Scorecard: The Week's Winners and Losers
by Zachary Burns
The Week's Winners & Losers
 Vox Populi Legislation drafted by two local leaders is calling for the addition of a new—albeit, non-voting—member of the public to the NFTA board to represent the interests of Metro bus and rail riders. Nice to know at least one of of the board members might actually use or understand the system they control. |
 Excessive CelebrationThanks to his signing of a new five-year $36 million contract with the Bills on March 5, expect to see a steady rain of yellow flags in the Buffalo end zone following yet another of Stevie Johnson’s frowned upon—but justifiably awesome—touchdown celebrations. Make it rain, Stevie, make it rain. |
 The War Machine Details of the Air Force’s upcoming budget cuts were released on March 6, and once again the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base is being targeted for contraction, putting 845 jobs in jeopardy. If you listen to Republicans, it’s clear the only prudent thing to do is begin the wholesale bombing of Iran. |
 Primary ChallenegesUnder the borders of a federal judge’s redistricting plan revealed on March 6, Western New York’s congressional clout would decrease by one and force Democrats Kathy Hochul and Brian Higgins to square off in primary combat for the new 27th district. Expect oodles and oodles of lawsuits, folks. |
 ConcessionsThe Buffalo School Board on March 6 voted in favor of asking the teacher’s union to agree to include all students—including the chronically absent—in annual evaluations, so as to restore $9 million in state funding—which, conveniently, is just enough to pay the teachers’ annual plastic surgery rider. |
By the numbers...
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1,500
Dollars awarded to New Orleans Saints players who were successful in knocking an opposing player out of the game. A mere “cartoff” was worth only $1,000. The pay-to-pain injury bonus system headed by former Buffalo Bills head coach and then Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was revealed by an NFL investigation. Later reports confirmed by several former players revealed that Williams instituted a similar system while running the show in Buffalo from 2001-2003. |
419
Dollars in state aid per capita received by the city of Rochester in this year’s budget, compared to $494 for Syracuse and $617 for Buffalo. Rochester officials went to Albany on March 1 to lobby against the aid disparity. Rochester is generally seen as the most affluent metropolitan area in Upstate New York with a median household income of $43,955 versus $39,750 in Syracuse and $38,488 in Buffalo. |
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