Month: April 2015

The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority’s financial mismanagement has become so bad, that employees of the agency have been told to refrain from suggesting that stoves and refrigerators would be provided to tenants in their lease agreements. This development comes as

Local businessman Joe Ludwig just placed a stinging billboard advertisement attacking a career politician. Ludwig is challenging longtime incumbent Councilman David Franczyk, who has overseen the collapse of his Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood and the implosion of the Eastside’s Polish community. The

It was Commissioner Hal Payne who introduced the resolution approving a turnaround plan that the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has demanded within 90 days of March 13, or risk a federal takeover of the agency. Federal officials

By Paul Tsouflidis  Taking the lead of a fellow entrepreneur today, I am going to address my haters. I think its important and I think you should do the same someday. So here it goes.. Hello haters. I know you

Contrary to the prevailing discourse that mass transit is an unending money pit that should be avoided, now is the time we should be aggressively building out our light rail system. It will catalyze a real estate investment and construction

Housing Commissioner Joe Mascia is opposed to BMHA Chairman Michael Seaman’s alleged effort to allow the agency’s Executive Director, Dawn Sanders-Garrett, phase out of her role over several months. In an email to the Chairman, Commissioner Mascia expresses his disapproval

Mayor Byron Brown’s administration deserves credit for its accomplishment on Ardmore Street on Buffalo’s Westside. After asphalt pavement had receded to expose a largely intact brick road beneath, residents petitioned the city to remove the aged asphalt to fully expose the

It’s time to buildout Canalside into a real neighborhood — dominated by affordable mixed use primarily residential development with ample storefronts and pedestrian oriented streetscapes. How can we do it? By creating an affordable housing tax credit — not dissimilar

That’s the question posed by political observers from across the left-right spectrum. Earlier this month Clerk Chris Jacobs and Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw both declined to run for County Executive this cycle. Since then, Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy has been advancing

Dear Mr. Ricchiazzi: I read your website every day and love how you are exposing political corruption around Erie County and WNY. I am very bothered by Frank Max’s Progressive Democrats of WNY group and their lack of accountability and thought

By Rich Purtell  Webster defines standardize: “to change (things) so that they are similar and consistent and agree with rules about what is proper and acceptable.” The process can certainly be used to help reduce costs for construction projects. Whereas

Sabres General Manager Tim Murray is a media whore, very quick to take the podium after every game and make a media spectacle of himself. The narrative is almost always architected to enhance his self-importance: his decision making, his management

The Village of Williamsville suffers from crippling automobile congestion along Main Street, between the off-ramps at the I-290 to Youngs Road. This two mile section of Main Street is among the region’s most expensive real estate, and is a thriving

The Cheektowaga Democratic Committee hosted their annual Spring gathering this morning — heading into an election cycle that could change the political landscape for generations. Hosted by Mark Wegner, the Town Chair and Highway Superintendent, the event was wildly successful.

The Commodore Perry Projects are a pre-War depression-era public housing development in Buffalo’s Old First Ward. The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. The agency was deemed “substandard” and HUD officials threatened a federal

Councilwoman Diane Benczkowski, who is widely expected to be the Town of Cheektowaga’s next Supervisor, is pleased that the Attorney General has dismissed allegations made by Frank Max against Mark Wegner, the town’s Highway Superintendent. The Town received notification of

By Rich Purtell  A plan called FSSI (Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative) is akin to “legalized cronyism”.  HR 1441 is a bill now under consideration that is in need of a CBA (cost benefit analysis); write your congressman about that.  At least

The Town of Cheektowaga learned that the New York Attorney General’s Office dismissed the investigation that was forwarded by the Town Council in February regarding allegations of improprieties relating Highway Department operations and the use of time by employees. The development is