GIVENS EVENT TO BE HELD, TUES., AUG. 24 AT WATERFRONT VENUE

The Committee to elect Judge Debra L. Givens to the NYS Supreme Court will hold an event at Templeton's Landing (the former Shanghai Red's) on Tues., Aug. 24 from 5:30-7:30pm. The contribution levels are: $99; $200; and $350. Checks can be made out to: The Committee to Elect Judge Debra L. Givens to the NYS Supreme Court.

What can the average person do to end the reign of terror on the streets that was highlighted early Saturday morning by the shooting of eight people, with four murdered, in front of a well known downtown Buffalo bistro? Erie County Legislator Betty Jean Grant is hoping ot begin to answer that question with a community meeting on Tuesday night from 6-8pm at the Delavan-Grider Community Center, 877 E. Delavan Ave.

On the agenda is the struggle to find a way to stop people who would fire a gun into a crowd of people, most of whom the gunman didn't even know.

"Why do people do these things," she rhetorically inquiries. "Why do people sell drugs to other people, knowing those drugs are going to kill them? These are people who shoot and kill other people and don't care about who they hurt or kill. These are people who don't care about the consequences, who don't care about the family members whose lives they are destroying. This was a very large family which was touched by this terrible shooting. These people had come up here to celebrate a wedding anniversay. Now there is all this pain and grief."

"The terrible thing about it is that the killer probably didn't even know the people he shot," she continues. "It looks to be a random shooting spree. He just wanted to kill someone."

How does she think the meeting will help?

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COMMITTEE TO ELECT CALVO-TORRES TO SUPREME COURT HOLDING EVENT, THURS., AUG. 26

The Committee to Elect Judge Betty Calvo-Torres to the NYS Supreme Court will hold a fundraiser on Thurs., Aug. 26 at the Nixon Residence on Delaware Ave., Buffalo from 5:30-7:30pm. The contribution levels will be: $50 for a Birthday Wish; $100 for a Birthday Cake; and $200 for a Birthday Party. Checks can be made out to the Committee to Elect Judge Betty Calvo-Torres to the NYS Supreme Court.

MAJOR MARK SCHROEDER EVENT,. SUN. AFTERNOON, AUG. 22, 1-4PM

There will be an event in honor of NYS Assemblymember Mark Schroeder on Sunday, Aug. 22 from 1-4pm at Potter's Field, 425 Potter Rd., West Seneca. The charge is $50. Make checks out to: Friends of Mark Schroeder; PO Box 743; Buffalo, NY 14220.

Senator Antoine Thompson is calling for a moratorium on a form of gas drilling which could pollute New York’s drinking water. The Senator feels that this type of gas drilling could contaminate the drinking water of more than 12 million New York residents. Putting public safety over the interests of gas companies, the Senate Democratic Majority has passed legislation sponsored by Senator Antoine Thompson (D-Parts of Buffalo and Niagara County) mandating a temporary moratorium on the gas drilling method known as "hydro-fracking" to ensure adequate time to research safety measures and regulations. However, that legislation also requires passage in the State Assembly before it can be sent to the Governor’s desk for approval.

The Senate, on August 3, 2010, overwhelmingly passed S8129B/Thompson by a vote of 48-9. This bill provides for a suspension, until May 15, 2011, of the issuance of new permits for the drilling of a well which utilizes the practice of hydraulic fracturing. The legislation is now awaiting action by the Assembly before it can be sent to the Governor for his signature.

This moratorium will help to accomplish several goals, including: Providing an extended period of time to study this new technology before permits are issued and drilling is allowed; Ensuring environmental experts and the public have time to review any proposed regulations and offer ways to make them stronger; Allocating enough time for the Legislature to review the DEC’s conclusions on the environmental impact of this method of gas drilling.

LENIHAN'S SPEECH AT DUFFY EVENT OFFERS CLEAR STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES..."NO INVESTIGATIONS"..."WE ELECT DEMOCRATS...WE DON'T PLAY AROUND WITH THE OTHER SIDE"

Erie County Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan made news at the party's fundraising cocktail party for Lt. Governor candidate Bob Duffy on Thursday night in a speech in which he seemed to lay down the gauntlet to potential opponents.

"Despite the fact that there are ups and downs in this job, I feel that it's an honor every day to serve as Erie County Democratic Chairman," he declared. "Over all, we've had an excellent record of achievement, electing Kathy Hochul to be our county clerk, Mark Poloncarz to serve as county comptroller and Brian Higgins to become a Democratic Congressman from this area., not to mention electing seven of nine Supreme Court Justice candidates under my leadership."

He then went on to list a pair of basic principles, the observance of which he characterized as the cornerstones of his leadership.

"First, we run a clean organization," he stated. "There are no investigators snooping around our office and there naver will be. Second, we are here to elect Democrats and only Democrats. We don't play around with the other side."

COCKTAIL PARTY FEATURING LT. GOV CANDIDATE "EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS" LENIHAN REPORTS...DUFFY REPEATEDLY PRAISES "ENTHUSIASM AND PASSION" OF ERIE COUNTY DEMOCRATS UNDER CHAIRMAN LENIHAN  

Thursday night's Erie County Democratic Committee fundraising Cocktail Party honoring Dem Lt. Governor candidate and Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy was, by all accounts a big success.

"This event tonight greatly exceeded our expectations," the Chairman said afterwards. "I was thrilled by the enormous show of support that we saw during the Cocktail Party for Mayor Duffy. Once again, Mayor Duffy proved to be a very effective candidate, someone whom everyone liked and seemed happy to get behind and support."

During his remarks, Mayor Duffy showered praise on the Erie County Democratic Committee and Chairman Lenihan. He lauded the "passion and enthusiasm" of the local party, adding that, he's been especially impressed by the "commitment" of the Democratic Party under Chairman Lenihan during his five or six trips here as the Democratic endorsed candidate for Lt. Governor.

"We are going to work very hard from now until election day," Duffy pledged. "We aren't going to take a single vote for granted."

Among those on hand was Buffalo City Court Judge James McLeod, the endorsed Democratic candidate for Erie County Court Judge, County Clerk Kathy Hochul, NYS Senator Bill Stachowsk, Assemblymember Mark Schroeder, Cheektowaga Democratic Chairman Frank Max, Tonawanda Chairman John Crangle, and Amherst Chairman and Erie County Elections Commissioner Dennis Ward.

WHAT ARE ANDREW CUOMO'S PROPOSAL FOR RESTORING ETHICS IN ALBANY? THE FULL TEXT OF HIS ACTION PLAN ON ETHICS FOLLOWS: 

"I think members of organized labor in the Eighth Judicial District appreciate the fact that I have a strong labor background," she explains. "I believe they understand that I would always be fair to them and always undertand their concerns."

Among the union groups which have come out for Panepinto so far are ; The United Auto Workers Region 9 WNY Community Action Program; the Communications Workers of America, WNY Council; AFSCME Local 850; the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local One; and the Laborers International Union of North America, Local 210.

"Hardworking Western New Yorkers need good-paying jobs," said Tim Kennedy, a candidate for New York State Senate, as he unveiled his job creation strategy Wednesday at Industrial Support Inc., a Buffalo-based manufacturing facility.

Standing in the local factory that President Barack Obama visited just a few short months ago, Kennedy outlined his plan to spark economic development and create jobs in Western New York. As chairman of the Economic Development Committee in the Erie County Legislature, Kennedy has worked directly with business owners to help them survive and thrive.

Calling job creation "issue number one," Kennedy said he plans to continue his commitment to small business in Albany by striving to reduce the burden that New York State places upon them.

"To revive our state and regional economy, we must break down the barriers to doing business here," Kennedy said. "We need to unleash business from the state’s stranglehold of excessive taxes and fees, so that companies don’t continue to relocate to more business-friendly climates."

CHALLENGER REACTS TO HOYT CRITICISM OF JOE'S RECORD RE THE WEST SIDE: "SAM'S REPRESENTED THE AREA TWICE AS LONG!"

Democratic Assembly candidate Joe Golombek's reaction to the recent passage of the NYS budget, 125 days late, is pretty clear: "Outside of  Assemblymember Mark Schroeder, they should all be thrown out," he declares. "I feel that Schroeder is an exception because he is truly independent. The rest of them just went along with this disaster. They only pretended to be independent. The  voters of New York should be outraged by the fact that the state budget was passed 125 days late. The rest of us have deadlines we have to meet in our lives and work or there are consequences....But, not our state legislators."

As for his opponent Sam Hoyt's criticism of the North District Common Council Member's record re the West Side and Black Rock, as printed in this space yesterday, Golombek has this to say:

"Actually, Hoyt has represented these areas twice as long as I have," Golombek points out. "So if there are problems in those communities, he is the one who should take some responsibility."

Far from being a cheerleader for Albany's many works, the Councilman takes a decidedly dim view of the Legislature's recent efforts.