Erie County

The Erie County Department of Social Services (“ECDSS) has announced that the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (“ODTA”)will be issuing a Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (“EBT”) food benefit to all New York State households with school-aged

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz today announced his 2020 COVID-19 Budget Deficit Remediation Plan, identifying budgetary gap-closing measures to address a projected $137.8 million pandemic-related deficit in the county’s FY2020 budget. The Plan identifies seven key measures, including usage of

When Republican Chris Collins was still the Erie County Executive, the Democrats on the County Legislature railed against the administration and Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard for longstanding civil rights violations at the Erie County Holding Center. The legislators called

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is being lauded for his leadership during the ongoing escalation of the public health threat posed by the coronavirus.  Poloncarz and Gail Burnstein, the Erie County Commissioner of Public Health, have been frequently available to

Pioneering election law attorney and Democratic Party official Peter A. Reese is widely rumored to be preparing petitions to run for Erie County District Attorney, but the retired cancer research scientist is keeping quiet about his intentions. Those close to

Jim Ostrowski, who has long led the intellectual wing of the local Libertarian movement, is being prodded by supporters to run for Erie County District Attorney this year. Ostrowski is a prominent trial attorney, author, and constitutional law expert who

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 44-year-old Anthony B. Jones of Cheektowaga has been arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Barbara Johnson-Lee on one count of Assault in the First Degree, a Class “B” violent felony. The

Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz announced the selection of thirteen municipal projects for inclusion in the Erie County Consortium 2020 Live Well Erie Block Grant application. The application, which will be submitted to the federal Department of Housing

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz today announced his appointment of Geoffrey M. Szymanski as Erie County Director of Workforce Development. In that position he serves as Executive Director of the Buffalo and Erie County Workforce Investment Board (“WIB”). Szymanski

BY NORBERT RUG In the 60’s and 70’s, the drinking age was 18 in New York, which meant I was sneaking into bars when I was 16, and I was not the exception. Live music was everywhere. I learned a

Community organizer Duncan Kirkwood slammed Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz for his allegedly weak progressive credentials in a widely read Buffalo News editorial last month.  It’s just the latest friction between the County Executive and Buffalo’s African American community. Poloncarz is not

Republican political operatives Chris Grant and Bryan Fiume are emerging as the leading contenders to replace former County Chairman Nick Langworthy, who has ascended to the State Chairmanship.  Grant is a storied figure in local politics, despite his relative youth and willingness to

Lenny Roberto founded the Tea Party-inspired Primary Challenge to disrupt the State’s Republican Party from the quasi-Libertarian right, circa 2010.  Now he has an organizing effort underway to “Split New York” into two separate States.  He proposes a New Amsterdam, comprising all of

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has been known to date political colleagues who, in various ways, find themselves subordinate to him.  But those relationships have been publicly known and those women haven’t complained of the County Executive’s behavior — yet. Over

The industrial engineer, cancer research scientist, and pioneering election law attorney who is running for Erie County Executive — Peter A. Reese — filed his appellate brief in the case of Reese v. Board of Elections and offered oral arguments

Lisa Chimera is running for the County Legislature, but the well-heeled public servent’s salary is quickly causing a political stir in the 3rd legislative district, which encompasses parts of North Buffalo and Tonawanda. Chimera works for the Kenmore-Tonawanda school district,

County Executive Mark Poloncarz‘ appointment of a well-traveled patronage hack as a supervisor in Child Protective Services, (Buffalo News) brought back memories of an interesting Democratic Plumbers scheme from 2006.   That caper involved the efforts of then-County Legislator, now Poloncarz’

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz‘s longstanding opposition to a new Buffalo Bills stadium is badly damaging his chances of reelection at the ballot box in November, area political operatives posit.  Critics have lambasted Poloncarz for his lease negotiation in 2013, which included