Buffalo News Editorials
A bit of good work
New York moves maddeningly slowly on critical matters —if it moves at all—but state lawmakers this week did pass legislation that cracks down on drunken driving in two useful ways. (Updated: 11/20/09 6:49 AM )
Costs go unabated
Now it’s the Senate’s turn. If Americans are going to have the health care reform they urgently need, it will be because the Senate does more than the House did to control the exploding costs of care. (Updated: 11/19/09 8:44 AM )
Improving education
State educational policy changes supported by the state Board of Regents in concept—but approved so far only in principle—are designed to reach good goals: teachers with more clinical experience, students involved at earlier ages in science, math, engineering and technology, and people with great non-teaching experience given a better chance to become teachers. (Updated: 11/19/09 7:06 AM )
Thinking about snow
It says something about a city when its Charter demands that the mayor submit an annual snow-fighting plan for Common Council review. (Updated: 11/18/09 7:28 AM )
Stopping the plates
Consider it a warning shot. For many people who think there's no use in complaining to
Albany about tax and fee increases because it falls on deaf ears, the fact that protests
triggered enough bipartisan lawmaker reaction to threaten a $25 new license plate requirement
should be as worrisome to the Legislature as it should be encouraging to citizens. (Updated: 11/17/09 7:19 PM )
Protect the parks
Erie County did a favor for all of its residents last week when it approved a $360,000
matching grant to the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy for the upkeep of one of the jewels of
Western New York. (Updated: 11/16/09 11:26 PM )
Potomac fever
This was supposed to work better than this. President Obama noted months ago that the swine flu posed a serious threat to the country, both in terms of its psychological impact and its actual effect. He pledged not to be caught flatfooted. (Updated: 11/17/09 6:47 AM )
Approve gay marriage
What the New York Legislature giveth, it is loathe to take away. Even when the state is in
a $3.2 billion budget hole, and the tax-the-rich well has gone dry, lawmakers apparently
cannot bring themselves to cut back on any of the annual entitlements they give to everything
from public employees unions to local pork projects. (Updated: 11/15/09 10:16 PM )
Containing contamination
How does the American food processing industry test for potentially deadly E. coli germs in your hamburger? (Updated: 11/16/09 7:07 AM )
Help for the lakes
President Obama came through on a campaign pledge last month, signing legislation that will provide $475 million to launch his Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. That’s nearly double Washington’s previous annual commitment to the lakes, and a huge benefit for the millions of people who live within the Great Lakes watershed and for uncounted others who care about these vast and unique inland seas. (Updated: 11/15/09 8:08 AM )
Afghan policy still elusive
President Obama has promised, as President George W. Bush had promised before him, to
listen to his generals. (Updated: 11/13/09 10:05 PM )
It seems to us . . .
COLOR COMMENTARY: Thanks to the state’s red ink, your car’s going to get a little more colorful. (Updated: 11/14/09 8:07 AM )
Inappropriate pressure
It will take an expert examination to render a credible diagnosis, but all the signs seem
to be there. Paranoia. Denial. Enabling. Otherwise intelligent people acting irrationally,
putting themselves and others at serious risk. (Updated: 11/13/09 2:23 PM )
Help plant a tree
The brilliant golds and reds of Indian summer, lingering in parts of Western New York through these days of enjoyable weather, are very timely indeed. (Updated: 11/13/09 6:45 AM )
Lawmakers dodge a solution
They came, they saw, they ran for cover. (Updated: 11/11/09 4:56 PM )