Dirty Water

Following the results of a four-year study into the effects of hydrofracking, state regulators announced on July 1 that they would officially recommend the issuance of permits for the controversial gas drilling technique in an upcoming report. Hope you like flaming gas in your tap water!

Dirty Money

Sabres owner Terry Pegula broke out his checkbook on July 1 and signed free agent defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and winger Ville Leino to $67 million in new contracts. Fracking, gun-running, clubbing baby seals. Who cares how he made his money? He’s turning this team into a legitimate contender.

Signature Span (1997-2011)

After a decade of political promises and $20 million spent on surveys, studies and ambitious design plans the long road to a new bridge is finally dead. The Public Bridge Authority announced on June 30 that they are shelving plans for a new span and pursuing a less costly expansion of the plaza instead.

Patriotism

Erie County Executive Chris Collins is taking heat from Lancaster officials for demanding that he march in front of the July 4 parade, bucking village tradition that firefighters, local officials and veterans come first. Has it ever been more blatantly obvious that Chris Collins hates America?

Business As Usual

The New York Legislature held the first of many future meetings on July 6 to redraw state and congressional districts, ignoring outside calls for an independent panel and throwing up a big middle finger to opponents of old-time politicking. Translation: Suck on this, taxpayers. We got ours.

Annual salary to be received by former assemblyman Sam Hoyt to serve as the senior vice president for regional economic development at the state’s job creation agency, the Empire State Development Corporation. After representing Buffalo for 19 years in the state legislature, Hoyt was hand-picked by the Andrew Cuomo administration—to which he was an early and loyal supporter. A special election to fill his seat will be held on Primary Day, September 13.