Common Council

Smothers, Bollman to battle for Lovejoy Common Council seat

Esther Smothers, former Erie County Legislature Chairwoman Betty Jean Grant‘s principal legislative staffer, is vying for the Buffalo Common Council seat representing Lovejoy.  Also running is Brian Bollman, the outgoing Lovejoy Councilman Rich Fontana‘s principal legislative staffer. Both figures are

Common Council

Will Republicans field City Council candidates next year?

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

Common Council

Mascia blasts Council’s Development Committee

BY TERRENCE ROBINSON Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA) Commissioner Joseph Mascia, who is currently suspended from acting in an official capacity by order of Mayor Byron Brown, is outraged that the Development Committee of the City of Buffalo Common Council

Common Council

Dave Howard could unseat 28 year incumbent on Tuesday

Buffalo’s Fillmore district is the city’s poorest. The historic Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood that was once the vibrant heart of the district is now commonly and laughably referred to as “Beirut, Lebanon.” The truth, however, is that Beirut is far better off

Common Council

Terrance Heard challenges Pridgen on issue of urban blight

Political prognosticators say that Ellicott District Common Council member Darius Pridgen has a lot to worry about this November. A young, successful, and charismatic political newcomer — Terrance Heard — has emerged to challenge the theatrical first term Councilman who has ambitions on the

Common Council

At housing court, Franczyk undermines claim that he’s a preservationist

Earlier this week, Fillmore district Councilman David Franczyk appeared in city housing court to support the demolition of a property that preservationists in the Broadway Fillmore neighborhood say is key to keeping the community’s history and architectural character intact. His opposition comes at

Common Council

Diversity of district makes Fillmore council race a toss up

The Fillmore district is a gerrymandered concoction that was drawn in the 2010/11 redistricting process. Then Council President David Franzcyk, a deeply unpopular figure who was first elected in 1988 and watched his neighborhood collapse, desperately needed to find white

Common Council

Franczyk rejects the Democratic endorsement to become a Republican nominee

According to Democratic Party rules, accepting the Republican nomination for an elected office immediately and automatically disqualifies that candidate from receiving the party’s endorsement. As a nearly 30 year incumbent, David Franczyk received the Committee’s endorsement based on standing party etiquette. But

Common Council

Sharon Belton-Cottman could face Mike Woolford in Masten 

School board member Sharon Belton Cottman is emerging as the leading Democrat contender to challenge  Mike Woolford, the widely respected Buffalo businessman, for Common Council from Buffalo’s Masten District. Woolford is running on the Conservative line — with the Ellicott district’s Darius Pridgen

Common Council

Politician photobombs opponents, making for awkward moments

When you tell someone that David Franczyk has been on the Common Council since 1986, they expect a seasoned and well-groomed statesman — a skilled orator with charm, a conversationalist with personality. But they would be very wrong, because the longtime

Common Council

Deep unpopularity has made Franczyk “paranoid and delusional”

The longtime Fillmore district councilman who has grown deeply unpopular among his constituents is cracking under pressure, says a longtime city employee who works at city hall. David Franczyk is “visibly paranoid and delusional” the source says. Earlier this week,

Common Council

Justice O’Donnell is dragging his feet on BMHA ruling

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