Local cable subscribers will be delighted to know that Ch. 4 is back on Time Warner cable.  If you have been suffering withdrawal, reprieve is here.  ENJOY.

Sen. Chuck Schumer will be in town to endorse Joe Mesi this Thursday, Oct 30th at the Tri Main building at 1 pm.

Chuck loves a crowd, and he and Joe really want to invite everyone to come down and show their support in the final week.

The address is 2495 Main St. Buffalo (Main and Jewett). There’s parking
in back lot off Rodney Ave, and the main entrance to the building is
located in the BACK.

Also Sen. Hillary Clinton is coming tomorrow to the Ellicot square building in support of all the democratic candidates for the ‘Get Out The Vote’ effort tomorrow at 12:30 pm at the ECDC.

We hope to see everyone there and with only one week out from election day, we’re asking folks to help get out the vote on election day. Please let me know your availability and thanks again!

Liz Smith
Working Families Party
716.748.5363

Senator Will Remain on Nov. 4 Ballot

By Del Quentin Wilber

Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, one of Congress’s most powerful Republicans, was convicted yesterday of lying on financial disclosure forms to conceal his receipt of gifts and expensive renovations to his house, just eight days before he faces voters in a tight reelection contest.

The 84-year-old lawmaker, the first sitting U.S. senator to go on trial in more than two decades, sat quietly as a jury foreman in federal court read the verdict after less than a day of deliberations: guilty on seven felony counts, each with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The senator, who probably will face a less severe penalty under federal sentencing guidelines, left the courtroom without answering reporters’ questions.

In a statement issued by his office, Stevens maintained his innocence, accused Justice Department lawyers of “repeated instances of prosecutorial misconduct” and vowed to fight for reelection to a seventh full term.

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“This verdict is the result of the unconscionable manner in which the Justice Department lawyers conducted this trial,” he said. “I ask that Alaskans and my Senate colleagues stand with me as I pursue my rights.”

Indicted in July, Stevens requested an expedited trial to clear his name before Election Day. Despite the guilty verdict, he will remain on the ballot and is engaged in a tight race against Anchorage’s Democratic mayor, Mark Begich.

If he can pull off a victory, Stevens could cling to his seat in the Senate for months, if not longer, while he appeals the verdict. Tradition allows him to exhaust his appeals before the ethics committee will begin expulsion hearings, according to the Senate Historical Office. It takes 67 votes to expel a senator.

Known as “Uncle Ted” in Alaska, Stevens has been a major figure in his state for more than four decades and has brought home billions of dollars in federal aid during his career. Political handicappers refused to write him off but said his chances of reelection were greatly diminished by yesterday’s outcome.

“In another state, he would be toast,” said Charlie Cook, editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. “In Alaska, you gotta make him a significant underdog.”

It is not clear what role the conviction will play in contests waged by other embattled Senate Republicans who are trying to hold on to their seats. Within hours of the verdict, Democrats were sending out news releases seeking to link their opponents to Stevens’s trouble.

“It’s a horrible year for Republicans, in a horrific fall, and this is yet another horrific event,” Cook said. “This throws them off message; it puts them back on the defensive again. It makes it harder to separate themselves from the party.”

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP’s vice presidential candidate, has declined to endorse Stevens and issued a statement last night that said: “This is a sad day for Alaska and for Senator Stevens and his family.”

“I’m confident Senator Stevens will do what’s right for the people of Alaska,” she added, without elaborating.

Satish Mohan, October 28, 2008

Western New York has the highest property taxes, the highest health care expenses per capita, and the highest school taxes.  We have been talking about these problems for a long time.  It is high time that some dedicated individuals plunge into this and start resolving these issues.  If the rest of the state and the country can do this, we can do it too.  I had promised a zero growth budget last year, and I did submit a zero growth budget three months ago.  It was doable. 

The Amherst Town Board, through various amendments, added $1 million to these expenses, and our 2009 budget has now grown by less than 1%.  Our 2009 budget will be $116.7 million against our 2008 budget of $115.8 million, a growth of 0.8%.  Our revenues will be higher by 4.7%.  We will receive $38.1 million in 2009 compared to $37.6 million in 2008.  Our tax levy in 2009 will be $72.9 million compared to $72.8 million in 2008, an increase of 0.1%.  Since our assessed value has gone up by 1.5%, our tax rate will go down by 1.4%.  We estimate that a house valued at $150,000 will see a savings of about $22 in property taxes.  This is a small decrease, but it is a step in the right direction. 

As I have indicated earlier, our biggest expenses are in personnel.  We spend 58% of our budget on employees’ salaries and benefits.  In this 2009 budget, I eliminated 25 positions by not funding vacancies, so all this was done through attrition.  This has reduced our personnel expenses by $1.8 million.  We have to be sensitive and focus on necessary services such as sewer, water, and drainage.  I have proposed several new projects to improve these services, and the town will be spending about $1.6 million more in debt service in 2009 on these services.  Some essential services which are critical to the quality of life of our residents have been fully funded, such as snow plowing, Meals-on-Wheels, public safety, and fire services. 

I strongly feel that the budget is very sound and very doable but challenging.  We believe our unions and Department Heads will come up to the challenge.  We certainly can do more, and I will continue to strive in that direction.

Shelly Schratz is in ANOTHER secret meeting at Town Hall with the Benderson group regarding the Gun Club project.  Guy Marlette and Mark Manna asked to be present to verify any conversations that took place.

Shelly refused to allow them at the meeting.  Maybe Shelly is trying to kiss up to the developers and ask their forgiveness for her new found opposition to this project.  Seems like Shelly is trying to play both sides of the coin ~ again.

The following letter was sent to a local environmental expert.  As usual, it is untrue and Jerry Schad held a press conference this morning to demand Hayes come clean and tell the truth.  Schad’s remarks follow the letter.

July 11, 2008
Walter Simpson
4 Meadowstream Court

Amherst, NY 14226
Dear Walter:

Earlier this year, you wrote to me to express your support for the “Bigger, Better Bottle Bill”, (A.8044-A I S.5850-A).  I appreciated hearing from you, and I apologize for the delay in responding to your letter.

As you may already know, this initiative was included in former Governor Spitzer’s Executive Budget proposal. This proposal was laid aside during the negotiations necessary to produce an on-time budget, and both sides agreed to reconsider the issue later during the session. Subsequently, the Assembly version of the bill passed on June 11^th, 2008 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation. The Senate did not consider the bill before session adjourned and as a result, the bill died without being enacted.

The “Bigger, Better Bottle Bill” remains a controversial issue.  Many environmentalists are still concerned that the bill exempts several items like wine bottles, liquor bottles and plastic milk containers; all of which are returnable and recyclable.

Although the “Bigger, Better Bottle Bill” didn’t receive enough support to pass the Senate this year, I will continue to work hard to support local recycling programs and the many environmental benefits these programs promote. 

I always value the input of well informed constituents like you and I appreciate hearing from you on matters of concern. 

Best wishes.
Sincerely,

Jim Hayes
Member of Assembly

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Schad’s response:

My name is Jerry Schad. I am the Democratic Candidate for the Assembly in the 148^th Assembly District, the seat currently occupied by 5-term incumbent Jim Hayes. 

I am here today to challenge incumbent Jim Hayes on his lack of honesty and integrity in dealing with his constituents.

Jim Hayes needs to explain to voters WHY he lied to a constituent about his position on a Bill in Albany, — Assembly Bill A.S044.A — rather than tell the truth.

Here is what happened:

On July 11, 2008, Assemblyman Jim Hayes wrote a reply letter to environmental expert, Walter Simpson, who had asked Hayes for support for the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill (A.S044-A / S.5S50-A). In his letter, Hayes artfully lied about his position on that Bill.

Hayes wrote that “the Assembly version of the bill passed on June 11, 2008.” He, Hayes, implied that he had supported the Bill’s passage in the Assembly.

He then said that the “Senate did not consider the bill,” implying that the Bill’s failure to become law was not Hayes’ fault. I remind everyone that the Senate is controlled by Hayes’ fellow Republicans.

Hayes then told his constituent, Mr. Simpson, that “I will continue to work hard to support local recycling programs and many environmental benefits these programs promote.” Assembly Bill AS044-A is a major recycling program with many environmental benefits.

But, contrary to Assemblyman Hayes’ July 11, 200S, letter, Jim Hayes NEVER supported Assembly Bill AS044-A.

Contrary to Hayes’ letter to Walter Simpson, when the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill came up for a vote on June 11, 200S, Hayes voted “NO” to try to kill the bill in the Assembly!

Rather than be honest with his constituent and say that he, Hayes, opposed the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill; rather than give any his reason for his opposition, Hayes chose to lie – to mislead his constituent.

Jim Hayes’ conduct raises a fundamental question: Is Jim Hayes fit to continue to hold public office? He needs to explain why he lied to his constituent, Walter Simpson. 

Sandra Tan’s article in this Monday’s issue of the Buffalo News had a few major points of interest missing concerning Marjory Jaeger,  Republican candidate for Amherst Town Clerk, and her opponent Democratic candidate Debbie Bucki.

To begin with Miss Jaeger donated over 11,000 dollars to her own campaign, twice as much as Debbie Bucki did for her campaign.  Most of Jaeger’s money came from special interest groups, mainly developers, who expect to be paid back in some form or another. Why do you think they are called special interest groups?

The ability to deal with people and experience are both very important aspects of this job.  Debbie has a Doctor of Nursing and for years was the leader of large groups of nurses, responsible for their assignments.  This is one reason Debbie is highly regard as being very careful with people’s feelings and their private records.  This is important in our Clerk’s office as there are MANY private records which must be safeguarded. 

When Debbie gave birth to her son Craig she stayed home to take care of her family while she worked on her Doctorate of Psychiatric Nursing.  Sandra Tan’s minimal research failed to uncover the fact that Debbie has a degree in Doctorate of Psychiatric Nursing.

Jaeger made a major error of a political move.  She brought Debbie’s family into the picture. She said Debbie’s husband was a U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge who has a high paying job and her son is an officer in the Amherst Democratic Party.  Debbie‘s son was never an officer.  He’s a committee man.  This race is between Bucki and Jaeger, not the families of the candidates. Jaeger‘s attack on Bucki’s family showed her lack of class and street sense.

Buffalo News writer Sandra Tan is well known for her poor research skills.  Ms Tan didn’t report that Marjory is an officer in the Erie County Republican Party as well as the Amherst Republican Party.  Her appointment to the Amherst Town Clerk position was completely political favoritism. 

Sandra Tan’s unprofessional articles, which lack real truth, does leave a bad taste in the mouths of most people in Amherst.

The Christmas Easter Politicians - Hayes,Stachowski, Volker.  They aren’t the three Wise Men. 

Election time is a time like Easter and Christmas for certain Christians.  That’s when the Easter/Christmas Christians come out of the woodwork to be seen at church by the public. They usually show up with their families all decked out IN THEIR BEST MANNERS AND DRESS.

ERIE COUNTY COMPTROLLER POLONCARZ ISSUES THIRD QUARTER REPORT AND WARNS ABOUT POTENTIALLY LARGE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO THE COUNTY

Comptroller’s Quarterly Financial Report Expresses Serious Concerns

Erie County Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz today released a financial report for the third quarter of 2008 (“Report”) expressing significant concerns regarding negative variances affecting the County’s financial position at year-end 2008.

Please note that this report is not a budget monitoring report, which is the responsibility of the County Executive’s Division of Budget and Management.

In his Report to the Erie County Legislature and County Executive, Poloncarz identified a number of negative variances through the end of September that are having a significant impact on the 2008 budget.  In his transmittal letter to the parties he also expressed concerns about fourth quarter 2008 sales tax receipts.  He noted that while year-to-date cumulative sales tax receipts currently meet budget, there is a very real possibility that local consumers and Canadian consumers may pull back on disposable purchases due to the global economic meltdown and plummeting value of the Canadian dollar.  Poloncarz said: “Given that the Canadian dollar has significantly weakened, falling this week to below $0.80 US, a decline in Canadian shoppers purchasing items in Erie County is a very real possibility that would have a serious impact on our sales tax revenues which make up nearly one-third of the County’s general fund revenues.”

The Report commented on a number of other negative variances against the County’s 2008 Budget position including:

•  
  • The County will not meet budget in 2008 on investment income due to sharply lower interest rates, market conditions and less cash available for investment for much of the year, creating an approximate $2.5 million negative variance in 2008.
  • The 2008 Budget also included multi-million-dollar revenue from the sale of tax liens.  Such a sale never occurred, contributing to a negative variance in 2008. 
  • In May 2008, the County, which was not a party to the litigation, was notified that a legal settlement involving the property tax assessment of the Bethlehem Steel site in Lackawanna would make the County potentially liable to refund property taxes totaling $2.1 million ($1.5 million from the General Fund).

The Report also noted a recurring negative financial issue involving Erie County Medical Center Corporation (“ECMCC”) and mandated but unbudgeted County expenses over the past three years.  In February 2008, the County incurred a $2 million unbudgeted negative variance for an Intergovernmental Transfer/Disproportionate Share (“IGT/DSH”) expense associated with ECMCC.  Based on Comptroller Office’s discussions with the New York State Department of Health (“NYSDOH”) this office has reason to believe that the County will be required to pay approximately $6.65 million for IGT/DSH expense and that payment will be required to be made before December 31, 2008.  Poloncarz said: “If this IGT/DSH expense bears out, this would be a serious unbudgeted negative variance on the County’s 2008 budget which is already under pressure.”

Poloncarz’s quarterly report also noted a newly-identified significant expense that will have to be recorded as a liability on the County’s final 2008 financial statements.  On October 22, 2008 his office was notified by ECMCC of an unexpected $16 million obligation due to New York State associated with the supplemental Medicaid Upper Payment Limit mechanism.  While the Collins Administration has been aware of this issue perhaps as early as September 25, 2008, they never informed the Comptroller’s Office.  Poloncarz sent a letter to the County Executive today demanding answers regarding this expense and questioning why the Collins Administration did not disclose the expense from his office and the County Legislature.  In his letter to Collins, Poloncarz wrote: “your refusal to bring this large financial obligation to my attention is shocking and unacceptable.  Your administration’s actions are highly irresponsible and your motives in hiding this matter from the County’s chief financial officer are suspect.”

Finally, the Report commented on an issue that will have a significant impact on the County’s 2008 financial position.  In the County Executive’s proposed 2009 budget, the administration has included a budget resolution concerning a $6.98 million deficit in the Road Fund at year-end 2007.  This new budget resolution, if adopted, will require a 2008 appropriation from the General Fund to eliminate the Road Fund deficit as of December 31, 2008.  Because the County’s transfer tax revenue is significantly under budget for 2008, Poloncarz stated that this Budget Resolution, if approved by the County Legislature in the 2009 Budget process, could mean that the County would be forced to appropriate up to $10 million to address the Road Fund deficit.  “That scenario will have a significant material negative effect on the 2008 budget and in all likelihood could create a deficit situation in the General Fund,” said Poloncarz.

Poloncarz concluded: “I recommend that the Legislature and Executive act judiciously in spending and monitor all expenditures and revenues closely for the remainder of the year.  It appears that the economic slow down that is affecting the rest of the country is also having an impact here.  As such, the County must be cautious for the remainder of the year in order to end in balance.”

Statement from Austin Shafran, Spokesman for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Re: Education Funding 

“Senate Republicans can’t seem to get their lies straight on education funding. First they say no cuts, now Kemp Hannon says nothing is off the table. Democratic Senate Leader Malcolm A. Smith made it clear last week- we’re not cutting education funding. While Democrats protected your child’s education, Republicans protected their special interest friends. This new lie proves it’s time for a change,” said Austin Shafran, spokesman for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.