Education

Keresztes likely to become next Superintendent

The Buffalo Public Schools’ Associate Superintendent for Student Support Services, Will Keresztes, is the frontrunner to become the district’s next Superintendent. Discussions among the majority bloc are currently ongoing, but Keresztes has a strong base of goodwill among the board members and

Cheektowaga

Benczkowski announces run for Cheektowaga Supervisor

The popular town Councilwoman Diane Benczkowski is officially in the race for Cheektowaga Supervisor, she announced Wednesday. “I want to thank Supervisor Holtz for her 40 years of hard work and dedication to the Town of Cheektowaga, both as Supervisor

Education

School board contemplates the search for next Superintendent

The Executive Affairs committee of the Buffalo School Board had a sometimes heated discussion this evening contemplating the search and selection of the next Superintendent. The minority bloc of the school board is pushing for a national search, while the

Education

District parents’ council pushes the receivership strategy

Today, at the Fillmore Avenue office of the Citizen Action Organization (CAO), the President of the District Parent Coordinating Council (DPCC) announced three new civil rights complaints that will be filed by parents of Buffalo public school children with the

Housing Authority

Inspector General slams BMHA’s suspect contracting practices

In response to a complaint about the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority’s legal expenses and contracting processes, the New York Inspector General’s Office has issued an audit report that slam’s the agency’s management and Board. The BMHA has spent millions on

City

Malicious petition raises questions about media bias

A petition was started on Change.org this morning that claimed to support changing the name of the City of Buffalo. The petitioner alleged that the use of the world “Buffalo” was offensive because it recalled a history of genocide and

City

Mascia blasts BMHA Chairman for behavior at Feb meeting

Housing Commissioner Joe Masica has been targeted for political retribution by the Board members of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority ever since he began asking questions about a suspect asbestos removal contract last February. In February of 2014, Masica began

Common Council

Golombek announces March 4th fundraiser

Councilman Joe Golombek, who is considered politically unbeatable in the Common Council’s North District, has announced a fundraiser for March 4th — this Wednesday. The fundraiser will be held at the American Legion Post on Amherst Street, which is a departure

City

Holtz says she doesn’t use Town vehicle improperly

Cheektowaga Town Supervisor Mary Holtz says that she doesn’t use her Town-owned vehicle improperly, despite not owning a personal vehicle for personal use. The longtime elected official, who served as Town Clerk for over a decade before taking the Supervisor’s

City

In maverick first year, Benczkowski makes waves

Councilwoman Diane Benczkowski has served in office for a little more than a year. In that short time, she has emerged as the maverick outsider who isn’t afraid to dig in, get to work, and — at times — to

Education

Orfield could be catalyst that unifies Buffalo School factions

Buffalo School Board of Education By: Mike Madigan Activist Gary Orfield is currently investigating Buffalo Public Schools. The investigation was initiated as a result of several Buffalo parents’ complaints regarding segregation and potential related civil rights concerns focused on the

City

Mary Holtz lambasted for use of taxpayer vehicle

Twenty year incumbent elected official Mary Holtz is in hot water over her personal use of a taxpayer funded vehicle. Operatives say that the revelations make her chances of reelection as Supervisor very unlikely, and they’ve started to wonder aloud whether

City

Liberal civil rights academic demands delaying reform agenda

By Mike Madigan As per The Buffalo News article of September 10th 2014, the Buffalo School Board voted unanimously to hire Gary Orfield to conduct a study and recommend changes to Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) criteria-based schools admissions process. The

City

Does school board experience help a McCarthy council race?

Political operatives disagree whether Jason McCarthy’s two terms on the Buffalo Board of Education will help or hurt his chances of being elected to the Common Council this year. He is widely expected to seek the Delaware district seat. McCarthy’s

Education

Larry Quinn refuses to let BPS teacher speak at public meeting

Buffalo School Board member and high-profile area businessman Larry Quinn is coming under intense criticism across the political spectrum for his behavior a at public meeting held on February 4, 2015. As Kevin Gibson, a Buffalo teacher, prepares to speak