On Friday, four bands walked into the Tralf and four walked out, but only one took home a satchel of cold hard cash, and hundreds of dollars worth of recording equipment from Guitar Center. Over 400 people turned out to witness Photos of Wagons take the grand prize in the annual Artvoice Battle of Original Music. [...]
Photos of Wagons Win B.O.O.M
on March 8th, 2010
Pope John Paul II exhibit coming next month
on March 8th, 2010
An exhibit on the late Pope John PaulII's relationship with the Jewish people will take up residence here from April 16 to June 30.
Restaurant Week — Where Do I Start?
on March 8th, 2010
I was a picky little kid. Forget sushi or steak — I didn’t even like pasta sauce.
Fortunately, I’ve wised up. My picky-ness is more of an idiosyncrasy now — I pick chicken apart because the veins gross me out, and I won’t eat most condiments, especially mayo (whipped egg? really?) – and while the thought of eating liver or caviar is still too much, I’ve moved far past my distaste for pasta sauce. And I love finding a new place to eat.
Yet, strangely enough, I have yet to experience a restaurant week. I’ve never been home for the ones around here and, well, I was a broke college kid in Boston, what do you want from me?
But now that I have the chance…I’m a little overwhelmed. And I feel like I need some help.
I trust you, WNYMedia readers. So — where would you go? I’m planning on two dinners. My only real criteria: it can’t be somewhere I’ve already been. That’s a short list in comparison to the overwhelming number of participating restaurants.
Make your case. I’ll report back.
After all, if you have to eat to survive, you may as well eat well.
Taxpayers, Chris Collins and the Holding Center fiasco
on March 8th, 2010
Is Homeownership the Only Way?
on March 8th, 2010
The Buffalo News’ recent investigations into City Hall’s housing policies raised some very important issues.
How much is too much to subsidize the construction of homes in the city?
Should developers receive these subsidies? Or should homeowners receive these subsidies?
Should private developers be relied upon for the development of these homes or should non-profits?
These are important questions that City Hall should spend more time thinking about as they move forward with projects like Sycamore Village. However these types of questions do not begin to challenge the ideal upon which this kind of housing policy rests: homeownership.
There are obviously many benefits to homeownership and for many people it is probably ideal.
Unfortunately homeownership is not a very affordable option for many people in Buffalo.
Homeownership requires homeowners to have a very steady and relatively high level of income. As the UB Regional Institute’s new report Playing an Insecure Hand: Low-Wage Workers in the New Economy points out, an increasingly large number of people in Buffalo are only finding inconsistent low-wage work. This kind of an income prevents many people from getting past the high upfront costs associated with buying a home. Further, even if one is able to get a mortgage, the costs associated with maintaining a home can be high. Many home owners are thus at risk of falling into foreclosure.
The Buffalo News’ report bears this out:
“Of the 431 subsidized homes that resold among the 1,500 [that have been subsidized by the City], more than half — 231 — were foreclosed upon, with most — 184 — involving the original subsidized owner. These foreclosures basically wiped out the $4 million in publicly funded subsidies the 184 foreclosed owners received.”
Obviously homeownership is a risky proposition at best for many people in the city.
Even renting is unaffordable for most people! According to the US Census Bureau’s American FactFinder, 55.8% of renters in Buffalo spend over 30% of their household income on rent. HUD states that the “generally accepted definition of affordability is for a household to pay no more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing”.
Additionally, according to the Homeless Alliance’s statistics, roughly 2000 people cannot even afford rent on any given night and as a result are homeless.
Bearing all this in mind, should homeownership be the main focus of our housing policy?
We believe that it is time for our community to broaden its outlook on the housing situation in Buffalo beyond homeownership and begin to focus housing policy on making housing affordable to all people.
PS: For a great discussion of the development of federal housing policy and issues with its emphasis on homeownership as a guiding principle see Thomas Sugrue’s article Why the New American Real Estate Dream is Renting.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade set for Sunday
on March 8th, 2010
The 2010 St. Patrick's Day Parade is this Sunday. It starts at 2 p.m. at Delaware Avenue and West Mohawk Street.
Buffalo Alternative Therapies
on March 8th, 2010
I always thought that acupuncture was a healing method that worked well for a lot of people who could afford to shell out the money for the practice. The only time that I ever tried it out myself was when I was writing an article on the subject. To go back would have cost me around $70 a pop. Thankfully Craig Labadie has picked up and moved from Boston to Buffalo, and with him has come Buffalo Alternative Acupuncture.
Craig has just set up shop over at 452 Franklin Street, an area of the city known for alternative healing practices. "The goal of the business is to make acupuncture more accessible and affordable," Craig wrote to me. "By offering treatment in a community setting with a sliding scale fee of $15-40 (pay what you can/want), with a one time $10 paperwork fee." What a concept! Now the idea of acupuncture is starting to look a bit more appealing. The idea of group acupuncture may be new to Buffalo, but it is certainly not new to other cities. Here's what else Craig had to say about his group practice:
"Most acupuncturists in a one-on-one setting charge $65-$100+ per treatment, which excludes a large majority of the population from getting care. People are treated in a group setting using reclining chairs, as well as a table. People are treated fully clothed, as most of the acupuncture points I use are considered "distal" points (from knees/elbows down), which can be used to treat the whole body. The community setting creates a soothing collective calm, which most people find very relaxing.
"There is no insurance reimbursement (most insurers will not pay providers with a sliding scale), but what sometimes works is for the patient to get a receipt in order to seek reimbursement from the insurance company. For some, that process works. Regardless, the low cost also allows people with chronic pain issues to get frequent treatment which helps speed the healing process."
I've always wanted to experience the benefits of acupuncture. Even though there is no insurance reimbursement the cost is fairly painless. The idea of going more than once for treatment is also appealing. Like any other sort of alternative healing, there is no such thing as a one shot deal. I'm happy that alternative healers like Craig are beginning to open their eyes to practices that are accessible by the many, rather than the privileged few.
Buffalo Alternative Therapies
452 Franklin Street
Buffalo NY 14202
818-519-6425
BuffCommAcu@gmail.com
Bill O’Loughlin Show: Mon 3/8/10
on March 8th, 2010
Heathcare Questions
on March 8th, 2010
A couple honest questions – see how many you can answer:
1) If healthcare is such a priority now, how does it help to have most provisions of the current bill not start until 2014, and to not try to pay for it until 2018?
2) Speaking of which, if the costs are such a problem, how does it help that the plan is modeled on Massachusetts, where coverage is expanded but the state’s healthcare premiums are skyrocketing?
3) If Medicare is underfunded, how does it help that $500B comes out of its budget?
4) If insurance company profits are the problem, how does it help to mandate insurance and let insurance company profits go up?
Note that I have not used the words “Democrat” or “Republican” is any question, so if the answers could not contain the phrases “Its all Bush’s fault” or “The Republicans want Obama to fail” I’d appreciate it. KTHX.
Lee proposes Congress become paperless
on March 8th, 2010
Rep. Chris Lee wants Congress to go paperless.
Wilson man indicted on attempted murder charge
on March 8th, 2010
Jonathan P. Cheek, a retired airline industry worker, was allowed to remain free today on $100,000 bail after an Erie County grand jury indicted him on attempted murder, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief charges for allegedly trying to kill his ex-wife two months ago.
Nicholson named A-10 All-Conference Second Team
on March 8th, 2010
With the program’s first home postseason contest since 1995 just two days away, St. Bonaventure sophomore Andrew Nicholson was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference second team on Sunday afternoon, in voting conducted by the conference head coaches.
Nicholson lived up to his preseason All-Conference second team billing and is the first Bonnie since 2006 to [...]
One killed, one critical in North Collins accident
on March 8th, 2010
A Lawtons man was killed late Sunday morning and a North Collins man was critically injured when their pickup trucks collided in North Collins, Erie County sheriff's officials reported.
Second Annual Aaron Shoemaker Memorial Fundraiser
on March 8th, 2010
Born and raised in East Aurora, NY, Aaron Shoemaker became a legend in just 23 short years. He lost his life on May 24th, 2004 doing what he loved, flying high and far
on a snowboard in the mountains of Italy.
Aaron had such an impact on the people who knew him that every year since his death, the Buffalo community has rallied together to keep his memory alive.
Soon after his death, his friends and family established the Aaron Shoemaker Memorial Fund at
Plattsburgh State University in his honor. By holding several fundraisers each year, they are close to reaching the goal of raising the $25,000 needed for the scholarship to become active. If the goal can be reached before 2013, the funds will be managed and invested by the university so that a scholarship can be given to a Western New York student every year perpetually.
This Saturday, March 13th (Noon) at Kissing Bridge, the second annual Shred for Shoe event will be held in his honor. This event has become a favorite of Aaron's devoted friends because it encompasses what Aaron liked to do most in his life. With local sponsors like Urban Threads, Phatman, Sliders, Krudmart, Zweigles, and Kissing Bridge, plus hundreds of participants expected, this years event should be even bigger than last years which raised close to $5,000! The fun will be going on all day and into the night with Monster Energy Drinks throwing a huge party in the Lake Effect Saloon as part of the event.
Tickets are $50 and include a lift pass for all day skiing / snowboarding, entry into the after party (free pizza and drink specials), free hot dogs from Zweigles, and much more. A generous portion of the ticket is donated to the scholarship fund thanks to the good people at Kissing Bridge (Thank you Rich and Rachel!).
This is for a great cause and will help out area students for a very long time via the scholarship, so if you're able to make it, please come and have a blast! If you can't make it but would still like to donate to the scholarship, please visit the donation page for instructions. Every little bit helps.
Spring means baseball schedules in The Buffalo News
on March 8th, 2010
Signs of spring include baseball players wearing numbers such as 57 and 94 and running in the outfield while the fans watch.