COPPOLA ACCUSES RANZENHOFER OF "CHOOSING POLITICAL GAMES" OVER BEST INTERESTS OF THE 61ST

Democratic NYS Senate candidate Marc Coppola accused his GOP opponent, incumbent Senator Mike Ranzenhofer of being "missing in action" on UB 20/20, having provided "no leadership or support."

"Passing the UB 20/20 bill would create a world class university as well as economic stimulus that WNY so desperately needs," said Coppola in a release. "Failure to pass this legislation is just another reason that WNYers are frustrated with Albany...And, Senator Ranzenhofer's partisan politics didn't help the situation. He chose to play political blame games and stick with his Albany leaders rather than the residents of the 61st District who elected him. He doesn't know how to reach across the aisle to deliver for his constitutents. He would rather put his head in the sand and point fingers than get things accomplished."

"Ranzenhofer claims he is a strong supporter of UB 20/20," Coppola continues. "But, he did absolutely nothing to get it passed, even though the University of Buffalo is the biggest employer in the district he claims to represent. It is obvious that his goal is to make the Senate even more dysfunctional, not to really get anything done for the people he is supposed to be working for."

By contrast, Coppola pointed to his own record of working with all parties to deliver for his constituents, while promising to do the same if given the opportunity to serve the residents of the 61st.

"If something is good for New Yorkers, especially those who live in my district, I will support it," he pledged. "It doesn't matter to me whose idea it is as long as it gets the job done for my constituents. When I was in the Senate, I worked with Republicans such as Senator Dale Volker to get good legislation passed for the good of WNY. On the other hand, Ranzenhofer has been so partisan in his more than 20 years as an elected official that he rarely votes for anything that is sponored by the other party, even if it's a good idea that would benefit his constituents. That is why he has been so ineffective." 

STATEMENT FROM TIM KENNEDY REGARDING BUDGET PASSAGE AND ITS EFFECT ON UB 2020

“Once again, personal paychecks have become more important than progress for Western New York.

“What transpired in Albany is shameful, inexcusable and downright unacceptable. It is a perfect example of why we need change in Albany.

“While it took Albany incumbents Bill Stachowski and Jack Quinn four months to sell Western New York down the river, their retroactive paychecks totaling tens of thousands of dollars each are sure to be cashed in record time.

“Stachowski politicized UB 2020 at every turn, while Quinn put his head in the sand and did nothing to advocate on behalf of Western New York.

STACHOWSKI: "100% CONFIDENT" UB 20/20 DEAL WILL PASS 

After months of negotiations, a final deal on SUNY Empowerment has been reached. Senator William T. Stachowski said the following:

“For the past two years, I have had one primary goal as a law maker, to pass legislation in support of the University of Buffalo’s 2020 plan, a plan that I and many others believe is critical to the future of Western New York.

“After months of difficult negotiations and unrelenting pressure from myself, a deal has finally been reached to ensure that the University of Buffalo has the tools they need to carry out the UB2020 plan. Representatives from the University were in the room during the negotiations, and I have been assured that this deal will empower the University of Buffalo to carry out one of the most aggressive economic development plans in Buffalo’s history, turning the University of Buffalo into a world leading research center.

“Make no mistake; this is not a gimmick or a one house bill. The budget may be finished, but we will be back in Albany shortly to finalize SUNY empowerment. I would never have voted to finalize the budget, if I wasn’t 100% confident that the University of Buffalo will soon have the legislation it needs to make its vision a reality.”

FROM GRANT ST. TO CONNECTICUT, RIVERA IS ON THE JOB AS THE SUMMER HEATS UP

Though the Buffalo Common Council may be on its summer recess currently, there is no summer vacation for Niagara District Councilman David Rivera. While others put their attention on journeys to the beach or long drives into the upstate hills, Rivera is staying on the job, going from one public...

To read more of this and other stories about the WNY Latino community, click on to:

www.noticias-wny.com

THOMPSON ANNOUNCES BUDGET PASSAGE DESPITE A BUDGET PROCESS THAT "HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING"....LAND TRANSFER BILL UNLIKELY TO PASS COMMON COUNCIL WEDNESDAY

NYS Senator Antoine Thompson announced that the NYS Senate has now passed the final 2010-2011 budget bill. 

"This years budget process has been very challenging," he said.  "Closing a $9 billion budget deficit and at the same time trying to reduce cuts to hospitals, nursing homes, and our schools was very tough."

In other news, our sources are telling us that Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown's Waterfront Land Transfer proposal probably does not have the six votes needed to pass the Common Council on Wednesday. The problem, according to one unimpeachable source is that the administration doesn't have a tenant for the plot in question definitely nailed down. Now that Bass Pro isn't a factor, there has been talk about an HSBC office of some kind being located there. But, that also is far from definite.

More than likely, the proposal will gain a plurality of 5 to 4, but fail because a super majority of at least 6 is needed for a land transfer proposal to pass.

Buffalo's own Republican gubernatorial candidate, Carl Paladino, wants to see Gov. David Paterson prosecuted and disbarred for his actions as described in former Chief Justice Judith Kaye's report on the Gov's past ethics woes. This is despite the fact that the report that goes into great detail explaining why prosecution isn’t warranted according to the evidence.

As to disbarment, it’s going to be pretty hard to accomplish considering the fact that the Governor has never passed the state bar. Still, we can't deny that Paladino makes some good points. The full text of his comments follow:

Highly successful Buffalo developer Carl Paladino is now reassuring supporters that he ’spoke hastily’ in two media interviews earlier this week when he declared that he would not pursure a third party (or at least third line) candidacy for Governor should he lose to GOP gubernatorial nod to opponent and former Long Island Congressman Rick Lazio. Now he is declaring that he wants to ‘preserve all my options’ should soldiering on as a third-party candidate start to look appealing.

His revised stance is as follows:

"I am so confident of victory in the New York Republican Primary that I spoke hastily this week on 'Inside City Hall,' (a Big Apple political talk show) and said I would be gone if i did not win the Republican Primary. Many in the Tea Party movement and more of my supporters expressed extreme displeasure immediately. They want me to carry the fight for reform into the Fall with the Taxpayers Line. I owe it to them and our State to examine the circumstances after the GOP primary, when I believe this issue will be moot.

So Republican New York Senator Mike Ranzenhofer is complaining that he s "pulling out (his) hair" due to what he says is his frustration over the lack of legislative action on the part of the Albany Senate's Democratic majority. His Dem opponent, Marc Coppola is suggesting that Ranzenhofer look in the mirror, rather than at his Democratic colleagues to find the reason for the Senate's inaction.

"Instead of doing what's best for his district and WNY, Senator Ranzenhofer has been going along with the Republican party strategy of opposing and blocking everything the Democrats in the Senate try to do, even initiatives with which they agree, just so they can try to win the next election by saying nothing is getting done," Coppola charges. "Clearly Ranzenhofer is being a hypocrite by going around complaining of a lack of legislative action that he is causing. Senators like Mike Ranzenhofer would rather accomplish nothing so that they can play partisan blame games."

Coppola charges that Ranzenhofer is even purposely sitting on his hands rather than backing a bi-partisan initiative that all agree would create thousands of jobs for WNYers

KENNEDY UNVEILS TAX-CUTTING STRATEGY

“Hardworking Western New Yorkers are being taxed to death,” said Tim Kennedy, a candidate for New York State Senate, as he unveiled his six-point tax-cutting strategy Saturday at his campaign headquarters.

Kennedy starts his plan with a call for a cap on property taxes. On a list of counties that endure the highest property tax burdens—as a percentage of home value—in the United States, 26 of the top 30 counties are located in New York State.  

                “Western New Yorkers pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation,” Kennedy explained. “It is imperative that we place a cap on property taxes which will hold the levy, or the total amount of taxes collected, at two percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.”

                Instituting a cap would reduce the tax burden weighing down residents and businesses, Kennedy noted.

The tax-cutting strategy also calls for Medicaid reform.

Landmark legislation sponsored by NYS Senator Antoine Thompson ( D-parts of Erie & Niagara Counties) became the law of the land on Friday. The bill (S3296) bans the use of the controversial, carcinogenic chemical Bishpenol-A in products for children age three and under. NY Governor David Paterson signed the bill into law. The newly passed legislation covers such common childcare products as pacifiers, baby bottles, baby bottle liners, cups, cup lids, straws and sippy cups. Parents have innocently exposed their children to this chemical for years without knowing the risk.

Thompson says, "The possible health problems caused by Bisphenol-A are alarming. Studies show that BPA has been linked to early onset puberty, polycystic ovary syndrome and breast and prostate cancer."

While four counties in NYS have already enacted local laws prohibiting the use of BPA in sippy cups and baby bottles, Senator Thompson newly passed law now expands the prohibition, instantly makes it state-wide.

COMMUNITY RALLY AND FUNDRAISER FOR JUDGE MCLEOD OF ERIE COUNTY COURT

There will be a Community Rally and Fundraiser for Judge James A. W. McLeod, Candidate for Erie County Court on Tuesday evening, Aug. 10 from 5:30-7:30pm at the 550 Banquet Hall, 550 Genesee St. (near Jefferson Ave.), Buffalo. The purpose of the event is to  assist Judge McLeod in his historic effort to become the next Erie County Court Judge. The donation is $25. There will be food and music. Additional donations can be mailed to: Friends of Judge A. W. McLeod; PO Box 361; Niagara Square Station; Buffalo, NY 14201. For more information, call 597-2526.