Be Alert all Amherst Residents!!

Incredible, desperate, how-low-can-you-go moves to garner support for the wrong project in the wrong location.

 Click here & Get THE TRUTH! 

The Comprehensive Master Plan IS the blueprint for development in Amherst. It was adopted in January 2007. It was studied and researched for several years. One of the stated visions of the plan, is that Amherst be renowned for its exceptional quality of life.

Isn’t it ironic that we are here, once again, discussing how this project, at this location is an assault on the quality of life of Amherst residents, living in over 1000 homes? Knowing, additionally, this number will increase dramatically because this development is just the beginning of a conversion into another commercial corridor? This is something our comprehensive plan repeatedly and specifically advised against for this section of our Town.

The Master Plan elaborates that the project area, in particular, is not to be used for commercial development… That the residential portions of maple road should be protected from further commercial development or redevelopment (section 3-16)

Some of the relevant violations are:
     It is not consistent with surrounding land use or highway corridor.
     It is not at a major intersection.
     It is not in keeping with the neighborhood scale.
     It creates numerous adverse environmental impacts on adjacent
     land use.

The authors of our Master Plan recognized the problems involved in developing this area of our town or rezoning it and advised against it.  Our own Amherst Planning Department understood the problems associated with rezoning this property and advised against it.

Our own Amherst Traffic Safety Board understood the safety problems associated with rezoning this property and advised against it. The neighborhood residents have said and to continue to say no to rezoning of this property to general business/commercial.

This entire proposal, including all environmental issues needs to be looked at comprehensively through clear eyes not through the prism of dollar signs and a developers spin.

Dedicating $3 Million to Outer Harbor Improvments  

Transfer of NFTA Land Commences Lakeside Meadows Redevelopment 

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) is applauding actions taken today which will result in $3 million in new investments along Buffalo’s Outer Harbor.  The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding allowing for the transfer of 111 acres of Outer Harbor land to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) for a greenfield redevelopment project.  ECHDC will spend $3 million in improvements on the site, being named Lakeside Meadows, which will take place on the land between the Skyway and the water’s edge.   

“This initial investment will convert land currently barren and unsightly into property welcoming to the public and attractive to private investors interested in residential and commercial development along this site,” said Congressman Higgins, who has long advocated for the land transfer. 

“This project will work in unison with the Outer Harbor Parkway along Fuhrmann Boulevard and the Greenbelt Project along the water’s edge, both currently under construction, to completely transform the Outer Harbor.” 

Under the agreement, the NFTA will lease the property to the ECHDC with the option to purchase the land in 5 years.  In the meantime, ECHDC will clean-up the land, creating new grassy areas and natural landscaping.  ECHDC intends to work with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy on the design and maintenance of the site and will consult with the New York State Department of conservation on all clean-up work. 

Will continue to fight for change and the hard-working residents of the 61^st district

Batavia – Erie County 10^th District Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore) will announce her candidacy for the 61^st Senate district on Wednesday April 2rd at 5:00pm in front of the Batavia City Hall. The Batavia City Hall is located at 10 West Main Street in the City of Batavia.Iannello will announce her intention to seek the Democratic endorsement for the open 61^st Senate seat. She will also seek the endorsement from the Independence Party and the Working Families Party.

“I look forward to an issue based campaign. I am excited to discuss my proven record of fighting for change with the voters in the district, and I am eager to listen to their concerns,” explained Iannello. Iannello has already received several key Genesee County endorsements in the race, including Batavia City Council President Charlie Mallow, Town of Le Roy Council member Susan Bell, Former Village of Le Roy Mayor Jim DeLooze and Genesee County Board of Elections Commissioner Dawn Cassidy. Among her endorsers from Erie County are: City of Tonawanda Council members Colleen Perkins, Gary Waterhouse, Jim Kossow, and Rick Davis, City of Tonawanda Council President Carl Zeisz, Erie County Democratic Committee Vice Chair and City of Towanda Democratic Committee Chair Gayle Syposs, and the Town of Clarence Supervisor Scott Bylewski,.

“I will be announcing my candidacy in Batavia to show my commitment to the entire district. I am very proud to have such strong support throughout both Genesee and Erie Counties,” said Iannello.The 61^st State Senate district is made up of the Towns of Amherst, Clarence, Newstead and Tonawanda and part of the City of Tonawanda in Erie County and all of Genesee County. The incumbent, Senator Mary Lou Rath, has decided to retire at the end of her term.

Barack Obama is doing more that running for the Democratic Presidential nomination, he is opening up lines of communication concerning race.  Children of mixed ethnic backgrounds are finding this opportunity very healthy.

“Being accepted. Proving loyalty. Navigating the tight space between racial divides. Americans of mixed race say these are issues they have long confronted, and when Senator Barack Obama recently delivered a speech about race in Philadelphia, it rang with a special significance in their ears. They saw parallels between the path trod by Mr. Obama and their own.”

“They recalled the friends who thought they were not black enough. Or the people who challenged them to label themselves by innocently asking, “What are you?” Or the relatives of different races who can sometimes be insensitive to one another.”
[read whole story]

Maybe it’s not officially being recognized as the “R” word (recession), but the American public is living with it and they know ~ it is.  More and more individuals are applying for, recieving and using Food Stamps.”Driven by a painful mix of layoffs and rising food and fuel prices, the number of Americans receiving food stamps is projected to reach 28 million in the coming year, the highest level since the aid program began in the 1960s.”

“The number of recipients, who must have near-poverty incomes to qualify for benefits averaging $100 a month per family member, has fluctuated over the years along with economic conditions, eligibility rules, enlistment drives and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, which led to a spike in the South.”
[read whole story]

High LDL cholesterol is something we have to keep under control.  Your Doctor will tell you if your level is too high and if so will most likely prescribe a medication to help you  get it under control and keep it there.  There is new evidence showing that Vytorin and Zetia may not work and should be used only as a last resort.

“nstead, physicians and patients should rely more heavily on older cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins, which have proven benefits and can be cheaper, the panel said.”

“The strongest recommendation we can make on this panel is to go back to statins,” said Dr. Harlan M. Krumholz, a cardiologist at Yale. “They work.””
[read whole story]

Career Politician Jim Hayes - Still no record

Career politician Assemblyman Jim Hayes still hasn’t shown any record of accomplishments. Hayes sent out two taxpayer funded campaign literature style frankings this past week. One of the campaign pieces was an invitation to a town meeting at which citizen attendees will be asked to leave their names and addresses so that Hayes can shake them down for political campaign contributions. When will Hayes stop using the assembly as a whiner pulpit and start making Albany work for Amherst.

SpeakupWNY.com

Is there enough time for fighter Joe Mesi?  Having put himself out there as a possible candidate for our State Senate, is there enough time for him to learn from the high powered Washington staff, so he not only knows the answers to questions the people in his district ask but so he understands the concept of why they are problems.

Michael Marcy is a new member of Mesi’s team.  The team is supposed to help Mesi understand what the problems of his district are, how they were created, and why they haven’t been resolved yet.

Marcy doesn’t have any first hand knowledge of Mesi’s district.  Most recently, from 2003 to 2008, he has been in Washington working for Congressman Anthony Weiner.  For a short period he worked as an aide for Senator Schumer.  From 1999 to early 2000 he worked in the Bill Clinton White House.  Where is the WNY history?  There isn’t any.

Marcy is supposed to mentor Mesi and help him deal with questions asked by individuals at various gatherings.  So far Marcy’s mentoring allowed Joe to offer an answer at the Amherst Democratic Party meeting that got everyone’s attention.  Mesi was asked what he thought about illegal immigrants working for farmers in some sections of his district.  Joe said he would find white men to do the work these illegal immigrants do.  They have already taken so many jobs from the white people.  I followed up by asking if Joe knew that white men in this area will not take these jobs.  He replied that he would find white men to do this work.

 As more in depth questions are asked of Joe, it will become evident that Len Lenihan again sold out decent candidates who have in depth knowledge of what is happening in that district.  This time he must be held accountable.  He will choose the candidate and once again the Democratic Party will be held to blame for this tragedy of choice.  Does Lenny care?  No way.  He will blame it on somebody else.  

Joe is a fighter.  His other main interests are charities and helping people by showing up at functions.  Every local celebrity knows how to build up a strong base of people.  You must get involved in charities and fund raisers.  That may be what he is doing.