http://www.buffalonews.com Latest stories from The Buffalo News en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 04:41:02 -0400 Fri, 24 May 2013 04:41:02 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130524/OPINION/130529652/1119
Quite apart from the merits of either party’s claims, any reasonable policy regarding the role of casinos in economic development must be disentangled from this dispute. State-tribe issues must be settled without the threat of an overkill of casino expansion. I hold no brief for the tribal position, but if the original agreement was reached in good faith, there must be a way to either honor or adjust it to meet all just claims.

The governor’s proposal to multiply casinos across the state is sheer nonsense. In a market in which we are surrounded by gambling venues, more casinos will not attract out-of-state revenue, but will simply suck cash from the pockets of local residents. Gambling creates other problems for host communities in the form of bankruptcies, embezzlement cases, suicides and broken homes traced to addiction. But the opportunity costs are even higher. Does the governor believe that productive enterprises essential to economic growth can be attracted to a casino playground? Will the state’s investments in higher education be well-utilized in areas saturated with gambling venues? Finally, though casinos are touted as promoting other investments, a look at Atlantic City and Niagara Falls reveals casinos surrounded by empty blocks. The costs outweigh the gains. Casinos are neither a quick nor an enduring fix. If we want to grow our economy, we have to do it with sustainable enterprises.

Douglas R. Bunker

Buffalo ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 15:13:20 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130524/OPINION/130529654/1119
There was one Buffalonian who stood against such practices, President Grover Cleveland. He was considered so honest in an age of unparalleled political corruption that he rose from the mayor of Buffalo to president in only five years. Upon assuming the presidency, in contrast to prior holders of the office, he did not engage in wholesale replacement of Republican office holders with those from his own Democratic Party. Rather he looked at people’s skills and capabilities, replacing only those he felt unworthy.

Kearns’ political career has been one of honesty, integrity and hard work. He has, at much political risk to himself, gone against the status quo and power brokers on numerous occasions. But he has always been able to appeal to the common sense and decency of his constituents, who I am confident will continue to support him. Kearns is picking up Cleveland’s torch. He says what he means and means what he says. We need more Grover Clevelands in elective office.

Kevin J. Christner

Buffalo ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 15:13:11 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130524/OPINION/130529655/1119
What a shock! The entire parking lot was filled from one end to the other with people in their cars in line trying to drop off their items at the other end of the campus. What a disappointment. These lines must have taken several hours to get through to the end. I, like many others, drove off and didn’t wait.

I am quite sure many of the people who didn’t have several hours to wait on Saturday went home and will be hiding these items in their trash on the next trash day. Most people do care about the environment and want to do the right thing, but it must be made easier to comply. How about a drop-off date at the curb every few months, with a truck that comes by and picks the items up on trash day? This would make things easy enough that more people would probably dispose of these hazardous items properly.

Debbie Brown

East Amherst ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 15:13:07 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130524/OPINION/130529656/1119
A little background may be needed. The small Catholic Church in Colden was closed several years ago. Without missing a beat, a group of dedicated volunteers used this building to create the Bread of Life Outreach Center. The center started with a food pantry and a thrift store to serve the needs of the people in this area, but over the years it has become a thriving community center – hosting yoga lessons, Irish dance nights, scrapbooking and much more. Last year, a Farmers’ Market began in the parking lot every Saturday morning from spring to fall. The revenues from the market help support the Bread of Life programs.

We put up signs to let our neighbors know that the Farmers’ Market will be back this year. Unfortunately, whether as a prank or something else, our signs have disappeared. Please come out to Colden and support our vendors and our mission. Signs or no signs, we will be there. Eat fresh. Buy local. Have fun.

Patricia Prucnal

West Falls ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 15:13:04 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130524/OPINION/130529657/1119
The county’s top law enforcement official is probably sincere in his belief that the SAFE Act violates the Second Amendment. But Howard cannot refuse to do his job because he has opinions about complicated constitutional jurisprudence any more than a U.S. Supreme Court justice can write me a speeding ticket. Simply liking firearms or fetishizing gun culture does not make one a Second Amendment expert.

Mark Murphy

Orchard Park ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 15:12:59 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130523/OPINION/130529691/1119
To prevent that problem, we registered with the New York State Donate Life Registry. By doing that, we’re registered electronically, which means that our choices to be organ donors can be quickly determined by the appropriate authorities.

The article ended with a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website address to register for organ donations. Unfortunately, that part of the DMV’s website is a work-in-progress, which is a nice way to say that you can’t register from the website.

Instead, fill out a short form from the New York State Department of Health, which you can download, print, fill in and mail. Go to: www.health.ny.gov/forms/organ_donation_enrollment_form.pdf. If you don’t have a computer, call UNYTS at 853-6667, and a postage-paid postcard will be mailed to you for you to fill in and mail.

Joe Tobolski

East Aurora ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 07:10:00 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130523/OPINION/130529692/1119
Intelligent Americans are looking at these accusations and realizing that it’s more of the same counter-productive rhetoric that distracts people while the Republicans work on their agenda of limiting women’s reproductive rights, lowering the taxes on the wealthy and corporations, and repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Richard Ricupito

Lancaster ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 07:09:56 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130523/OPINION/130529693/1119
The SAFE Act is reminiscent of the Jim Crow laws of the last two centuries, which were repealed only when people were courageous enough to oppose them. Rosa Parks comes to mind, since she was a focal point to bring justice and get rid of unconstitutional and unfair laws. The SAFE Act is a violation of constitutional and civil rights protections and should be repealed. Howard is a leader in this effort.

There is nothing in this law that would do anything positive that would have prevented the mass murders committed by crazy people, and the violent criminals won’t obey the law, so it affects only the honest gun owner.

President Obama ordered his Justice Department to not enforce the Defense Of Marriage Law and The News had no objection to that. Here, a top law enforcement officer is actively fighting an unjust and unconstitutional law and refuses to enforce useless provisions (like having deputies count the number of rounds in a magazine) owned by an honest gun owner.

Howard will enforce domestic violence laws or any criminal actions that put people in danger. That is what we expect from a good cop. Wasting time on useless laws is also a waste of taxpayer money. That should be encouraged, not criticized.

Budd Schroeder

Board Chairman, SCOPE

Lancaster ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 07:09:51 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130523/OPINION/130529694/1119
When I was in eighth grade in the first middle school in Buffalo, my English teacher asked me to be the editor of the new newspaper that was just beginning. I loved writing, so I said yes. When I excitedly told my homeroom teacher, he said I should not be the editor; a boy should be and I could be a helper. It was 1953. Thankfully, my teachers and my mother stood up for me and I became the first editor of the Voice of 37.

In high school, I had the most incredible, creative English teacher. Each day when we came into class, she would have a word or phrase on the blackboard. It was our daily assignment, for the first 10 minutes, to write whatever came into our minds or imagination without concern about grammar or spelling. I looked forward every day to that assignment.

I have continued writing. I have written many articles, published two books and for the past nine years have been a monthly columnist for the After 50 newspaper. I am so grateful to all of the English teachers who open their students’ minds to creativity and possibilities.

Carol Wolf

Williamsville ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 07:09:43 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130523/OPINION/130529695/1119
But instead of its revival by aggressive forward leadership, Patrick Reddy wants to sell off our natural resources, e.g. natural gas. Energy self-sufficiency is a laudable achievement helping foreign relations. But selling into a market of similar conservation goal customers? It would be better to focus industry, academia and forward-looking government on superior innovative products to pay off our global marketplace debt.

For example, billions of dollars are wasted and congestion is worsened trying to force travelers back into obsolete light rail and buses. Automation is beginning to demonstrate more efficient, very light personal vehicles. Using little land, they can become public transportation all can use worldwide, providing computer-controlled, direct-to-destination technology.

Reddy would probably agree we don’t “have it made” and it’s time to get back to work. But activists and politicians promote wasteful mass transit enclaves. They waste the capital to underwrite innovative products we need to sell.

Walt Brewer

Lockport ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 07:09:37 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130522/OPINION/130529862/1119
Given that Congress just voted for the 37th time to overturn the Affordable Care Act, I can appreciate Einstein’s thinking on the matter. I suggest we try voting in some other representatives who might actually make some real progress.

Gary Kuechle

Williamsville ]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 15:38:47 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130522/OPINION/130529864/1119
Frank Needham

Angola ]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 15:38:40 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130522/OPINION/130529865/1119
We were dismayed to read the opinion of Joanne Doroshow, the executive director of the New York City-based Center for Justice and Democracy, who claims she is baffled by the editorial in favor of reforming the absolute liability standard of the Scaffold Law, as 49 other states have done. We see nothing baffling about holding people accountable for their own negligence.

Doroshow states that case law has “watered down” the absolute liability standard of the Scaffold Law. It would appear that nothing could be further from the truth. Two recent cases from New York’s highest court have significantly expanded the law.

The first case, Runner v. New York Stock Exchange from 2009, changed the standard from elevation-related, to “gravity-related,” which, as some have joked, means that if it happens on Earth, absolute liability applies.

The second, Wilinski v. 334 East 92nd Housing from 2011, established the “same height” rule, applying absolute liability even in cases of no elevation.

Finally, organizations like Doroshow’s attempt to place the blame on insurance companies, but the fact is that most insurers, many who operate nationwide, won’t write policies in New York because of the Scaffold Law. That is the fault of Doroshow, her personal injury attorney members and others who defend the Scaffold Law, not the insurers.

We endorse any and all efforts to reform the Scaffold Law in the state of New York.

Kevin T. Hassen

President, Greater Buffalo BOMA ]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 15:38:36 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130522/OPINION/130529866/1119
First, the amount of free time in the classroom is dwindling if not already nonexistent, depending upon the district. Teachers have less opportunity to express their unique teaching methods and skills, traits that must be heralded as an educational value.

Second, the amount of nationwide standardized assessment is unacceptable. The current six days of two- to three-hour state testing a year from grade three on can be viewed as excessive. Classroom time is nearly completely spent preparing for these tests with little room for creativity and self-expression. Such analysis can be flawed, inaccurate, exceedingly stress-inducing and quite unnecessary for a student’s successful academic future.

This leads to my third concern of not allowing children to remain children as long as possible. We may be creating overstressed kids, families and teachers while diminishing the pure enjoyment of learning at a crucial age. Young children are natural critical thinkers who perform outside the box daily, including those with special needs. We do not need yet another set of obscure standards to demonstrate this.

School systems must allow for some classroom freedom so students may flourish along with discipline and reasonable assessment. This helps instill a love of learning while increasing academic knowledge. A return to the basics is in order, allowing children of all ages and levels to adapt, build self-esteem and become competent individuals. The Common Core Curriculum needs extreme revamping or, better yet, eradicating in order to accomplish this.

Contact your local legislators, attend lobby day in Albany on June 8 and discuss viable options with your teachers, principals, PTOs and board members.

Karen Kuehmeier Rosolowski

South Wales ]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 15:38:33 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130522/OPINION/130529867/1119
Konstanty C. Witczak

Cheektowaga ]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 15:38:29 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130522/OPINION/130529868/1119
Essentially, I should have a choice, but I do not. New York State taxpayers pay one of the highest school taxes in the country, but our students perform at one of the lowest rates in the country per dollar spent. It is ridiculous to assume that all students who attend private institutions come from well-off families; many families give up vacations, car purchases and home improvements to send their children to a private school, not to mention taking out loans and second jobs. The writer doesn’t seem too concerned with taking taxpayer money to subsidize his health care for the rest of his life or his tax-free pension. His real concern is not taxpayer subsidies but rather loss of public school teaching positions to private teaching positions.

Rich Neary

West Seneca ]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 15:38:24 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130521/OPINION/130529944/1119
Radical, anti-government rhetoric in the ’60s led to many left-wing groups being investigated; the same desire to protect the rule of law holds true today. Those who wrap themselves up in the flag (or Bible or Second Amendment) try to place themselves above the law, then cry foul when their inflammatory rhetoric brings government attention.

Finally, I can’t help but think that the Republican leadership is whipping up this non-issue to appease its conservative wing while putting Democrats (and the next Democratic presidential candidate) on the defensive. Sore losers.

Steve Shanley

Buffalo ]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 16:16:03 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130521/OPINION/130529945/1119
Until, and unless, an enacted law has been ruled to be unconstitutional, this is not a choice to be left up to him. All citizens of Erie County, regardless of how they view the law, should be terrified of a sheriff who feels that he can pick and choose the laws he will enforce. There are many reasons that we have three separate branches of government in this country. If we allow law enforcement officers to cross over into the judiciary by declaring laws unconstitutional, what other rights are we in danger of losing?

Remember, this is an elected office where it is quite conceivable that a future sheriff may not share your views and could, if precedent is allowed in this case to be set, select laws that you care about to not enforce. This was a very chilling statement. Fortunately, we as voters can send a message in the next election that all laws need to be enforced.

Robert Stein

East Amherst ]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 16:15:52 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130521/OPINION/130529946/1119
Although, I praise Gov. Andrew Cuomo for signing the SAFE Act, making New York the first state to pass safer gun laws after the Newtown school massacre, we still have to eat. Despite a quick response in comparison to other states, New York proved it was genuinely concerned about the well-being of its people. Gun control is a step in the right direction. Parents can feel safer sending their children to school with newly stipulated gun laws.

Nonetheless, it is not fair to abolish Second Amendment rights indefinitely. These rights are especially important to hunters, who are efficiently feeding their families and abiding by current gun laws. In the end, I believe strengthening background checks will keep guns away from those who should not possess them, and in turn keep them in the hands of sportsmen who utilize ethical hunting practices.

Joelle Detrick

North Collins ]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 16:15:49 -0400 http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130521/OPINION/130529947/1119
The reality for us was that wonderful and caring people were providing care and comfort we were no longer able to provide. There was Diane, the registered nurse, whom our father – throughout the pain, the dementia and the drugs – said was good and knew what she was doing. Eddie, the custodian who proudly displays his dog tags over his shirt as he plays guitar for the patients on his lunch break. The biker dudes, who volunteer and talk with the vets as they feed them lunch. The wonderful women who knit afghans, the baker (blueberry crisp) and the girls who throw parties and keep things happening.

Our guess is the reuse of needles was a cost-saving measure. The reality is our experience with VA hospital has been positive. The staff are dedicated and professional; and the volunteers are great.

Charlie Cane

Orchard Park

Gary Cane

Grand Island ]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 16:15:45 -0400