Fundraiser at Shanghai Red's

[Jim Ostrowski]

Back to the topic--we went down to Shanghai Red's to check out the outdoor patio on the second floor. It's awesome! The view is amazing.

The weather is supposed to be good for Thursday, 6-8pm. The vibes are good; should be several VIPs and candidates and an interesting mix of people.

Come on down!

And just think. If you don't want to go, we can't tax you. That's the political class's style.

[biker]

I'd like to go, Jim, but the timing is not the best.

What little fundraising that the PC candidates seem to be doing is happening now.

So you're asking a lot of the same audience to shell out now when the PC candidates need it.

You'll be around in Oct/Dec, but some of them won't

[Jim Ostrowski]

There's no conflict of interest between FB and PC, as explained below:


Half-time Score: Tax Revolt 10—Political Machine 0

by James Ostrowski

May 3, 2005


Early on in the tax revolt, I pointed out that all we had done was stop a proposed tax increase and that much more needed to be done. While we still have not rolled back taxes, I think that several more recent developments are cause for celebration and optimism.

Aside from the important defeat of a $100 million tax increase, there have been numerous announced retirements or decisions not to run again. The list includes County Executive Joel Giambra, Mayor Anthony Masiello, Comptroller Nancy Naples, and County Legislators Ray Dusza and Steve McCarville. There is also an FBI investigation of certain county legislators that may result in more retirements. One legislator was reported as missing for two weeks, which doesn’t bode well for his reelection chances.

Casualties or probable future casualties of the tax revolt include several politicians who have held power continuously for decades including Masiello (since 1972), Giambra (since 1982), and Swanick (since 1980). All those who spent money on their campaigns and traded favors with them over the years have or will lose their special friends. Even if they are replaced by other machine politicians, those replacements are likely to be substantially less in thrall to the special interests and political machines that have dominated politics for decades. These newcomers have gotten the message that the party is over. They will play nice with newly-elected independents, at least for a while.


Proving once again that free market competition works, the local media has descended upon county government with a frenzy never seen before and their aggressive reporting has revealed it to be incompetent, dishonest and corrupt. This image will be remembered for many years, just as many baby boomers such as this writer continue to view government through the lens of the twin disasters of their teenage years: Watergate and Vietnam.


The tax revolt is being made permanent. A tax revolt “triumvirate” has emerged. Speakupwny.com has become the largest political site in Western New York. Primary Challenge is up and running several impressive new candidates, and Free Buffalo, the new people’s think tank, expects to open an office in June in Buffalo and begin churning out policy studies and research. It will hold perhaps the largest tax revolt gathering yet on May 28th at the Central Terminal. A fitting location as the Terminal symbolizes the glory days of Buffalo that we intend to revive.


The tax revolt is extending beyond Erie County with much activity throughout Western New York and Upstate New York. And it is going to extend into that heretofore ignored branch of government: the judiciary. Most political fights end up in court these days, so plans are being formulated to bring the spirit of the tax revolt to the bench. Otherwise, hard-won victories could be overturned by elitist judges installed by yesteryear’s political power brokers.


Unlike the government, the tax revolt is not a monopoly with some boss in charge with the final say. Rather, it is a spontaneously-organized voluntary movement of like-minded citizens each contributing according to their particular talents and preferences. As with any market-based endeavor, the principles of entrepreneurship, specialization and the division of labor have guided these developments. Naturally, the founders of all three groups are self-employed entrepreneurs. Nuts and bolts political mechanics drift toward Primary Challenge, computers whizzes gravitate toward Speakupwny.com and policy wonks and taxpayer activists find their way to Free Buffalo meetings. There is of course great overlap among all these groups as well. Their relationships are more symbiotic than competitive. They each increase the size of the tax revolt and thereby create a larger market for their unique services and programs.


To ask--Do we really need all these separate groups?--is akin to asking about an airplane: do we really need the wings, the engine and the fuel? On the contrary, I believe that as long as we face a political machine that controls $18 billion a year in spending and has tens of thousands of troops and allies, we need all the help we can get. I would welcome even more groups which can fill a valuable niche in the tax revolt. Let’s not make the mistake that political movements have made throughout history and start fighting each other. These short-term ego battles and turf wars were often followed by long-term defeat! What general in his right mind, whose troops are outnumbered and fighting desperately, would turn away new volunteers?


The tax revolt, which began in December, is healthy and growing. It is going to permanently change the nature of politics in Western New York and will very soon noticeably improve the quality of our lives. It has already made our wallets heavier and spirits lighter.


As Aristotle said, “Well begun is half done.”

[therising]

I think Biker's point was that it's not easily to financially support multiple causes at any given time.

Nice long answer though.

[WNYresident]

Wordy isn't he

[Jim Ostrowski]

And here's the gist of my point:

"Their relationships are more symbiotic than competitive. They each increase the size of the tax revolt and thereby create a larger market for their unique services and programs."

If we keep expecting the same 500 people to step forward, we're going to lose. We need all these groups to continually expand the core group from 500 to 5000 and higher. Then, there will be plenty of funds to support these groups.

[Night Owl]

If we keep expecting the same 500 people to step forward, we're going to lose. We need all these groups to continually expand the core group from 500 to 5000 and higher. Then, there will be plenty of funds to support these groups.

I thought they were seperate and individual groups?

Isn't that what everyone keeps saying, the PC and FB are not associated?

[Boost Buffalo]

Originally posted by Jim Ostrowski


The tax revolt, ...has already made our wallets heavier and spirits lighter.

Jim that is bogus. Is that your claim to fame? Its false.

My wallet got heavier when Joel reduced the taxes a few years back, a lot heavier. And so did the other real estate owner's wallets. Joel made our wallets heavier, you didnt.

Property owners have enjoyed years of heavier wallets now, thanks to the now notorious Joel, not you.

And what's your take on the New Era deal? Should we slaughter the IDA and send New Era packing? That way we wont benefit from their property taxes, their payroll taxes, their employee's jobs and their income and property taxes, and all the jobs and taxes their suppliers provide.

You still want to kill off the industrial development incentives?

[Jim Ostrowski]

Somebody up there likes us.

The fundraiser at Shanghai Red's was a complete success.

We made a net profit of $4,000. That's enough to keep us in business till January.

Notables included Dr. John Wadsworth, ret. Judge Bill Ostrowski, Tracy Diina, Lenny Roberto and Rus Thompson, the man who drove Chuck Swanick out of the race.

I remember a time when the entire membership of Free Buffalo consisted of Rus, Rick Naylon and I. Now, we have close to 800 active supporters.

No money for staff yet, but it's clear that the business plan can work. A small frugal office at about $10,000 per year. The next Taste of Freedom, June 3rd should net that. Everything above that goes to the core mission: writers, researchers, policy analysts, forums. We can run the thing for less than the salary of the head of the Local Government Center at UB.

Lack of a single large donor, which most thinks tanks have, means that we can be independent and can truly serve as the voice for average people and small business.

The long run looks good; in the short run, we'll do it with smoke and mirrors.

What we'll do now is get some studies out and try to broaden our base of support by starting chapters in other counties. Much of our work involves statewide issues so a broader base will support basically the same work at the same cost.

Thanks to all who attended or who help spread the word!

And Shanghai Red's was excellent: the upper patio, the food, the service.

[Night Owl]

I remember a time when the entire membership of Free Buffalo consisted of Rus, Rick Naylon and I. Now, we have close to 800 active supporters.

HA! 800 members and you listed Lenny Roberto and Rus Thompson (two from the PC) as "Notables"

That's about as connected as a chain-linked fence.

JO says... No money for staff yet,

BUT.... then says: Everything above that goes to the core mission: writers, researchers, policy analysts, forums.

Isn't that "staff"?

The long run looks good; in the short run, we'll do it with smoke and mirrors.

And all this time, I thought FB was just smoke and mirrors.

Much of our work involves statewide issues so a broader base will support basically the same work at the same cost.

Whatever happened to Free "BUFFALO"?

What we'll do now is get some studies out and try to broaden our base of support by starting chapters in other counties.

Why not do a lot of "studies" before broadening your base? Sounds like Cart before the horse. Don't you think people would want to see what you're doing before supporting something that stretches into a statewide think tank?

Thanks to all who attended or who help spread the word!

Spreading what word? What has FB accomplished in the last 6 months besides making money through fundraisers and donations???

All of these supporters and volunteer staff, where's your first study? Is it bound in book form so people can actually see it?

Don't suggest that I call, email or stop down at your office, if you have time to post HERE the greatness of a $4,000 fundraising success, then you have time to answer a few simple questions HERE.