Chautauqua Co. Legislators Want to Fire Themselves

Some of Chautauqua County's Legislators have determined that there are too many people like them around. According to the Jamestown Post-Journal, Rudy Mueller, D-Lakewood, and Scot Stutzman, I-Jamestown are again introducing a measure to eliminate legislator positions, this time shrinking the governing body from 25 to 19. Also on the agenda is a proposal to eliminate the legislator's salaries, sponsored by John Runkle, R-Stockton; John Gullo, D-Fredonia; Shaun Heenan, D-Dunkirk and George Borrello, R-Irving. The Post-Journal reports that the proposal to eliminate salaries is doomed to fail, while the proposed elimination of legislators is likely to pass.

Apparently most Chautauqua County legislators would rather risk losing their job than to keep it without pay. In truth, saving $250,000 in a budget with a deficit of $18,000,000 doesn't mean much, but it's probably a gesture that most voters would appreciate.

Note to Self: Pay Your Sales Tax

Andrew Cuomo took a break from campaigning today to put the screws to a local business owner. According to the Dunkirk Observer, Steven L. Carlson, owner of three Chautauqua County restaurants including the Wing City Grille, has pleaded guilty of failing to pay over $400,000 in sales tax to big brother.

Said Cuomo, doing his best Superman impression, "This individual used his businesses to swindle nearly half a million dollars in sales tax revenue from the State of New York. By failing to pay these taxes, he shortchanged New Yorkers out of critical revenue that helps fund important services people rely on."

White-collar welfare recipient Jamie Woodward echoed Cuomo's sentiments. "Tax fraud hurts all New Yorkers," said the Taxation and Finance Commissioner. People like old what's-his-name "deprive the state and localities of needed revenue that support education, health care and transportation."

Wait a minute. This guy shortchanged me out of critical revenue that helps fund important services that I rely upon??? AND he's trying to deprive me of education, health care and education??? Let me at him! Oh wait, he's about to go to jail for 15 years at a cost to New Yorkers of $36,000/yr. Well, at least we'll have him off the streets. He won't be stealing education, health care, or transportation anymore!

City of Jamestown Hates Dogs, Loves Cats

City of Jamestown officials have announced a new code limiting the number of pets allowed in households, according to the Jamestown Post-Journal. The code states that in one and two-family homes, the maximum number of dogs allowed is three. At multi-family dwellings the maximum number of dogs allowed is one per apartment. There is no mention of cats, however, who apparently are free to multiply at their own discretion.

The new law stems from a recent incident in the city in which a dead dog was found under a car at a residence containing eight other dogs. City officials recognized that only dogs living with lots of other dogs die under cars. They swiftly enacted the new code, hence preventing the deaths of hundreds of city dogs.

Read the Article

Fredonia Voters Send Message in Village Election

The Dunkirk Observer reports on the recent Fredonia Village Board elections. "In" are newcomers Adam Brown and Thomas Brown II, "out" are has-beens Michael Vinciguerra and Trustee Michelle Twichell. The result is a definitive democratic majority (4-1) on the Board, leaving Mayor Sullivan the sole republican. The newly elected officials espoused the democrats typical "Change" rhetoric, while the losers expressed sad and sorry "the voters have spoken" ponders.

Read the Article

Fredonia Trustees Talk Pay Cuts

This morning, Michael Rukavina of the Dunkirk Observer reported on last night Village Trustees' Meeting. Other than the usual boring agenda, Trustee Susan Mackay proposed that the board consider a pay reduction, either in salary or in their travel expense budgets. Currently, board members receive $5,500 annually with $600 in travel expences. Mayor Michael Sullivan appreciated the gesture, but not wanting to be outdone, stated that if any pay was to be cut, it should be the Mayor's.

He announced, "Sue is sincere. She sees state officials being called to take a cut in pay and everyone has a cut, everyone has to give a little and I think it's a sincere thing if there's some way of making a showing. The bigger problem is how many elected officials do we need in the village and town serving everybody? If we really want to make a real show we should start having meetings to move forward with a coterminous town and village or something larger. To ask people who are already doing a job where they're having to leave their families, having to leave other job options that they would have, to spend time during the week to do trustees work ... you don't want to discourage people from getting involved."

For those who don't know (I had to look it up), coterminous means 'having the same border or covering the same area' according to dictionary.com.

Its no surprise that there's an election to be held in Fredonia next week.

SUNY Payroll Seems Fair

In these hard economic times, its good to know that some people are doing okay.

Over three-hundred SUNY employees are paid in excess of $200,000/year according to the Albany Times Union searchable state payroll database. At the top of the list is Steven L. Strongwater, CEO of Stony Brook University Medical Center, who pulls in a tidy $723,010.00 annually.

SUNY Fredonia has 27 employees who make over $100,000/year (very few of them professors). SUNY Alfred has 11 employees who meet the same qualifications, including Alfred Mayor Craig Clark, who doubles as a professor at the college.

Explore the Database

Gillibrand Turns In NRA Card

In her first opportunity to express her "hunters' rights" stance, new U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand accidentally pulled the wrong lever. The Senator, along with thirty-five other detractors, voted against a recent proposal that would limit the District of Columbia's ability to enact gun legislation. The same measure would remove the semi-automatic gun ban and remove gun registration requirements. According to her spokesman, Matt Cantor, "As she has said before, Sen. Gillibrand believes that local governments have a right to place reasonable restrictions on firearms." Obviously once Gillibrand's constituency expanded to the downstate, her politics followed suit.

Read the Albany Times-Union Article

Police Brutality in Jamestown?

Kristen Johnson of the Jamestown Post-Journal reports that the Jamestown City Council has voted in favor of a pay raise for the Kendall Club Police Benevolent Association. The raise comes in the form of a 3% retroactive increase for 2008 and an additional 3% increase for 2009. The contract was passed in order to avoid arbitration which, city officials claim, would almost certainly end in an even higher pay increase for the officers.

The City Council no doubt feels bullied. Binding arbitration is a union's best friend that keeps local officials powerless to control spending, despite outside factors such as budget shortfalls and economic slides.

Read the Article

Gov. Paterson Buys New Lawn Furniture

Expenses at the Governor's Executive Mansion jumped 14% last year, according to a NY Post article. This is compared to a similar time frame under Eliot Spitzer's reign. Paterson has purchased new linens, wine glasses, lawn furniture and Turkish rugs, with household expenses topping $60,000 in the last nine months. Thanks to The Empire Page for the link.

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Chautauqua Exec. Presents State of the County

Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards, fresh from President Obama's two week seminar in the Poconos titled, "How to Inspire People Without Providing any Details or Substance" delivered his State of the County address yesterday in Mayville. Most of his speech focused on the great triumphs of 2008, such as the advancement of the idea that the County might think about considering the possibility of opening a proposed Methane Fired Generator, maybe.

Courtesy of the Jamestown Post-Journal.

Read the Article

Hanover Supervisor Opposes Centralized Assesment

Hanover Supervisor Kathy Tampio voiced concerns about Chautauqua County's proposed county-wide assessment program yesterday. She asked two legislators, David Wilder, D-Silver Creek, and Jerry Park, R-Forestville, to forward those concerns to the Legislature.

The County is considering centralizing property assessment, applying the theory that consolidating services saves money. Tampio's concern is that those townships who are heavily assessed will be carrying the weight of those townships who are currently below 100% assessment. Also being debated is whether or not the system would actually save the county money at all.

The Legislature is, in typical fashion, is forming a committee to study the situation.

Reported by the Buffalo News

Opinion: Picking on the Blind Man

It is evident that President Obama has been given a long leash in his attempt to stabilize the economy. His almost constant reminders that our situation will deteriorate before it improves protects him from criticism. Gov. Paterson's situation seems to be the polar opposite. Saddled with an even more dire outlook and an even more inept legislative branch, Paterson has become the scapegoat of all politicians, union leaders, and new york state residents.

Paterson actually believes in a balanced budget, and for this belief has drawn the ire of both republicans and democrats: Republicans because he's raising taxes and fees on everything from soda to ski lift tickets, and democrats because he's forced to cut spending across the state.

Anyway, here's another example of residents' disdain, courtesy of the Dunkirk Observer.

Massa: Corporate Money Not So Evil After All

In an all-too-expected turn of events, Eric Massa has come under fire for reversing what was one of the pillars of his 2008 campaign. Massa received $7,000 in corporate donations in November, following the announcement of his victory. This is in contrast to his constant criticism of GOP opponent Randy Kuhl, who was on the payroll of a number of large companies throughout his tenure as Representative. Massa had the following to say:

“It’s not fair ... to fight the battle so lopsidedly,” he explained. “No one criticized my opponent about him taking corporate donations. I’ll be darned if I’m the only person to set that example.”

That's a little like claiming its okay to steal cable because everyone else does, but no one should be surprised. Campaign promises are for winning elections, and corporate donations are for...um...winning elections. Fear not, though, as now Massa's conscience will only allow him to receive donations from righteous corporations, not evil ones like big oil and tobacco. For all his efforts, Massa receives our coveted 'Golden Flip-Flop Award' for the month of February.

NYSAC Warns of "Gathering Storm"

This week, the New York State Association of Counties issued a research report called The Gathering Storm: Challenges Confronting the Future of New York. It is, as it sounds, a bleak outlook for the state's future, particularly in the upstate. Most of the report discusses the state's population vacuum and job loses. I thieved two interesting graphs (below). Click here for the full report.

Here Come the Dollars

Doesn't all this stimulus talk make you want to go out and buy a Cadillac?

The Dunkirk Observer reports that Brian Higgins has announced funding for Chautauqua County schools through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Jamestown city schools receives the largest chuck, $2,663,000 of a total $9,009,000.

Read the Article

Meanwhile, the Corning Leader reports that Eric Massa is announcing $600,000,000 for the district, nearly twice what he previously anticipated. According to Massa, New York State is to receive 25 billion dollars through the stimulus package, far more than any other state.

Read the Article

Know Your County Legislators

Today I sent the following email to four county legislators (one from each county). Once the replies are received I'll post them to the site. The legislators were:

Chautauqua County: Keith D. Ahlstrom

Cattaraugus County: Crystal J. Abers

Allegany County: David T. Pullen

Steuben County: Don Creath

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am the writer of the political blog, 'Southern Tier Politics' and would like to ask you a few questions for a segment called 'Know Your County Legislators'. If you would be so kind as to answer the brief questions below and return them via email, I will post them, as written, on the blog for my readers. Additional information will be provided such as party affiliation, years in office, etc. Please excuse the impersonal nature of this interview, although I find it easier for the interviewees as they can answer the questions at their leisure. Feel free to be as brief or detailed as you like and feel free to abstain from any questions. If you have any questions or would prefer to conduct a phone interview, please email me at william@southerntierpolitics.com. Thank you for your time.

Regards:

William Harris

Questions

Where were you born/raised?

When does your term expire?

Do you intend to run for reelection?

What is the greatest challenge facing Chautauqua County today?

Do you approve of Governor Paterson's proposed State Budget and why?

If the County receives funds from President Obama's Bailout package, how would you like to see the money spent?

State Supports Youth Center Closings

Patrick Fanelli of the Jamestown Post-Journal reports that the NYS Office of Children and Family Services supports the closing of two youth centers, one in Great Valley and the other in Limestone. The nearest such center is located in Industry, Monroe County.

The article states that local officials are fighting to keep the the centers open, but doesn't state who the officials are or why on earth they want to. According to a January '09 article in the Buffalo news, the centers cost taxpayers over $4,000,000/yr, while over 80% of the centers' residents hail from downstate. Meanwhile, Cattaraugus County sent one youth to the centers in 2008.

One can assume that these unnamed local officials are trying to protect the fifty or so employees of the centers, but that's hardly reason enough to keep shelling out that kind of money.

Read the Post-Journal Article

Read the Buffalo News Article

County Budget Dollars per Resident

For kicks, I decided to see how the four county's governments compared in budget size per resident (based on latest census and either 2008 actual or proposed 2009 budgets). Here's the results:

Allegany County wins the prize for smallest budget, but they spend more per resident than both Steuben and Chautauqua Counties. Cattaraugus County rolls out the red carpet, spending over $2500 per inhabitant (they always look like they're having more fun). Chautauqua County has the largest population and rewards them by spending the least ($1,486.31/person). Steuben County has a population similar to Catt county yet has a budget 12% smaller.

Cattaraugus County

Budget: 203,895,790
Population: 81,534
Spending/Resident: $2,500.74

Chautauqua County

Budget: 201,182,751
Population: 135,357
Spending/Resident: $1,486.31

Allegany County

Budget: 105,121,381
Population: 50,267
Spending/Resident: $2,091.26

Steuben County

Budget: 180,900,633
Population: 98,236
Spending/Resident: $1841.49

Schumer: Americans Like Pork

Oh brother...as reported in the New York Post:

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State Budget Link

For those with lots of time and a strong stomach...

Proposed 2009 NYS Budget