Trying to understand Council Member Shelly Schratz is like unraveling an enigma wrapped up in the desire to do as well as she can for children and the elderly.

Shelly and her family live above their restaurant on Kensington Ave.  She recently brought the house next-door to the restaurant and got a remarkably good deal on it.  The house needs a ton of work but she will get it done.  It’s important to her because she bought the house for her mother live in for the rest of her life. 

Shelly knows there will be times when her mother will need her for various reasons, be it a medical issue, fear of strangers near the house or some other reason.  Shelly believes we should take care of our elderly. They did so much for us, it’s our turn to help them and protect them from being abused by anyone or any group.

 Shelly always had soft spot in her heart for the needs and protection of older people because they too, are GOD’S special people.  Some don’t have the strength to even open a jar because they are so fragile.  You read how older women are targets for gang rapes and robbery. The biggest reason these elderly people are so unmercifully beaten is the attacker doesn’t consider them to be human beings but rather, dried up old useless punching bags.

There was an article in a national magazine recently which described the mass exit of elderly people from their long held homesteads due to conditions beyond their control.  Many ended up in nursing homes waiting to end their time left on this earth there because they couldn’t afford anything else and thought they would be safer and better cared for.  

The article I referred to was actually about a nursing home of terror. Some workers made arrangements with a local punk gang to come into the nursing home and rip the gold from  the teeth from the older gentle people’s mouths. . The money the got would be shared between the punk gang members  and the nursing home attendants.  Many of these fragile elderly patients died of mouth infections because no care was given to them after the rape of the gold from their mouths.  These elderly people were  safer in their own homes where people knew them and watched out for them.

Hitler had the Jews and anyone he deemed different to degrade and murder as the world stood did nothing.  A similar type of disgusting, depraved treatment is happening to our elderly in some neighborhoods and nursing homesaround our country. 

Shelly Schratz has a driving force to help and protect the elderly.  It is a fight she will wage until she dies.  She is working hard to keep the older people in Amherst in their homes; this has been her rallying cry  as an honest politician and decent person.

I believe Council Woman Shelly Schratz should be given a day to honor her for her fight for children and for the protection and safety of our elderly in Amherst.  Shelly, you are doing a great job.

   written by: James Tricoli, Editor

One day, about 16 years ago, I was at a Canisius High School football game with my wife, Margo.  We were both freezing our noses off when the man standing next to me remarked, “What we do for our kids.”  I said, “You’re damn right.”  The quarterback of the Canisius team was Mayor Jimmy Griffin’s son and his main defense guard was our son, Jeff.

That was the first time I met Jimmy Griffin but not the last.  We became friends.  At the end of the football season Mayor Griffin and I were sitting at the same table at the Awards Dinner.  The Mayor’s son was chosen as the best offensive player on the team and my son was named the best defense player on the team.  That was one of the last face to face times were chatted.

Our family has fond memories of the time we spent with Mayor Griffin and are offering our prayers for his family and his immortal soul.  We treasured the time spent with you, Jimmy.

Statement From Congressman Higgins on the Passing of Mayor Jim Griffin  

Mayor Jimmy Griffin loved this City and the people of this region responded to his sincere and robust passion for this community.  He was a strong fighter and someone the hard working men and women in Buffalo respected and believed in.  His frankness and unique style has made him a living legend and that spirit and enthusiasm that he shared every day will live on for years to come.  My thoughts and prayers are with the Griffin family and the countless friends whose lives he touched. 

BENDERSON’S SHOW AND TELL PROPAGANDA SESSION

Benderson  held  an “informational session” at the Pepsi Center. Many of you have experienced the Benderson open-house type session. Tables will be set up in a room where they will have small groups of people being told about their project by their “expert” representatives. Each table will see and hear different things. OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN involved many expert advisors that studied the vision of Amherst over several years. Why would we believe anything Benderson’s “experts” tell us and ignore the facts, findings and recommendations of our Comprehensive Plan experts, the County, and our own Planning Department and Traffic Safety Board?

It is astounding that there are those on our Board that are still trying to put a square block into a round hole to satisfy a developer
and THEIR own vision of turning Central Amherst into Bendersonville. To accomplish THEIR vision, our golf courses, ball fields, and a portion of the hike & bike trail will be in grave danger of disappearing. All Amherst residents need full disclosure from these Board members, as to THEIR plan for OUR future. We know it is in violation of our Comprehensive Plan, but just how egregious is this violation? We elected our Board members to protect all citizens of Amherst and to uphold the Comprehensive Plan as some members specifically said they would do, during their campaigns. We did not give any member a mandate to violate the law and the people of Amherst.

There are a multitude of problems associated with this Benderson project on Maple Rd. One is the horrendous traffic it will generate. It does not take a genius or an engineer to understand that traffic cannot be mitigated to a safe level for ANYONE traveling on Maple Rd., North Forest, Fairways, Donna Lea, Foxcroft, Sandhurst, Maplemere and all roads in the Maplemere subdivision where an elementary school is located. It has been said by Urban Engineers and many times by Dr. Mohan that if traffic cannot be mitigated at North Forest, the project is in jeopardy and should not go forward.

How can any Board member even consider using eminent domain to satisfy a developer’s quest for area dominance. This is the ultimate in amoral behavior.

For the greater good is the phrase some board members are using to explain their position. It has become clear it is nothing more than an abuse of power and a rationale for abusing our citizens. The greater good seems to apply ONLY to the developer and his associates, who on command, attend meetings and call and send letters to Town Hall. At the May 5th meeting many green-button people were heard saying they were there ONLY because their bosses told them to be.
These green-button people are NOT THE MAJORITY. No one should be impressed by or believe these underhanded tactics.

Supervisor Mohan’s bizarre behavior is cause for concern. The following examples are just a few of his irrational antics: he puts forth resolutions at the Town Board meetings and within a short period of time he votes against them; he continues to ask Council Member Schratz what the Board is discussing; in the past two weeks he has publicly called Tom Ketchum, our Building Department Chairman, a liar; and has done the same to Bob Anderson our Highway Superintendent; Mohan constantly waves papers in the air which he says proves they are liars; he has personally crossed the line and interfered with the North Forest Rd. problem, then denied he did it.  Mr. Ward frequently must correct the Supervisor when he errs concerning our Rules of Order, and Mark Manna is the gentleman who often seconds Mr. Ward. This scenario is one reason Dr. Mohan dislikes Dan Ward; he hates to be called wrong on anything, but if Councilman Ward didn’t correct his mistakes many important Town matters would have to be corrected later.I believe Mohan feels people are attacking him to make him look like he’s losing it.  He has gone as far as requesting more armed policemen at Town Board meetings, one of whom is to be on the stage with him during Town Board meetings.  He has created new, irrational rules which the public must follow.  Because the rules are “foolish” the public occasionally ‘breaks’ some of them and then he attacks them during Suspension of Rules.  I know, because I have been on the receiving end of one of his tirades.  One rule states that no person addressing the Town Board can ever use the name of a Council Member.  I was guilty of breaking this rule.  If you watch tonight’s broadcast of last Monday’s meeting you will see an exchange of words between the Supervisor and me which began after I used a Council member’s name.  While his attack was occurring, the Amherst policeman in back of the hall did his job and moved to the front of the hall and stood to my right.  I was not escorted out of the meeting but I did step away from the microphone.  Immediately two Council members addressed the Supervisor saying his ‘rule’ was ridiculous. 

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) voted to approve the Defense Authorization Bill which includes a comprehensive plan to protect our troops, restore military readiness and provide servicemen and women with a much-needed pay raise.  

“Our military personnel dedicate themselves to taking care of this nation and in turn this nation must take care of our service members,” said Congressman Higgins.  “In addition to providing a well deserved pay increase, this legislation provides the resources to purchase new equipment to keep our troops and our country safe.” 

The legislation passed today provides all service members a pay raise of 3.9 percent and extends the authority for the Defense Department to offer bonuses and incentive pay. The bill also aids servicemen and women and their families by rejecting the Administration’s plan to increase premiums and co-pays for the military and retirees who are enrolled in the TRICARE system. All told, this provision will save troops, their families and military retirees $1.2 billion.  

The bill also takes critical steps to end the military’s readiness crisis.  In recent years, Army readiness has dropped to unprecedented levels, and Army National Guard units have, on average, only 63 percent of their required equipment.  Additionally, many stateside units are not fully equipped and would not be considered ready if called upon to respond during an emergency.  

The measure helps restore our nation’s military readiness by funding the Army’s and Marine Corps’ equipment reset requirements, authorizing nearly $2 billion for unfunded readiness initiatives including addressing additional equipment shortfalls, and authorizing $800 million to provide the National Guard and Reserve critically needed equipment.   

The bill also protects troops in harm’s way by authorizing $2.6 billion for additional Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, $947 million for additional Up-Armored Humvees, and $783 million for the continued procurement and enhancement of personal body armor.

Friends,

Historically, Memorial Day in Western New York was the kick-off to the summer. Many of you will enjoy a day off to attend picnics, barbecues, and parades. On this Memorial Day weekend, I ask that you take some time and reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day.

On Memorial Day 2004, I was an Army Captain in Najaf, Iraq. My soldiers and I sat in our mortar scarred headquarters and watched the television screen as CNN scrolled through a list of those who died in combat. We were able to point out our friends who would never return home with us.

That solemn experience will always remind me that this celebration is about much more than picnics and parades. It is about honoring the service of soldiers who sacrificed what President Abraham Lincoln once termed “the last full measure of devotion” in service to their Country.

Please take some time this weekend to view the faces of the fallen and say a prayer or reflect with a moment of silence for the men and women in uniform who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Never forget the sacrifice these brave men, women and their families made in order for you and me to live with the very freedom we enjoy today.

Many of your newspapers may run a list of the fallen soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan this weekend, but we need to do more. As one who has seen first-hand the misery of war, I can assure you, an annual memoriam for those fighting the third longest war in American history is not enough. Please take the time to write to your local newspaper and request that they run these names weekly.

When you see veterans marching in your neighborhood parade or the families of our current military this weekend, please salute them for their sacrifice to our nation.

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend.

Thank You,
 

 Higgins Work to Reduce Backlogged Cases Gets Results 

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) today announced that the federal Social Security Administration has confirmed they will hire two additional judges, as well as additional personnel, for the Western New York region to begin to address severe backlogs in Social Security caseloads for our region. 

“This decision will greatly assist thousands of Western New Yorkers who deserve better from their government. After years of allowing this severe backlog, an average of 669 days in the Buffalo area office, to continue to build, I am pleased to see that the Social Security Administration has finally heeded the calls of so many of my constituents to provide more boots on the ground to help citizens with their claims. This is a positive first step in correcting the severe backlog and I hope is that these much-needed hires will take place as quickly as possible,” said Higgins. 

Outraged by the numbers included in the March 2008 Social Security Administration (SSA) hearing office report, Higgins  wrote a letter to Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue insisting on more Administrative Law Judges in the Buffalo-area hearing office.  The Buffalo-area office service area includes:  Erie, Chautauqua, Niagara, Genesee, Ontario, Monroe, and Cattaraugus counties.  According to SSA, the additional judges would be hired in the Rochester satellite office, where 40% of the backlog originates. 

“Currently, judges and their staffs who are already overworked must spend precious work time driving back and forth across the region to hear cases in Rochester.  These hires will alleviate the strain the judges feel and allow them to focus more on the backlogs in the Buffalo area,” Higgins said.  

Congressman Higgins has long supported increased funding for the Social Security Administration.  In January, Congressman Higgins introduced H.R. 5110, the Social Security Customer Service Improvement Act which if enacted would provide Members of Congress with detailed information on the operation and staffing of Social Security offices in their districts and around the country.  Members of Congress should have ready access to this type of information, not only because it is exactly the type of information necessary to measure the effectiveness of government agencies, but also because when citizens aren’t treated properly at their local Social Security office, they immediately reach out to their local Member of Congress for expedited assistance.  

Higgins added, “The SSA still has a long way to go in addressing this problem – that’s why I introduced legislation that would make the agency more accountable to these backlogs and why I will continue to make sure that wait times only continue to decrease, and decrease steadily.  Frankly, I remain troubled by the extent to which the SSA allowed the situation to get so bad in the first place.”            

As of April 2008:

• It takes 653 days (nearly two years) for the average Western New Yorker to have their SSA case heard and processed in the Buffalo Hearing Office, one of the worst processing times in the country. 
• Administrative Law Judges in Buffalo have some of the largest caseloads in the country, with an average of 842 cases pending before each judge.
• 47% of the SSA cases in the Buffalo Hearing Office have been pending for over a year, among the highest percentages in the country.  The average age of all claims pending is 365 days.

Cartoon by Mike Luckovich.