| It seems like all the efforts to rid Western New York of the politicians who got us in the mess we're in was just folly. In the words of W.C. Fields, there is a sucker born every minute. What Fields did not know is that they all live in Western New York.
First, Assembly Majority Leader Paul Tokasz threatened county legislators with a decrease in state funding if they did not share county sales tax funds with the local governments. Of course, the new legislators folded like cards.
Tokasz then told them that he could offset the loss of revenue with the help of state funding. Unfortunately for us, the state budget does not have any extra funding for Erie County. Oh my. I guess we will have to have another tax increase next year to offset the $50 million that we will be short.
Next, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown gave extra money to the Police Department for overtime pay, circumventing the control board. Nice move. That is obviously pay-back for the union's election support. The last hope I had for the area was the new mayor, but I guess he is all talk and little action. I thought he would bring in people outside of the usual politics. But after four months, it appears that it is politics as usual.
The News has published articles about why people leave the area. There can be no better explanation than our politicians. They are the cancer that is killing the area.
Camille Zephro
Lackawanna
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