Seems that there is a little brouhaha over at Pundit’s place.

Let’s face it. we have had plans, coalitions, more plans, public forums, ad nauseum. What we haven’t had is a whole lot of progress. Some people are opposed to a project, some aren’t. If some folks at WNYMedia choose to use a little parody to voice their opinion, fine by me. But to insinuate that these people are any less interested in the betterment of Western New York simply because they don’t engage in dialogue in the manner that you prefer, is pretty freaking arrogant.

11:47pm: Just seconds ago, the New York State Thruway Authority voted yes to move forward with a 10% increase in the 2008 budget that will increase NYS tolls as soon as January.

The Authority is planning another hike in 2009 and 2010 that will be voted on in April. The State Comptroller is in the process of auditing the Authority.

Our Local representative on that board, Jeff Williams, voted no.

There was an article in the Buffalo News late last week about Thursday at the Square:

The Buffalo Place board Wednesday learned revenues for the 21-year-old concert series missed budget targets by $200,722, up from earlier projections that it would fall flat by a maximum of $140,000. In presenting the updated revenue figures, Buffalo Place Treasurer John R. Koelmel said the free summer shows, which rely on sales of beer and food to cover costs, have probably hit their peak.

This is a ridiculous response:

We had a bit of a monopoly for a while, but now we’re facing competition from other venues, especially the casinos,” Koelmel said. “I think [that] in terms of upside, we have hit the wall.”

Secondly, the acts that made up the 2007 concert series were “part” of the problem but not the biggest one. I actually thought it was a good lineup. But bringing acts that an over 21 crowd might actually enjoy will definitely ensure more beer sales. Wh,en you cater the music to people under the age of 21, guess what? No beer sales, duh…

The biggest problem though is simple, yet one Buffalo Place refuses to address. Location. Depending on where you wind up in that mass of humanity every week, you can’t hear. Half of the concert grounds are covered by trees.