City to start hiring criminals

 
We're one step closer to becoming the new Detroit. Councilmember Damone Smith proposed a law banning public and private employers in the city of Buffalo from asking prospective employees whether they've ever been convicted of a crime. Buffalo would become the only city in the entire state to have such a rule.


I'm sure Jeff Conrad is just doing what he has been told, because that's what Jeff Conrad does. Can you imagine running a business and not being able to screen out applicants with troubled backgrounds? And don't think these people won't steal from their employers or do much worse. It is this type of behavior that got them behind bars in the first place. Does this mean the city will now be hiring applicants with criminal backgrounds to work with young people in the recreation centers? It sure does, and don't be fooled by the liberal spin they will try to put on it.


Here's a crazy idea: If you want a good job, then don't get arrested. Is it really that hard to grow up in the city and not get arrested? I'm not surprised they are doing this. It will be interesting to see how the privileged Chris Scanlon will vote on this issue. We will be watching, and the word will spread around the neighborhood fast.

Oh, wait... It's Byron Brown on the phone, Chris. He wants to talk to you about the conversation he had with you and your father where you agreed to blindly support everything he does...

You're paying for it

WGRZ did an interesting story regarding who is paying the legal fees for New Detroit mayor Byron Brown's latest corruption allegations. Instead of going with the city's Corporation Council, the mayor has hired prominent attorney Terrence Connors. Oh, yea. About that...

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Mayor Schroeder?

We always have our ears to the ground around here. A canary told me of a recent meeting at Spot Coffee between Mark Schroeder and former NBA director of Security "Weekend at Bernies" Tolbert. The topic of discussion was the mayoral race of 2013. According to my source, Tolbert has given Schroeder his blessing and backing to challenge Mayor Byron Brown in 2013.

That wasn't the only thing the two agreed upon. Both are 100% committed to having the Blogger as their chief Spokesman. Mike DeGeorge: Keep that seat warm for me you little effer! Seriously, do we need four more years of this indecisive, empty suit wearing, Steve Urkel looking, catastrophe of a mayor? He has had long enough to get some things done. What has he done, besides bring corruption to the 2nd floor of city hall?



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That's a lot of quarters

Two parking meter mechanics decided to give themselves an "unapproved" bonus and were caught this week...

BUFFALO, N.Y.-- Two Buffalo City workers accused of stealing thousands of dollars from parking meters were arrested Monday by FBI agents.

James Bagarozzo, 56 and Lawrence Charles, 39, both of Buffalo, were arrested and charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the City of Buffalo.

They are both employed as parking meter mechanics for the city.

Investigators say between 2003 to 2011, Bagarozzo allegedly stole an estimated $210,000 from the parking meters he was charged with repairing.

During a search of his home, FBI agents say they recovered approximately $40,000 hidden in the ceiling of the defendant's bathroom as well as $3,000 in quarters and another $4,100 in cash.

Charles is accused of stealing between $3,363 and $4,712 in one 32 day period, and additional funds over various months in the time period from 2009 to 2011.

I think they are innocent. How do the authorities know they weren't going to Putt Putt to play Pac Man? Doesn't everyone have $3,000 in change at their house? The F.B.I. says it became suspicious after one of the defendants attempted to pay for a new car using only quarters.

The mayor's office released a statement saying everything was under control and the two disgraced mechanics would soon be replaced by Tim Wanamaker and the mayor's son...

2 City Workers Charged With Stealing Thousands of Dollars from Parking Meters | wgrz.com

I got a pocket full of quarters, and I'm headed to the arcade.
I don't have a lot of money, but I'm bringing ev'rything I made.
I've got a callus on my finger, and my shoulder's hurting too.
I'm gonna eat them all up, just as soon as they turn blue...

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Whateverhappenedto...

Hahahahhahahaha. In 1984, sculpter Billy Lawless did a lot of work for something he must have known was going to be dismantled as soon as the authorities heard about it. Did he think a dancing neon male organ was going to go over well in conservative Buffalo?

If I remember correctly, at the time, his handlers said they were dancing peanuts. It would have been classic Buffalo had they said they were chicken wings.

"Art is anything you can get away with." futurist Marshall McLuhan (and later Andy Warhol)


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The chicken man grew up in my house

The Blogger lived in one house growing up in South Buffalo. In fact, the red brick house has been there for over 100 years. Recently, the paparazzi has begun gathering there at all hours, in an effort to document my humble beginnings. Until now, the only famous inhabitant was thought to be baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, who lived there while he was a student at nearby South Park High School.


But that all changed the other day when my mother was outside doing some gardening. A van pulled up to look at the house. The man behind the wheel explained to her that he grew up in the house (upstairs) and wanted to see if it still looked the same as it had. He introduced himself as Don Hoffman. At first, the name didn't resonate with my mother. But then, she remembered the family lived upstairs during the early 1960's.

Hoffman, according to my mother, then made some crazy gesture with his hands and began making chicken noises. He told her she might know him better as the "chicken man" from his television commercials for Airport Plaza Jewelers. Everyone has seen the commercials: "Got gold? We'll buy it!"

The chicken man and my mother reminisced about the old times before he gave her these three rubber chickens (he told her he has distributed 20,000 of them around Western New York:


My mother was kind enough to give me one of the chickens, which will adorn my Wall of Fame, along with my "Gimmy Jimmy" Griffin T-shirt and Carl Paladino "Mad as Hell' duck whistle. Warren Spahn and the Chicken Man both growing up in the same house. Talk about a small world. Remember, "a new diamond doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg". I have to go. I think Billy Fucillo is at my front door...

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Publicity stunt

I don't think it's too much of an oversimplification to say that the mayor of Buffalo blows. Seriously. Has this man tackled one serious issue since he's been in office? In this clip, he talks like a robot that's low on batteries.

This WIVB story is about one of those annoying bets with the mayor of the opposing team (in this case Philadelphia). How original. I can't stand New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. However, I have to admit he made me laugh a few years ago. Mayor Brown tried to initiate one of these stupid, feel good bets when the Sabres were playing the New York Islanders. Bloomberg's office tersely responded by saying, "Thanks anyway, but we're too busy actually running a city to take part in your contrived publicity stunt."
Michael Bloomberg Cannot Be Bothered With Your 'Hockey'

I have to admit, this year's bet is a little more interesting than than those in years past. Instead of chicken wings and Philly cheese steak, it involves an act of community service. Apparently, if the Sabres lose, Brown has agreed to perform his son's next court-ordered community service sentence with him (wearing a Flyers hat) I think it's great when families take part in things together...

Philly, Buffalo mayors bet on playoffs: wivb.com

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He's not a doctor but he plays one on TV

On Wednesday, Superintendent James Williams told channel 2's Josh Boose he would quit before accepting the governor's proposed pay cut to $175,000/yr. Yesterday, he curiously accused the media of making it up...

On about the third go-round, a TV reporter asked the superintendent: "If a new contract was given to you today, and the cap was $175,000, would you stay?"

"No, I would not stay," Williams replied.

By Thursday morning, however, the superintendent contradicted himself — and accused the media of "making up" reports that he said he would leave if the salary cap went into effect.

Here is the video that the media "made up" where Dr. Williams clearly says what they reported he said. If one of the goals of this blog was to drive Dr. Williams and local residency violator James Kane insane, I have to say mission accomplished. Wait a minute. Is that Memphis on the line?

Williams retracts possible exit

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Wide wrong

If only that kick would have went through the uprights 20 years ago, Buffalo wouldn't be the third poorest city in America. Our waterfront would be vibrant. Downtown would be hopping with excitement after dark. Crime would be down. All the South Buffalo political hacks would have found work in the private sector.Our public schools would be the envy of the nation. Why did he have to miss that moth$@&*ck*&% kick?


It was 20 years ago today...

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Powder Keg Festival

I've said before this Drew Cerza character is rather annoying. Now, we can add rather stupid. He said the big draw to last year's Powder Keg Festival was the ice maze. Then, in the next breath, he says there will be no ice maze this year. Are we missing something? From channel 2...

And they're hoping for huge crowds this year. Organizers of last year's event came to Cerza looking for ways to expand.

"They needed some hooks and the ice maze was the big hook [last year]," said Cerza.

There will be no maze this year, and sleds will replace tubes down the exit ramp. ???????????????

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Team USA player disses Buffalo

Once the word spreads, hopefully Emerson Etem will be booed every time he touches the puck. He's obviously just another dumb athlete demonstrating the dangers of having a Twitter account when your IQ matches your jersey number. We'll wait for the apology tomorrow followed by the requisite, "it was all just a misunderstanding. I actually love Buffalo." He's lucky Irv Weinstein doesn't live here anymore. From the loser's Twitter account...

"much needed day off, buffalo is a ghost town!! the worst city ever, it makes medicine hat look like paradise, never thought ide say that"

Medicine Hat is located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta in Canada. Etem plays for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. He was drafted by the Anahein Ducks.

Listen to Baby crying 1 from Huma

He can't say that about us. Only we can say that about us. Go Canada. I'd become a big fan of the team USA coach if he sent this spoiled brat home and called up one of the alternates. Hopefully, he'll get hit in the face with a puck and lose all of his teeth.

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Storm fallout

A bunch of suits and a guy from Babcock got together in city hall to discuss the recent snowstorm and the city's response. Dave Franczyk has been in city hall way too long. Where's the hook?


Blah Blah Blah. Don't these people have any real work to do? Kearns says the city needs a "designated coordinator" to oversee snow emergency operations. I'm not sure if he's aware of this, but that position used to be known as the Streets Commissioner. I'd like to nominate this guy for the position...

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The blame game

Whatever you might think of the mayor's snow removal performance, people should not take it out on the crews removing the snow. These guys have a very difficult job. They are often times unappreciated by the city hall hierarchy, until a storm of this magnitude comes along. Then, they are asked to perform double and triple shifts without much rest.

The two plow operators I tried to bribe(my driveway wasn't going to clear itself) were both really down to earth guys. Overall, I thought it took a long time to start the process of clearing the streets. But once it started, the city crews worked hard. It's not an easy job, yet I've seen a great deal of snow removed.

One of our reporters was in the Apollo Restaurant on Hopkins St. yesterday. He witnessed some Crystal Street residents giving the plow operators a hard time. He said they questioned the snow removers for taking a break. This is unfortunate. They deserve a break just like anyone else. The same witness told me the people on Allegany Street were bringing hot cocoa and coffee to the weary snow removers. Two streets. Two different approaches.

We were talking at dinner time tonight about the Blizzard of 77. The whole street (including many elderly residents) came out and shoveled Spaulding Street in South Buffalo. The street was one of those old brick streets and not very plow-friendly. We didn't call the news and complain about the mayor. Times have really changed. The only way the whole street would come out today would be if the government was giving something out for free. Now, everyone wants things taken care of immediately. It doesn't always work that way. I think the approach the workers took was pretty sensible. They created giant piles of snow and are now transporting those piles to the old steel plant site. In my opinion, they've done a good job and people should just be thankful for all the things they have.

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Buffalo teen sets world record for limbo

This is a great story. Shemika Charles, an 18 year old high school senior from Buffalo, sets the Guinness Book of World Record for the lowest limbo ever for a female. It was only 8.5 inches off the ground. Congratulations Shemika! (Not for setting the record, but for making it onto my blog.) We understand the previous record was held by Rick Lazio...

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Dead Cities

We have a list of top 10 dead cities. Guess who made #1? You guessed it.

1. Buffalo

In 1900, Buffalo was the eighth largest city in America. It was located on one of the busiest sections of the Erie Canal, the terminus of the canal on the Great Lakes. Thanks to its location, Buffalo had huge grain milling operations and one of the largest steel mills in the country. Buffalo prospered during WWII as did many northern industrial cities. After the WWII, the manufacturing plants returned to the production of cars and industrial goods. The population rose to more than 500,000 in the mid-1950s. It is half that today. Buffalo was wounded irreparably by the de-industrialization of America.

Read more: America’s Ten Dead Cities: From Detroit To New Orleans - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2010/08/23/americas-ten-dead-cities-from-detroit-to-new-orleans/#ixzz0xxVG1mFR

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HSBC owns you

So now HSBC is running the city of Buffalo. Byron Brown looks like a little girl against the threats of this giant corporation. I don't know what he's so worried about. If they move to Amherst, maybe Bass Pro will turn the vacant building into their regional headquarters...


Here's the late George Carlin's take on who runs this country. Sorry about the offensive language. "It's a big club, and you aint in it"...


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City pools forced to hire armed security guards

The city of Buffalo recently had to hire armed security guards to control the unruly behavior going on at the public pools this week. From the Buffalo News:

Lifeguard Jacqueline Carlton climbed down from her 6-foot-high chair to try and restore order in the Masten Pool on Thursday when an older teenager yanked her by the ankles and pulled her into the water.
As the 16-year-old guard toppled into the pool, her head slammed against a drain and she was unable to navigate the water, not that it mattered.
"There were six or seven and they kept dunking me. I told them they needed to stop, that I hit my head and it's really hurting. They kept dunking me and I was swallowing water," Jacqueline said Friday, recalling how it took the head lifeguard to rescue her.

Maybe, as Rod Watson wrote a few weeks ago, they were just "sassing" the lifeguard because she was in a position of authority. How the city of Buffalo could put 16 year olds in charge of 18, 19, and 20 year old scumbags is a question an injury attorney will probably be asking a jury pretty soon. My question is, are these thugs going to be charged with assault? Probably not. Although they did commit an assault, charging them with one wouldn't be the politically correct thing to do.

Centennial Pool in LaSalle Park, JFK Pool at Clinton and Hickory streets and Masten Pool on Best Street were closed because of the problems. Two other city pools: Allison on Rees Street and Shoshone at the foot of Beard Avenue, were closed for about 30 minutes due to unruly behavior.

"When we tell them the pool is closing because of rowdy behavior, they get mad and just go crazy picking us up and throwing us in the pool," Jamilla said. "And it is not just teenagers doing it, it's young adults."
At Centennial Pool, which was rebuilt and opened last week after being closed seven years, fights and vandalism have marred the reopening.
Vandals broke into the locker rooms Thursday by breaking a window and, once inside, they scattered garbage and toilet paper, according to workers.

Where are the neighborhood leaders? Where are Darius Pridgeon and Damone Smith condemning this criminal behavior? The Centennial Pool has been open for less than a month and they're already destroying it. Why not? The kids (and adults) destroying it know they will simply be handed more things for free in the future. They'll never face any consequences for their actions. I feel bad for the mother in this article that wanted to bring her young daughter to teach her how to swim. The teenaged thugs ruin everything for the law abiding families. I disagree with Deputy Mayor Byron Brown's decision not to charge a small fee to use the pools:

Brown said he disagrees with some who suggest charging a fee to use city pools might weed out troublemakers. Taxpayers, the mayor said, already fund pool operations, and it would be unfair to impose fees.

Charge them $2 per day. Maybe they'll learn to appreciate the things they're given a little more. Taxpayers do fund the pool operations, but those causing problems are not taxpayers. Brown talks as if the riffraff that are knocking over lifeguards and causing property damage actually come from families that work and pay taxes. What planet is he from again?
City pools face unruly behavior : City & Region : The Buffalo News

Substance abuse audit- the money's under the sink

First of all, the city can't even provide basic services. Why are we even in the business of running drug clinics? Can you imagine how much cash is being stolen in various city departments based on this Buffalo News article:

In fact, two thefts occurred, including a December 2008 heist when someone found $834 stuffed in envelopes beneath the kitchen sink. A police report found no evidence of a break-in.
Six months later, $585 was reported stolen from the clinic's front desk. A police report said a complainant suspected the theft was committed by an "in-house worker."
City officials said no arrests or disciplinary action has been taken against any employee. No perpetrator has been caught.

Can you believe this? We know one of our workers is stealing the public's cash. Not only will we not arrest them. We'll let them continue working there handling the cash!

Did anyone even know there was a Division of Substance Abuse Services? My prediction is that one of the staff will get caught stealing money and then say it was to support their drug habit.Get rid of this department and lower my damn water bill. Not that I don't trust Byron Brown's friends stuffing money under kitchen sinks in envelopes.

Audit finds lax handling of cash at city drug clinics : City Hall : The Buffalo News

Buffalo's new police commisioner

Only 10 applicants have emerged thus far for the new police commissioners job in Buffalo:

Paucity of applicants prompts questions on filling top police job
By Brian Meyer

Buffalo’s search for a new police commissioner has produced only about 10 applicants, city officials disclosed Tuesday.
The hunt for candidates, they added, continues more than four months after Mayor Byron W. Brown vowed to launch a national search.
While the official in charge of the search insisted that the city has cast a national net, some lawmakers wondered aloud whether enough has been done to attract candidates for the $116,989-a-year job.

However, our sources have told us a new candidate has recently emerged:

President's Itinerary

We have obtained a bootlegged copy of President Obama's itinerary for his trip to Buffalo on Thursday...

12:25 PM- Arrival at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

1:05 PM- Tour of an East side crack house.

1:35 PM- The President will go shopping at the luxurious Main Place Mall followed by a stop at the new Bass Pro downtown store.

2:10 PM- He will take in a major league baseball game in 20 degree weather at Pilot Field, Dunn Tire Park, or whatever they are calling the stadium this week.

2:25 PM-the President will enjoy a great Polish Sausage at the Broadway Market.

2:35 PM- He will be treated at ECMC for injuries suffered while getting mugged outside the Broadway Market.

2:55 PM- Brian Higgins will give him a tour of Welfare Beach. Secret service agents have speculated the President might attempt to jump off of Cargills into the water.

3:20 PM- Departure at Buffalo International Airport

4:05 PM- Treatment for depression at nearest Washington DC hospital...