1. You refer to downtown Buffalo as
"The City."
2. "Vacation" means going to Allegheny for the
week.
3. You measure distance in hours.
4. You know several people who have hit deer more than once.
5. You've used your back porch or the trunk of your car as a
fridge/deep freeze.
6. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C"
in the same day.
7. You use a down comforter in the summer.
8. You drive at 65 mph through a raging blizzard, without
flinching.
9. People say they live in Buffalo when their mailing
address is West Seneca.
10. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both
unlocked.
11. There is a mini mall every 1/4 mile, if not, you're in Niagara
County.
12. You carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to
use them.
13. There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at the
Wegman's at any given time.
14. You design your grand kid's Halloween costume to fit over a
snowsuit.
15. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are
filled with snow.
16. You think sexy lingerie is tube socks and flannel pajamas.
17. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter,
construction.
18. It takes you 3 hours to go to the store for one item even when
you're in a rush because you have to stop and talk to
everyone in town.
19. You can spell and say 'Cheektowaga' and 'Lackawanna.'
20. It's "POP!" And people who call it Soda make you
want to slap them.
21. You don't consider what Domino's or Pizza Hut sell as real
Pizza.
22. You know that 'First Night' isn't a Sean Connery movie.
23. There is no such thing as waiting for the left turn arrow at
an intersection.
24. Your career ambition is to work for NY State.
25. Even with the slightest threat of snow, you know that only the
Buffalo City schools are closed.
26. There is nothing International about Buffalo Airport.
Playing With Words --- Clipper Style
1. A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two-tired.
2. What's the definition of a will? (It's a dead giveaway).
3. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
4. A backwards poet writes inverse.
5. In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
6. She had a boyfriend with a wooden leg, but broke it off.
7. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
8. If you don't pay your exorcist you get repossessed.
9. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
10. Show me a piano falling down a mineshaft and I'll show you A-flat minor.
11. When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.
12. The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.
13. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
14. You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
15. Local Area Network in Australia -- the LAN down under.
16. He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
17. Every calendar's days are numbered.
18. A lot of money is tainted. It taint yours and it taint mine.
19. A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.
20. He had a photographic memory that was never developed.
21. A plateau is a high form of flattery.
22. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
23. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
24. Once you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.
25. Those who jump off a Paris bridge are in Seine.
26. When an actress saw her first strands of grey hair she thought she'd dye.
27. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
28. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
29. Acupuncture is a jab well done.
30. Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat.
....Submitted by Cathy March
City forms committee to market "South Block."
Further delays in getting construction on the downtown Lockport "south block" seemed assured this week as the city tried to generate positive publicity by announcing it was forming (yet another) committee to try to find developers interested in building on the downtown prime retail land vacant for decades. Because of a major legal blunder in seizing the property from developer Elmer Granchelli, the city has failed to obtain clear legal title thus complicating any development effort. Additionally, Granchelli still retains control over a small but significant slice of the property making it difficult for any truly grand development scheme to even be planned because of size constraints. The committee formed had few new faces from those who have been associated with the failures to successfully market downtown Lockport for over twenty years. The city's "development arm," the Greater Lockport Development Corporation, reportedly has hired a Buffalo lawyer (at an undisclosed sum) to draw up the wording for a Request For Proposal (RFP) that will be sent to potential developers. It was not immediately explained in the press briefing why this work couldn't be done by the city's extensive in-house legal staff. When asked by the Lockport Home Page, one local legal counselor who did not want his name cited, replied, "You should know the answer to your own question by now." (5/24/02)Left over leftovers for Lockport.
Niagara County has now dispensed all of its used highway trucks to the cities of North Tonawanda and Niagara Falls with two vehicles left over for Lockport, should the city ever move to pick them up. The used trucks have been replaced in Niagara County service by brand new trucks purchased with millions of dollars in "tobacco money." The new trucks will be used to service the various towns in the County while the cities will get the used trucks. Niagara Falls was first in to pick up trucks (four) and are delighted with what they received ---one as new as a 1999 model. North Tonawanda picked up three. Lockport officials haven't gotten around to picking up any yet. What is left are two trucks believed to be too big to use for normal snow plowing in Lockport. But it's all that left over. (3/2/02)Alderwoman on job one month, will take two-month vacation.
Alderwoman Phyllis Green, (R - 5th Ward) elected in November took office January 1st. On Friday, February 1st she was telling friends at Laport's Pine Restaurant that she would be taking off to Sarasota, FL for a two-month vacation next week. Alderman-at-Large Joe Kibler will be expected to handle all the calls from her ward constituents while still maintaining his busy schedule of work on all Common Council committees. Green said she had planned her vacation a year ago but admitted not announcing her vacation plans while running for office last year. Green indicated she would not be giving up any of her $6500 a year salary because of long vacation. (2/1/02)"Hiring freeze" lasts just 15 days.
The Lockport Common Council, alarmed with the report that the Sullivan administration had overspent nearly a million dollars in 2001 and the city was in red ink, declared a "hiring freeze" on city employees about January 15th. At a January 30th meeting that freeze was rescinded. The Sullivan administration wanted to hire a novice appraiser for the Appraisal Office so that it could continue to increase property appraisal valuations on a regular basis. The position will pay $30,464 a year plus benefits. (1/31/02)Teen yakking on cell phone cause of accident.
It used to be that a "pager" was the status symbol (of self-importance) for teens. Now it's a cell phone. It's part of the increasing American modern image of, "I'm (self-) important." But it was the undoing Friday evening, 12/7, of a 16-year girl who was gabbing on her cell phone about all the urgent matters that teens have to attend to. As she was yakking on her cell phone and walking into the intersection of Davison Road and High Street she walked right into the path of an on-coming car. She was treated at Lockport Memorial Hospital for leg injuries. No word yet if County Legislator Brad Erck will call on the Legislature to ban use of a cell phone while walking. (12/9/01)Latest Research: "Why Johnny
Can't Read."
Do you know who is teaching your children?
We think we may have found out why Johnny can't read. At least in the Lockport area. Perhaps it's because some of his teachers can't read. At least, they apparently can't read road signs and maps. Judge for yourself:
A group of teachers left the Greater Lockport Area on Wednesday, November 7th by car to attend a three day "educational conference" in Syracuse. After the conference wrapped up on Saturday morning (at the Hotel Syracuse and nearby Convention Center in the heart of the city) they got back in the car to head home to the Lockport area. Late Saturday afternoon the teachers were getting hungry, it was getting dark, and they were starting to wonder when they'd be back home. After all, they'd been on the road for several hours and Lockport is only about a 2-and-a-half-hour trip from Syracuse in normal weather. Oh well, one of the women suggested they stop to get something to eat. At which time they found out they were in Schenectady, New York ---almost 150 miles east of Syracuse and over 300 miles from Lockport! Road signs along the route for the hours of traveling indicating to them they were going in the wrong direction could have as well been written in Chinese. After receiving detailed instructions on how to turn around and drive to Lockport, the teachers got back in the area very late Saturday night. Don't look for a report on this teacher testing in any of the professional journals. It's a Lockport Home Page exclusive! (11/11/01)
Couldn't say, wouldn't, say, didn't say. Lockport Mayor Tom Sullivan
appeared on the WLVL Friday, 9/28, morning talk show for almost an hour but the new
information coming out could have been compressed into a minute. Questioned by
host J. R. Reid and members of
the telephone-call-in audience, the Mayor failed to give informative answers. Why
hadn't grass been cut on a vacant lot previously complained of? The Mayor
replied he'd "look into it" (again). What was the real story about the
expensive city aerial bucket truck that knocked down overhead wires, and traffic signals
at Main and Transit? The Mayor evaded that one with what amounted to a repeat
of the question. What was being done to get at least one supermarket to locate
within the city? Apparently no success (or detailed effort) to report. What
was being done to preserve the character of the former US&J site at Transit and Summit? Nothing he could do,
he was hoping for the best. What was being done with the downtown "South
Block" since the city won the legal case at the end of the Swan administration?
Sullivan promised "exciting news" before the end of the year. What
was being done to bring those responsible for the
tree cutting off Outwater Drive to justice? The Mayor said no city
employees were involved. Other than that, no comment. Asked to
explain his average 15% proposed hike in real
estate taxes ---His Honor couldn't explain. Generated sentences of incredible
innocence. Gave the impression he didn't know the relationship between the basics of
tax rate, property assessment (and re-assessment), equalization rate, and total tax monies
raised. Asked to explain why the playground equipment was being removed from Packet
Park in Lowertown (there for over decades) the Mayor claimed it was "an
insurance problem." What was being done to enforce previous promises (over
six months ago) that property owners would be required to shovel sidewalks in winter?
The Mayor's weak response: A city lawyer was still working on this
problem. The one answer that seemed to be clear after the 55-minute radio program:
The City of Lockport has a serious management problem. (9/29/01)
Mayor's secretary to get 22% under his proposed budget. There's
still no word on what Mayor Tom Sullivan's proposed record-high city budget will mean as
far as increased taxes but one thing has been revealed. For the Mayor's secretary it
will mean a 22% pay hike---from $24,174 to $29,528. Pay raises for city employees
are seen as one of the major reasons Sullivan's spending plan has exceeded all others in
the city history. (9/18/01)
Lockport postal delivery service hits a year's low. Delivery of
mail Monday, 9/17, in Lockport was at the latest time of the year. Mail arrived at
the Lockport Home Page at 5:20PM---that's twenty minutes after the latest
posted dispatch time of 5PM at the Main Post Office on East Avenue. The
late delivery makes it impossible for many to receive and respond to mail in the same day.
It comes shortly after schedules showing further service cutbacks were posted on mail boxes. Was it
the national airline schedule disruption the delay could be blamed on? Well,
hardly. How do the airlines get involved with mail posted in Lockport or the Buffalo
region for delivery here? That mail never sees an airplane! But then, Niagara
Falls Mayor Irene Elia asked the Niagara Falls City Council for a 3-week extension
of the deadline to submit her budget citing the terror attack on America last Tuesday as
her excuse. See if you can find the connection. Is Monday's delivery
time an all-time low for Lockport? No, the record was last year when
officials found large amounts of mail undelivered at 7AM the next morning---and sent out
crews to first deliver "yesterday's mail" and then sent them out again to
deliver "today's" mail. But that was before the latest management audit shake-up
in Lockport. No wonder the term "going postal" has such diverse
meanings! (9/18/01)
New electronic audit program
by Post Office showing poor results. The United States Postal Service has begun a new electronic audit program to track delivery times in Lockport and Western New York. The program utilizes electronic "swipe" points with bar-coded stickers along a letter carrier's route which generates computer records upon delivery of the mail. The data is then collected at the end of the day from the electronic reader the carrier must carry (in addition to the mail) on his route. Postal management then reviews the data. None of the results have been shared with the Lockport Home Page. But we do know this: since the program began, mail delivery averages 2.5 hours later each day at the Lockport Home Page office. Additionally a timed 2nd-class mail newsmagazine which appears in mailboxes all over the country on Monday has now been appearing Tuesdays at the Lockport Home Page office---one day later than it had been appearing for the past seven years---all since the management efficiency initiative has begun! (8/26/01)
City officials under fire for condition of Outwater Park swimming pool.
Just at the time when Alderman Mark J. Dudkowski was holding meetings to ask the public how to spend about $18,000 available from the Outwater Park trust fund, the Commissioner of Public Works has revealed that the swimming pool there is in need of about $250,000 in major repairs. Commissioner Gary Andes was telling the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal this week that the pool may have to be closed next summer. Andes says the gutter and distribution system which leads water to and from the pool's filter is ready to "fall apart" and, he says, one of the pool's walls is sagging. The city has failed to set aside adequate funds for maintenance let alone any capital renovation. It loses money on the pool operation as it is, with the $1/day fee not even paying the wages of hired life guards. Last year the pool reportedly had gross revenue of only $5,110.15. The newspaper report says pool use in the summer ranges from only about 30 to 150 swimmers a day. Political considerations appear to have stopped City aldermen from setting realistic admission fee charges. It's the only public pool of its class in Eastern Niagara County and a substantial percentage of the use is by out-of-city residents. However, it's city property taxpayers who are looked to for covering all the operating losses on the pool plus repair and capital costs. On other park matters, at a recent meeting of the Outwater Park Revitalization Committee, former alderwoman and former mayoral candidate Cyd Bennett showed up to direct criticism at the city's Director of Youth and Recreation, Paul Foster. It had been noted that the expensive volleyball courts, added at Bennett's urging a few years back when she represented the northwest side, had not gotten much use. Bennett blamed Foster for this claiming his department did not provide adequate "programming" at the park. Forster noted that a volleyball clinic had just this week started at the park. (8/2/01)Dale Association bus spotted empty, motoring around Amherst. The Dale Association continues to get over $100,000 a year in subsidy from Lockport City taxpayers. Presumably some of that money went to pay the gas for someone to run one of the Association's buses, empty, around an affluent section of the town of Amherst (Erie County) on Wednesday, 7/18. (7/19/01)
Town residents to get $2 discount on Towpath Trolley. City of Lockport residents will have to pay full fare ($5/day for adults) but Town of Lockport residents can get discount coupons at Town Hall that let them ride for just $3 per day for adults. The discount for Town residents on the Towpath Trolley, which is financed mainly by City tax monies (and covered by the city's insurance policy), appears as the latest example of Town-City cooperation being promoted by Lockport Mayor Tom Sullivan and Lockport Town Supervisor John Austin. But, as has been the case in the past, the arrangement comes up a bit short for City residents. The trolley, which began operation Friday, 6/15, was set up by an operating committee from the City to show off city sights and help tourists get around the city to see them. But for shopping, the trolley takes its passengers out to the Lockport Mall in the Town. The Town's financial contribution, the Lockport Page has been told, is to pay $2 for each Town resident who gets a coupon and rides the trolley. The trolley is not a profit-making venture and has required heavy city tax subsidies in the past. But city residents will get no discounts. (6/16/01)
Different (or no) rules for garbage apply to city politicians? City
garbage crews left a large picnic table behind when making their rounds in the city's 4th
ward Thursday, 5/10. It was oversize for pickup according to the city's own refuse
collection regulations. But this piece of trash belonged to a city politician.
When the table was passed by, a call from Mr. Big's residence goes into the City
DPW dispatch which immediately sends a supervisor over to remove the item. It's
another example of the "selective enforcement" of city zoning, parking, and
garbage regulations that discourage those who try to live by the law.
(5/10/01)
More selective enforcement. All last year the City of Lockport
failed to enforce its own laws requiring residents to cut the grass on their properties.
But this year, a paid advertisement in the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal proclaims
the city will crack down on those who allow too much lawn growth. Fines and
charges could exceed $250, the City warns, and they will send crews on to a person's
property to cut the grass if need be. And will they send tow trucks to properties
where junk cars are stored? No, because of laws prohibiting parking cars on front
lawns is another matter that the city refuses to deal with. Some cars have been
parked on front lawns so long that no grass remains. (5/5/01)
Want info on new city assessments? City Assessor
says...go out to the town! Property owners in the city of Lockport upset over their
increased property assessments (and consequent hike in taxes) are being told to go out to
the South Lockport Fire Company in the Town of Lockport if they want additional
information. That site is open to city residents on Tuesdays and Thursdays
10AM-4PM, on Wednesdays 2-7PM, and Saturdays 9AM-Noon. Limited information is also
available at the Lockport City Library reference rooms. (4/10/01)
New "Library Tax" going up again, public vote on Wednesday. It
used to be a part of the Lockport City School budget but when the school budget got too
big the School Board broke off the Library budget and made it separate. And to keep
voter turnout down the Library sets a separate date for voters to vote of the now
near-million dollar Library Budget. The vote is held at the Library on East Avenue,
Wednesday, 4/4 from 10 A.M. to 9P.M. During this period the Library is running
several promotions to encourage all their membership to "stop by" thus ensuring
that most everyone who votes on the budget will be an enthusiastic library user (not
necessarily a taxpayer). With such a set-up there is no doubt how the
"vote" will come out. Approval again, for another increase in Library Tax
assessed only to Lockport property owners. But at least it's a vote. Taxpayers
don't even get an opportunity to vote on the Library Board of Trustees. 4/3/01
Cable company sues Lockport man for $420-million. Adelphia Cable was not quite satisfied that police arrested Noel St. Cy of Gaffney Road for allegedly trading in illegally programmed cable TV "black boxes." Mr. St. Cy was one of nine arrested on similar charges in the fall of 2000 and is reported to have entered a guilty plea to the charges in Niagara County Criminal Court. But Adelphia wants to make a bigger impression and has filed a civil lawsuit against Mr. St. Cy for $420-million. And where do they think St. Cy will come up with even a million? Maybe it doesn't matter to Adelphia which seems to seek the publicity for such matters. But it does matter to the folks in Niagara County who will see their already over-loaded court calendar further burdened with another law suit which many would file in the frivolous category (3/24/01)
You Might Be From Buffalo If...
1. You can identify an Alden accent.
2. You have ever gotten frostbitten and sunburned in the same week.
3. "Down south" means Gowanda.
4. Stop/slow/yield signs are an option, NOT a requirement.
5.You can hold an entire conversation on the best place to go for wings.
6. You save the Genny Cream Ale for special occasions.
7. You live within five miles of a bowling alley.
8. You have used the term "dupa".
9. Not only do you know what it is, but you look forward to Dingus Day.
10. You never put your winter jacket away for the summer.
11. Going to the "ballet" does not involve ballet shoes or toe dancing.
12. You drive over 70 mph on the Thruway and pass on the right.
13. You leave your ski lift ticket on your jacket year round.
14. You know how to pronounce (and spell) SCAJAQUADA, CHEEKTOWAGA or DEPEW.
15. You think nothing of crossing an international border for Chinese food.
16. When you stop someone to ask for directions, you expect to get them.
17. You have a favorite Greek restaurant.
18. You know Canada is west of here, not north.
19. When someone says they're from the "city" you ask them which one.
20. You can't find any place to buy milk at midnight, but the bars are open til 4am.
21. You can compute a wind chill factor.
22. You don't have to attend the Friendship Festival to hear it.
23. You eat orange chocolate.
24. You know the difference between imported and real Canadian beer.
25. You have NOT been on the Maid of the Mist -unless you had out-of-town company.
26. When in another city, you threaten the chef with false advertising after trying
something called Buffalo Wings on the menu.
27. The winter carnival gets rained out.
28. You call it Pilot Field, no matter what the signs say.
29. Your child has watched Sesame Street in French.
30. You refuse to eat Cocoa Puffs because you have to smell them on the way to work every
third day.
31. You know what Vernor's is.
32. "Gridlock" means driving home from a football game.
33. "Rapid Transit" means making all the green lights.
34. You wince when someone uses the abbreviation "OJ".
35. You know you're from Buffalo if your Mom made you wear plasticWonderbread bags inside
your boots!!!!
Submmitted by: Teresa LasherWinslow
2-16-01
Lockport Hospital continues to ignore debt to city, now spending $57,000 for new oil tank. Lockport Memorial Hospital, long overdue on a debt of nearly a million dollars to the city of Lockport, continues to ignore its creditors and has made another purchase---a $57,000 oil tank purchased from an Erie County firm. The hospital uses natural gas to heat and electricity as a back-up. The new, 12,000-gallon oil tank is being installed outside the East Avenue facility as a second back-up for heating supply. The hospital administrator claims the purchase will "save money" for the hospital. Clare Haar has been asked to appear before the Lockport City Council on Wednesday, February 7th to explain why she is making real estate and other capital purchases at a time it is claiming it doesn't have the money to make payments on the city's near $1-million mortgage. (2/2/01)
What was the "Escort Service" doing? And what
about the State Police escort? A Canadian "Wide Load" shipment roared into
Lockport Wednesday morning and got as far as the big bridge. The large industrial reaction
vessel, did not clear the traffic light and utility wires overhead at Cottage and
Main Street. The truck load nearly pulled down the light pole forcing it to a decided
slant. Main Street was closed off for several blocks during the noon hour and contractors
were called in to deal with the wires. A second truck and its load were unable to go
forward or backward. In addition to two commercial escort vehicles, two State Police cars
had been assigned to escort the load. Still,. the trucks failed to follow the
"truck route" through the city (Walnut Street). Trucks of this size and weight
on Main Street damage the pavement and often fail to clear overhead wires as was the case
on Wednesday. Another function of the drivers of escort vehicles, pushing up overhead
utility wires with long poles to allow clearance, was also neglected. Because of
State Police involvement, it appears the State of New York, the Escort Company, and the
trucking company have acquired joint liability for the thousands of dollars in costs
associated with the repair and replacement of the overhead traffic lighting and
poles.(1/18/01)
Hospital can't find money to pay city debt but buys up
residential properties for $118K. Lockport Memorial Hospital has reported
purchased two residential properties at 489 and 493 East Avenue for "future
use." This is the same hospital that has welched on its debt to the city of
Lockport --- now estimated between a half and a million dollars --- and was last reported
still operating in the red. As a double blow to the city, the properties may go off
the tax rolls because of LMH ownership. The hospital declined to reveal any plans for its
real estate acquisitions which are neighboring the hospital's East Avenue campus.
(1/17/01)
City backs down on its promise to enforce laws against front yard parking. There was much publicity in November as the city Building Inspection Office warned it would finally (after years of neglect) start enforcing the law that prohibits front yard parking. A inspection "blitz" was promised in December. And, sure enough it came off on December 18th and 19th in which many such infractions were overlooked but 120 warning notices were issued. Each notice promised "citations," which carry a penalty, if the parking didn't end within 24 hours. But the illegal parkers began their complaints to city hall and at the end of the week Mayor Tom Sullivan indicated that no citations would be issued and the parking enforcement situation would be put on the back burner. Meanwhile, the City Attorney was suggesting various ways residents could get around the law and continue parking on their front yards and city right-of-ways. And the taxpayers paid overtime for this??? (12/21/00)
Given time, she comes up with the answer and it's bad news. Michelle
Cavenaugh, Assistant Superintendent For Learning and Assessment at Lockport Schools has
finally come up with the answer to one question asked on a radio call-in
show three weeks ago. We can understand why, even with her Ph.D, she wasn't fast
to respond when asked about student performance by a caller. The fact is, Ms.
Cavenaugh admits now to the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, almost a third
of the Lockport School District students who took the English Regents exam last year failed!
She tells the newspaper 31% failed it and only 11% scored 85% or higher. But
the students are not the only ones who are failing here. (11/16/00)
City delay in action on Caledonia Street dump costly. For years
the city of Lockport failed to act on the deserted house at 142 Caledonia Street.
Earlier this year they decided to take action but an assistant City Attorney claimed she
couldn't find the owner of record to issue papers. Finally when the owner was found,
under public pressure and outrage, the City claimed they had an agreement for the dump to
be deeded to the city for $1 and for the city to tear it down. But more bureaucratic
delays. Now, Niagara County has stepped in. The property also owes back County taxes
and the County isn't waiting for city action. They've listed it as part of the
County In-Rem Tax Proceeding which stops any city action. Now, the house can be
redeemed for as little as $1,251.93 in County taxes and a new owner can start the stalling
and delay process all over again. The bottom line: don't expect this eyesore
to disappear before Spring 2001 --- if then. (11/4/00)
If they were answering essay questions on a test, their average score would be 45%. Many of us have been through this before, although not in such a public forum as a radio call-in show. We don't know the answer to a question --- or, we know the answer but, since it reflects badly on our position, we don't want to give it. So a string of words and blah, blah, blah may be emitted in a verbal spiral going out from the question into less relevant but more complex areas. Christine Neal, Lockport Superintendent of Schools and two of her assistant Superintendents, Michelle Cavenaugh, and Ray Morningstar Jr. gave prime examples how to play this game of evasion Wednesday morning while taking calls on WLVL's Let's Talk show. Mr. Morningstar appeared the most direct in answering questions (but then, critics might say, he had some of the easy questions). He didn't get asked The Big Question: "How did a projected 3% tax rate hike given out at the time of the budget vote turn into a 9% tax rate hike for city taxpayers on their tax bills in September?" He did show good evasive technique, however, in responding to why the district continued to build and expand when all signs were for declining population in Lockport (for over 20 years). He blamed it on poor projections by hired outside "experts" that go back before the time of the current administration. Christine Neal was a marvel at how she evaded the questions and, when it appeared as though she might get boxed in by a real toughie, she handed the question off to one of her "life-lines," Morningstar or Cavenaugh. Michelle Cavenaugh took the cake, however, showing why she has been awarded the educational Ph.D. Her use of educational industry buzz words and rhetoric (just plain malarkey to the rest of us) was outstanding. The audience was left to marvel at how she avoided giving information on school performance results, an area she should be the resident expert on. However, if all three were in a 12th grade classroom, outside of the Lockport School System, and taking an essay question test, most of those answers would be identified promptly by test scorers as...non-answers. The marks might look something like this: Morningstar 70%, Neal 45%, and Cavenaugh 15%. But add 5% to Neal and Cavenaugh's scores for the enthusiasm of their responses. (10/25/00)
Maybe He Communicates Only Through The Media
Lockport Mayor Tom Sullivan publicly declared back in September that he was giving "new direction" to his Citizens Advisory Board (CAB). He was asking them to determine the "100 worst trees" and the "100 worst sidewalks" in the city. But, "not so" reports CAB member Jon May who tells us the mayor hasn't even called the committee back into session after the Landlord Licensing fiasco. Nor has there been any other communication, except through the media.
We placed this little morsel here, under Lockport Light, because perhaps the mayor is trying to turn the CAB into "a joke."
10-17-00
And Now---An "Investigation Center" For "Bigfoot" Out Of Newfane
We don't know if this qualifies as "news" per se but for those who have had a sighting or have found tracks of Bigfoot in Western NY there is now an active researcher in the area to report the incidents to. Based in Western NY with field researchers all over New York state , the Western New York Bigfoot Investigation Center is actively seeking reports from area residents . All reports kept confidential . Website url , email address , and snail mail address below .
The Western New York Bigfoot Investigation Center P.O. Box 135 Newfane ,
NY 14108 http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/wnybic/index.html
WNYBIC@aol.com
Mayor gives Citizens Advisory Board
non-controversial busy work. He didn't like it when his own Citizens
Advisory Board reported back to him about lax enforcement of building codes and zoning
laws that have caused Lockport housing to generate city blight. He liked it even
less when they proposed a Landlord Licensing Act to go after the slumlords. And when
landlords showed up at city hall to shout down (literally) the proposal, the Mayor and the
City Council gave in, rejecting all proposals by the CAB. Soon thereafter Mayor Tom
Sullivan was reported quite upset when the chairman of the CAB disclosed 100 homes in the
city where blatant building code violations were visible from the outside. Sullivan
didn't want to hear any more --- and neither did many of Council. CAB Chairman
Aronow resigned and now Mayor Sullivan has announced he's giving the Board "new
direction." He's asking the CAB to go around town and compile a list ---of the
"100 worst trees" and the "100 worst sidewalks" in the city. And
what about all those properties that don't even have a sidewalk, Mayor? (9/24/00)
Maziarz says he's "shocked" to learn about radioactivity at Simond
site. With national media attention on Lockport after a series of USA
Today articles about firms working with radioactive metals back in the middle part of
the 20th century New York State Senator George Maziarz is posturing. He's quoted
Friday, 9/8, by the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal as saying "I, like
everyone, else was shocked to see the story." Well, George, most everyone
else who has lived in Lockport during those years was NOT shocked. It's an old story
that seems to surface again and again every couple years. The Senator had only to
look at the Lockport Home Page to read about the radioactivity back in
early '99 in one of our Special Reports, a portion of which is still on the
web. But if national media attention is what it takes to get George to get on the
stick and arrange for millions needed to clean-up the site we're all for it. (9/8)
State law found that regulates landlords in Lockport. Now that the
Lockport Landlord Licensing Law has been shot down (hard) by the City Council, the
chairman of the Citizen's Advisory Committee has reportedly found a New York State Law
(Chapter 61-B, Article 8) that applies. It requires landlords of multi-tenant
dwellings to register with the local municipality and for various inspections of the
rental property. Both registration and enforcement are reported as local
responsibilities. When asked about the State Law, Mayor Thomas C. Sullivan and City
Attorney John J. Ottaviano claimed they knew nothing about it. They said they would
"research" the matter. That's exactly what Glenn Aronow, the Citizen's
Advisory Committee Chairman did when the Council shot down his committee's proposal saying
"existing laws should be enforced." Aronow said, "I just did a little
further research and found an existing law." And why didn't the three eagles on
the City Law Staff do that before the Council asked the Advisory Committee to come up with
a new law??? (9/1)
Maybe laughter is the best medicine. Decades of delay and study for the clean-up of the the Richmond Avenue junk block and eyesores have been extended at least through the end of this year. Those who had hoped that a new city administration could make this community embarrassment go away and actually spend the $1-million in federal funds to clean it up have been disappointed again but not surprised. Local "historic groups," unknown on the local scene until recently, have been able to blockade every move by the city's Community Development Office to take over the property, clean it up, and release it to developers. Development Director William J. Evert and City Attorney John Ottaviano have been shown to be clearly no match for a loosely organized collection of local "preservationists" who want still more "studies" of the block bounded by Richmond Avenue, Lock, Church, and Ontario Street. The area is a blight that shocks tourists who visit the adjacent Erie Barge Canal locks. The latest obstructionist move is a study by a Rochester, NY company. That company will be paid to come into the city, learn about the local history that locals already know, and then give their recommendations on preservation. We've tried prayer, now maybe laughter is an alternative medicine that will allow us to keep on our blood pressure under control after this latest news of Lockport's continuing Development Fiasco #2 ("South Block" is still Fiasco #1). (7/29)
"Person-to-person commitment?" Lockport Pager Peter Buckholtz was delayed and embarrassed Friday, 6/16 when he attempted to redeem a $1000 check written on an account at First Niagara Bank. As he related the story Friday evening to a group of fellow Pagers, we were amused. But then, we didn't have to stand in front of a teller's station for 20-minutes waiting for a simple cash payment of $1000. Buckholtz reports that every delay he could imagine was put in front of him and the money Friday afternoon at the bank's East Avenue, Lockport office. Several attempts were made, he related, to have him open up an account at the bank. Well, he recalls, he had an account for years at the Farmers and Mechanics . Admittedly, he didn't have an account at what he calls "the hijacked bank." But he did have a valid financial instrument drawn on that bank. He traces his banking at what was our local bank back to grade school. Buckholtz recalls the days, how as longtime Lockportians, he and his family were instantly recognized at the bank. This time he presented a photo New York State Drivers' license right away to establish his identity and get the cash promptly and be on his way. He said the time that elapsed from the moment he appeared at the teller station to time the bank finally let loose with the money was...20 minutes.
The Buckholtz story caused the Editor to launch into his own recollection of the days of banking at Niagara Permanent where an attempt to withdraw about $2500 in cash from a saving account was met with similar delays and finally...someone told him that the Lockport branch was a "little short of cash in the vault" at the time---would he please take a check. Finally he got the cash, walked it across the street to Manufacturers Hanover where the banking staff were quite amused at the story. Niagara Permanent failed not too long after (6/17)
Lockport Alderman-At-Large recalls night in jail. John
"Tate" Pitrello was taking a trip down memory lane Wednesday, 4/26, while having
breakfast at the Friendly Restaurant, across from City Hall. Big John was
overheard telling about an incident many years ago that landed him in the city lock-up
overnight. According to the report, Pitrello got jailed for being involved in a
fight after drinking. Pitrello was heard recalling how former City Judge Gerald
Watson (Sr) told him to stick to wine instead of beer when Tate appeared before him the
next day. (4/26)
It's spelled, "H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-S-Y. We all hear the educational
establishment drum beat about needing to spend more money for raising educational
standards. About what a hard time teachers will have trying to add more material to
the plate of children to consume in the school year. But---Friday, 4/7, in Lockport
elementary grades, is an example of what really drives educational planning today.
Money and teacher benefits. The Lockport School District is sending children home at
11:30 a.m. Friday so that teachers can "mark report cards." So what if the
kids get cut short of a half day of instruction? The district gets their full
state-aid amount if they keep the students in school for just the half day. The
teachers are relieved of a part of "homework" that goes with their job---and
many get to flee for an early weekend. This goes on many times a year and not just
in Lockport Schools. It adds up over the years to hundreds of hours of lost
instructional time and...hundreds of hours in additional, de facto paid time off
for teachers. (4/7)
Preservationists pose another road-block to clean-up of Richmond Avenue. After a one year delay in which the City of Lockport paid for a archaeological study of Richmond Avenue on the north side of the locks in downtown, a local preservationist says his group is going to launch a campaign to further delay any move to demolish the buildings there. Marc R. Smith, co-chairman of the Lockport Architectural/Historic Preservation Committee, told the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal this week that his group wants to city to study re-use of the rundown buildings that have marred the canal district view for tourists and locals for decades. (3/2)
Police asked to investigate use of funds during
4th of July celebration. It's a matter of about $270 that authorities don't
have receipts for. We're told $200 of it was paid out to two Eagle Scouts who camped in
Outwater Park overnight for two nights to "guard city equipment." And here we
thought Scouts, let alone Eagle Scouts, didn't charge for the "good deeds" they
do for a community. The entire situation stinks but we doubt city police investigators
will find anything "criminal." Whatever happened to "Be Square" and
all that Scouting tradition? This incident appears to be a Shame on Scouting --- not a
case of criminal activities. (2/16)
City big loser at Bingo. The State of New York
mandates that local authorities check on the operation of local bingo games monthly.
The City of Lockport once had a political plum job of "Bingo Inspector"
to take care of this. When that job was eliminated as an economy measure, the chore
of checking on the city's six bingo locations, once a month, was turned over to the police
department. Now it turns out, the city will have to pay four city police detectives
who performed those inspections an extra $4500 each, a year. The police union went
to labor court on the matter and in addition to the current pay boost for the police, city
taxpayers were told to come up with about $52,000 for back pay. The city appears to
have been better off with the previous dole paid to a Bingo Inspector. (1/31/00)
Busy with Lockport subsidized housing proposal, IDA delays work on $1-Million grant, loses it. Leave it to the Niagara County "Industrial" Development Agency to set priorities. The agency has been busy of late trying, it seems, to find a way to ignore overwhelming Lockport opposition to a subsidized housing program on east Elmwood Avenue. The IDA is being asked by a developer to assist in the financing of the unwanted project that would load the city with more demand for services and more tax-exempt property. While busy on this matter the agency reportedly missed a deadline for filing the necessary and proper application for a $1-million federal grant (not loan) to have a study made of international traffic in Niagara Falls and the County---needed to spur industrial and commercial growth here. The international traffic study is considered a key element in promoting industrial growth in Niagara County. After delaying for months on the matter, according to The Niagara Gazette, the IDA delivers its application the day before Thanksgiving to the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC) which has to pass on it before it can go on to the Federal Highway Administration. Action by the GBNRTC was, of course, impossible in a six day time frame---let alone one that includes the long Thanksgiving weekend and at a time the council's Executive Director had just been suspended over allegations of sexual harassment. Result: application reportedly received late and incomplete by the feds. Their response: "maybe next time." (12/4/99)
Historic Preservation bureaucrats latest to get blame for bridge delay. A vital bridge over the canal at Prospect Street has been closed for about a decade while finger-pointing has been exchanged between State of New York agencies. The latest tale is that the State Historic Preservation Office is insisting that a replacement bridge look like the old one which was built in 1910 (without the rust and decay, of course). The State Department of Transportation says such construction would cost more money. So here's the belly buster: State officials now propose building two bridges---one at the exact present site would be used for bikes and pedestrians only. Another, built on an angle, would connect to end of Stevens Street and run directly to West High Street and would be for vehicles. To make the bridge for vehicles look like the 1910 bridge is estimated to cost about $800,000 extra. And, State bureaucrats are reported as claiming that to build two bridges would cost less than to build just one of the old design. And what does City Mayor Ken Swan have to say? He claims he hasn't heard a thing about either bridge proposal, learning details for the first time when an ace reporter for the Buffalo News contacted him for comment. (11/15)
Combination of mis-management, arrogance, and indifference cost Lockport taxpayers $30K. The City of Lockport reportedly has lost about $30,000 in back taxes when Niagara County bureaucrats moved in and foreclosed on property at 64 West High Street in the city, then sold the property back to the owner giving him a clean title. The County moved when only $13,300 was due it but nobody looked out for the city's interest in the matter. County officials by-passed the city and pulled a fast one. They claim they were just doing their job. Lockport's County Legislator, John Cole, who sits on the County Finance Committee which oversees such matters claimed he was "unaware" of the process. City Treasurer, James Ashcraft, was apparently aware but let the matter "slip through the cracks" as he had allowed an agreement between the City and the County concerning the collection of back taxes to lapse. Other County Legislators, City Officials, and various bureaucrats are all pointing fingers at each other. But the bottom line is that the owner of the property, a corporation, gets off without paying the city $30,000 in taxes and now has its property back free and clear. (10/27)
Newspaper ridiculed for page of news blunders. J. R. Reid, the Lockport radio station morning man, had a field day Friday, 10/8, reviewing mistakes in the Thursday Lockport Union-Sun & Journal. In one story, the newspaper reported that 1) Regina C. Corica-Rosati is a "Democratic candidate for the 16th district seat on the Niagara County Legislature," and that 2) she is seeking to "unseat incumbent Republican John W. Cross III" The newspaper got both of the party affiliations wrong, Reid points out, and also was wrong about a reference to Mrs. Corica-Rosati's brother. Then, in another story the newspaper reports that Democratic candidate for Mayor Tom Sullivan was having a public meeting at the I.O.O.B. Club Thursday night with free eats. Only the meeting was actually being held at the American Legion Hall. A paid advertisement the candidate placed elsewhere in the newspaper had the location correct (only about 60 people reportedly showed up for the "free pizza, wings, beer, and pop" that was being offered to anyone who would come out and meet Sullivan. The radio station refers to the newspaper as "the once local paper" --- a jab at the move of the paper printing, production, and management out of Lockport to Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda. What remains is in rented space above a drug store on East Avenue. (10/8)
Surprise! No offers for county dump sites said to be worth
"millions." Niagara County has been giving off the appearances of
mis-managing three former municipal landfill sites for years. Recently, a new
"garbage tax" was added for the burden of property owners to pay the millions of
additional monies needed to repair leaks in the landfill caps. Oh, but don't worry,
residents were told---these landfills are actually worth millions of dollars and they'll
be sold to waste companies that are eager to come in and take over the liabilities of
operating these leaking toxic treasures. The claim was believed by many---approvals
were given to pay $55,000 (to a Pittsburgh, PA law firm) to produce "bid
packages" which were sent out to "candidates" who would come in and pay big
bucks to Niagara County for the "rights" to these sites. At least that's
the way it seemed to be presented to the taxpayers by Refuse District Director, Richard
Pope. On Tuesday, 9/21, it was revealed that not a single offer was made to the
county for its refuse sites, which taxpayers had been led to believe were worth
"millions." Zero. Nothing. Oh my, how could this be?
Maybe somebody knows something that Mr. Pope doesn't know. And where do we go
now? Why, back to the taxpayers for more garbage taxes. Perhaps Niagara County
needs to order some textbooks for distribution to its environmental staff that detail the
liabilities of failure to maintain landfills properly. (9/22)
"Unqualified" loan risks are "qualified" for taxpayer money
giveaway. Niagara County Community Action Program, Inc. is one of the
growing number of pseudo-independent "help agencies" that collect money from
State and Federal agencies, subtract their overhead, and then "gift" select
residents of the community who are willing to jump through the required beauracratic
hoops. Latest example: $20,000 "grants" given to people who would
like to buy a new home out on Old Bettie Road in the Town of Lockport. The group
says there are "three models to choose from" and they will give you $20,000 in
taxpayer money if you will sign up for a loan to pay for the rest. You say you don't
have a steady or good enough job yet shell out over 50-grand for new digs? You
don't have good enough credit? You haven't saved for "the money
down?" No problem---the more minus points you have for "home
ownership" the more you meet the "criteria" for this tax money giveaway!
Hurry, they only have $140,000 (this month) to give away! (9/19)
What's the Niagara County IDA got against the city of Lockport? Of
course they have been mischievous in the past luring and aiding number of Lockport
city businesses to move out of the city (such as Lockport Savings, Gooding Printing, and
most recently Mulvey Construction). Then there's that nice $9-million they are about
to loan Newfane Intercommunity Hospital so it can expand in Newfane and possibly take over
the Lockport Hospital (which couldn't get a nickel itself out of the county for help). Now
something more for the city residents to rejoice about thanks to the County
"Industrial" Development Agency. The agency is reported considering
backing a program that would bring low-income subsidized housing into prime residential
land off Elmwood Avenue. It's nearly the same project, and the same out-of-town
builder that neighbors objected to and much of the city objected to earlier when it was
revealed the property would eventually go off the tax rolls when turned over to a southern
church group. This time the money and tax benefits could go to a new entity calling
itself "American Shelter" affiliated with the same Rev. Thomas E. Hill Jr. who
reportedly has been previously affiliated with the southern church group. If the IDA
continues along this track the city won't have any tax base left! SOS to Don
Hobel---HELP! (9/8)
Newspaper takes a ribbing for printing wrong picture of brownfield site. WLVL morning man, J. R. Reid comments Wednesday morning that the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal didn't know what the Flintkote building was when they printed on the front page what they thought was a picture of the structure in the Tuesday, 8/24, newspaper front page. What appeared, Reid jibbed, was actually a picture of the former generating plant for the old paper company on the side of Mill Street (also a deserted building) opposite the Flintkote brownfields site. But that's what comes when you bring in editors from out-of-town and hire young kids as reporters and nobody with enough local historical knowledge to check on them. The Flintkote property was up for tax auction on Tuesday and it turns out Tim Birdsall (Tim's Removal Service of Appleton) made the winning high bid of $2300 for it. Birdsall apparently feels he can move in with his equipment and just tear the place down, taking and selling what he can. He may be in for a rude awakening. If he doesn't honor his bid, the County says the property will be offered to the next highest bidder. Birdsall also reportedly submitted the high bid ($50) for the property that was pictured in the newspaper---another site listed in our Special Report on Brownfields last February. (8/25)
The kind of mistake that happens...when the"local paper" isn't really
local. Lockport Memorial Hospital placed an expensive full page
advertisement in the "Health Care Guide" published by the Lockport Union-Sun
& Journal. The ad was tagged as paid for by the LMH Guild and Gift Shop.
That came out fine (as well it should for the money). However where
"hospitals" were listed in the "directory of services" Lockport
Memorial Hospital was nowhere to be found among 30 hospitals from all over the Niagara
Frontier that were listed. The newspaper's "guide" instead referred
Lockportians to hospitals in Buffalo, Medina, Newfane, Niagara Falls, etc. ---but not our
own LMH. Yes, and this is the same newspaper that editorialized that "local
control" wasn't important. The Lockport paper has moved most of its operations
out of the city but still maintains some rented offices above a drug store at East Avenue
and Washburn Streets. (7/29)
Union-Sun & Journal doesn't see problem with loss of
"local control." In a Monday, 6/28 editorial the paper decries
objections by doctors (and most other Lockportians) over the pending take-over of Lockport
Memorial Hospital by the Buffalo-based Kaleida Healthcare organization. The paper
sees loss of "local control" no problem. And why should they see it any
different? The US&J's editorial policy (and most everything else) is controlled
out of Niagara Falls which gets its marching orders from a couple locations down South
where the media giant that owns the paper is headquartered. The "local"
editor of Lockport was brought in from Indiana and the publisher in Niagara Falls was just
imported from Nevada. It's easy to see how they don't appreciate the concept or
benefits of "local control." Those of us who have grown up here, however,
see things a bit different. We're the same folks who were sad to see the effects of
"local control" of the "Lockport" newspaper being
transferred out of town. (6/28)
Dale Association hires specialist to declare the historic building
they want torn down is "not historic." It's the latest local
example of history revisionism. The Lockport Senior's organization, flush with money
from city taxpayers, has gone out and hired a Buffalo architecture and engineering firm to
come back with a report that declares the historic Holly Manufacturing building (built in
1862) the association wants to tear down for a parking lot ---isn't really historic after
all. This week the association released the firm's report and declared they were now
ready to bulldoze the old stone fortress on Caledonia Street. (It will take more than a
bulldozer to deal with structure). The group is, in effect, telling Lockport
Historian, Richard F. Dickenson , he doesn't know what he's talking about when he recalls
the history of the Holly facility and how his father used to work there as a
machinist. Oh, and the matter of the very same site, shown included with all the
other Holly properties in the January 7, 1888 issue of Scientific American can be
ignored because nobody probably still has copies of the magazine which detailed the Holly
Manufacturing Company (except the Smithsonian Institute). What we have here of
course is History Revisionism 101 which is being taught and practiced quite frequently
now-a-days by historians who want to be "politically correct" (to qualify for
grants). And the Dale Association is oh, sooooo, politically correct. (5/24)
City wins the case, but loses the money. They call it a court
victory. It's the case of the Lockport firefighter reportedly caught sleeping during
the day while he was supposed to be "on duty" at the Lockport fire station.
David Dewey was dismissed from his job for that on July 15th back in 1996. His
dismissal has been on appeal through the court system ever since. This week the
State Appellate Court came up with a ruling---more than three years later---that the city
of Lockport was "correct" in its dismissal of Dewey for violation of "work
rules." However, city taxpayers can take small comfort in that court ruling
since the court also declared that Dewey is "entitled" to 13 months in back
pay. Go figure! (5/22)
A "brilliant idea." Last year
Niagara County Democratic legislator from Niagara Falls, Ranae Kimble, proposed the state
taking money from the "tobacco settlement" and giving it to troubled hospitals
such as Niagara Falls Memorial and Lockport Memorial. The idea was a bit premature
to get much notice since the money due New York State had not been firmed up.
Recently it became known that New York State would be receiving $4,670,598 per year to
reimburse state taxpayers for costs of treating those with tobacco-related illness.
Among the hundreds seeking to grab the money is our Senator George Maziarz who denies
Kimble had the same idea six months ago. Says George V. C. Muscato of
"Mariarz's idea" "it's brilliant." Mariarz proposes the
same thing as Kimble but adds, "it will not cost the taxpayers of Niagara County a
single cent." Say what? Wasn't that $4-Million supposed to go toward tax
reduction? It's a bad idea but at least Kimble should get credit for
it! (5/8)
City attorney advises council: keep
convicted drug dealer on payroll. The Lockport Common Council was
asking for legal advice regarding the continued employment of convicted local drug dealer,
Raymond Peracciny, at the city wastewater treatment plant.
The advice came back in favor of keeping Peracciny according to reports coming out of city
hall, Wednesday, 3/24. After all, it was pointed out, the city had just passed a
resolution by alderwoman Connie Beccue "honoring" Mr. Peracciny for his
"years of service" to the city. What grounds would they have now, legally,
to dismiss him? He has come under no new charges since Mrs. Beccue's resolution
passed. However, one problem remains for Mr. Peracciny. He may have to ask for
a leave of absence. He faces a jail term when sentenced in court later this spring
on his drug charges. (3/25)
City "forgets" about franchise fees on canal power station for over ten
years. What's a few thousand dollars a year? Apparently not enough
for the city of Lockport to collect from Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation over the past
ten plus years. The NiMo franchise agreement with the city to operate its
hydroelectric power station on the Erie Barge Canal expired in the late 80's it was
revealed this past week. The city never had NiMo sign a new one or make any charges
in lieu of one. Yet the power company went along generating hydro power with no
piece of the action going to help city taxpayers. Certainly, nobody at Niagara
Mohawk was going to speak up. Now the lapse in an agreement comes to light as NiMo
has sold the plant to Orion, a subsidiary of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company.
Belately, now the city is reported trying to get NiMo to make retroactive
payment but the power company, having sold the facility, isn't under much pressure to
settle. It's all "water over the dam." (3/14)
City council honors convicted drug dealer for "years of
service." The Lockport City Council, on motion of alderwoman
Connie Beccue, has voted to extend its "congratulations and gratitude" to
convicted drug dealer, Raymond Peracciny. The 44-year old resident of 88 Willow
Street faces jail time when he is sentenced on drug charges in April. Public papers
indicate Mr. Peracciny, who continues as a now, ten-year employee of the Lockport
Wastewater Treatment Plant, was a leader of a gang who distributed marijuana between 1992
and 1996 in Lockport and throughout the area. Peracciny reportedly ran his
"other job" out his home under the business name of "Bella
Produce." When arrested, Mr. Peracciny, was reportedly on paid "sick
leave" from his city government job but not sick enough to stop activity in his
"second job." Some council members say they didn't know Peracciny had been
one of the city's major drug dealers when they voted in favor of Beccue's
resolution. The council routinely approves resolutions praising, thanking, and
commending, various individuals. Usually those with political connections and
sometimes long-time city employees get the honors. The passage of Beccue's
commendation honoring Mr. Peracciny at the Wednesday night, 3/3, Council Meeting, shows
how much consideration the council puts into approval of some resolutions. (3/4/99)