Amherst Times

Councilmen Dan Ward and Dr. Barry Weinstein have seen eye-to-eye on several resolutions while other Town Board members have disagreed with them..  Could this be the beginning of a friendship? Hope so.  This union could really cut a ton of wasted dialogue from the meetings.

The is a great deal of verbal posturing during meetings which adds little or nothing to the subject under discussion.  Some Board members merely repeat material already known about a topic just so they can be quoted in the Buffalo News and appear to be productive Board members.

News reporter Tan must be turning red from writing such dribble garnered the least informed Town Board members.

DOES AMHERST HAVE ANOTHER SERIOUS DEBT PROBLEM?

It seems the sub-contractor Amherst hired during the October storm has placed a lean against Amherst for non-payment of services.  This charge is in the millions of dollars range.  How deep are your pockets?

On March 14th Amhersttimes.com posted a news watch article telling you that Congressman Tom  Reynolds would be dropping out of the race for Congress.  That seems to be the “Breaking News” today for the rest of the media.

Reynolds will be making this announcement Thursday March 21, 2008.  NYS Senator George Maziarz is expected to run for Reynolds’ seat but ~

I DON’T BELIEVE MAZIARZ WILL GET THE ENDORSEMENT.

The proposed Benderson development, at the former Shooting Club site, is in direct violation of Amherst’s Master Plan. The Master Plan specifically states that Maple Road, east of Millersport Highway is to be “protected from further encroachments by new commercial development or redevelopment”.  This was recommended to protect local residents, public recreational resources and the overall quality of life in our Town. 

Most Amherst residents are not aware of the potential impact of this proposal.   If this spot zoning is approved April 7th, it will open the door to further development, transforming the entire segment of Maple Road up to North Forest into a commercial corridor.  It will change FOREVER, the character and context of this central part of Town. It will negatively impact the adjacent Maplemere subdivision and residential homes on Maple Road’s south side.  It will threaten our beloved recreational amenities.   Insurmountable traffic issues will endanger the safety and lives of all persons living in the area or traveling through the area. 

Furthermore, touted as a Town Centre, the marketing hype of this proposal does not match the actual plan.   The proposal is larger than the Lowes Plaza at Maple Road and Transit Road. It is predominantly a commercial strip mall with a sea of paved parking.

Urges Lower Gas Prices Repeal Some Taxes ~

Amherst Town Councilman Daniel J. Ward (Democrat-Amherst) issued a press release calling for a reduction in gasoline prices, and a repeal of at least some of the New York State tax thereon to assist the effort.

“Gasoline prices have gone to the point they are obscene; they are just surging!” said Ward, a declared candidate for New York State Senate, 61^st District. “I have received more consumer complaints about rising gasoline prices than anything else. They are too high already, and just keep rising. It is having a very detrimental effect on the economy, and causing havoc in the personal lives of the citizens.  Something must be done, and done now, before matters get any worse.

We are engaged in an unpopular war, that we can’t seem to get out, which was supposed to provide the collateral benefit of at least stable international oil prices, which hasn’t. We have a Federal Administration which refuses to take alternate fuels and energy conservation seriously as a matter of national policy. People are wondering how high gasoline prices are going to rise, and how much of their lifestyle, even food, they will have to cut back on to be able to afford to drive, which is a necessity, especially in upstate New York. The Republican Party, long the party of BIG OIL, has Americans crucified on a cross of oil, to paraphrase William Jennings Bryant. We can’t afford them anymore. We must do better.

 I propose the Governor and the state legislature immediately repeal, or relieve, at least some of the New York State tax on gasoline. I know there is a budget gap, but we must move to ease the pain of the citizens, and sustain economic activity throughout the state, or the gap will get worse. The current state tax on gasoline hits upstate residents disproportionately hard because of our more suburban and rural character, and lack of public transit,” said Ward.  “We need to reemphasize energy conservation, alternate fuels and a greater diversity in our energy mix.  We look to our Federal legislators to benchmark these programs and change our priorities. The state, like New York, can follow on from there. We cannot continue on our present course: while the oil companies are recording record profits, higher gasoline prices at the pump are crippling the economy and clobbering what’s left of the middle class. More can, and needs to be done, but we have to muster the will and the leadership to say this is wrong, and we need to pursue another strategy.”