Control Board Reject Collins' Four Year Plan
The battle continues between Erie County Executive Chris Collins and the control board. The Fiscal Stability Authority is rejecting Collins' first, four-year financial plan, citing millions of dollars in what the board calls "deficiencies." "In terms of the review of the report, there are approximately $112 million worth of items that we see as deficiencies in the plan," said Control Board Executive Director Ken Vetter. Board members say the plan spends money the county doesn't have and does not deal with millions of dollars owed to E-C-M-C. They also attacked the county executive for not agreeing to allow the control board to borrow for capitol projects, allegedly saving millions of dollars. Board Member Stanley Keysa says Collins has to realize he's running a government, not a business.

Amherst Town Centre Plan Draws Crowd
The $44-million multi-use development planned for Maple Road in Amherst got the once over from residents last night. The proposed Town Centre project, on the site of the former Buffalo Shooting Club, will include a hotel, condos, apartments and office space, plus a park and restaurants. A small, but vocal, minority has been fighting the project, to which developer Benderson has responded with modified plans, which seemed to go over well with the crowd last night, as did the availability of architects, engineers, lawyers and environmental experts brought in by Benderson to discuss the plan. But critics were not appeased, calling in a "propaganda session". The Amherst Town Board is expected to consider the revamped project on June 2
.

New Fire House Under Construction
Construction is underway for a brand new fire house in the Bailey-Genesee neighborhood. It replaces a very outdated, turn-of-the-century structure. Fire fighters from Engine 31 and Ladder 14 at the corner of Bailey Avenue near Doat are looking forward to a brand new fire house. The new structure will replace a more than 100 year old facility across the street. Fire Captain Peter Kertzie says the old fire house is in rough shape, with pieces of falling dry wall and a leaky roof. He says it is also too small for the new fire trucks. Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo says this is the fifth new fire house to be constructed in the City with two more in the works. Another is planned for Bailey Avenue at Hewitt in the University District. Land has already been purchased. Lombardo says the other fire house is being planned for South Buffalo.

Diocese Appoints Panel to Redevelop Parish Property
Buffalo Catholic Bishop Edward Kmiec has appointed a 9-member panel to come up with recomendations for the church properties being vacated as part of the Diocese's restructuring process. So far, nearly two-dozen sites are up for sale and the list is expected to grow in the coming weeks. Parish Redevelopment Committee Chairman James Rykowski says the panel has begun preliminary work and has toured some of the closed churches. Some preservationists have raised concerns that the sell-off will lead to neighborhood instability in the city. Bishop Kmiec says he wants to make sure that any church properties no longer in use continue to be assets in their communities.

American Axle Plant in Cheektowaga Would Close Under Proposed Deal
United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger said Saturday he thought the union was close to a contract deal to end a strike against American Axle until the auto parts supplier offered a proposal that includes closing three plants. Gettelfinger told WWJ-AM in Detroit that the latest proposal came Friday. He says it included closing the facility in Cheektowaga, in addition to two other closures that had been previously discussed. He said the union planned to remain at the bargaining table through the weekend. About 3,600 UAW members went on strike Feb. 26 at the five plants in Michigan and New York in a dispute over wage and benefit cuts the company is seeking and failing to reach a new contract agreement. The walkout includes more 500 workers at plants in Cheektowaga and Tonawanda.

Alumnus Donates $5 Million for New Pharmacy School Building
UB's new pharmacy building on the South Campus got a $5 million boost Friday from a loyal graduate of the Pharmacy School. India native John Kapoor graduated from UB in 1972 and went on to found E.J. Financial Enterprises. Including this gift, Kapoor has given UB nearly $11 million, making him the largest individual donor. His donations are being added to other public and private funds to renovate the former chemistry building into a high-tech pharmacy center. Kapoor says UB is making wise investments in the top ranked Pharmacy School. UB says the new high-tech pharmacy building, named for Kapoor, is an integral part of the Pharmacy School's eventual move to the South Campus.

Bruuuuuuce!' Headed To Bills Wall Of Fame
The Buffalo Bills announced this weekend that the NFL's all-time sack leader, Bruce Smith, is the next to be enshrined on the Wall of Fame at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Smith, selected 1st overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1985, played with the team until 2000, finishing his career in 2004 with the Washington Redskins. In his 19-year career he earned the Defensive Player of the Year honor twice, along with 11 Pro Bowls.

Architecture Professor Says Peace Bridge Objections Not Trivial
A leading professor of architecture at the University at Buffalo says the objections raised by federal and state agencies about the impact of an expanded Peace Bridge are not trivial. Many of the area's elected leaders are fighting to preserve the cable-stayed bridge design for a new Niagara River crossing. They say the so-called "signature" bridge is key to the area's economic revival. But UB Architecture Professor Lynda Schneekloth says the region will lose even more if it erects a bridge that destroys a local habitat. The regulators warn the bridge would harm an already threatened bird species known as the common tern.

As Gas Prices Rise, Bus & Rail Ridership Increases
Sky high gasoline prices are "driving" more and more Buffalonians to Metro Bus and Rail. Public transportation ridership is up dramatically, 8.3 percent, according to N-F-T-A spokesman Doug Hartmeyer. Put another way, there were two million more boardings in the fiscal year that ended March 31st. Hartmeyer tells WNED news this is not a token amount, especially when comparing ridership totals from four years ago. Hartmeyer said. With regular gas now averaging $3.76 a gallon in Metro Buffalo, bus and rail ridership is likely to continue to rise.

Warrant Squad Rounding up Housing Code Violators
Erie County officials say some housing violators in Buffalo are scurrying to make repairs and pay fines now that the county's warrant squad is back on the beat. Last week, housing court judge Henry Nowak and Sheriff Timothy Howard reported to the legislature on the surprising success of the small squad. The warrant squad was just one of the sacrifices of the 2004 budget crisis. But it could not have come at a worse time. Buffalo already faced an epidemic of vacant houses and blight. With less enforcement, the backlog of warrants for property violations mounted to more than 2,000. But legislators restored $50,000 in the 2008 budget to bring the squad back. Officials sid it is already having a big impact. For every one arrest, they say four people are turning themselves in.

Commission Calls for Consolidation of Local Governments
Governor Paterson has received the Lundine Commission report on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness. Saying the citizenry demands a leaner local government to end the never-ending story of soaring property and school taxes, the Commission has come up with 76 recommendations to cut costs. Many of the proposals are so drastic, so challenging politically, as to change the entire make-up of government bureacracy, whether it be cities, towns,or villages and New York's 700-plus school districts. Merger and Consolidation are are the dominant themes throughout. Governor David Paterson tells WNED that many of New York's most vexing problems are the result of layer upon layer of government bureacracy.