The Niagara Gazette, which is the Cataract City’s daily, has a new fresh-faced (27!) editor.

His first impressions?

I mean, don’t you like to be criticized by the likes of:

I don’t know if it’s young David’s fault. After all, I hear that the schools in Alabama suck.

The Gazette has been sucking for a long while, especially since Gannett sold it. It’s desperate for people to read it for something more than just the obits. Insulting your readership isn’t going to ingratiate you to it.

In any event, I find it interesting that the Gazette’s website has been scrubbed of Arkin’s opinions of WNY. That’s pretty intellectually dishonest. If he’s gonna write it, he might as well back it up.

HT Buffalo Watchdog

Why does Fox News hate Christmas and the baby Jesus?

HT to Tom in Comments

This piece in the NY Daily News explains to the denizens of the New York megalopolis why they should care about Buffalo.

Ask the typical New York City resident what they think about the situation in Buffalo, and the response is likely to be a shrug and a “who cares.”

Wrong answer.

Buffalo, the state’s second-largest city, has been struggling with a fiscal crisis for years, piling up $100 million in debt. A control board, similar to the one imposed on New York City in the 1970s, has overseen Buffalo’s finances since 2003.

If Buffalo can’t get its finances in order, its bills could eventually become obligations the rest of the state - in other words, all of us - must pay. “If Buffalo isn’t healthy, it places a drag on the entire state, including New York City,” says Brown.

That’s putting it mildly. New York already shoulders $49 billion in debt, making us the second-most-indebted state in America after California, with the equivalent of $2,420 in debt for every man, woman and child in the state - more than twice the national average.

A fiscal collapse in Buffalo would add even more to the tab: The political embarrassment of allowing the state’s second-largest city to go bankrupt is something state leaders in Albany would never allow.

For New Yorkers, who already shoulder one of the nation’s highest tax burdens, that’s reason enough to care about Buffalo. . .

It’s also got a few choice quotes from Mayor-elect Byron Brown:

“As someone who grew up in New York City, I’m going to work more aggressively to establish a closer relation between our cities,” he says. “It’s a great place for New York City businesses as a back office location and a great tourist location for New York City residents, right in the state.”

Early projects will include redevelopment of Buffalo’s waterfront and overseeing the opening of a planned Seneca Gaming Corp. casino in the city. But the real key to success lies in convincing downstaters, who control so much of the state’s investment and tourist dollars, that Buffalo is a viable place to live, play and do business.

If Brown can pull that off, his success could provide a turnaround formula for other ailing upstate cities like Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Binghamton and Schenectady.

The kid from Queens has his work cut out for him.

Every new job is definitely good, but I sort of hope that Brown has bigger aspirations for Buffalo’s revival than having us become Bangalore-on-the-Lake.

Of course, getting New Yorkers to pay attention to anything north of Yonkers is like pulling teeth.

HT to the newly-linkable Upstate Blog

The Upstate Blog supports permalinking and trackbacks - but no comments.

What is it with blogs that shun comments?

Quinn J. Sedinger

15 months old, November 28, 2005 of Orchard Park, NY, beloved son of Kelly and Debra Harms Sedinger; dear brother of Haley K.; dearest grandson of Harry and Theresa Sedinger and Marvin and Linda Harms; also survived by aunts and uncles. Calling hours with the family will be held Thursday 6-8 PM at the SIECK & MAST FUNERAL HOME, 250 Orchard Park Rd., West Seneca 825-5205. Funeral services Friday, December 2, 2005 at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 4536 South Buffalo St., Orchard Park at 11 AM. (Please assemble at church). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery.

1. End electoral fusion. All it’s good for is perks and patronage for the likes of Tony Orsini.

2. End pre-primary party endorsements. It’s ridiculous. The party committees should stay out of it until the people enrolled in the party make up their minds via primaries. Just look at the disarray of the state Republicans. Don’t think that won’t ever happen to the Dems.

Hell, if Suozzi runs a good primary against Spitzer and wins, what’s Spitzer going to do? Run on the WFP line? It’d make the party, which would be backing Spitzer, look out of touch and ridiculous. Not that I think this scenario is likely, but stranger things have happened.

So, get right on that. Thanks.

If there’s one candidate who would actually pay attention to our calls to get rid of tolls on the I-190, it would be Bill Weld.

After all, he removed several tolls on the Mass Pike extension back in the late 90s, and all the tolls west of Springfield; (if you drive between two of the exits west of Springfield, you pay no toll, and the toll charge stays the same between Springfield and the border in Lee).

I have a history of taking the tolls off the Massachusetts Turnpike. I’ve been very suspicious of bureaucracies.”

If Thomas Bauerle can spend a 3 hour show bitching and moaning about such trivia as “happy holidays” vs. “Merry Christmas”, then certainly you can take two seconds to send him a “Happy Holidays” greeting, just to get his mullet in a twist.

Don’t worry, Tom. A store clerk saying “happy holidays” oughtn’t affect your ability to celebrate your holiday in the way you choose. If it does, then you’re being a petulant 2-year-old.

UPDATE: And as a commenter says:

Someone should inform Bauerle that Holiday is a derivation of Holy Day….DUH!

Duh indeed.

I don’t think that there’s much of anything that anyone can do about the Seneca Buffalo casino that will begin construction within the next week in the Cobblestone district. The Supreme Court’s decision earlier this week not to take a case challenging the constitutionality of the State’s deal with the Senecas pretty much puts the kibosh on any effort to enjoin this thing.

So it’s going to go there. Resign thyselves.

WB49 yesterday had a pretty detailed report about what’s going on down there. They say that the DL&W is off the table, and that the Senecas will break ground on the parcel they bought from Paladino on the 8th - one day ahead of schedule. The casino is supposed to be opened by this time next year.

So, within a few blocks of the Cobblestone and HSBC and the Aud and Chef’s, we’ll have a casino.

They interviewed Masiello - that beacon of progress and competence - and he said, definitely they need parking, parking, parking.

Look at this satellite picture of the area, and tell me that there’s not enough parking within blocks. Nothing ever failed in Buffalo for lack of parking. Only from people’s perceived lack of parking.

In any event, a parking ramp will eventually get built.

And here’s the kicker.

Since that land will be sovereign foreign property, there’s bugger-all anyone can do about what the Senecas do with that site. They could build a hot pink 100-story skyscraper if they wanted to, and nobody could do anything about it.

Here’s what Buffalonians can do on New York State property down there.

Take those surface lots in the Cobblestone District and build things that will not look out-of-place on a cobblestone street and start developing that area. Given that people will probably choose to walk the short distance from, say, a Sabres game to the a little after-game-gaming, we ought to give them opportunities to part with their money en route.

The casino itself isn’t going to make anything better, but let’s make the most of it. A hotel at the Webster Block (where Adelphia was supposed to go) would be a good addition to the area. That way, you’d have Bass Pro - Hotel - HSBC - Cobblestone - Casino all in the same cluster within blocks of each other.

Scott Mills’ Your Call on BBC Radio 1 versus Sandy Beach pontificating about casinos on WBEN?

The winner: Scott Mills.

Get Sirius.

The NYS Republicans are in serious disarray.

State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said today that Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro should “reconsider” her 2006 challenge to Democratic U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton and run for New York attorney general instead.
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“I have said from the beginning, and I know a lot of my colleagues and people within the party share the thought, that she would make a great attorney general,” the Brunswick Republican said. “And I hope that before this procedure gets too much further that Jeanine Pirro would reconsider and run for A.G. ”

Well, that would explain why Pirro’s for-Senate website is gone, and “PirroforAG” contains her Senate campaign website. It’s been like that since last week.

I guess, also, that Bruno and Pataki aren’t on the best of terms.

Kelly updates yesterday’s post, and I have to hand it to him and his family for remaining strong for each other, and for insisting on enjoying Christmas this year despite the fact that they’ve been so wounded.

Quinn’s death notice will appear in tomorrow’s Buffalo News. If you don’t know, the News’ online obituary section has a rather nice “guestbook” feature. So, tomorrow, share your thoughts there with the family.

Check out some music blogging by Buffalo Roots, which has both a site and a blog.

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And here’s the jokey site for Chrismahanukwanzakah, brought to you by Virgin Mobile. Just so you know what the hell I’m talking about.

That’s what Kelly from Byzantium Shores likes to call us.

Jennifer from All Things Jennifer has taken the lead on organizing something from us local bloggers in honor and memory of Quinn Sedinger.

If you’re at all interested in participating, please contact her at her email address. She’s received a great response so far.

From WNYMedia.net:

It shouldn’t be much of surprise that our state lawmakers aren’t even back in full session yet, but already have their hand out.

Word has surfaced today that state lawmakers are looking for a pay increase

The average New Yorker earns $49,930 a year, according to the state Labor Department — well below the $79,500 base salary for lawmakers.

Not to mention that $49,930 number is already bloated by downstate salaries, who on average, make considerably more than the people in Western New York.

The New York State legislature is a part-time affair; it’s in session from January - June. Considering that my Republican Assemblywoman has literally no power to do anything in that venue, I question what she gets paid for at all. You’ll remember the inane mailing I received from her a few weeks ago. $80k for that?

The Brennan Center report named New York’s the most dysfunctional legislature in the country. Their pay should be lowered, if anything, at this point - at least until New York becomes democratic again.

Right now, we’re ruled by a four-entity Junta that looks out for its own self-promotion, self-interest, or self-enrichment. Meanwhile, the people of the State - particularly upstate - suffer.

Let your legislator know that you don’t think he/she is entitled to a raise right now. Raises are generally tied to either individual or employer success. I don’t think anyone can call New York State’s legislatures or government “successful”.

It’s here to stay.

The Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from the NYS Court of Appeals on the constitutionality of the 2001 New York statute expanding in-state Indian gaming.

Murray argued that because casino gambling is prohibited under the state constitution, the Legislature did not have the power to authorize the governor to negotiate compacts with Indian tribes for casino gaming.

That argument was rejected in May by the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, which ruled federal law superseded the state constitution. The federal Indian Gaming and Regulatory Act allows tribes to set up casinos on Indian land.

“We’re very pleased with the court’s decision to uphold the law, allowing us to continue creating the jobs and spurring the economic development important to people across the state,” Pataki spokesman Saleem Cheeks said.

Pataki added that he can’t wait until all of upstate is ceded to sovereign foreign nations, so he can stop bothering altogether.

The Martin government has fallen. This is the first time in Canada’s history that a government has fallen on a straight no-confidence vote.

In a 171 to 133 vote, the House passed a historic no-confidence motion exactly one year and five months after Canadian voters elected the Liberals.

Prime Minister Paul Martin will now have to go see Governor General Michaëlle Jean Tuesday morning and ask her to dissolve Parliament.

The first interesting thing is that today is November 28th, and the federal election will take place on or about January 23rd. That’s approx. a 56 day campaign. A commentator on CBC last night was not at all looking forward to what will be the “longest campaign in a quarter century” which may get very ugly.

Martin’s Liberal Party ran a minority government; a coalition with minor parties such as the Bloc Quebecois (the federal version of the Parti Quebecois) which all of a sudden had some juice and weren’t afraid to use it. Furthermore, there was the “sponsorship” scandal (which you can read all about here), which helped bring down Martin’s government.

(In a nutshell, from wikipedia: “The scandal involved the misuse and misdirection of funds that were intended to go to government advertising in Quebec over the preceding decade. The funds were apparently allocated to advertising firms that were allies of the Quebec branch of the federal Liberal Party, and evidence suggests that in some cases few or no services were rendered in return. The Liberal party has thus been accused of committing money laundering and embezzlement with Canadian tax dollars.”) So you folks who are against public campaign financing can throw that around, I suppose.

The second interesting thing that many don’t know is that Governor General Michaëlle Jean is a Haitian immigrant to Canada, and she is now the de facto head of state - the Queen’s representative - in Canada.

RIP Little Quinn.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Kelly and his family.

To those of you who haven’t been following Quinn’s progress, go to the sidebar of Kelly’s blog and check under “Notable Dispatches.”

He spent his short life being very loved.

Also, it seems that Buffalo Blog-Con the second may be substituted with something for the family. Contact Jen from allthingsjennifer if you’re interested.

Will your vaunted Citi-Stat computer software also deal with the efficiency and effectiveness of the city’s parking enforcement personnel?

If so, why is it that this Jeep Grand Cherokee has been permitted to park for hours on end in an obviously marked “No Stopping” zone for many, many months?

What sort of “official Senate” business is Mr. Casey conducting at that corner?

Since real wars and their proper execution don’t always make for great blogosphere and talk-show fodder, right wingers are up in arms about a supposed “war on Christmas” that is being carried out by our nefarious and evil liberal media overseers and their lackeys in the DemocRAT party (or some such).

It’s all good for shits and giggles, but people tend to take anecdotal and incomplete stores seriously, and then puff them into full-blown conspiracies, with only black helicopters missing.

For instance, even our own Craig at Northcoast posted the other day about some Madonna-and-Child stamps that were allegedly ripped away from the stamp-buying public by the secularist humanists at the Post Office. He categorizes the post under “political correctness”. Once Michelle Malkin got a hold of it, it was lights out for the USPS.

The thing is, the thing about the USPS abolishing religious Christmas stamps isn’t true.

Well, the original poster’s mom was kinda pissed that the Postal Worker is required to say “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas”, since the only way to preserve Amerkun Democracy is to assume that every single person with whom you come in contact doesn’t celebrate Hanukah, Eid, or Kwanzaa. I don’t see how it’s offensive to Christians that a postal worker acknowledge that postal patrons come from all backgrounds and may celebrate a variety of holidays at this time of year. It’s customer service.

In fact, Madonna-and-Child stamps will be back in 2006. Postal rates are probably going up and the USPS wants to get rid of stock on-hand before it prints up any more.

But this whole thing is so reminiscent of the Clinton years. The pattern was:

1. Crazy Drudge Post, complete with siren;
2. Limbaugh and his non-oxycontin induced clones rant and rave for 4 hours;
3. Someone actually looks into it;
4. Whatever it is is determined to be incomplete or false.
5. It doesn’t matter, because what people remember is the first crazy-ass allegation.

So, I guarantee that in several months’ time, some blogger or talk show host or similar will bring up the case of the abolished Madonna-and-Child stamps as proof - PROOF! - of the war on Christmas.

And I say it’ll be O’Reilly, because he’s the tool di tutti tooli.

HT: Running Scared.

I, for one, would like to welcome our new CitiStat overlords.

(With apologies to the Simpsons)

This made me smile today.

Don’t watch it if the word “asshole” makes you sad.

Don’t watch it if you have an unshakeable love and respect for President Bush.

I got a visit from the Belgian Ministry of Justice that found my site based on the story about Scientologists at UB. Small world.

And, BTW, Belgium sort of reveals why a church/state wall of separation can be a very good thing:

The Belgian government has refused to recognise the Church of Scientology as an official religion.

Belgian Justice Minister Laurette Onkelinx declined to discuss the matter with the group, which she described as a sect, local radio RV1 reported.

Belgium’s six recognised religions receive state subsidies from the Ministry of Justice and include Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Anglicanism, Protestantism and Greek Orthodox.

I wouldn’t want bureaucrats making decisions about which religion the state should subsidize. Faith-based stuff should find a faith-based way to raise its own money.

I needed snow boots for my daughter.

Lands End has these clamshell-type boots that are waterproof and warm. So, I wanted to get them. I nixed driving to the Lands End outlet in Rochester because I didn’t feel like 2 hours on the Thruway. So, I checked the Sears at the newly revitalized Eastern Hills Mall.

Sears, after all, carries a limited Lands End selection.

But not these boots. They said that they “thought” Boulevard Mall had them.

Well, I’m not going to the Boulevard on a salesperson’s whim, so I called the Sears shoe department on the Boulevard and described the boots I needed.

They had no fucking clue what I was talking about. “Clamshell?!”

Why yes, fucko, clamshell. Opens like a clamshell.

So my wife suggested Uggs, and I know that Buffalo Fleece on Elmwood carries Uggs. So we went downtown.

First we had lunch at Flappy’s on Delaware at Chippewa. It was very good, but distressingly empty. Hey - they do $10 lobster dinners on Saturday - just like the places down near Faneuil Hall did when we lived in Boston. Mental note to do that one Saturday night.

We had a very nice walk down Elmwood, parking in front of the Elmwood Panhandler - a new kitchen gadget store - and walked down to Newell’s Thunder Bay and back. En route, we stopped off at Buffalo Fleece. Yes, they had Uggs, but Uggs aren’t waterproof. So we saw this product we’d never seen before called “Bogs”. Made from a material similar to thick neoprene and bottomed off with rubber soles and shoe-area, these boots are warm, waterproof, and cool-looking.

So, that, plus a thick pair of socks, and that’s $46.00 to friendly local merchant, zero to Lands End and its substandard stepsister Sears.

Buffalo Fleece also has a selection of Timbuk2 bags, which I love, and they’ve started carrying Australian Crumpler bags, which are wicked cool.