Buffalo Stuff

I Believe

2009-10-03T10:32:00.000-04:00

I’ve been a moderate most of my life, and I still consider myself to be one. In the recent months I have been called a far left liberal. My feelings aren’t hurt by that, by the way, despite its inaccuracy. The truth is, I am very happy in my own skin. I don’t believe in “tax and spend”. I think that some of the tax rates that are possible are dangerous to our long term prosperity. I believe everyone should read the book “The Fair Tax” and we should move towards that. I am not a socialist, by any means, although I have been accused of that too. I do believe that unbridled Capitalism is very dangerous too. I fear the corporate state more than I fear a government that temporarily bails out large industry that is in trouble of causing millions of workers to be unemployed. Or a government that is able to provide access to health care to all of its citizens. I think welfare should be reformed so that people who need a leg up for the short term can get that, but it must include exit strategies for people who are capable. I believe that both Social Security and Medicaid/Medicare can be solvent if there is a political will to make it work and not just to use its failings as political silver bullets to use against the other guy. I believe that both parties have great ideas to bring to the table that could solve our countries problems if they were used to create legislation that served the greater good and not just the people and special interests who funded your campaign. . I believe that everything has a price. If you want to burn coal you will get pollution. I believe that while that pollution may or may not contribute to climate change, it certainly isn’t good for our overall health and the overall health of our children and grandchildren.

I believe that government jobs were never made to be the best jobs. I believe that members of Congress are grossly over paid in salary and benefits, which causes selfish and greedy people to protect their jobs at all costs instead of doing the right thing. I believe that there was a time, in my lifetime, when our government was run based on a principal of mutual respect, so that even if you disagreed, that did not make the other side the enemy. I believe that we’ve reached as low a time as we have ever been in when it comes to mutual respect. I believe that there are still good guys out there. I believe that John McCain showed class throughout the election. When people were saying things that were dangerous to America, he called them on it. I believe that sadly, the good guys are few and far between. I believe that politics now plays to our worst fears instead of our highest hopes. I believe that being a good guy is definitely not a characteristic that is wanted in talk radio. I believe that talk radio is one of the single worst influences in our country. I believe that talk radio is the largest driving force behind the hatred and vitriol that is the underlying foundation in our country’s fabric now. I believe strongly in the First Amendment and freedom of speech, but I believe people should use that right with common sense, respect, and politeness. I believe the “United” is the most important word in the name of our country.

Part of the reason that I think I am labeled a liberal, a title I am not insulted by, is because I am passionate and vocal about my opinions. Things like health care for all, the environment, and equality for all people are important to me. When I hear people like Rush Limbaugh say, "For those of you ... who are upset that I sound gleeful, I am. I don't deny it. I'm happy. Anything that gets in the way of Barack Obama accomplishing his domestic agenda is fine with me." I feel compelled to point out what a certifiable jackass he is. That he would wish for American failures because he wants President Barack Obama to not gain one political point is as unpatriotic as anything I have ever heard. Yes, I am caught up on the Olympic thing, not because I care what city or country the Olympics are in. I will watch them enthusiastically just the same. I care because people are cheering for things that are harmful to America because they want the President to fail at all costs. The Olympics have nothing to do with health care or toxic assets or the indoctrination of our youth. They have nothing to do with climate change, the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan or the regulation of the banking industry. Having the Olympics would have been good for America, and hoping against it because of who our pitchman was isn’t good for America. It is selfish. So, if it makes me a liberal to point out how disgusting this has become, I am a liberal. I believe, by the way, had the Democrats been cheering against Bush were he to be pitching the Olympics, I would have been equally as disgusted.

I believe that “United” is the most important word in the name of our country.

An Interesting Video About Trust In Government

2009-08-05T20:08:00.005-04:00

I watched this video off of Chris Smith's page over at WNYMedia . I found it an interesting argument and would love to hear some feedback. The video is about 20 minutes long.

Voters Mad at NY Senators

2009-07-20T22:04:00.002-04:00

Bob McCarthy writes in the Buffalo News that a recent Sienna Research poll shows that NY voters are angry with NY Senators for their recent middle school behavior that resulted in the 32 day gridlock in Albany. Is it just me or is the answer to this......um....duh.

Choosing Blog Topics

2009-07-19T08:56:00.001-04:00

One would think it would be easier to pick topics for a blog that no one reads. It is surprisingly difficult.

Changes at WNYMedia

2009-07-13T21:29:00.003-04:00

The new look of WNYMedia is a great change. New quicker and actually reliable servers and a new look/navigation is a really great improvement to an already great site. Kudos to Chris Smith and crew for taking WNYMedia in a new direction. The partnerships with Artvoice and WECK are also an interesting new direction.

Congrats and keep up the good work.

Nevermind, I'll Buy My Own

2009-06-14T11:06:00.002-04:00

This week has proven a bumper week for members of the Western New York Millionaire's (and Billionaire's) Club.

On Monday, New York State Senate Republicans stage a coup with the help of......um........Billionaire Tom Golisano who, last I checked, did everything he could in November to help make the Dems the Senate majority party. On this side of WNY Golisano lost the Konst/Volker battle when Volker outnastied anything Golisano henchman, Steve Pigeon ever dreamed up with. So, here's the recap as I understand it.

Tom Golisano and Steve Pigeon put together a group called Responsible New York to fund candidates for Golisano’s vision of what government should be. Responsible NY bankrolls candidates and engages on some of the worst campaigning in WNY history, and that says a lot about how bad it was. Golisano backed candidates mostly get trounced. Defeated, Golisano picks up his ball, kicks at the dirt and moves to Florida. The new Senate doesn’t do Golisano’s bidding, and the new Senate Majority leader plays with his Blackberry while in a meeting with the Golisano, so he has Pigeon find the two most opportunistic senators with the least amount of character possible and gets them to stand up and vote with the Republicans to oust Malcolm Smith as Majority leader. Pigeon, of course, does this by getting the old and possibly new Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos to promise the turncoats some plum positions, like in Espada’s case…Senate President. Will either Espada or Monserrate be able to fulfill the duties of those new jobs from the clink after the ongoing investigations of either of them are completed. In unprecedented fashion the Senate is now at a complete standstill....oh yeah, that's not really unprecedented it's pretty commonplace. Did I miss anything? In the days following the coup, one of the ship jumpers, Monserrate, who is under investigation for slashing his girlfriend's face with a broken wine glass (nice guy representing us there) is said to be wavering.

I guess the thing about this to me is that the Republicans keep touting it as a coalition government, except getting two guys of unquestionably bad character to turn on their party isn't really a coalition. Getting ten Dems to buy into it might classify as a coalition. And to hear the Republicans who have been just as fiscally horrible in the past talk about all this reform is laughable. They controlled the Senate for how long, and yet New York is still a big fat hairy mess. Where was the reform when you were in charge, fellas, (with a Republican Governor for 12 years too)and why in the world should we believe you now?

Example number 2 of the Spoiled Rich Guy Syndrome is when millionaire developer Carl Paladino sent a letter to the board of directors of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership demanding Andrew Rudnick's firing. If that doesn't happen he says he will start his own Chamber of Commerce.............um.....ok.......have at it. If Paladino doesn't like things at the Partnership he certainly has the right to drop his membership. If he wants to start another group to advocate for the business community in Western New York, he absolutely should do that. But to write a letter that demands the ouster of the head of a group is ridiculous. Who does he think he is the County Executive? And doesn't he realize that he has effectively tied the director's hands? If they agree to give in to that terrorist-like demand, they may as well just shut the doors on the whole organization. So, now, even though Rudnick has been pretty impotent, he will probably stay on top of the Partnership because they cannot get rid of him without looking like they gave in to millionaire Carl's demands. Nice, Carl.......really.

Positive Movement In Niagara Falls

2009-06-14T10:34:00.002-04:00

There are signs of life in Niagara Falls after all. Page 3 of this week's edition of Business First has two articles about change in the Cataract City.

The first article is accompanied by a picture that shows workers standing on top of the old Wintergarden as they get ready to dismantle the glass and steel behemoth. While I am not a rabid preservationist by any stretch of the imagination, I sometimes become attached to certain buildings or ideas whose heydays are long gone. The Wintergarden is one of those buildings. I have several events in my life that have the Wintergarden as a apart of the memory bank. A couple of weddings where we made the limo trip to Niagara Falls to get pictures, and a remembrance of a few trips to Niagara Falls with my family when I was a kid that involved staying at the Holiday Inn and swimming in the inside pool in the winter with an inevitable trip the Wintergarden. Certainly, I am not saying it is a bad idea to take it down and make way for the new, just a sad idea to do so.

A few blocks over, Tuscarora businessman and developer Joseph Anderson is getting ready to open his new attraction Snow Park Niagara. Anderson has invested $5.2 million in the project that includes an NHL sized synthetic ice rink and a year round tubing hill. There is also a play area. I posted on this earlier and think it is a grand idea. I have long said that we should embrace our image as a snow capital and not shun it or run from it. There is definitely a market for year round winter sports, and all of the sundries that go along with it. I wish Anderson well.

I have always believed that Niagara Falls has potential to be a really fun place. The tightening of cross border regulations that are making it more difficult to get back and forth should have a positive effect on keeping people on our side of the Falls. Certainly, some well thought out investment plans could bring a lot of entertainment venues to Niagara Falls. Once the people are coming there are a whole host of opportunities. As long as the ideas aren't trying to compete with the economic powerhouse of the casino, but play off of the people it brings in, they should do OK. I am not a gambler, but my wife is. If we were going to the Falls for a quick getaway, there would need to be something for me to do as well. Certainly, if Mayor Dyster can reign in the oppressive culture of patronage and corruption that has hamstrung his city, there is enormous potential up there. One must just look at the continuously growing skyline across the gorge.

Think It Through Went It Comes To Downsizing

2009-06-01T12:00:00.005-04:00

Before I begin let me state that I am 100% of the belief that we have too much government in Western New York and in New York State. It seems you cannot turn around without tripping over an elected official. I am also for a well thought out approach to this downsizing frenzy that civic activist Kevin Gaughn has created.

To Mr. Gaughan's credit, he is absolutely right. There is too much governement, it is costing the taxpayers too much, it is gettin gin the way of real progress. The problem with Mr. Gaughan's theory is that he is attacking the wrong end of the pyramid. A smart man, Gaughan knows that it is the only way that his plan will gain any momentum. There is little chance that the well-paid public servants at the top of the government food chain will vote themselves out and the voters know well enough that ther is little we can do about it. So, Gaughan is presenting his ideas in a place where success is likely, even at the cost of common sense. It is a mission for mission's sake more than a mission for the betterment of local government.

In a Buffalo News article today, Kathryn Foster, director of UB's Regional Institute hits the nail on the head when she says, “We find three men in a room objectionable in Albany. We should think very carefully before we do that locally.”

Three person boards are not functional forms of government. Once the board reaches that level, perhaps it is time to dissolve the government all together. Three person boards will fall victim to personality conflicts easier. Three person boards can be more easily swayed by special interests. Three person boards are easily disrupted by illness or other absences.

Last year the Village of Lancaster voted to downsize from 7 to 5 and this is an excellent example of a board doing the right thing. A board of five is a good size for a small town or village government. It allows for differing opinons, discussions, and representative government and yet protects against too few people being able to push through an unwanted agenda or being swayed by special interests. On a board of three, a trustee with an idea only has to convince one other official to vote for something. That is less compromise and less promises that have to be made, making it easier to achieve.

If Mr. Gaughan was truly interested in making his plan have substance instead of just shine, he would be pushing to downsize mid and upper level government. There is no real need for a bicameral house in New York State. A single legislative body would save taxpayers significantly more money than a few low level, part time local board seats. In the last election cycle it was reported that the total cost of running Senator Dale Volker's office was near $1million. There are 62 Senators currently serving in the NY Senate. Dissolve the Senate and you are talking some serious savings to taxpayers. Significantly more than the 2 $9000 trustee jobs eliminated by Lancaster.

County government is another place that this savings could be realized. I personally believe that the county government should stay and all of the towns and villages should go, however I understand the other side of the argument. I also feel from my conversations that more people would be in favor of losing the county government over the local government. In recent years, county government has been so dysfunctional that perhaps it is damaged beyond repair and should be the entity on the chopping block.

Kevin Gaughan and I agree on the idea that there is too much government in Western New York. We even agree that downsizing is a viable option for correcting this, but if you are going to slay dragons, you should seek the larger, more terrifying ones when you are looking to create a more comfortable society.

Winter Year Round In The Falls

2009-05-29T09:11:00.002-04:00

I have always said that we need to embrace our heritage as a "snow city" instead of being embarrassed about it. Tuscarora businessman Joseph Anderson obviously agrees. The former owner of the Wintergarden in Niagara Falls is finishing up an attraction that brings winter to Niagara Falls, year round.

Scheduled to open June 15, Snow Park Niagara Falls features a tubing hill and a skating rink that features synthetic "ice". For $30 you can have two hours on the tubing hill and unlimited access to the skating and the other snow play area.

Overall...a great idea. Hopefully the implementation will be as good. I have said for a long time that we need to capitalize on our national reputation, not shake our heads everytime Leno mentions it.

Ratings Slip At Channel 2 Isn't Big News

2009-05-29T08:41:00.004-04:00

Alan Pergament's story about local news ratings wasn't really big news to me. Channel 2's confrontational journalistic style and overuse of the "Holding People In Power Accountable" has given Channel 2 more of a sensationalistic feel than that of a credible news outlet.

I watched YNN for awhile when it first launched, and although I was intrigued by it, the production values were not as slick as the established local guys. The graphics are busy and amatuerish and sometimes the b-roll doesn't match the story. I am sure that in its early stages, there is not as sizable a crew to be collecting footage for each story. I think the YNN Channel is a great foundation on which to build, however, after watching for awhile I realized that not enough stuff happens in Buffalo Niagara to support a 24 hour news only format. If used as the foundation of something bigger, YNN would be a great platform for 24 hour local programming, with regular news breaks. It would be great to have a station that featured local arts programming, political programming, sports programming, etc. and still left a healthy sized hole for news. There is so much going on in this region that it could support weeklies that offered analysis and commentary in each of those areas. Certainly, a whole host of 30 minute to 1 hour features could be developed.

My favorite part of Pergament's article is the part where it points out that TV News is quick to cover the industry wide slip in newspaper readership, but doesn't at all cover it's own side of the downturn. Shocking really.

I Never Served

2009-05-25T19:19:00.003-04:00

I never served. I grew up in the 70's and early 80's. A relative time of peace. Viet Nam was over and although we were still Cold Warring with the Soviets there wasn't much going on militarily. The military had crappy PR back then. It was almost like you only went there if you couldn't do anything else. There was no "Be All You Can Be" or "The Few The Proud". They didn't try to sell you on all the cool programs, maybe because there weren't as many programs as computers were still in their infancy. It's not like I wouldn't have served, it just never even occurred to me.

I never served. There wasn't a lot of military in my family. My mom's dad served in WWII in the Navy. He was in the South Pacific, but didn't see much combat. At least he didn't talk about it much. One of my mom's four brothers enlisted in the Navy during Viet Nam. I don't think he ever made it to Viet Nam. He served near Greenland. My dad's brother was in the army, but I never even heard one story about that.

I never served. I have been to a lot of different monuments to the different wars. We spent almost half a day in DC looking at the different war memorials. I don't know that I even know anyone's name on any one of those monuments. I don't know if I even knew anyone who lost a husband or a son or a brother. That has never stopped me from crying when I stand in front of the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial in DC. Every time I am there I visit it. I don't know why I have an affinity for that particular monument, but it leaves me awestruck every time I see it. There is something acoustic in the design that sucks all ambient sound out of the air. There is a eerie, but majestic silence down near that sleek black wall.

My grandpa (mom's dad) died recently, and at the end of funeral ceremony my son played "Taps" while my two cousins, in Air Force dress blues saluted their grandfather. It was at that moment, while I cried, that I knew I had missed something. I never served when I was of that age, but now I serve. I serve by thanking veterans every chance I get, with applause as they walk by in parades or with a thank you when I am near. I serve by being as patriotic a role model as I can any time I am front of kids. I serve by teaching kids that it is veterans who have made all of our freedoms possible.

It is not at all the same as wearing the uniform. I am the first to admit, but at this time, at this age, it is all I can offer. Thank you to all veterans who served. Thank you more to all who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you to all military families who gave up their loved ones for a short time or forever.

2009-05-24T18:35:00.000-04:00

Men Vs. Wild

Having nothing to do with anything, I just saw that Will Ferrell will be joining Bear Grylls on "Man Vs. Wild" for one trip. Not for nothing, but would you want to go out on that show with Bear? If you become a liability, do you also become dinner? He's eaten worse.

2009-05-23T19:00:00.000-04:00

Another Casualty

Alicia Lukasiewicz has resigned as Corporation Counsel for the Brown Administration, and she has good words for her former boss, Byron Brown. Good words for her boss's handler, Deputy Mayor Steve Casey.......um......not so much. According to the Buffalo News story, Lukasiewicz had "strained relations" with Casey.

First time we've heard that about Casey, right?

2009-05-23T16:22:00.001-04:00

Bills Lottery Tix

Sports Illustrated reported earlier this week that the Washington Redskins are the second team to sign a deal with a state lottery to create a team themed scratch off lottery ticket. The Patriots were the first. Go figure. I'm stunned that Jerry Jones didn't just buy the lottery and turn it into a subsidiary of the Cowboys, although there would be a complex formula that dictated how the state would get it's money, and the Cowboys wouldn't really want to share.

In this time of trying to find new revenue streams to keep the Bills in Buffalo, I hope that Russ Brandon is working overtime to make this a reality in Buffalo. Here's some suggestions for the tickets.

Twice a year, the tickets could be more expensive, you could only buy them in Toronto, and they could pay out in Canadian funds.
The tickets are cheap, but you have to pay a lot to park while buying them.
You can't watch the lottery draw on Time Warner, because they don't carry that channel.
You can't buy a ticket unless you sign up for a credit card and get a free Bills hand towel.
Even though there isn't a winner, the guy in charge gets rehired every year.
Once there is a winner, it'll be 10 years before there is another winner.

Just a few ideas to get the ball rolling.

2009-05-23T15:12:00.000-04:00

Why?

Buffalo Pundit posts today about how there is some blatant untruths posted at www.newwnypolitics.com . I guess what's the strangest thing to me is that when you actually visit the site there is a veritable who's who of Western New York politicians. The same is true when you visit www.politicswny.com . Although I don't really go to either site, I have heard frequently that they are "pay to play" websites. Buy ad space and you get good press. Don't buy ad space and you get trashed by editors Glenn Gramigna (newwnypolitics) and Joe Illuzzi (politicswny).

So the big question is....why would any self respecting politician (is there such a thing) lower themselves to this level of play. I am definitely an idealist, who believes that politics doesn't have to be this way, although I have no proof thereof. Living in Buffalo my whole life where "gotcha" and trash politics are the norm.

2009-05-19T08:25:00.000-04:00

Replacing Hardwick on Hardline

With Radio Host, and Poli Sci prof Kevin Hardwick tossing his hat in the ring for the Erie County Legislature race, there is a job opening at WBEN. Hardwick will be challenging two term incumbent, Michelle Iannello for the 1oth District seat that represents the Tonawandas and Grand Island. True to Buffalo political form, the mudslinging began almost before Hardwick had finished his announcement. Hopefully we can have a race that focuses on issues like the Powers/Davis race or the Konst/Volker race during the last election cycle.

More importantly than who gets the Legislature seat, is who gets the radio show. Here are some potential candidates.

Maria Genero - Maria's bounced from job to job. Probably won't be long before she's looking again.

Rob Ray - Politics is rough and tumble, and so's Rayzor. Rumor has it he is looking for more than just the sideline duty, but Jeaneret and Robitaille are hanging on to the booth. If it comes to blows, hopefully they keep the sweaters on because I don't want to see what Jeaneret's got up "on the top shelf where momma keeps the cookies".

T.O. - He has the key for everything now so WBEN won't have to make a new set.

Steve Pigeon - Fair, impartial, unpartisan.......right.

Airborne Eddy - Where's he been anyway? There's nothing more "offbeat" than Buffalo Politics.

Dick Cheney - He is looking for work. He is bizarre. The show name will have to be changed to "Hardline with Hardliner".

Hopefully Hardline won't fade to black. Kevin's done a great job with it over the years and it has been a great forum for local politicians and politics. People who are really interested in the issues, instead of voting based on a 30 second political spot, could learn a thing or two on "Hardline with Kevin Hardwick".

2009-05-19T00:50:00.000-04:00

Hey, T.O., can I borrow your keys to....the City?

I am pretty sure that Pundit says everything I wanted to, right after I got past the speechless part. I looked for the right words, and really, the only one that works is surreal. The whole thing, from signing him in the first place to his accepting the key to the city from a star struck Byron Brown is just surreal. I particularly like the part where he says that everyone says that we are just missing a few pieces to the puzzle and wherever he goes they say he is one of those pieces. I actually heard from his past cities of residence that he was a piece, but puzzle wasn't the word that followed that.

2009-05-17T10:17:00.000-04:00

The B-Team Blasts Summer Into Buffalo

Last night the B-Team hosted the Summer Lovin' Buffalo Blast at the Town Ballroom. The party was a fundraiser to help the B-Team fund some of their local philanthropic initiatives. The party was indeed a "blast". Radio and TV gal, Janet Snyder was there to keep the party rolling and there were beach games, great tunes, good food and drink and a lot of fun on Main Street. Sadly, it was about the only thing happening on Main Street last night.

The B-Team is a group of people who have the mission of making Buffalo a better place. Pretty simple. To that end they have worked on projects like The City of Light, which bought and installed Christmas lights in a neighborhood that wouldn't have been able to do it on their own. In winter the B-Team hosted the "Bored Games" with the proceeds going to the Literacy Volunteers of WNY. That's just two of the many projects this crew has taken on. There is an article on B-Team at Buffalo Stuff. Worth a look.

These guys and girls are the real deal. They love this region and are willing to give of themselves to make it a better place. When you see their name on an event I think you will find it well put together and benefiting something worthy. Check out their website to see what they are about.

2009-05-17T09:06:00.000-04:00

CVB, Solar Convention and the Bed Tax

I spent the day at public day of the National Solar Convention at Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Overall, it was a nice event. Kudos to the Buffalo Convention and Visitors Bureau for landing this fish. Certainly, when I think of places to hold a convention/conference on Solar technology, I wouldn't necessarily think of Buffalo. That would be why I am not the head of the CVB.

I spoke with many of the vendors about solar technologies, and about Buffalo, and no one had a bad thing to say about their time here. Several vendors were very impressed with the volume of traffic they were seeing during Saturday's Public Day. Unfortunately, I did not get to attend the Governor's speech on Friday night.

On another CVB issue, things are heating up in the Buffalo News about Chris Collins assertion that the bed tax is just another form of revenue for the county. Additionally, his forcing out of Richard Geiger as the CVB Director is another direct assault on an agency that actually manages to bring outside revenue to town. It's amusing that Republicans are up in arms about the forcing out of GM CEO Rick Wagoner, based on the idea that they are getting government money and will have to follow some government behests, but local Republicans don't seem to be outraged by the same practice on the local level.

The CVB is one of the few agencies that bring tax revenue to the region WITHOUT raising taxes on the already overburdened residents. Their efforts should have a dedicated source of funding that is not able to be withheld for political reasons. Collins ran on a platform of running county government like a business. Any good businessman recognizes the necessity of a good marketing plan, and having the money to implement it. The CVB will not be able to be successful without funding of their marketing initiatives, and bringing it in-house as an actual county-run agency, as it appears Collins would like to do, will not help the ultimate mission of the bureau.

2009-05-17T08:40:00.000-04:00

Golisano, Florida and Responsible New York

A lot of hay has been made about Tom Golisano's decision to move his primary residence to Florida. Me, I think it's what rich people do when they get older. I suspect that Golisano's reason for moving isn't as much about saving money on taxes, although $13K per day is nothing to sneeze at. I think he probably would have gone anyway, but he gets to use the move to make a point that he has been trying to make for a long time.....that New Yorkers pay too much in taxes. He tried to make the point with his PAC, Responsible New York, which I think tanked because of his choice of the political thug, Steve Pigeon to run it. Turns out that there may have been some felonies committed in the operations of Responsible New York. Anybody shocked by that?

A few words for Tom Golisano. Thank you, sir, for the good things you have done for our region. The purchase of the Sabres, the huge donations to the likes of Niagara University, and the calling attention to the issues like our overwhelming taxes are just a few of a long list of philanthropic or community serving endeavours. I wish you well in your new home. Would you consider taking Larry Quinn and Steve Pigeon with you?

A few words to everyone else. Losing anyone from our community is a sad day. Losing a large patron of the community, even worse. Be clear, though. Golisano will probably still be active in this community, as he already has a lot invested here. I imagine he is looking forward to enjoying the fruits of his labor, and that is easier to do without wading through snow to get to the car. Golisano has an opportunity here. He is heading to warmer climes and he gets to make a point on his way out the door. It is way more poignant a point when a billionaire makes it than when a recent college graduate who can't find a good job makes it.

2009-05-06T12:40:00.001-04:00

On Friday, May 1, we launched http://www.buffalostuff.net/ . Everyone of us involved in this project believes, like most diehard Western New Yorkers, that this is the place to live. We love the small town feel and the great people. We love the food and the fact that there is no shortage of things to do...year round. We love the distinct four seasons, and the fact that there great things to do in each of those seasons. Obviously, we love our home.

The focus of Buffalo Stuff is on the things we do for fun in this area, AND the people who give of themselves to make those things a reality. We'll update the content frequently, and there are other things to do like take our polls or see our thought of the day, usually relating to something that happened on that day in history.

Many of the other online publications in WNY are very blog based. We love the idea, but because we are focusing on people, we don't want every story to be a conversation. Our mission is very positive, and it is not uncommon for some angry, negative people to criticize others to make themselves feel good, so we decided to keep the blogging separate from the stories.

As I said, the focus of Buffalo Stuff will be the fun things you can do in the Buffalo area. We have regular departments in Art, Music, Theater, Dining, Shopping, Sports, Literature, Politics, and History to name a few. You've got other suggestions, we'd love to hear them. You can post them here or send them to us via e-mail at submit@buffalostuff.net .

There's alot of good things here, and we hope to enjoy them together.