Calling for Development Accountability

From around the state a coalition of community, policy, labor, and environmental organizations and have come together to form the New York State Initiative for Development Accountability (NYS IDA). Frustrated by the lack of quality jobs, transparency, and community participation in development as well as the negative environmental impacts of never-ending sprawl, these groups are targeting a main engine of subsidy distribution - Industrial Development Agencies (IDA) - for reform.

IDA’s hand out hundreds of millions of dollars a year in property tax breaks to companies across the state for the promise of new jobs and ostensibly other economic development “benefits”. But from North Country to Suffolk actual benefits are often underwhelming and sometimes completely scandalous. From the promise of jobs that actually result in net jobs lost, to counties stealing businesses (and jobs) with the lure of more tax breaks than their neighbors, to businesses with a long list of labor and environmental violations receiving tax-payer money IDA’s have not lived up to their promise.

In the coming months the Development Accountability coalition will be pushing for a set of reforms at the state level that include wage standards (prevailing and living wage), local hiring, community impact reports, increased transparency, a greater role for the public in the process, increased environmental standards, clawbacks (”do what you promise or give us back the loot”), and other important measures. The inclusion of these reforms in the subsidy giveaway process would transform how development impacts the real lives of people who should be benefiting more from the economic growth of their communities.

The Senate and the Assembly must act by July to incorporate these reforms and the coalition is working in regions across the state to make sure that local communities and the elected officials who represent them are speaking in one loud voice for subsidy accountability.

Adrianne Shropshire

Posted at 10:34 AM, Mar 10, 2006 in Community Development

Amherst Town Engineer Jeff Burroughs said the fact that he and his plant managers failed to identify the danger of a pipe with asbestos and concrete is inexcusable. He said it was an honest mistake. Six or seven workers were exposed for over 2 hours to asbestos. They were told to work on the pipe as part of a five million dollar Town project. Working with asbestos without protective gear can lead to very serious health problems.

Town workers must rely on their Supervisors concerning any job that has to be done and the safety of that job. There are dangerous, as well as unhealthy, jobs in various areas of the Engineering Department. Many jobs are bid out to private concerns which have expertise in certain areas the Town Engineering Department doesn’t have.

There will probably be an investigation by OSHA to determine fault and what rules were not followed by the Town. The Town might be in line for a major fine from OSHA and the workers might bring a lawsuit(s) against the Town.

Check out the comments concerning this incident posted on Speakupwny.com, a local website.

Kenneth Case, attorney and fomer Assistant DA, is getting ready to run vs Frank Clark for Erie County DA in 2008. He might be a Democrat so there could be a Democratic primary. He could just get the Republican nod too.

About 6 or 7 Town Engineering workers were exposed to asbestos as they were working on a town job to upgrade the town’s Sewer Treatment Plant.

Amherst Town Engineer, Mr. Burroughs, stated none of the plant managers were aware asbestos was in the pipe. The workers were trying to remove this pipe for over two hours. One of the workers complained to the plant manager that he thought the pipe contained asbestos. The plant manager checked a manual which confirmed the pipe did contain asbestos.

This SNAFU, which Town Engineer Jeff Burroughs called an honest mistake, may cause serious health problems down the line for these workers.

The employees are accusing the town of putting their health in danger because the town was trying to do demolition work cheaply, having town engineering workers do the work instead of hiring professional contractors.

Empire Building Diagnostics was hired to finish removing the asbestos concrete piping.

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many you are upset that folks
are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten
that I wasn’t actually born during this time of the year and
that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate
My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival.
Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate
My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the
town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My
birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa’s and snowmen
and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If
all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such
a scene on the town square because there would be many of them
all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree
a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made
all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree.
Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that
one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and
what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one,
look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth
here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My
birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope
to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and
lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know
them personally. They just need to know that someone cares
about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on
the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write
and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family
this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you
again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t
afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them
the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down
here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love
them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him
or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take
their own life this season because they feel so alone and
hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving
everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town
calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there.
Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t
allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you
from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday.
If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d
close and let their employees spend the day at home with their
families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a
missionary - especially one who takes My love and Good News to
those who have never heard My name.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole
families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas”
tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or
receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few
gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other
charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery
for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief
in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do
things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let
people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love
Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all
the rest.

Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll
help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a
most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and
remember:
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

Congress passed an Omnibus appropriations bill in the amount of $555 billion Thursday which President Bush will most likely sign.

Amherst is slated to receive $1.4 million out of the $555 billion in federal investments.

This money could have gone a long way in helping to solve an 8 year old problem with owners of Amherst’s sinking and crumbing houses. That situation has caused great hardship and despair.

Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R) announced that $383,000 is earmarked for People, Inc. This past Monday night at our Town Board meeting the Town sold our historic Mennonite Building to People Inc. to be the Amherst headquarters for their organization. The Mennonite Building is at the corner of Main and N. Forest

A small corner of the building will have some photos with stories sharing how disabled people were treated in the past. Amherst is the only place in the world which will have this sort of museum. Amherst’s elected officials believe this will be a large drawing card for people to visit.

I don’t think so. I believe that most people would rather not visit a display of photos of past disabilities machines, but who am I to disagree with our messed up past Town Board?

I believe we sold the building to People, Inc. for $237,000 dollars. People, Inc. stated they have invested about $37,000 in work already. So recapping: they received $383,000 dollars from the Feds, they purchased the Mennonite Meeting house for roughly $237,000 and put $37,000 into it. That totals $274,000. They made $109,000 on the deal. Sweet.

Is there any chance the owners of the sinking and crumbing homes can receive some money to help them Congressman Tom Reynolds, or have you forgotten all about them?

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced that police departments in the Town of Cheektowaga and Village of Depew have been awarded United States Department of Homeland Security Grants under the Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP).

“These Homeland Security grants will give local first responders the tools to answer unique emergency calls in a more precise manner,” said Higgins. “Equipment provided under this program allows for a response that better protects the safety of the emergency personnel and the communities they serve.”

The Depew and Cheektowaga Police Departments will each receive $11,500 to purchase an XOA Series Portable Video Surveillance System which captures real-time evidence on cameras that can be operated remotely or on site.

The Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program was designed to strengthen the nation’s overall level of preparedness by providing smaller communities and rural areas with technology and equipment, together with training and technical assistance, to help enhance first responder capabilities.

In fiscal year 2007, CEDAP will provide approximately $33.7 million to strengthen, the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from incidents of terrorism and other catastrophic events. Of the 3,709 applications submitted this year, 1,853 were granted an award.

Steve Reeves was the face of the stem-cell controversy for many people. “If only” theories abounded. Stem cells were spoken of as THE source of hope. Well, perhaps they are. I’m not sure but there is a new voice out there speaking the words ’stem cells’ when they talk of cancer. A new idea is out there that wonders if stem cells are the root of certain cancers, or all cancers.

“Although many scientists have assumed that cancer cells are immortal — that they divide and grow indefinitely — most can only divide a certain number of times before dying. The stem-cell hypothesis says that cancers themselves may not die because they are fed by cancerous stem cells, a small and particularly dangerous kind of cell that can renew by dividing even as it spews out more cells that form the bulk of a tumor. Worse, stem cells may be impervious to most standard cancer therapies.”
[read whole story]