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 was recently appointed to the SUNY board of trustees, and why Catherine Collins was recommended to Speaker Carl Heastie for appointment to the state’s board of regents, the source says.
Some political observers say that doing so would be a disservice to Western New York. The Assemblywoman has finally earned some level of political clout with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and within the minority caucus of the Assembly. She should use that clout to deliver state dollars to her district, which is badly in need of over $1 billion in streetscape improvements alone.
Her constituents have been clamoring for mass transit expansion, homesteading programs, quality of life improvements like parks and recreation facilities, in addition to small business development for years. Now that she has earned the political capital, some constituents may demand that she delivers before she departs.
Others, like the opponents of her mayoral control legislation, have begun organizing a political opposition to the Assemblywoman in rapid fashion. They intend to wage a primary challenge largely on education issues. Several career educators are considering the race.
Be the first to comment