Some facts, observations, and heard-on-the-streets

The Bills lead the entire Eastern Division. WHAT A WIN OVER THE BALTIMORE RAVENS!

Here are some facts, observations, and heard-on-the-streets:

• After falling out of sight for several days, Donald Trump emerged from his shelter and predicted 40 more months of chaos.
• Like Communist China, the Trump administration is beginning the process of taking a financial interest in private companies, starting with the American technology company Intel.  Sort of like socialism except worse. What’s next, grocery stores?
• After the few congressional town halls held around the country in August did not go so well, Republicans in Congress have changed the bumper-sticker messaging for their maga-mega legislation from “One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB)” to the “Working Families Tax Plan,” or FUBAR WFTP.  Gaslighting?
• Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado continues to send out several emails per week soliciting funds for a primary campaign against Governor Kathy Hochul.
• Congresswoman Elise Stefanik continues on her dual political tracks of promoting Trumpism while hinting at a race for governor next year.  Only 8 weeks to go until she tells the world what she will be doing in 2026.
• There are now three announced Democratic challengers to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli next year.  DiNapoli has done a good job of doing what comptrollers are supposed to do, things like conducting audits, reporting on state budget issues, and managing the state pension systems.  What are the issues in a primary campaign? 
• I worked on a successful primary campaign for comptroller in 1982.  Endorsed candidate Ray Gallagher won a three-way primary against a couple NYC-area pols.  Gallagher’s winning campaign cost $40,000.  Next year’s primary will probably be more expensive.
• The Buffalo News reported last week on the local firms that are involved in state lobbying and the local governments that have employed them going back to 2021.  Readers of this blog read all about it in my post dated July 8^th, shortly after the state Commission of Ethics and Lobbying in Government issued their annual report.   I also detailed the private businesses employing the firms.  My reports on the subject go back to 2015.  How nice of the News to catch up on the news.
• Sheriff Narcotics Chief D.J. Granville pleaded guilty to the charges against him related to his multiple vehicle accidents in April 2024.  His boss, John Garcia, however, has still not told the public what he knew, when he knew it, and why he did not immediately do something about it last year.  So much for transparency.
• Garcia has no opponent on the ballot in his re-election campaign but write-ins are very easy.  Sgt. (I know nothing) Shultz?  Sheriff Andy Griffith?
• Henry Wojtaszek’s leadership of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation as General Counsel and CEO was marked by scandals and a variety of management problems.  He was shown the door at the end of last year with a payment of $299,000.  He now, according to Investigative Post, wants to be back in as the Niagara County representative on the Board.  Why?  Maybe he just L-O-V-E-S going there.  Might he be plotting a return to a leadership post?
• Republican candidate for mayor of Buffalo, James Gardner, is telling people that he is planning to spend some of his wealth on the campaign, although less than the $500,000 in personal funds that he spent on his losing campaign for district attorney last year.  He received 19 percent of the Buffalo vote in the DA race.  He has popped up on TV for some public events during the summer but the realty is that he has done nothing to show that he is really interested in the city or the campaign since entering the race in February.  Story on the street is that former county executive candidate Chrissy Casilio is helping him.
• Although Gardner became a candidate for mayor in February he did not register a campaign committee with the state Board of Elections until mid-July and has yet to file a disclosure report.
• Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon and city Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams are continuing their jousting about the sale of bonds for city and school district capital projects.  This year’s opportunity to begin any work is basically over.  The Comptroller has a public event on the subject tomorrow at the Central Library.
• Meanwhile there has been no public action thus far on Scanlon’s plans to establish a hotel occupancy tax or to get the proposed Buffalo Parking Authority creation off the ground.  Revenue opportunities to close the city’s humongous budget gap appear to be at a standstill.
• The race for Amherst Town Supervisor looks like it will be an expensive contest.  Democrat Shawn Lavin reported $87,040 in his treasury in mid-July.  Republican Dan Gagliardo reported cash on hand of just $18,326 following a tough primary.  Both candidates, of course, are continuing to raise money.  Former Ch. 4 news anchor Don Postles is involved in the Gagliardo campaign.
• In Hamburg word on the streets is that Josh Collins, who lost the Republican primary for town supervisor in June, will continue to pursue the office as a write-in candidate in November.
• With the beginning of the NFL season the New York Times published a report on their fan Hope-O-Meter which rates the optimism or pessimism of fans of all 32 teams concerning the 2025 season.  The Denver Broncos fans were rated the highest at 98.7 percent optimistic; “Nix is the Fix!”  Bills fans were ranked sixth at 93 percent optimistic.  Years of losing to Kansas City take a bit of a toll.
• Big news from the Buffalo Sabres – the team will wear their “Goathead” jerseys in 15 games this season.  In other team news, Kevyn Adams remains as General Manager and Lindy Ruff is still the head coach.

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