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Councilman stepping up to the plate for Seneca Street. By Cindy Gauthier Oct 29, 2005   A year and a half after a pledge to South Buffalo, and after former Congressman Jack Quinn decided not to seek another term, Seneca Street sits without the repaving work that is desperately needed. In an email reply from a City of Buffalo Councilman, Jeffrey M. Conrad said street repaving is a citywide problem and believes there is about thirty streets in his South District that need to be redone. In April of 2004, as part of Representative Quinn's overall transportation work within the City of Buffalo, he began the process to fund nine projects totaling $17 million in federal transportation funds for neighborhood infrastructure and improvements within the City of Buffalo. Funding, the current Councilman says is now gone. “Jack Quinn worked with Mark Schroeder to secure federal funding for Seneca Street. When Jack announced he would retire and did not tell republican leadership in Washington, the money was taken away.” Conrad said. “I am not concerned about what happened with the past money from Quinn, just what is going to happen.” He also stated. This forward thinking includes “talks” that have just begun. Conrad said he is currently working with public works on a plan to pave a part of Seneca with block grant dollars, but he stressed the importance that “this is not a promise”. Streets in South Buffalo, with secured funds from Congressman Higgins for paving included Hopkins, McKinley, and parts of South Park this year. In a September press release from Congressman Brian Higgins, it stated the funding lines - $400,000 for the repaving of the full length of McKinley Parkway, from Heacock Park south to McKinley Circle (at Dorrance Avenue); $160,000 for the repaving of Hopkins Street, from Tifft Street south to the South Park ring road; and $160,000 for the repaving of South Park Avenue, from Bailey Avenue west to the Buffalo River. “We worked hard in this bill to bring local resources home to local communities, and working with Legislator Kennedy and Councilman Conrad, we were able to bring home more than $600,000 to make these streets safer,” Higgins said. “McKinley Parkway, Hopkins Street and South Park Avenue are all important thoroughfares in our community, and each will benefit tremendously from this infusion of federal money.” Councilman Conrad said in the press release. As for Seneca Street, a main access road as well, awaits a little attention of street enhancements for more than a year and a half. Councilman Conrad indicated he would issue an update to possible funding.

Cazenovia Creek Slope Wall Project - A follow up to the original story. 10/16/2005 - Cindy Gauthier South District Councilman Jeffrey M. Conrad and the City of Buffalo Public Work's Department announced a $2.6 million dollar Cazenovia Slope Wall project that began the week of September 12th. Construction, Councilman Conrad said, would begin immediately and continue until winter weather permits. Work will resume next spring without delay and a final date is targeted for summer 2006. The project includes the completion of the South Legion side of the Cazenovia slope wall from Stevenson Street to Southside Street, bike paths, and new trees along that stretch. This project will also help lessen the likely of ice jamming in the area. "I've very thankful for the City of Buffalo Public Work's Department help on this very important neighborhood project.  This project will not help with potential ice jams but will include beautiful scenery along the creek," said Councilman Conrad  "This is a great example that the City of Buffalo is working to secure and improve our neighborhoods. Flooding along the Cazenovia Creek is major issue and hopefully this will end prospect of a major flood," continued Conrad The last construction completed along the slope wall was in 1974.  This will be the final section to be accomplished along the North and South Legion streets. "The project is going well; everything is going as planned.  The company will work until the weather gets real bad. Hopefully in December they will stop, if so the project will resume in April again depending on the weather.  The completion date is sometime in July, that is if the weather cooperates during the year.  This will be a dramatic change from what we had before."  Councilman Conrad said last week in a follow-up statement.

City government met to discuss Buffalo libraries closing with community leaders. In a special finance committee meeting at City Hall yesterday, Councilmen from Buffalo representing 3 different areas of the city met with community advocates and others about the closing being executed for seven libraries branches in the City. Councilman Davis, representing the Ellicott District chaired the special meeting and called the conference due the pressing concerns over library closings in the City of Buffalo. "We want to discuss what the issues are and how we can work collectively." Davis said. Councilman Davis outlined the City with what libraries will remain in each district. Delaware - 2 branches Ellicott - only the Central Library (the only County owned & operated Main Library of the B&ECPL system) Fillmore - 0 branches Lovejoy - 2 branches Masten - 1 branch Niagara - 1 branch North - 1 branch South - 1 branch University - 0 branches With the proposed cuts from the County, the City will lose half of its library services, in addition leaving buffalo with the responsibility to provide utilities to the buildings once they are closed by the B&ECPL. The City of Buffalo representatives said they will do what they can, but noted it will be difficult to incur another million dollars in expenses left by these County closings. Jeffrey M. Conrad, South District councilman said there is a lost of trust between the B&ECPL and the people of Erie County. Conrad, new to the Common Council this year, also proposed the City of Buffalo to have its own library board as all other municipalities in the County have. Details to that resolution have not been addressed as of yet. Council president David Franczyk mentioned that the City doesn't have the same disposable wealth as the suburban areas. The Fillmore District represented by Franczyk, like the University District will have no libraries open at the start 2006. He further stated the communities, like his own cannot absorb any more empty buildings, and indicated the burden as a level of blight. The fourteenth floor of City Hall also became the forum for local community groups to voice their concerns over the proposed closings. Members of Library Friends Groups, A.C.O.R.N, Save Our Libraries, Good Neighborhood Planning Alliance of North Buffalo, as well as individual citizens spoke in reference to the assigned closings. Mr. Michael Mahaney, director of the B&ECPL attended in the open discussions and spoke in defense of the library system. Councilman Marc Cappola, representing the Delaware District attended but did not speak at all. Residents and community interest leaders spoke of the travesty in what closing libraries will do to the neighborhoods, to where the library director insisted the County Executive made a flat-rate levy perfectly clear. City leaders, while concerned over neighborhood libraries closing, also questioned the added expense Buffalo has to take on by having the vacant library building put on the responsibility of the City, and requested from the B&ECPL the actual utility cost of each branch. Mr. Mahaney, stated that the B&ECPL has a fine service of libraries, that there is also more libraries per capita than any other system of its kind in the world; and that most of the libraries in this area as smaller, older and less equipped, he feels, than libraries else where. Mahaney further stated he has always been a proponent of building newer libraries. Franczyk, still angered over a last minute change, and representing a low income and high poverty level of the City will see all branches close in that district. The last minute change added another library in and was voted on by the B&ECPL in the "11th hour" to force all branches in economical depressed Fillmore District without County library services. He also said his district is the epicenter of a fragile neighborhood. The council president also pointed out that having a large library system should not be used as a negative of the area. "I think that is a credit to the level of civilization of a region, if we can afford them we should have kept them. The City now and other areas are suffering because of the absolute ineptitude of County Government." Franczyk said. One member of the community said the closings in the City of Buffalo are classis/discriminative actions comparable to suburban areas being allowed to "buy their way off the closing list" - something the Library director didn't reply to, but another member of a community advocacy group agreed with. Another areas of discussion included the decline of library services without a decline in County property tax implemented to support the library system, the passing of library employee raises for this year and next year as well as various persons sitting on the County Library Board whom were appointed by the County Executive.

City government met to discuss Buffalo libraries closing with community leaders. In a special finance committee meeting at City Hall yesterday, Councilmen from Buffalo representing 3 different areas of the city met with community advocates and others about the closing being executed for seven libraries branches in the City. Councilman Davis, representing the Ellicott District chaired the special meeting and called the conference due the pressing concerns over library closings in the City of Buffalo. "We want to discuss what the issues are and how we can work collectively." Davis said. Councilman Davis outlined the City with what libraries will remain in each district. Delaware - 2 branches Ellicott - only the Central Library (the only County owned & operated Main Library of the B&ECPL system) Fillmore - 0 branches Lovejoy - 2 branches Masten - 1 branch Niagara - 1 branch North - 1 branch South - 1 branch University - 0 branches With the proposed cuts from the County, the City will lose half of its library services, in addition leaving buffalo with the responsibility to provide utilities to the buildings once they are closed by the B&ECPL. The City of Buffalo representatives said they will do what they can, but noted it will be difficult to incur another million dollars in expenses left by these County closings. Jeffrey M. Conrad, South District councilman said there is a lost of trust between the B&ECPL and the people of Erie County. Conrad, new to the Common Council this year, also proposed the City of Buffalo to have its own library board as all other municipalities in the County have. Details to that resolution have not been addressed as of yet. Council president David Franczyk mentioned that the City doesn't have the same disposable wealth as the suburban areas. The Fillmore District represented by Franczyk, like the University District will have no libraries open at the start 2006. He further stated the communities, like his own cannot absorb any more empty buildings, and indicated the burden as a level of blight. The fourteenth floor of City Hall also became the forum for local community groups to voice their concerns over the proposed closings. Members of Library Friends Groups, A.C.O.R.N, Save Our Libraries, Good Neighborhood Planning Alliance of North Buffalo, as well as individual citizens spoke in reference to the assigned closings. Mr. Michael Mahaney, director of the B&ECPL attended in the open discussions and spoke in defense of the library system. Councilman Marc Cappola, representing the Delaware District attended but did not speak at all. Residents and community interest leaders spoke of the travesty in what closing libraries will do to the neighborhoods, to where the library director insisted the County Executive made a flat-rate levy perfectly clear. City leaders, while concerned over neighborhood libraries closing, also questioned the added expense Buffalo has to take on by having the vacant library building put on the responsibility of the City, and requested from the B&ECPL the actual utility cost of each branch. Mr. Mahaney, stated that the B&ECPL has a fine service of libraries, that there is also more libraries per capita than any other system of its kind in the world; and that most of the libraries in this area as smaller, older and less equipped, he feels, than libraries else where. Mahaney further stated he has always been a proponent of building newer libraries. Franczyk, still angered over a last minute change, and representing a low income and high poverty level of the City will see all branches close in that district. The last minute change added another library in and was voted on by the B&ECPL in the "11th hour" to force all branches in economical depressed Fillmore District without County library services. He also said his district is the epicenter of a fragile neighborhood. The council president also pointed out that having a large library system should not be used as a negative of the area. "I think that is a credit to the level of civilization of a region, if we can afford them we should have kept them. The City now and other areas are suffering because of the absolute ineptitude of County Government." Franczyk said. One member of the community said the closings in the City of Buffalo are classis/discriminative actions comparable to suburban areas being allowed to "buy their way off the closing list" - something the Library director didn't reply to, but another member of a community advocacy group agreed with. Another areas of discussion included the decline of library services without a decline in County property tax implemented to support the library system, the passing of library employee raises for this year and next year as well as various persons sitting on the County Library Board whom were appointed by the County Executive.

South Park Principal looking to change public’s perception of its High School. By Cindy Gauthier Sep 27, 2005,   New Principal and former teacher at South Park High School, Mr. Paul Casseri has the hope of recapturing the lost tradition of South Buffalo’s only public high school. Saying with community support and more parental involvement, positive things can happen at South Park. Mr. Casseri said he has been speaking at area block clubs and neighborhood to inform the residents of whom he is and what he’d like to do in turning South Park HS around. Admitting at the South Buffalo Block Club Coalition yesterday evening that the public’s outlook of the school has not very positive, he said that (view) comes from many, many years of neglect; and the attitude towards it. Over the passed two years, he said he has been working to change the people’s perception. After having taught at the school for 11 years, he left to advance a career at Rochester, Sweet Home, Amherst and Frontier Central districts, but returned to his educational foundation at South Park. “I was very honored to come back, the school’s been around since 1915, it has an unbelievable tradition is South Buffalo.” Casseri said. Stating the school is starting to move into a positive direction, but said the heart and soul comes with the community and with parental involvement. One positive aspect of the Buffalo Public Schools is that they are “schools of choice” Casseri stated the Choice Program at South Park High is a graphics communication program with a (estimated) $600,000 printing lab. With having just over 150 students still in that program, the graphics communication is one that he’d like emphasize further on with attracting new students to the school. In addition, South Park HS also has a JROTC (Jr. Reserve Officer Training Corp) program, a Marching Band, and looking to expand on a choral program within the next year. South Park HS also established a $35,000 grant for advanced placement courses, to where students can earn college credits. Saying at the end of next year, the school will have nine advance placement courses, and will be offering more of such courses than Hutch Tech. Principal Casseri would like to see South Park High School as a school of choice with the confidence of being successful as the students continue on into college. The changing process, he said has only been taking place over the past year, with a significantly reduced number of suspensions and fights, the school itself encourages the students to be good neighbors and give back to the community. Of the concerns at South Park, test scores like many other public schools are low; he said there would be stress to improve literacy; without good reading skills subjects like Mathematics and Language Arts may not recover. South Park, due to budget cuts is at the loss of an Assistant Principal and a student Counselor, has eleven hundred students, Mr. Casseri remains positive in bringing back a longstanding tradition in South Buffalo with an improved South park High School.

4th Annual Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce Expo is another success. By Cindy Gauthier Sep 11, 2005, 15:17 Yesterday’s 4th Annual Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce Shop your Neighborhood Expo in Cazenovia Park proves to be successful year after year. The 2005 expedition, combined with Goin’ South’s 5th Annual Irish Feis, included seventy-five local business vendors and community organizations. The Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce Shop your neighborhood Expo was designed for local small and even larger businesses to showcase their companies and organizations to the residents of the communities around South Buffalo. Four straight years, the event in Cazenovia Park had just as much sunshine as attendance, and each year it keeps increasing. “Seventy-five vendors representing small business, community organizations, restaurants; a real diverse group of representation in the community.” Said Ann Enger, director of the Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce. “It just gets bigger each year.” She said. Expo sponsors include, M&T Bank, Mercy Hospital, Trocaire College, Bank of America, Southwest Airlines, Aire Heating Service & Air Conditioning, Chick-n-Pizza Works, HSBC Bank, Western New York Dental Group, and Hunt Real Estate. With special acknowledgement, the Chamber thanked State Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder, for his on-going support. Enger said the difference with this year’s event is that more people came out sooner and stayed longer. As the Shop your Neighborhood Expo wound down by 4:00 pm, events from the Irish Feis continued on until a fireworks display at 11:00 pm. The Event this year included Irish music all day and additional entertainment of Irish Dancers, face painting, a magic show, and a clown making balloon animals. Goin’ South is the organizer of the Irish Feis, whom for four year has partnered with the Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce Expo in Cazenovia Park. The Goin’ South organization is said to have five hundred members to promote beauty, culture and pride in South Buffalo.

Cazenovia Slope Wall Project to Begin week of Sept 12th By Cindy Gauthier Sep 7, 2005, 12:18 South District Councilman Jeffrey M. Conrad and the City of Buffalo Public Work’s Department have announced the $2.6 million dollar Cazenovia Slope Wall project will begin the week of September 12th. Construction will begin immediately and will continue until winter weather permits. Construction will resume next spring immediately and a completion date is targeted for summer 2006. The project includes the completion of the South Legion side of the Cazenovia slope wall from Stevenson Street to Southside Street, bike paths, and new trees along that stretch. These improvements will compliment the wall design of large and medium quarried stones. This project will also help mitigate the potential of ice jamming in the area. “I’ve very thankful for the City of Buffalo Public Work’s Department help on this very important neighborhood project. This project will not help with potential ice jams but will include beautiful scenery along the creek,” said Councilman Conrad “This is a great example that the City of Buffalo is working to secure and improve our neighborhoods. Flooding along the Cazenovia Creek is major issue and hopefully this will end prospect of a major flood,” continued Conrad The last construction completed along the slope wall was in 1974. This will be the final section to be completed along the North and South Legion streets.