now... and they are finally being made.

BINGO: I'm still home sick many times throughout the year. I love WNY

Yah, but Buffalo is home. I could give a sh-- about all the other "Great Lake Cities." You pick on Buffalo - You pick on me. Sorry your family and roots mean so little to you.

Jeff: Needless to say, I'm not sad that people like you left. With or without a choice - Buffalo Niagara has so much potential. The Rust Belt image is just an image - there is a lot of good here. We just need leaders in place to affect change. Enjoy Orlando - I "imagine" you feel a great sense of community, pride, and connection to the Orlando community. I know the grass is not greener. Later.

I have nothing against the folks who work for Erie County - I have a problem with the folks who continue to ELECT those who are to lead Erie County. Giambra has failed to show the bold qualified leadership to lead this county in the right direction. And the Legislature does not help. The voters have to make a statement in the upcoming elections. The problem is: If we continue to ok every tax increase - taxes will just continue to go up - Population will continue to go down - It's a sick cycle... It's time we deal with the problem instead of band-aide our way through another fiscal year.

Sorry buddy, I'm not going to apologize... When Erie County turns out to be your largest employer in the region - we've gotta problem. When our taxes are the highest in the nation - we have one too many people watching my sh-- and tax money go down the drain. When every family in WNY is losing there brothers and sisters, sons and daughters because we live in a corrupt region - it's time to cut the waste and make the necessary cuts. Things have got to change man - Are we going to continue to RAISE TAXES everytime we are SHORT or are we going to address the problems with an over bloated ERIE COUNTY GOV'T. GET A !@#$ING CLUE MAN - WE PAY TOO MUCH IN TAX. ps: ONE LAST THING - why don't you move back from ORLANDO and help out instead of preach from afar.

No matter how bad the past month has been with the Erie County budget Fiasco - I view all these developments as positive news for the tax payers of WNY. It appears we have hit rock bottom and I can't be happier. Let's cut the waste, the patronage, and build a new Buffalo. I am thrilled they refused to raise the sales tax in WNY. But I'm happier there will be deep cuts - why do we need over 10,000 public employees in Erie County? Yes, zoo's, museums, parks, libraries, fire-houses, cops, and schools are important and should be preserved (with some cuts in funding) - but the duplication of services, patronage, and pork totally over $1Billion dollars in a region with less than a million people is ridiculous. How hard is it to cut $70 Million out of a budget exceeding $1BILLION dollars? Great day in Buffalo. Legislature won't hike sales tax James Fink Business First Calling it a "day we will all remember," the Erie County Legislature Tuesday afternoon rejected a last-ditch effort to increase the local sales tax to help cover rising costs. The decision, which reaffirmed a 9-6 vote taken Monday evening against the proposed sales tax hike, means within the next 48 hours, the lawmakers must cut an estimated $70 million from its nearly $1 billion 2005 budget. Loosely translated, that means deep cuts in personnel and services. Because of various lawsuits -- all related to the budget soap opera that has gripped the Rath Building and Erie County Hall for the better part of four months -- the cuts and service reductions must be presented to State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Makowski by the end of business Thursday. Failure to do so, could result in court-mandated cuts. "After our cut package, necessary services will be gone," said Legislator Timothy Wroblewski. "I'm disenchanted with the system." Lawmakers, after Tuesday's session, were huddling to address the service and personnel cuts. The budget vote capped a hectic period that reached a crescendo two weeks ago and has been marked by a series of closed-door meetings and caucuses and some very heated and emotional public sessions. Tuesday's session began nearly four hours late as lawmakers and a court-appointed mediation team worked feverishly to try and find some form of sales tax increase that would have covered a significant portion of the county's projected $108 million budget gap. State lawmakers, including Gov. George Pataki, said 10 votes were needed from the 15-person legislature to get Albany's sign of approval. "There will be deep cuts, no doubt," said Legislator Elise Cusack. "We have to look across the board and find an approach that is equitable to everyone." County lawmakers considered a number of options ranging from a three-quarters percent increase of the sales tax, as presented late Sunday evening by County Executive Joel Giambra, to options that popped up during the last 24 hours including one-half cent or one-eighth sales tax increase. The extra money is needed to cover a gap caused by Medicaid and pension mandates imposed on the county. In the end, the legislature remained sharply divided and no consensus could be reached. "If you don't address this crisis, then the county is out of business," said veteran Legislator Charles Swanick. "At the end of the day, Erie County will change and we'll have to see where this change takes us." The entire process has lead Moody's Investor Service to render the county's bond rating on the watchlist with a negative rating and possible downgrade, both Giambra and Comptroller Nancy Naples said. Also, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership said the way the situation has been handled makes a strong case for a an indepedent review of county finances. The Partnership, the area's leading business advocacy group, is proposing to organize, fund and coordinate a budget review that would have private sector, organized labor, and non-profit representatives in an oversight role. "Citizens in Erie County are fed up," said Andrew Rudnick, president and CEO of the group. "But the good news is that many people have already stepped forward to volunteer to assist in the review. Nobody wants to be in this same situation in 2006, 2007 or beyond - and the Partnership is taking the initiative to ensure that doesn't happen." The review's first task would be to determine how much of 2005's gap can be attributed to Medicaid and how much is due to other expense increases, and what the gap is projected to be over the next three years. It would then be charged with recommending how the gap can be closed - responsibly - to avoid a similar budget mess in future years. Giambra has largely blamed the county's fiscal plight on increasing Medicaid costs. Business First

Get involved today. The future is now. http://www.greaterbflo.org/ http://www.onebuffalo.com/time.asp

Check out this link for detailed description, pictures, etc. of proposed waterfront plans. http://www.nfta.com/OH_props/BLTD.html (<-- the plan that "won") http://www.nfta.com/waterfront.phtml (<-- to see all three plans) 1) Buffalonians are there worst enemies 2) It's always so much easier to sit back and do nothing and be critical and a naysayser. 3) If you're going to B word - do something about it - or keep your mouth shut. 4) Everyone, not just the politicians, authorities, etc is responsible for the demise of WNY. When you keep voting in incumbants - what do you expect? You put sh-- in you get sh-- out. No surprise. 5) It's a good thing the Peace Bridge didn't get built YET - the Peace Bridge Authority is corrupt and was pushing a plan that would never have solved the problem. The same consultants pushing the twin span are the same guys who did the same plan @ the Blue Water Bridge. There bridge is now built - but guess what? The plan didn't work - They now need an additional $250-$300 Million to increase the size of the plaza. Again, if you're going to B word and put down Buffalo - you damn better get involved and make a difference rather than be a Monday Morning Quarterback. I'm tired of this sh-- - !@#$ing take pride in the area - or leave.

I'd like one, too!

As someone who moved to Boston 2.5 years ago - I've discovered air fare is NOT cheap between BOS and BUF. I usually pay $232 on USAirways for a direct flight - with a month notice. Good luck on USairways. You might want to try flyi.com (Independence Air) - they have some pretty cheap deals! You can fly SOUTHWEST out of Providence OR Manchester - via BALTIMORE. I've done that before. I'd definitely check out boston.craigslist.com and post an ad there... even check out buffalo.craigslist.com - you never know - but be careful. You may also want to try Air Canada - with a direct flight from BOS to Toronto... but that may be a pain in the ass. Car Rental Agencies: I've found ENTERPRISE to be the cheapest! Good luck. ONE LAST IDEA: Take the Fung GU Bus to NYC for $10 and fly JETBLUE!!!!

Yeah, I've only been here 2.5 years and I still can't find BUFFALO wings here in Bawston. UGH!

Need chicken wings for tailgating Sunday night - where in the Boston/Cambridge area - or along the way to Foxboro - is the best place to get CHICKEN Wings? Please advise ASAP. Thanks everyone... Go Bills.

I went to grade school with Liz! Good for her....

Going to the game next weekend - will there be a strong contigency of Bills fans attending as well? Tailgate Party anyone?

unfricken believable... i can only imagine Buffalo and a super bowl win! GO SOX GO BILLS

GO SOX GO BILLS

I'd hit Colter Bay (corner of Elmwood and Allen) - cool crowd - enough tv's - and always a good time. It might be Yankee friendly - but I wear my red sox hat all the time... Actually, I get more lip when I'm at Bills game about my sox hat - wtf! Damon's out in Williamsville would be another great venue... Large TVs, etc.

Going to be up in New Hampshire - Lake Winnipesaukee - this weekend. MUST find a bar to watch the BILLS - any ideas? bars? NFL SUNDAY TICKET? Please help!