May 2015 – The Buffalo Chronicle

It’s time to think beyond the Scajaquada Expressway

May 31, 2015

One of the most profound urban design mistakes in Buffalo’s history has been our treatment of Scajaquada Creek. In Black Rock, the creek winds though industrial brownfeilds and functions as a sewage ditch — with all of the runoff pollutants from

Sources say Garner fears he may be focus of FBI investigation; wants peace deal with rival club

May 30, 2015

Two prominent Democrat officials tell me that Maurice Garner, the founder of Grassroots, Inc, is brokering “a peace deal” with Unity Coalition — a shocking development that would have been unthinkable a few short months ago. The two political clubs have been

Will Walters pull out if fundraiser disappoints?

May 29, 2015

The little known right wing Assemblyman Ray Walter is running for County Executive, as of yet. Incumbent Mark Poloncarz has over $400,000 in his campaign account and the backing of the Democrat party organization, despite upsetting some segments of organized

Does a caged bird sing?

May 28, 2015

Western New York’s political world has been inalterably rocked today with the issuance of search warrants at the homes of the renowned political operative G. Steven Pigeon, and two others: former Deputy Mayor Steve Casey and Chris Grant, Congressman Chris Collins’ Chief

Veronica Nichols slams Mayor Brown on SUNY appointment

May 28, 2015

Veronica Nichols, the community activist who challenged Assemblywoman Crystal People Stokes in a tree way primary contest last year, is calling out Mayor Byron Brown. Brown’s surprise appointment to the SUNY board of trustees is a conflict of interest, she

Jacobs battles perception in aftermath of county executive debacle

May 28, 2015

County Clerk Chris Jacobs is battling perceptions ahead of next year’s election cycle. He stepped out of contention in the county executive’s race last year after intense party infighting with Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw and his operatives, causing many to brand

Sharp change of tone on school board after Orfield report

May 28, 2015

The tone was subdued after the presentation of Dr. Gary Orfeild, a national civil rights expert who was charged with investigating the the selection process that governs admissions to the city’s highest performing schools. The system has resulted in one

Peoples-Stokes is looking to land a lavish job at UB, says source

May 27, 2015

A prominent Democrat with close ties to Mayor Byron W. Brown tells me that Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes is angling for a position with the University at Buffalo, in the $180,000 to $200,000 range. Such is the reason that Mayor Brown

Peoples-Stokes rebrands her mayoral control bill, as “The Community Schools Act”

May 26, 2015

Assemblywoman Crystal People-Stokes held a rally in support of legislation that has introduced in Albany in recent weeks, for which is seeking passage in the coming days. She is said to have the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is

Pridgen gets ungodly this Sunday, unloads on Buffalo News in Facebook rant

May 25, 2015

Common Council President Darius Pridgen took to Facebook Sunday evening to lash out against the Buffalo News for, apparently, implying that he supported a mayoral takeover of the public schools. He clearly feels his views were not represented in the

Observers say that a primary challenge for Senator Panepinto is possible

May 25, 2015

In the 60th State Senate district, it’s expected that newbie Senator Marc Panepinto — who won his last Democratic Party primary by fewer than 400 votes, and his general election with just 34% of the vote — will face at least

Buffalo billion funds should be used for public space

May 24, 2015

High quality public spaces can be a deeply democratizing force in the urban context. Historically, public spaces — particularly in the form of town squares — have been where civic life occurs. Those spaces act a critical venue for the governance

Peoples-Stokes bill “will further disenfranchise voters” says Nevergold

May 24, 2015

Legislation being advanced by Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes is meeting resistance from both factions of the Buffalo Board of Education and from political activists from both parties. The legislation would disband the elected school board and give Mayor Byron Brown — a

Mascia releases prepared remarks delivered at ‘The Rally for Peace, Justice, and Respect”

May 24, 2015

County Legislator Betty Jean Grant — whose community-first style of leadership is admired across the political spectrum — held a rally at Niagara Square on Saturday, called ‘The Rally for Peace, Justice, and Respect.’ BMHA’s elected housing commissioner Joe Mascia

Justice O’Donnell is dragging his feet on BMHA ruling

May 24, 2015

Mayor Byron Brown’s five appointments to the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority’s board of commissioners were made illegally, alleges the tenant elected Housing Commissioner Joe Mascia. In accordance with the articles of incorporation that govern the authority, Commissioners are to have

Opponents of mayoral control speculate that Peoples-Stokes will face a primary

May 22, 2015

Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes continues to advance legislation in Albany that would disband the current school board, strip voters of their ability to elect candidates to the board, and give Mayor Byron Brown the authority to appoint and fire the Superintendent and board

Does Darius Pridgen have trouble with his base?

May 20, 2015

Council President Darius Pridgen has political problems with the base of support that elected him. A wealthy pastor of one of the poorest congregations in the city, the Councilman’s expensive tastes, flamboyant style, and coziness with the city’s most wealthy

Mascia may make BMHA’s privatization an issue for incumbent Councilman

May 18, 2015

Housing Commissioner Joe Mascia — who was elected to five consecutive terms by a largely minority base of support — is widely expected to challenge longtime incumbent David Franzcyk for the Fillmore district council seat. Political observers expect that Mascia will

On education, is it really ‘for the children’?

May 18, 2015

By Budd Schroeder By the time this column is published, the school districts will have their elections for the budget and school board members. The general consensus is that there are problems in the educational systems. Administrators and unions keep saying

Jurists wonder how Panepintos navigate “impossible” conflicts of interest

May 17, 2015

Former and aspiring candidates for various judgeships have been wondering how State Senator Marc Panepinto and his wife, State Supreme Court Justice Catherine Nugent Panepinto, navigate what they call “impossible conflicts of interest.” They worry that attorneys who practice before Justice