The Buffalo News, Forbes, Buffalo Business First and a host of the usual suspects were only too happy to report on the University at Buffalo’s press release announcing its first  “peer reviewed” “research” on fracking.  I guess its easier to print up a press release than to, say, find out who Timothy J. Considine, Ph.D. who wrote the report is.

Timothy J. Considine, Ph.D., got his PhD in economics, hardly a science. Secondly, Timothy J. Considine, Ph.D. is the darling of the oil and gas industry and has been well rewarded through out his career for writing pro coal and gas pieces.

 Professor Timothy J. Considine, with ties to the oil and gas industry who authored a controversial 2009 Marcellus Shale gas economic study while at Penn State, recently released two new economic impact reports also paid for by oil, gas and coal industries front groups.

Considine’s 2009 Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale economic report, which included a claim of more than 83,000 new job creations, failed to disclose the report was paid for by a major gas industry front group, the Marcellus Shale Coalition. It specifically argued against the state levying a severance tax on such drilling operations at the time when the state is actively debating such a tax…

Considine’s 2009 report used the Penn State logo on all its pages with no disclaimers or disclosures regarding who funded it. The report was used aggressively to promote shale gas drilling by the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the industry front group who paid for it. Considine left Penn State 2008 and is now a professor at the University of Wyoming. Under pressure, Considine reissued the report in 2010 now with the disclosure the gas industry paid for it while at the same time aggressively pushing up the job creation estimates from 83,000 to more than 200,000 future jobs. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor estimated job creation from shale gas drilling in the range of 13,000 new jobs. examiner.com

Since peer review provides legitimacy to research, its interesting to take a look at who UB used to peer review this report.

* Andrew Hunter, a lecturer at Cornell University’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.  Academic credentials – BS Chemical Engineering, Mathematics, MA Economics

* Brigham McCown, a former U.S. Department of Transportation executive and consultant with United Transportation Advisors.  Academic credentials – Law degree?

* George Rusk, a regulatory specialist at Ecology and Environment, Inc. ~ E&E stands to profit enormously from the permitting they might be hired to expedite and the environmental analysis they might be hired to do.  Academic credentials – Law degree

* Scott Anderson, senior policy advisor with the Environmental Defense Fund’s Energy Program. Academic credentials – Law degree

* Robert Jacobi, co-director of the Shale Resources and Society Institute and longtime UB professor of geology.” – hardly a non-interested bystander

Calling this report peer reviewed research is a joke.  Even UB wouldn’t grant tenure based on research of this dubious quality.

Weston Florida is an affluent suburb 25 miles northwest of Miami. When Weston was incorporated in 1996, its residents approved a charter that states the city must use contractors as opposed to city employees to perform traditional government services, unless four out of five councilmembers vote to make an exception.

As a Governing article reports “Since its inception, the city has used contractors to fulfill virtually every city function. Today, the city of 65,000 has a budget of $121 million — and just nine of its own employees. All total, the city has about 35 contracts for services such as parks maintenance, engineering, code enforcement, building permits, public works and custodial service. Fire and police service has been contracted out to Broward County.”

Weston’s nine employees include the city manager and two assistants city managers; the directors of parks and recreation, public works and landscaping; the city clerk; the city treasurer; and a communications director.  

The benefit to contracting out all city services according to the Governing article is that “…City leaders don’t have to deal with labor disputes or union negotiations; they aren’t struck with ballooning pension obligations; and they aren’t dealing with painful and politically unpopular layoffs”.

Not having to spend considerable time on labor issues City Manager John Flint says allows him to “… spend more time with residents. I can spend more time with the city commission and my senior executives crafting the direction of the city … rather than having to deal with human resource issues.”

Mayor Eric Hersh, who’s led the city for over 10 years said that when the move to incorporate the city started “We were not looking to create a political dynasty, we were looking to create an efficient city.”

Meanwhile in cities like Buffalo (the third poorest city in the nation), politicians spend their time soliciting campaign cash, filling jobs with patronage hires and building political dynastys that they hope will propel them to higher office, where the power and perks are even better.

www.reinventinggov.org

It is that simple.  Chris Scanlon is smart, honest and comes from a great family.  South Buffalo and the entire city should look for great things out of this guy!

To watch his interview you can check it out on the Buffalo News.

Lets see if we can get him to participate in this post.

7 things you ought to know about Chris Scanlon:  (waiting for his response)

A Chamber of Commerce TV ad attacking U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, for his support of Obamacare is similar to a Chamber ad aimed at U.S. Rep. Kathy Hochul that is running in WNY. PoliFact has scored the two key claims in the anti-Nelson ad as “mostly false” and “pants on fire.”

A new three-hour walking tour of restaurants and food-related shops in Buffalo’s historic Elmwood Village is set to kick off this month. These unique tours, offered at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, will include six stops, lots of great food and even a side order of Buffalo history.

Buffalo Bites Food Tours is the brainchild of Buffalo native Laura Reed, who discovered the uniqueness and excitement of a great food tour almost by accident.

“Five years ago I went with some friends on a girls’ weekend in New York City,” said Reed. “I had never heard of a food tour before, but I went along a bit reluctantly. As it turned out, we all absolutely loved it! It was really a fun thing to do. The food was great, but we also got to experience the ins and outs of the neighborhood and its specialty shops, and it made us feel like ‘locals’ while we were there. When I returned home, I started thinking that I could do this in Buffalo.”

Elmwood Village certainly has its share of great restaurants and specialty shops, so the decision to start there was an easy one for Reed, who trained in Chicago with Food Tour Pros, a company that helps entrepreneurs start food tours around the globe.

“Elmwood Village was my first choice because it is rich with history, architecture, shops and eateries,” Reed said. “It really gives the true flavor of what Buffalo is all about.”

During the six stops, guests on the tour will experience a wide variety of tastes and treats, from artisan desserts and handmade chocolates to unique spices and more hearty food and drink.

References to nearby architecture and places of interest such as Soldiers’ Circle, Buffalo Seminary, the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Bidwell Parkway and the Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market will likely be mentioned.

“This will be a unique and fun way for people to tour our city,” said Reed. “It’s perfect for anyone who wants to eat, explore and experience Buffalo!”

For more information on Buffalo Bites Food Tours, including ticket prices or ordering gift certificates, please visit www.buffalobitesfoodtours.com, email info@buffalobitesfoodtours.com or call 1-800-979-3370. You can also follow Buffalo Bites Food Tours on Facebook and Twitter for frequent updates.

Post courtesy of Joe Kirchmyer

Tickets are $10 and available beginning May 19th:

Kansas - June 19

Foreigner - June 26

Huey Lewis & The News - July 3

Sublime with Rome - July 10

YES with very special guest Procol Harum - July 17

Heart - July 24

Steve Miller Band - July 31

Peter Frampton - August 7

Sheryl Crow - August 14

Roger Hodgson of Supertramp - August 21

The Machine performs Pink Floyd - August 28

The Charlie Daniels Band - September 4

Wednesday – Free Shows:

Coors Light Wednesdays at Artpark FREE outdoor concert series offers a more eclectic collection of nationally reowned acts. Featuring the best in rock and jam bands.

Ziggy Marley - June 20

Tokyo Police Club - June 27

Lowest of the Low- July 11

The Trews with special guest illScarlett - July 18

Citizen Cope - July 25

O.A.R. with Rebelution - August 1

Gillibrand, D-N.Y., stopped at Nazareth College in Pittsford as part of a three-city upstate tour to talk about improving the 12 percent national unemployment rate among veterans.

Gillibrand, a member of the Armed Services Committee, has spoken about veterans issues several times before in Rochester, especially about getting younger veterans into jobs when they return home.

On Monday, Gillibrand talked about legislation that would allow veterans to become federally certified to perform certain jobs without going through training in the way other applicants are required to do. The legislation would also improve veterans’ access to job training and help them understand their benefits better.

This morning, five new candidates made their presentations to the Buffalo Common Council. One of those candidates was Tom Sullivan.

At 26 years of age, Sullivan grew up in a highly involved political family (his cousin is respected Supreme Court Justice Gerald Whalen). “As long as I can remember, politics and elections were always a part of the dinnertime conversation. I was passing out leaflets and stuffing envelopes when still in grammar school,” said Sullivan. As an adult, Sullivan is actively engaged with his neighborhood block clubs and taxpayer organizations. “This was a big part of my job when I worked for Tim Kennedy’s office,” Sullivan explains.

Sullivan has engaged his recent career in two high profile governmental assignments. He served as a Legislative Assistant/Community Liaison in the office of State Senator Tim Kennedy. Then this year he moved to work as Administrative Aide for incoming West Seneca Supervisor Sheila Meegan. He recently stepped down from that position. “I was hired with the proviso that I would have to adhere to that town’s residency requirement. I was contemplating the move to West Seneca, but at the end of the day, I decided that I wanted to remain in South Buffalo. This is my lifelong home. My family and friends are here. And I am emotionally invested in the future of our city,” said Sullivan.

Making his presentation to the Common Council today, Sullivan honed on three important themes – the improving state of the City’s finances and the planned move for the Control Board to go to advisory status; the successful approval and implementation of the new Buffalo Greencode and Master Plan; and the City’s efforts to improve pubic safety and policing. “I give Mayor Brown and the Common Council every bit of credit for turning things around in respect to the City’s budget,” said Sullivan. “A few years ago we were on the brink of the abyss, and look how far we’ve come. Who knows we could be doing ‘pay-as-you-go’ for future capital projects. And a better financial outlook means a better bond rating and lower borrowing costs. We have to keep that momentum and financial prudence going.”

Sullivan is also excited with the recent successes of development in Buffalo’s Canalside and the Outer Harbor, a portion of which is located in the South District. “Turning the waterfront into a world class destination is something we deserve and should be striving for. This is something I am very passionate about and look forward to devoting a great deal of time and attention to,” said Sullivan.

With the Common Council deadlocked so far, Sullivan is hopeful that his presentation resonated with the members. “I know there are some blocks of votes there and some frayed relationships. Perhaps it’s almost refreshing having a candidate before them who is unencumbered by any particular political point of view, and could step in to the position with a fresh perspective and open mindset,” said Sullivan. “I think I have the credentials, I have governmental experience, I have roots in the community, and I know I am electable. Petitions hit the streets in about three more weeks, and I’m ready to get the campaign into gear.”

At this point all Sullivan can now do is wait for the call from City Hall. “It was a fascinating experience appearing in the magnificent Council Chambers and making my presentation, not just to the Council Members but before interested public stakeholders and the media who were in attendance. Whatever the outcome, this was a day that will always stand out. I know I have the mettle for elected office and for serving the public. I hope there are eight Councilmen who might agree.”