Chris Collins likes to talk about personal responsibility and how some (i.e. white people in the suburbs) shouldn’t have to pay for the results of the bad choices of others (i.e. black/poor/urban people). Well, I think I should no longer have to pay the for the results of bad choices made by the dummy voters of this region. We (and by that I mean you) enable the continual, progressive, massive, systemic failure of WNY with our collective inability or unwillingness to notice the FAIL behind the curtain. Here’s an exercise for you, if you answer incorrectly, you’re no longer allowed to vote. You can’t be trusted.
The point of that video is that the team in white are the politicians of WNY and the FAIL is the bear. We’re so busy paying attention to the little bullshit battles they construct for us, the picayune legislative battles, the abuse of the franking privilege, the utter contempt for reason or reality in our politics, and the shiny baubles of doomed-to-fail silver bullet projects, that they hope we just won’t see the FAIL bear. Results from 50 years of elections demonstrate that they have us figured out. That we are either so beaten down, dismayed, discontent, ambivalent or fed up that we just don’t want to see the moonwalking bear of failure.
We do still have a choice in our politics, we need to start exercising it. Until we do, we’ll keep inviting charlatans and schlubs like Dale Volker, George Maziarz, Robin Schimminger and Crystal Peoples to get fat on state excess while we starve. Wake up and smell the FAIL bear.
Steve Pigeon, what a fucking dick.
Pigeon is a malignant mole on the face of this region, an unlanced boil on the ass of Buffalo. Generally unaccountable to the public as he is an inside player, this Machiavellian prince of pomposity and backroom deals has worked to empower the Grassroots majority that is the current scourge of election law and political propriety, put together the Responsible New York Cotillion of Inside deals to overthrow a duly elected Democratic majority in the State Senate and essentially acts as unelected fixer for politicians and patronage seekers alike.
It is politics and power before policy and governance with this man. It’s all a game in which the daily butcher’s bill details the winners and losers in the political world but cares not for the real world implications of those power games.
Pigeon, granting access to power, privilege and donor lists in exchange for the right to take it all away should you cross him politically. Pigeon eschews sunlight and transparency and operates his politics in the darker corners of society. Concealed behind closed doors, as if in a closet. From his tiny closet of lies, inside power and secrets he has surreptitiously changed our politics forever in this region. Until he comes out of that closet, we’ll be subject to his underhanded shenanigans and machinations of inside baseball. Steve, do us all a favor and come out of the closet.
This week, we wind up our month long features on WNY women in the media with bloggers. Blogging has become a respected media resource and our three guests are some of our community’s most prolific.
Deanna Russo is the woman in charge of managing the Buffalo News “Hub” online blogging section. This talented lady has helped to bring our hometown newspaper into the Internet age not only by organizing their blogging site, but also by serving as an active blogger herself.
Marilyn Rodgers is a well known gay rights activist in our community. She is also a multi-tasking blogger who juggles 4 blogs on topics from business to community rights to politics.
Deb Manzella is an Op-Ed newspaper columnist with Metro Community’s Sun Newspapers. Her column is titled, Life Happens. Lately her life has been happening in blogs where she is expressing her opinions and getting paid for those opinions.
And of course, there’ll be local music with the Vocalis Chamber Choir and Didya know? with Z
The 48th Annual Variety Kids Telethon was held at the Adam's Mark hotel in Buffalo on March 28th, and the Buffalo Bills Alumni (including former Bills safety Jeff Nixon '79-'84 and former Bills wid...
A look at a common childhood problem and discussion about why a child wets the bed and what you can do to help. Local pediatrician Dr. Tony Vetrano from Century-Airport Pediatrics will join us in the studio to discuss bedwetting causes and concerns and offer parents advice on how to best deal with bedwetting.
"From Scratch" is a series of articles that will run this week on Buffalo Rising's Food & Dining channel. I was inspired by a local business that is making something from scratch which I found unexpected, but we'll cover that story later this week. It got me thinking about all of the chefs I know who make things that most of us forget actually require a method or recipe, items like today's subject--ketchup.
Americans love ketchup. Up until a few years ago--when it was replaced by salsa--ketchup was our nation's favorite condiment. While the sauce gods would certainly argue that the quality of any ketchup varies by brand, I would say that when most of us think about ketchup, we all pretty much conjure up a similar reference both in color, texture and flavor profile.
While doing research for this story I received an email from Erin Curtin. She and her husband, Tucker, own and operate three Buffalo eateries: Lake Effect Diner, The Steer and Dug's Dive. I've worked with them over the last few years as they've reinvented the way they do business. They are working with local farmers--fabricating sides of all-natural grass-fed local beef into top-quality burgers, purchasing fresh eggs and chicken, turning locally-raised hogs into sausages and hams, and featuring local, seasonal, produce on their menus. Lake Effect was recently featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" for these efforts, and they are to be lauded. They've changed they way they purchase, prep and finish almost every item that comes into their restaurants--a change many other restaurant owners wouldn't dare make, especially in a casual restaurant setting.
In her email, Erin detailed one of their latest undertakings. After watching her son pour processed ketchup all over a hand-pressed, grass-fed burger, she and Tucker decided that they needed to rethink things a little. Today at The Steer, customers who order fries (hand-cut and from a local grower) are treated to a side of warm, housemade ketchup. It's a pricey effort from the restaurant's perspective, fresh red peppers and tomatoes are certainly more expensive than bulk ketchup. It also requires tending all day on the stove, but it's worth the effort. The ketchup has good flavor, and while it's not as thick as commercial ketchup, it is far tastier.
Tucker and Chef Zeff Bonsey worked together to develop the recipe, which we've included for you below. Chef Bonsey describes how he and the owners work together on menu items, "It's a collaborative effort until we get the right combination. It's trial and error, but we always find a way to implement new things until they become practical."
Erin, who surrendered her beloved Le Creuset to the task, is happy with the results, "We feel really good about what we're doing here. It's right for us, it's right for the community, and it's really right for our customers." Plans are underway for preservation of local tomatoes and peppers this summer; the Curtins would love to replace the ketchup in all three of their restaurants, with good, from-scratch product.
While you're at The Steer, having some hand-cut fries and housemade ketchup, check out the Caesar salad. Those aren't ordinary croutons; but rather housemade tater tots. After spending some time with the Curtins, I offer this advice. When studying the menu at one of the Curtin restaurants, it may be easier to ask your server, "What isn't homemade?"
Cook tomatoes, peppers and onions in a large, non-reactive kettle (an enamel-coated cast iron pot is ideal) until tender (abut 20 minutes). Press through a food mill, return to kettle. Tie pickling spices into a bouquet garni (using a coffee filter if you don't have cheesecloth available). Add it, along with the additional seasonings, to the tomato mixture. Bring the mixture to a rapid boil, stirring often for about one hour. Reduce heat and cook slowly until reduced and thickened (approximately 1 - 1 1/2 hour). Once the mixture has reduced to your desired thickness, remove from heat and discard bouquet garni. Cool and store in a refrigerator. Makes about 6 pints.
Stay tuned to Buffalo Rising for the rest of our "From Scratch" series this week. Know of a Buffalo restaurant making something unexpected from scratch? Email me.
The Steer 3151 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 (716) 838-0478
There is a famous courtroom scene in the TV show “The Wire” in which Omar Little explains to an attorney how he makes his living robbing drug dealers and noted that there is little difference between himself and the attorney.
Joe Illuzzi is Buffalo’s Omar Little. He has staked out a lawless territory of shaking down politicians for money in exchange for a promise that he will not publicize their actual, alleged or completely imagined (by Illuzzi) indiscretions. Not only do Illuzzi’s business ethics mirror those of Mr. Little, they both have prodigious criminal records in their past.
Court records indicate that Mr. Illuzzi has attempted to rob a bank, failed to pay child support and has accumulated nearly $100,000 in tax liens and judgments for not paying his taxes on time, kiting checks and other various and sundry business scams. I have a pretty thick manila folder which contains all the documentation and it is impressive. Essentially, Mr. Illuzzi has created an entire career “exposing” or (allegedly) threatening to extort those who have done less sinister things than he…all if they won’t buy an ad on his website. Illuzzi manufactures a culture of fear, arrogance and selfishness in our politics that is at the very root of why we fail to progress as a region. He is a sexually transmitted canker on the lip of this city and county, an enabler of the politics of personal destruction and a provocateur of political dysfunction. He is the used condom on the floor of the no-tell motel that is WNY politics. But, as Omar Little likes to say…
Andrew Rudnick is the Smithers to Robert Wilmer’s Mr. Burns. A feckless bow-tied sycophant who collects failure the way Smitthers collects Malibu Stacy dolls.
Rudnick is the carnival barker in charge of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and nominal leader of the business community. Rudnick routinely claims that his organization is fighting for lower spending in New York, lower taxes for businesses, but he then endorses status quo politicians and advocates for billions in local spending.
Rudnick heads a half-assed, unaccountable chamber of commerce that bleats endlessly about excessive taxes and government spending on the one hand, but demands $500 million in government handouts for its members’ pet projects on the other hand. I’d like to sum up the message of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership as follows:
“Stop taxing us to death, you’re making it hard to do business in this state with all of your spending that does not directly benefit us and what we deem to to be the priorities. Also, please make the money appear from thin air because as mentioned above, we hate taxes and government dependence and whatnot!”
His two-fisted ham sandwich of uncoordinated messaging earns him roughly $300,000 per year in salary and the right to stick his nose in just about every planning or governmental decision in the region. Even with such a fat wallet, he seemingly can’t get a date.
We thought we’d help Dr. Rudnick of find his match by providing a little advice for his personal advertisement.
Must Hate Carl Paladino and Love Dogs
SWM with affinity for bowties seeks SWF who enjoys long walks on the beach, puppies, rainbows, rainstorms, and remaining silent during lenghty periods of economic and political upheaval.
My match should enjoy blowing up organized business groups to serve ego of herself and friends. She should have a professional track record of accomplishing little while being paid much and be willing to blame anyone but herself for the mess which surrounds her. Responsibility and accountability are for the little people. You should also enjoy giving footrubs to local plutocrats and patting yourself on the back for no good reason.
Favorite Books: Green Eggs and Ham, The Little Engine That Could But Was Too Lazy and Content To Bother
Favorite Music: Loggins and Messina, Dan Fogelberg, Bread, Creed, Nickelback
Favorite Movies: Big Top Pee-Wee, Failure To Launch, Doomed To Failure
Good luck, Andy! Let us know how it all turns out.
There is a relatively new publication in Buffalo called NOMAD which publishes original poetry, art, photography, and paintings. BRO first announced NOMAD before it had even hit the street. Since that time, the magazine can be found throughout the city for free (printed twice a year). The nice thing about this publication is that anyone can submit work to be published. The only catch is that the person must have roots to the city. Works can be submitted here.
So where did this wonderful project come from? Creative director Erica Eichelkraut started NOMAD after coming back to Buffalo in 2008. "I found exactly what I had been looking for," she explained. "Right here in the Queen City. I was, quite frankly, blown away by the talent that thrives right here in Buffalo. I fell in love with the creative energy, and saw the potential to collect, share & connect some of it."
She then put out a small call for original pieces of work and received more than she expected. She also received an overwhelmingly positive response to the publication she wanted to put together. That publication became known as NOMAD. "Originally, NOMAD was a one-time thing... I was going to publish one chapbook of art & lit talent and that was that. But the reaction has pushed me into more."
The group behind NOMAD doesn't just put together a publication, they also co-host an event for local talent called WAM (Writers/Artists/Musicians). It's free to the public and showcases local artists and bands. The group meets the last Wednesday of every month at 481 Delaware from 7-10pm.
Eichelkraut is looking forward to the future of NOMAD. With the help of Buffalo supporters she is hoping that NOMAD will show all the potential it has. She also hopes to have the publication backed financially by arts supporting organizations so it can be printed more than twice a year.
Injured forwards Thomas Vanek and Patrick Kaleta stayed in Buffalo for examinations but Raffi Torres skated with the team in Boston and is getting close to returning to the Sabres' lineup.
This past Saturday we made a trip to the Tri-Main Center to check out Apple's Haberdashery. It was the first time in a long time that I had found myself visiting the building on a weekend. It was also an instant refresher course regarding many of the amenities that can be found when wandering the halls - some well-known, and others completely obscure. The trip reinforced thoughts that I have had for a while regarding the Tri-Main - an incredible building with a variety of fascinating amenities, but to the casual observer it can be out of sight, out of mind.
As I walked down the corridors, I passed by Buffalo Yoga as they were getting ready for one of their classes... what a stunning space! There are plenty of artist studios in the building along with some umbrella organizations like Buffalo Arts Studio and Impact Artist Gallery. Then there are the creative businesses, such as French Press, Kittinger Furniture Company and Great Arrow Graphics. I even found the Buffalo Inner-City Ballet Company inside. Such a beautiful building filled with so many talented organizations, culturals, and businesses (see here). It's too bad that there isn't more of an overall draw for people to congregate before setting out to explore... especially on the weekends.
Fortunately, that draw is on the way. Amy McCarthy, Co-Founder of Globe Market is, at this moment, in the works of setting up yet another The Lunch Box. The first was opened up last year at the Parkside Lodge (see story). The second, called the Lunch Box Kiosk, was then opened at Delaware Park's Ring Road. This soup, salad, sandwich enterprise is just what the Tri-Main Center needs to get more people heading inside hoping to take advantage of the building's offerings. I hope that there are regular hours on the weekends when it does fully open.
Tri-Main Center | 2495 Main Street | Buffalo, NY 14214-2154 | (716) 835-3366
