WNY Area Labor Federation joins growing list of unions supporting County Executive

ERIE COUNTY, NY – Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz today joined Richard Lipsitz, President of the WNY Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO along with labor representatives and supporters as he received the endorsement of the WNY Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO at the Tri-Main Building in Buffalo. Today’s endorsement adds to a growing list of union support for the popular Poloncarz, who has instituted policies in Erie County and at the ECIDA that protect public investments while expanding opportunities and supports for local workers.

Richard Lipsitz, President of the WNY Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO said, “The economy of our county is in better shape than it has been in decades, unemployment is lower and wages are up. Furthermore, the population is growing again after 50 years of stagnation, and much of this growth is due to the policies of County Executive Poloncarz.  We are also very impressed with the policies in place at the Erie County Industrial Agency, which have been implemented in the past seven years.”

“Finally, Mark has spearheaded some real reforms in county bidding procedures that provide high quality building projects and promote real opportunities for young workers and workers of color through the use of state-approved apprenticeship programs,” Lipsitz concluded. “For all these reasons and more, Mark Poloncarz deserves another term as Erie County Executive.”

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, “I am honored to accept the endorsement of the WNY Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO and I thank President Lipsitz, the Executive Board and the Federation membership for their support. I will continue to fight for issues like a living wage, healthcare, and protections for workers. I am proud to have instituted programs that invest our tax dollars in county projects that employ Erie County workers, and also to have been on the lines with local workers facing job cuts. Our friends in labor are the backbone of our community, and I am grateful to the WNY ALF for their support.”

Unions already endorsing Poloncarz include the Buffalo Building Trades Council; Elevator Constructors Local 14; International Union of Operating Engineers Local 17; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 41; U.A. Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 22; Public Employees Federation-New York State Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO; and International Union of Painters & Allied Trades of America and Canada-District Council #4.

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This led some commenters on social media to praise the judge — but many others urged him to stop showing so much restraint on Trump, who has already been fined multiple times for similar violations in his civil trials.

"BREAKING: Judge Merchan fines Trump for violating gag order 9 times," wrote political influencer Ed Krassenstein on X. "Trump has officially been held in contempt of court. But I'm sure that MAGA will claim that it's because the judge is biased and because Trump is being politically targeted, right? When will Republicans ever just say, 'Trump made a mistake?'"

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"If any of us violated a gag order so many times, we would be in custody," wrote legal expert and commentator John Collins.

Georgia State University constitutional law professor Anthony Michael Kreis thinks this is an ominous sign for the former president.

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"Well, even though Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to keep his job, there is still a lot of anger towards Marjorie Taylor Greene for pushing ahead with this move," said Zanona.

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Watch the video below or at the link here.

Melanie Zanona says Trump is trying to stop Marjorie Taylor Greene's speaker motion youtu.be