Tensions flare at Common Council meeting

Supporters are calling it "right sizing" the Common Council. Detractors feel the new plan proposed by the Council's new majority represents politics as usual. Councilmember Joseph Golombek has been a vocal critic of his counterparts having a third legislative assistant with benefits...

Much of the outgoing majority's criticism over the staff reduction was directed at North Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr., who has been a vocal opponent of Council members having a third staff member with benefits.

Golombek said he believes no Council office needs three staff members, adding that his stance boils down to fairness and equity.

Some Councilmembers are even questioning the amount of time their peers are putting into the job...

LoCurto took a shot back at Golombek, asking if it was now his business that some Council offices, like Golombek's, are only open until 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

Rivera said Golombek's comments were "condescending and arrogant."

"Don't tell me what's good for my district and what the residents need in my district," said Rivera, who added that this was never raised as a concern when former Ellicott Council Member Brian Davis held the office and had a third staff member.

Councilmember Bonnie Russell tried to end the debate with a conciliatory remark...

"Taxpayers don't want to see fighting and bickering," she said Tuesday before the Council meeting.

I disagree. I think it's great when the Councilmembers fight. It's the only time we ever hear the truth come out of their mouths. If they're all happy and lovie-dovie, you can bet they're ripping us off. I want to know that Joseph Golombek doesn't work a full day. Personally, I'd like to see flyweight Councilmembers Golombek and Michael LoCurto drop the gloves like Japanese lawmakers on a TruTV episode. Golombek reminds me of the kid in the neighborhood who owned the expensive football. In fact, the only reason he was even allowed to play was because it was his ball. If a call didn't go his way, he would take it and go home in protest, while everyone else made fun of him and called him a crybaby.

Please cut all the salaries. Eliminate all the jobs. We are already bombarded with too much government and very poor results. Just don't even think of cutting the City Hall Rooster's hours or salary or there will be unprecedented acts of civil disobedience all over town.

Council debate gets heated over 'right-sizing'

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New blood for Riverside

I have no idea who Ken Phillips is, but if he's running against 12 year do-nothing incumbant Joe Golispek, he's got my support. Golispek is a whiner. He stormed on the scene 12 years ago claiming to be a maverick. Now, he's as much a part of the status quo as everyone else in city hall. Residents of Riverside: wake up and rid yourself of this career politician...

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Tug of war continues with Brown and Kearns

The chess match between South District Councilman Mickey Kearns and Deputy Mayor Byron Brown continues over the Nevilly Court Project.

Last week, we told you how Brown was bribing city-working neighbors close to the project to oppose it. Brown then announced he would not authorize the bonds needed to pay for it.

Today, Kearns struck back and said that unless lawmakers have the opportunity to vote on bonds for all projects in the city’s capital plan, it’s possible that the entire roster of initiatives could be delayed. That would mean other projects in the city would be delayed. From The Buffalo News...

The projects range from new streetlights in the Niagara and North districts, to streetscape improvements in Lovejoy and Masten, and infrastructure upgrades near the Genesee Gateway project downtown. There also is money to finance the city’s ongoing demolition blitz, improvements at various parks and upgrades to a number of city-owned buildings. “This is a question of fairness, and we’re prepared to take this to the end,” Kearns said.

Readers of this blog should know that Councilmembers Joseph Golembek and Bonnie Russell in effect, work for the mayor. They clearly do his bidding. Golembek, who made himself out to be a maverick years ago, should be particularly embarrassed with himself...

North Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr. said Kearns’ threat to hold up other projects is typical of how the Council’s ruling majority has operated.

“It’s the worst majority I’ve ever seen on this Council,” Golombek said. “They’re cocky. They’re arrogant. They ostracize the rest of the Council.”

I didn't hear Golembek complaining when a new turf field was put in over at Riverside Park a few years back. He also was very supportive of the new state of the art football field constructed behind Riverside High School. How about something for a neighborhood where the people actually pay taxes? Golombek has been in office way too long and has gotten too comfortable. His district has gone to the dogs since he first took office. He's clearly a fraud carrying around a lot of secrets.

I'm not a huge fan of turf fields, myself. I know they are good for sports like lacrosse, football, and softball. The thing I'd like to see built is the actual gym/educational center. The big question I have is, where are the South Buffalo political families that spoke out for Brown against Kearns? They all said he was great for South Buffalo. Obviously, they really meant he was great for them and their greedy, untalented, conniving relatives.

Political carping may kill capital projects - City of Buffalo - The Buffalo News

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Golombek defeated by Hoyt after Higgins stabs him in the back

Sam Hoyt defeated Joseph Golombek to win reelection to his New York State Assembly seat in a very close race. The difference was only about 200 votes. I wonder how Golombek feels about his good friend Brian Higgins endorsing Hoyt at the last moment. I thought Higgins and Golombek's buddy, Byron Brown, were partners in government? Higgins will need all the friends he can get, after stabbing Carl Paladino in the back and leaking Paladino's emails to the press early in the campaign. Remember that? I'm sure Carl does. Brian is proving to be one trustworthy guy these days...

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Which liar do you support?

Joe Golombek is a shill for Byron Brown. Sam Hoyt is a shill for everybody else. Hoyt's being backed by a billionaire and a hedge fund manager. Most of his support comes from New York City because everyone left in Buffalo knows you can't trust him as far as you wish you could throw him...

Many of Hoyt’s supporters back him because he favors charter schools. They include Louis Moore Bacon, a billionaire hedge fund manager from New York City who gave Hoyt $7,500 this week.

“It’s more proof,” Golombek said, “that Sam is in the pocket of [Assembly Speaker] Shelly Silver, Mayor Bloomberg, Wall Street bankers and Manhattan socialites.”

I don't see what the big deal is. Most the readers of my blog are Wall Street bankers and Manhattan socialites. Not to be outdone, Golombek is being backed by such classy guys as Byron "Urkel" Brown as well as G. Steven Pigeon (the G stands for greaseball). Apparently Brown doesn't like Hoyt...

“Sam Hoyt is a negative, petty whiner,” the mayor said. “I’m supporting Joe Golombek because he’s the only candidate in this race with a true record of reform.”

Neither one of these bozos has any record of reform.We don't know who the winner of this primary will be. We do know the losers will be the residents of the district, regardless of the outcome.

Money fuels rancor in Golombek versus Hoyt - City & Region - The Buffalo News

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Schroeder might challenge Silver for Speaker

Whether symbolic or not, Mark Schroeder's challenge to Sheldon Silver is important for Western New York residents.

You want to know a clear indication of who is working for us in Albany and who isn't? Watch and see which of the area's delegation supports Sheldon Silver as the speaker of the Assembly.

Silver, widely regarded by both Albany insiders and outsiders as the biggest opponent to reform in New York State, might be challenged by South Buffalo Assemblyman Democrat Mark Schroeder. Silver is one of the "three men in a room" consistently fighting for New York City interests, at the expense of those in outpost destinations like Buffalo. He opposed UB 2020 after giving his word to the local delegation he was behind it...

Silver’s blockage of UB 2020, an ambitious expansion plan, prevented a “transformational” impact on the State University of New York system and the Western New York economy, Schroeder said.

If you live in Assemblyman Sam Hoyt's district, listen to him talk and you can tell where his interests lie:

In 2000, Hoyt was one of 12 Assembly Democrats who backed then-Majority Leader Michael J. Bragman of North Syracuse for speaker but later jumped back to Silver when the coup began to unravel.

“It’s easy to demonize one person,” Hoyt said of Silver last week. “But no one asks: If we do replace him, what happens?”

What happens? We stop getting screwed over by him left and right. Hoyt's not the type of guy you want in a fox hole with you. In fact, if his father wasn't an Assemblyman, he would probably be washing dishes at the Olympic Restaurant in Riverside. Is it a coincidence that most of Hoyt's money these days is coming from New York City interests? Most WNY residents are on to his sorry act. I'm not a big fan of Joe Golombek, but this issue would lead me in his direction if I lived in their district. Golombek states in the article that his support would be for Schroeder-and by extension Western New York residents, should he take on Silver.

Schroeder considers challenge to Silver as Assembly speaker - Albany - The Buffalo News

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