Archive for May 3rd, 2006
Today was another beautiful spring day. I took a walk along Hertel Avenue this afternoon and have created a slideshow for you. North Buffalo, as far as I’m concerned, is a great area of the City. The variety of businesses on Hertel keeps growing. The surrounding neighborhoods are well-kept and within easy walking distance of the Hertel strip.
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Legislators may ask end to control board
Erie County’s control board is poised to leap into a more useful era today, but some of the county legislators it shadows argue it no longer is needed and say they might ask the state to disband it.
“If we do our jobs, it is not necessary,” said Legislator Thomas A. Loughran, an Amherst Democrat and one of the nine new legislators who want a chance to manage the finances without state appointees peering over their shoulders.
“If we do our jobs” - That doesn’t sound like the voice of confidence.
“If I have heard a theme from so many new members, it is, “Give us a fighting chance here to do our work, instead of giving the public the perception that you need an outside force to come in and do what the duly electeds have been elected to do,’ ” said Legislature Chairwoman Lynn M. Marinelli, D-Town of Tonawanda.
Lynn, you’ve had your fighting chance. You and your cohorts have blown it. There have been no real improvements in the County’s finances. Property taxes went up, the sales tax went up, a new fee on vehicle registrations was imposed . . . Is this how you justify eliminating the control board?
The problem with the control board is that it has been to lax, I would like to see a “hard” control board. Show us some real progress before you start sounding off about eliminating the CB. Eliminate some redundant departments, get wages inline with the average Erie County taxpayer’s, cut the County payroll . . . then make your case for no control board!
