As expected, representatives from the county’s new lobbying firm paid a visit to the area last week.
Sam Ferraro, commissioner of the county’s Economic Development, and County Manager Gregory Lewis met with officials from Capitol Public Strategies of Albany to discuss ways the firm can assist the county in the coming months.
Both men said they stressed the need for the lobbyists to work as quickly and as aggressively as possible in winning approval for federal stimulus dollars in support of projects contained on a wishlist submitted months ago to state and federal officials.
“It was an excellent meeting,” Ferraro said. “We reviewed all of the stimulus projects the county has submitted to both the state and federal government. They, obviously, will review those lists and get back to us very quickly on avenues and ways in which we can access funding and whatever opportunities we have available to us.”
“We emphasized that we wanted action,” Lewis added.
Capitol Public Strategies has been hired by the county under a six-month contract worth $30,000. Under the terms of the agreement, the county will pay CPS in monthly installments of $5,000.
Following the update, members of the county Legislature’s Economic Development Committee authorized payment for the cost of the lunch visit.
The bill was $93.
Lewiston democratic endorsements
The Lewiston Democratic Committee endorsed several candidates in local races last week.
The committee’s list of preferred candidates included: Fred Newlin for Town Supervisor; David V. Sanchez for Town Council and Daniel Antonucci for County Legislator, 12th Legislative District.
Also, in consideration of their bi-partisan efforts to work on behalf of all the citizens of Lewiston, the committee has recommended to the Niagara County Democratic Committee cross-endorsements of Alphonso Marra Bax for Town Council and Joan Stephens as Receiver of Taxes.
Web slip up
A list of endorsed candidates appearing on the Niagara County GOP’s Web site eary last week listed Timothy Demler as the committee’s preferred candidate for the Town of Wheatfield supervisor’s race. The site was later updated to reflect the committee’s actual endorsed candidate, former Town of Wheatfield Justice Robert Cliff. Demler lost his endorsement earlier this month amid controversy over his alleged affair with a town employee and undisclosed concerns about his on-the-job performance that were raised by members of the town’s GOP committee.
Demler has said that he intends to stay in the race without the party’s support. Members of the town’s GOP Committee have now asked the county district attorney and state attorney general to investigate “illegal acts and improprieties” it claims Demler has committed while in office.
NT visit for Lee
A member of Congressman Chris Lee’s staff will be available for one-on-one meetings with North Tonawanda residents from 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday at the public library.
“These office hours provide NT residents with a unique opportunity to meet with a member of my staff one-on-one, whether it be to troubleshoot interactions with federal agencies or discuss the issues of the day,” Lee said.
Constituents can also visit Lee’s district offices in Williamsville and Greece, which are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Columns
POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Lobbyist told to get cracking
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HAMILTON: Dandelions, parades, broken poles and people
There are still those remnants of the fading bouquets of floral tributes that still hang at that base of a tree on city hall’s lawn. It is near where, last year, from his shiny silvery cart, Melvin Johnson sold hot dogs and sausages to both city employees and passerbys while his tiny white dog excitingly yelped at anyone that came near.
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GLYNN: Gillibrand seeks help for prime bread-winners
A recent report shows that working mothers across the Empire State earn nearly 15 percent lower pay for the same work as men.
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BRADBERRY: There really are spirits in the water
Over the centuries since it was “discovered” hundreds of millions of people have traveled from every corner of the world to visit Niagara Falls making it the most visited of the great waterfalls on the planet.
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CONFER: The reality of rationed health care
The ongoing debate over Obamacare has brought to light the concept of rationed healthcare. Opponents of health care reform keenly point out that while the bill never explicitly calls out rationing, it features certain provisions that will lead the markets to adjust to strict federal demands and, therefore, dispense certain procedures in smaller amounts or not at all. Because of it being the first time that the subject has really come up in public circles, most people, especially on the right, believe that rationing is something new. It’s not. The free markets have been practicing that for quite some time. I should know; with a 4-inch long, 1-inch wide scar running south of my belly button – and a couple of related scars around my groin – I could be the poster child for rationed health care.
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CITY DESK: A regrettable error
We owe Carol Sensabough an apology.
Several weeks ago, the long-time reader and Niagara Falls resident sent a letter to the editor explaining that she took offense to some of the things written by a syndicated columnist, Stephen Dick. -
HIGGS: Niagara Falls' own West Side story
Trusello’s Bakery was on Elmwood behind the family home at 840 19th St. The family, Richard, William (Billy) and Sam along with two sisters, lived in the house.
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GLYNN: Falls, Ont., rolls out red carpet for Wallenda
Before Nik Wallenda even started practicing his high-wire routine in downtown Niagara Falls, state Sen.George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, had noted the warm welcome the tightrope walker received across the river.
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HAMILTON: Civic ‘ParticipAction’ can work too
Back in the 1970s, our Neighbors to the North ran a national campaign called ParticipAction to encourage Canadians to get off their butts and do things for the sakes of their bodies.
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GLYNN: Graduates find they’re in staggering debt
Countless senior citizens often gripe about something, sometimes even with good reason. Perhaps they should consider themselves fortunate, compared with the younger generation.
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