December, 2018 | The Buffalo Chronicle

Peoples-Stokes’ ascendancy could mean big gains for inner-city neighborhoods

December 18, 2018

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes‘ ascendancy to highest echelons of Albany’s political power structure, could mean big gains for the East Side neighborhoods that she represents. Her relationship with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie will be a critically important one if

Hardwick may retire ahead of November elections

December 18, 2018

Erie County Legislator Kevin Hardwick — who represents Grand Island, the City of Tonawanda, and much of the Town of Tonawanda — announced this morning that he is leaving the Republican caucus to join the Democrats on the Legislature, led by

From full house to empty nest, to full house again

December 18, 2018

BY NORBERT RUG Empty nest syndrome, I never knew when it would hit. That extreme feeling of loneliness when my kids began leaving home to start a life on their own. Everybody had graduated from college, the weddings were over

In the next episode of lying liars…

December 18, 2018

BY JOE GENCO A short take on today’s news: In the next episode of lying liars and the liars that lay them, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn faces federal sentencing today but hopefully won’t be sent away for long.

Libertarian-Republican ‘coopetition’ in New York State

December 18, 2018

BY TODD ALDINGER, ESQ The Libertarian Party has emerged from the 2018 midterm elections as a meaningful player in New York State politics. There will necessarily be some electoral competition between Republicans and Libertarians; however, because we live in deep-blue

A legislative pay raise would be good for Republicans

December 18, 2018

BY TODD ALDINGER, ESQ A significant legislative pay raise would help Republicans recruit and retain the caliber of candidates they need to compete with Democrats. With Democrats firmly in control of both the State Senate and Assembly, potential Republican candidates

Campaign spending lessons from the 2018 midterms

December 18, 2018

BY TODD ALDINGER, ESQ New York State Republican Senate Campaigns outspent Democrat candidates for State Senate by nearly three million dollars — and still lost eight seats in the 2018 midterm elections. Much of these funds were spent defending State

Republican State Senators must run for reelection — not other offices

December 18, 2018

BY TODD ALDINGER, ESQ Despite the historic loss of eight State Senate seats in the 2018 midterm elections, the chamber will likely remain the critical component Republican power in New York State, at least through redistricting in 2021. This is because the

GOP donors must be attentive to growing the Assembly caucus

December 18, 2018

BY TODD ALDINGER, ESQ New York State Republican donors have for a long time treated the Assembly as little more than an afterthought in favor of the State Senate. This attitude must end now that the State Senate has been

Kennedy’s new chairmanship called ‘an economic gift for WNY’

December 17, 2018

The Democratic Party has taken control of the State Senate — a chamber that has been controlled by the Republicans for decades, excepting a brief period in 2008, before a leadership coup paralyzed the chamber until 2010 elections. Tim Kennedy

Please, improve Sheridan Drive…

December 17, 2018

BY JOE GENCO A short take on today’s news: Please sign this petition to improve Sheridan Drive. Minimize accident severity. Improve traffic flow. Make left hand turns easier. Make room for bikes. The Trump shutdown is coming! The Trump shutdown

Paladino could run for Burke’s seat on the county legislature

December 17, 2018

Patrick Burke was elected to the State Assembly last month, vacating his seat on the County Legislature representing District 7, which encompasses South Buffalo and most of Cheektowaga. While the district enjoys a substantial enrollment advantage for Democrats, many Republicans

It wasn’t just another crook heading up the river…

December 16, 2018

BY JOE GENCO A short take on today’s news: When former Trump fixer Michael Cohen was sentenced to jail, it wasn’t just another connected crook heading up the river. It was the beginning of an avalanche. Think for a minute:

Will Republicans field City Council candidates next year?

December 15, 2018

Under the leadership of Erie County Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy, it has become common practice for the party to avoid fielding candidates in the City of Buffalo. The thinking is, that if there are no general election contests in city

Yes, David Pecker is his real name…

December 15, 2018

BY JOE GENCO A short take on today’s news: Long-time National Enquirer publisher David Pecker (yes that’s really his name) will not face criminal charges for catching and killing a story about President Trump’s affair with a Playboy Bunny. As

The promise of immunotherapy

December 15, 2018

BY NORBERT RUG As an eight-year, three-time, cancer survivor, I always read with interest in the latest advances in cancer treatment. Over the years I have been poked, prodded and probed. I have been subjected to MRIs, CAT scans, X-rays,

A deeper scandal may be hidden in Panepinto’s sentencing details

December 14, 2018

BY MIKE MADIGAN Is there a much larger scandal buried in the details of Senator Marc Panepinto‘s sentencing? United States Attorney JP Kennedy‘s office alleged, and Panepinto pled, that bribe funds and a government job were offered, and were to

Thurman Thomas calls on County Legislature, NFL to reform bail bond system

December 14, 2018

Thurman Thomas — one of the Buffalo Bills’ most legendary players and a key to the team’s four-year Superbowl streak in the 1990s — appeared before the Erie County Legislature’s Public Safety Committee on Thursday to call for bail bond reform. Thomas argued

Victory is ours, sayeth the slow spokes

December 13, 2018

BY JOE GENCO A Short Take on Today’s News: Victory is ours, sayeth the Slow Spokes! Elves unite! We will rule the world! Thanks Mark Mitri for leading with love. The world needs more Slow Spokes. Love more. Judge less. Come ride

Autumn leaves, a less troublesome topic

December 13, 2018

BY NORBERT RUG The falling leaves drift by my window, The falling leaves of red and gold. Frank Sinatra (1954) Now that the midterm elections are over, all those intrusive political ads of the past few months have settled down.