City

Ken Young defends paving at Joe Davis State Park, says town allowed 40-ton trucks to ruin lot, not him

Last week, the Niagara Falls Reporter published an article about the failed parking lot at Joseph Davis State Park, a lot that was paved less than two years ago. The lot was paved by Ken Young Paving of Youngstown. The Reporter

Education

Newly appointed Superintendent Donald Ogilvie discusses his role

Shortly after he was elected as Buffalo’s next Interim Superintendent, Donald Ogilvie fielded a range of questions from local media outlets, where he explained his general views on education, his management style, and the current state of the Buffalo Public Schools.

Education

Strategy document outlining BPS reforms is released

The school board’s new majority released this three page vision document: 2014_BPS_Vision, WGRZ reports. It’s an impressively aggressive and on-point agenda that promotes a diversity of choices for students and parents, and a diversity of services providers. The document also

City

Destino not running against Maziarz, may run against Dyster

By Frank Parlato, The Niagara Falls Reporter The schism between County Democratic Chairman Nick Forster and the Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster-controlled city faction of the local Democrats, headed by City Chairwoman Alicia Liable, is evidenced in the candidacy of

Education

Nevergold: Ogilvie lacks turnaround, urban experiences

In an interview with WBFO’s Eileen Buckley, former school board President Dr. Barbara Nevergold says that Donald Ogilvie lacks experience in two key areas that should be demanded of the next Superintendent: urban experience and turnaround experience. Mr. Ogilvie recently

Education

What could a new teachers contract look like?

Today school board President James Sampson announced that Donald Ogilvie will serve as the Buffalo Public School District’s next Interim Superintendent. He will seek the Board’s approval at their Wednesday meeting, the first time that the newly elected majority will

Education

The Superintendent Search: Meet Dr. Susan Enfield

As Buffalo’s Board of Education prepares its search for an Interim Superintendent to manage major restructuring initiatives over the next year or two, the Board will simultaneously search for a permanent Superintendent. We should be sure to recruit the most dynamic leader that

Governor

Zephyr Teachout: “I’m the working families’ Democrat”

Zephyr Teachout is the liberal who is challenging Governor Andrew Cuomo from the left in this year’s Democratic Party. She received 41% of the Working Families Party vote at their convention last month, and caused Governor Cuomo so much worry that

Economy

It was a high price to pay to get more for your money today

I heard this song on NPR, and thought it was a compelling critique of the bipartisan destruction of American manufacturing and the increasingly centralized economy that has emerged over the last several decades of capital accumulation that has wrought the Nation with

Presidential Election 2016

Can Condi Rice be convinced to save the GOP?

Watching Iraq unravel and the middle east inflamed with instability makes almost certain that the 2016 presidential election will be consumed in a discourse on foreign policy. A great debate will be had between those who think America has an

NY Senate

Kennedy vs. Grant: the battle inside the Democratic Party

It’s an interestingly diverse district, drawn after the 2010/11 redistricting process in which the Eastside of Buffalo, South Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Lackawanna, and parts of the Westside were bound together in the  63rd State Senate district.  That year, in the neighboring

Education

The Paladinistas take their school board seats

Local media is reporting a cordial installation ceremony for recently elected at-large school board members Larry Quinn, Patricia Pierce, and Dr. Barbara Nevergold. The installation took place at the Board of Education’s public meeting room on the eighth floor of city hall.

Economy

Cuomo pledges allegiance to Roswell

Governor Andrew Cuomo was very warmly received by the standing room only audience that packed Roswell’s Hohn Auditorium to the brim. Welcomed with a standing ovation as he entered the room — filled mostly with the Institution’s research and professional staff — Cuomo clearly enjoyed

Technology

Facebook is trying to alter your mood

In a shocking revelations exposed in The Atlantic, Robinson Meyer writes that Facebook administered studies that aim to alter users’ mood by virtue of the content that is funneled into their newsfeed. From his article, Everything We Know About Facebook’s Secret Mood Manipulation Experiment,

Economy

The pitchforks are coming

In a featured article on Politico, Seattle based venture capitalist Nick Hanauer warns that “the pitchforks are coming” for him and his “fellow plutocrats.” He notes the stark wealth inequality in America: “At the same time that people like you