The Buffalo School Board passing a budget when one member is absent (Louis Petrucci), another just resigned (Pamela Cahill) and two vote no (Mary Ruth Kapsiak and Rosalyn Taylor) is absurd. One dissenting board member simply wanted to hold off the vote until all questions could be answered, however, CFO for the school district, Barbara Smith, was going on vacation so the board decided to vote on the spot. Nice time to go on vacation, right after Superintendent James Williams returns. One comes back while the other leaves and dysfunction continues during this crucial time.
The next few weeks are critical for the future of our schools and children. The passing of this budget shows the lack of continuity of the board and its inability to come up with solutions as a group. It’s another result of the administration’s gross inability to function as a unit.
Alan WyniaLackawanna
I'm sure Petrucci will have a good excuse/lie for why he was absent. He probably promised both sides he would support them. He's a pathological liar. If there was a vote to wash Ray McGurn's car or mow Jim Comerford's lawn, Pinocchio would have found a way to get there. Absent during a crucial vote on the budget is unacceptable and unprofessional, but we're not surprised. We're still waiting to see the college degree.
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- Nabeel Rahman, the Buffalo area's 13-year-old spelling superstar, made it to the second round of the finals at the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee Thursday night. But then a shrub did him in.
Nabeel spelled that particular shrub "dockmacky," when it ought to be spelled "dockmackie."
Nabeel plans to visit some of Washington's historic landmarks before coming back to WNY and being beaten mercilessly by his parents, for losing. It's hard to believe this 1997 winner was home-schooled. I mean, she seems so normal in this clip...
The men, members of a San Francisco softball team, say they were questioned in front of a room full of strangers about their sexual preferences after a protest was lodged alleging their team had violated a rule that limited to two the number of heterosexuals on any team.
The team has already found at least one replacement for the three...
"I didn't send the picture out," Weiner told MSNBC's Luke Russert in a televised interview.
"That's not a picture of you?"
"You know, I can't say with certitude. My system was hacked. Pictures can be manipulated. Pictures can be dropped in and inserted," Weiner replied.Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
So could making class more interesting all year long.
“The teachers talk to us like we’re dead,” said an East High School sophomore, who was taking 100 Percent Day off in a park. “She just teaches the subject but doesn’t make sure we get it.”
“You can tell the ones who care and the ones who don’t” by whether they ask follow-up questions to probe whether students really understand, she added.
Teachers in Buffalo are no different than teachers in the suburban or private schools. Some are interesting. Others can be boring. We all had boring teachers growing up. How do the kids in Orchard Park or Kenmore West get through the school day with such boring teachers? Watson's statement is downright ludicrous. Should teachers learn how to juggle and perform magic tricks before entering the class room?
The teachers may or may not be boring. However, to use this as an excuse to skip class is laughable. It is the students skipping class whose attention spans are minimal, because they've never been taught an ounce of discipline at home. To tell the teachers they need to become more interesting is one of the most ridiculous and insulting statements I've ever heard Watson make (and he's made some doozies). Remember a few weeks ago, when he said inner city students need to be taught in noisy environments because they are used to hearing ghetto blasters and multiple relatives coming in and out of the house? Is this man on crack when he writes this nonsense?
I have to get ready to sub tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll be entertaining enough, so the kids can learn. I'll go sing in the shower and practice some stand up comedy...
I’m dismayed by those who describe red light cameras as a safety measure instead of what they really are—another way to tax citizens without calling it a tax. These cameras are generally administered by a “for profit” third party, with a cut of the profits going to the municipality. Both parties have a vested interest in manipulating the system to maximize the number of tickets issued. Since my space is limited here, do a Google search for “red light camera scams” to see how this is accomplished in other cities.
The idea that there are drivers who routinely and intentionally run red lights is questionable. If that were true, they would soon be removed from the driving pool via fatal accidents. The majority of offenders occasionally misjudge a traffic light, and pass through the intersection a fraction of a second late.
Michael Sartori
East Aurora
Good letter from Mr. Sartori. Brown, Casey, and Councilman GoLISPek: You're not fooling anyone. We're all on to your ridiculous money grabbing scams...
City enforcers have been slapping some property owners with tickets for having high grass.
Five of Buffalo’s nine lawmakers are calling on Mayor Byron W. Brown to void all summonses issued for grass that was at least 10 inches high, noting that the waterlogged region weathered its rainiest May in history.
“It’s hypocritical to give out tickets if your own lots are not maintained,” Delaware Council Member Michael J. LoCurto told The Buffalo News.
“Cut some people a little slack,” said Council President David A. Franczyk of Fillmore. “We had record rainfall. Don’t pounce on people.”
This would seem to follow the city's m.o. Instead of creating jobs or enticing people to move into the city, the mayor seems heart sent on making Buffalo a difficult place to live in. Red light cameras, alternate parking, high grass, etc. I cut my grass about a week ago. Because of the rain, it already needs to be cut again. Other residents don't have time to cut the grass every week. They are busy working two jobs, so they can avoid having to send their kids to Buffalo's troubled schools. No wonder those who can afford to, move out...
