HOUSE APPROVES DEFENSE BILL, INCLUDES AMENDMENT COSPONSORED BY HOCHUL TO PROTECT AIR BASE

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives voted on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual legislation that authorizes funding for the nation’s military. The legislation included an amendment cosponsored by Congresswoman Kathy Hochul that would prohibit the US Air Force from retiring any aircraft in 2013 and increasing funding for the ANG personnel accounts, thereby preventing cuts to the ANG in hopes of protecting installations like the 107th Airlift Wing at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS).

“The passage of the National Defense Authorization Act with our amendment is a strong step in the right direction for the Air National Guard and the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. I’m pleased the legislation includes the bipartisan amendment I cosponsored. I urge the Senate to pass the bill without delay,” said Hochul.

This morning, Hochul addressed the House regarding the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

Earlier this year, the Department of Defense announced a proposal to eliminate 3 C-130s and cut more than 800 positions from NFARS. These cuts represent nearly 16 percent of the total reductions nationwide. In recent months, Congresswoman Hochul has led the fight in the House to push back on these severe cuts. She has met regularly with senior military leadership, including Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and has worked closely with the Western New York Congressional delegation to ensure the 107th Air Wing maintains a strong presence at NFARS.

NIAGARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN JEREMY SCHNURR: FOCUSED ON VICTORY…RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION ON THEME OF “HEALING AND UNITY”

In case anyone had any doubts, Niagara County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Schnurr will run for re-election next September in an attempt to unite the NC Dem Party.

“The themes of my re-election campaign will be healing and unity,” he points out. “I know that there are factions and groups within our Niagara County Democratic Party who don’t feel like they are a part of our party. I want to bring them back. I want to make them feel that they definitely have a place within our party and that they will be listened to. I plan to listen to them and to work with them all.”

Still, Chairman Schnurr’s main focus right now is on winning victories for Democrats in this year’s contests for the NYS Assembly and Senate.

“I think likely Democratic nominee Bob Restaino is going to be a very strong candidate for the Assembly,” he says. “We need an Assemblyman who is going to be effective in getting things done for Niagara County. We need someone who is going to work hard every day to make things better for the people of this district.”

Not only does the Chairman think Restaino, a prominent Niagara County attorney, should win, he is confident he will win.

“I think Bob Restaino could win by a good margin,” he predicts. “Our voters want an Assemblyman who will accomplish a lot more and they know Bob will do that.”

With Niagara Falls attorney and former mayoral candidate Johnny Destino challenging veteran Republican NYS Senator George Maziarz in the Sept. 13 GOP primary, Chairman Schnurr thinks there is a definite opportunity for Democratic state senate nominee Amy Witryol.

“Amy Witryol is a retired banker who is very eager to get involved in the effort to make things better,” he reports. “She is a very hard worker who, the last time, forced Senator Maziarz to spend over a half a million dollars against her. We are going to be working hard to see to it that both of these candidates are able to raise enough money to win.”

The product of a Democratic family that traces its Dem lineage back to the 1860s, Schnurr’s father, an Assembly candidate at the time, once got then NYS Governor Averill Harriman to babysit for an infant Jeremy at a county fair. The Governor had once negotiated with Joe Stalin as US Ambassador to Russia during World War II. Reportedly, he had a harder time dealing with the future Chairman.

“As the son of a lawyer, I knew I wanted to become an attorney myself,” says this Cornell University Law School graduate and current Cantor Dolce & Panepinto practitioner. “We are working hard to win these upcoming races, not just to win political victories but because we feel our candidates will do a better job for the people of Niagara County. That is what my job is all about.”

WHAT’S BEHIND THE DESTINO VS. MAZIARZ CHALLENGE

What’s behind the Republican primary challenge launched by Niagara Falls attorney and School Board Member Johnny Destino vs. veteran NYS Senator George Maziarz?

Here’s the scoop:

Destino was the GOP nominee challenging Democratic Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster last year. Originally, he feels he was led to believe that Senator Maziarz would support his campaign financially, possibly to the tune of as much as $100,000. However, the Senator, like most observers with the exception of those close to the Destino campaign, eventually came to the conclusion that the race would not be close and declined to provide the expected financial backing.

Despite the fact that Destino repeatedly assured those close to Senator Maziarz that the contest would be close, the veteran Senator stuck to his guns. So then on election night, when it turned out that the contest was much closer than anyone predicted except Destino, the challenger came to believe, rightly or wrongly, that it was the Senator’s refusal to provide financing that cost him the election, making Democrat Dyster the first two term Mayor of Niagara Falls in decades.

As for Destino’s enthusiastic financial backers, highly successful Buffalo developer Carl Paladino and former Erie County Executive and current congressional candidate Chris Collins, they may have different reasons for backing the challenger.

In addition to the powerful pair’s high personal regard for Destino, there are a number of factors involved: Paladino, a fervent opponent of gay marriage, is unhappy with Senator Maziarrz for his continuing support of NYS Senator Mark Grisanti after he provided the deciding vote in the state senate that legalized marriages between gay couples in the Empire State. The entire Albany Republican leadership is standing up for Grisanti because they feel his re-election could provide the decisive vote that could preserve the current GOP majority in our capital’s upper house.

Most observers feel that it was reasons such as the above that led Maziarz to attend a recent Buffalo press conference, along with former Niagara County Republican Chairman Henry Wojtaszek, at which the Erie County Independence Party announced its support for Senator Grisanti.

As for the former county executive, he is likely primarily angry over Senator Maziarz decision to endorse Collins’ current Republican congressional primary opponent, David Bellavia.

Whatever the reasons, this extremely wealthy pair has reportedly pledged to put big money on the table in their effort to help Destino defeat Maziarz. Still, the incumbent, who has plenty of dough in the bank already with good potential to raise more, will certainly be no pushover. A tireless campaigner, the Senator is much better known in the district and can be depended upon to campaign day and night to keep his seat.

SENATOR MAZIARZ SAYS: MAMMOGRAPHY SAVES LIVES

Mothers Day Breast Cancer Walk set for Lockport on Sunday

Senator George Maziarz has joined with the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program in their annual Mother’s Day campaign to urge women to get mammograms.

“I want to wish all of the women a Happy Mother’s Day,” said Senator Maziarz. “I am pleased to once again join Adelphi in promoting their program to bring awareness to everyone to get mammograms. Early detection of Breast Cancer is key and can save lives, so this Mother’s Day we are encouraging everyone to get tested for their own health and peace of mind.”

The Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program can be reached at 800-877-8077. Callers can obtain information, locate an accredited mammography facility nearby, and get emotional support from the hotline’s specially trained volunteers, most of whom are breast cancer survivors. It is a project of the Adelphi University School of Social Work on Long Island. All services are free. The website is www.adelphi.edu/nysbreastcancer.

Senator Maziarz also mentioned that he will be on hand to help kick off the annual Mothers Day Breast Cancer Canal Walk on Sunday afternoon in Lockport. Registration begins at 11 AM and the walk begins at 1 PM at Widewaters Marina on Market Street. For more information on this popular tradition that draws hundreds of walkers every year, persons can call 434-9123 or visit http://breastcancercanalwalk.org.

BELLAVIA CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY FROM COLLINS

Candidate for Congress asks “why is Mr. Collins so secretive, so afraid?”

(CLARENCE, NY) – Republican candidate for Congress David Bellavia today called out his opponent former Erie County Executive Chris Collins for dodging debates and refusing to release his tax records.

“It’s time for Mr. Collins to come clean for the voters,” Bellavia said. “Why is he so afraid of debating the issues? Why does he refuse to release his tax records? What is he hiding from the voters?”

“Forty-one days ago, I challenged Mr. Collins to a series of debates in the eight counties of the 27th District,” Bellavia said in a press conference. “He has never answered my challenge.”

“One week ago, I released six years of my federal tax returns and called on Mr. Collins and Rep. Kathy Hochul to do the same,” Bellavia said. “Mr. Collins is clearly running away from releasing his tax records, too.”

Bellavia said his debate challenge and tax records disclosure gives the voters of the 27th Congressional District the transparency they deserve and proves his commitment to running an open and issue-based campaign. Today marked Bellavia’s fourth press conference of the short campaign; Mr. Collins has had none.

“The voters of the 27th District deserve complete transparency from all candidates,” Bellavia said. “Mr. Collins is snubbing the voters and instead he’s running a dirty campaign of intimidation and innuendo.”

“If Mr. Collins is too afraid to debate the issues and too secretive to release his tax records, Republican voters should certainly not trust him on June 26th,” Bellavia said.

RESTAINO: RUNNING FOR THE ASSEMBLY TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC CLIMATE…BE A POWERFUL VOICE FOR CHANGE IN ALBANY

Why is Democrat Bob Restaino running for the NYS Assembly?

“I’m running for two reasons,” this Niagara University and UB Law graduate explains. “I’m running because I want to be a partner with Gov. Cuomo in improving the economic development climate in WNY. The other reason is I know that in order to get things done in Albany you have to have access to the leadership of the Assembly. I know that if I’m elected to the Assembly, I will have that access.”

Pledging to run a positive campaign in which he will say nothing disparaging about incumbent John Ceretto, Restaino is already making specific recommendations as to how the state budget can be cut.

“As a special assistant for Niagara County to the Medicaid Inspector General, I have already uncovered $3 million in unlawful charges coming from health care providers,” he points out. “I believe that we can cut the cost of our Medicaid program strictly on the administrative side without reducing the medical services we offer to any of our deserving Medicaid recipients. For example, we can put more of our recipients on generic drugs rather than using brand name drugs that are much more expensive. There is no reason why we have to have the most expensive Medicaid program per recipient in the nation, twice as expensive as the national average..”

A battler against governmental waste and abuse throughout his career, Restaino believes that, working with Gov. Cuomo, he can help reduce the expense of state government in many ways if elected to the Legislature.

“We need to cut the cost of government in all areas in the State of New York,” he declares. “Why? Because high taxes kill good paying jobs. If we can cut the cost of government in Albany we can use that money to pay down our debt, give more money to our school districts and give more help to our non profit organizations.”

The son of a businessman and a school crossing guard, Restaino is a graduate of Niagara Catholic High School as well as NU and UB Law. These days he is taking special pride in the fact that his daughter, Danielle, is now his law partner.

“I am very happy about the fact that, with Danielle as my partner, besides being an advocate, I get to be a teacher to my daughter, hopefully giving her some of the guidance that all young lawyers need,” he says with a smile.

Restaino is also looking forward to hopefully also working closely with Andrew Cuomo beginning next January.

“I feel that Gov. Cuomo is moving in the right direction, with the Redesign Committee he has appointed to reform our Medicaid system and other things he’s done,” he acknowledges. “As I’ve said, I want to be a partner with him for creating an improved economic climate right here in this area. If I’m elected on Nov. 6, helping to create jobs right here will always be my first priority.”

What conclusions did Niagara Falls Councilman Glenn Choolokian draw from his recent trip to Albany to look into when the Falls will start getting its rightful share of casino revenues?

“First, I don’t think we’re going to get any money right away from the state,” he replies. “Council Chairman Sam Fruscione rightly asked the Albany people for a ‘bridge loan’ of $55 million, the amount we are owed by the Senecas at the moment, but they said no and I don’t think we are going to get anything until the arbitrators make their ruling, which will take 90 days or more. Once the arbitrator’s ruling come through, we could get what we have coming or we could get nothing. We have to wait and see.”

Councilman Choolokian is pleased that Seneca President Robert Porter is apparently in favor of giving the City its money.

“I wouldn’t say we made a lot of progress on this trip,” he acknowledges. “But, I am happy that we opened up the lines of communication with the people we need to stay in touch with in Albany…Do you know what the first thing out of their mouths was? They told us they were very unhappy with the fact that the administration has used casino money to pay for day to day expenses in the past. They pointed out to us in no uncertain terms that casino money can only be used for infrastructure improvements and economic development.”

Over all, the Councilman is not happy about the position this leaves the City of Niagara Falls in.

“We are the ones who are caught in the middle,” he says. “I hope this is resolved soon in a way that allows us to get the money we deserve.”

MIKE MADIGAN…A DIFFERENT KIND OF REPUBLICAN CHALLENGES HIGGINS IN THE NEW 26TH

Imagine a WNY area Republican candidate for Congress who sets up his headquarters in Buffalo’s inner city!..Imagine a local GOP candidate for Congress whose announced reasons for running have to do with, not only cutting taxes and regulations, but also with improving economic and educational opportunities in the inner city!

Meet Mike Madigan, a manager for a local biotech firm who is running to reverse job losses and create a more friendly environment for business while seeking to transform our ethnic ghettos from desserts of despair to oasis of hope.

“Over the past ten years, we’ve lost not only population but 21,000 jobs,” he points out. “We see Senator Chuck Schumer begging HSBC to keep their operations here and they are not saying they will beyond a short period of time like six months…And, what are they citing as their specific reasons for wanting to leave? They are citing a poor business climate, too many regulations and too many taxes. Right now we are first in the nation in taxes and regulation. So of course we are losing jobs.”

Madigan faults Cong. Higgins for focusing on the waterfront while other areas are being neglected.

“Cong. Higgins made sure that all of the $50 million we got from the Niagara Power Authority is used for the waterfront,” he points out. “Yet only one job has been created on the waterfront so far, an individual hired to oversee waterfront development. Instead of using all of this money for the waterfront, it should have been used to give local businesses low cost power and to give people tax relief. But, instead of that, Cong. Higgins is concentrating on the waterfront while the rest of the area is falling apart.”

A Vice-President of the Frederick Douglas Foundation, Madigan is dedicated to doing something about low graduation rates in the inner city.

“I haven’t come to these issues recently,” he notes. “As a member of the Frederic Douglas Foundation, I have been studying them for a long time. That’s why I want to put my headquarters for my congressional race in the inner city. One of the main reasons I am running is to create opportunity for African-Americans and others in Buffalo and Niagara Falls. We can do it but we are going to have to change the way we do things and we are going to have to stop electing the same people who have failed in the past over and over.”

FRUSCIONE TRAVELS TO ALBANY TO ASK: WHERE IS NIAGARA FALLS’ CASINO MONEY?

With pessimism growing on all sides about Niagara Falls’ chances of ever getting the Seneca Niagara Casino money the city was promised, Falls City Council Chairman Sam Fruscione led a delegation recently on a trip to Albany to try to find a way to get the bucks flowing. The Seneca Nation has been withholding the bucks, claiming that Albany’s intention to establish new gambling venues in their backyard violates their compact with the State.

“Once I got to Albany, NYS Assemblyman John Ceretto and NYS Senators George Maziarz and Mark Grisanti and I met with NYS Director of Operations Howard Glaser and the Governor’s Corporation Counsel, Seth Agata,” the Chairman reports. “What I was asking for was a ‘bridge loan’ of $55 million, which is the amount we have coming from the Senecas, for the purpose of using this money for infrastructure work in Niagara Falls. I asked for this specifically because the Town of Salamanca has been given a similar ‘bridge loan.”

The powers that be in Albany said no.

“Their answer to me was no because they said the state is still negotiating with the Seneca Nation and they thought giving us the money now would send a bad message to the Senecas while the negotiations are going on,” Chairman Fruscione adds. “Of course, we need the money right now because we have infrastructure problems that need to be addressed all over the city.”

The presiding member of the Niagara Falls City Council then asked for at least $5 million to pay for the bond that needs to be floated on the new state building that Albany is forcing the city to build.

“On this one they said, ‘Maybe.’…which I guess encouraging,” the Chairman continues. “But, probably the most important thing that came out of the meeting was new information about the position of the Senecas themselves on this whole subject.”

Chairman Fruscione has been told that Seneca Tribal Council President Robert Porter actually wants to give the City of Niagara Falls the funds it has coming…It’s the Seneca Tribal Council that has voted unanimously against it.

Meanwhile, the Tribal Council also continues to drag its feet on appointing an arbitration team that would settle the issue.

“The State and the City want to have the arbitrators appointed with 90 days,” the Chairman explains. “The Seneca Tribal Council wants to see it done within a year!”

He points out that one of three things could come from an arbitrator’s ruling.

“We could win and get the money,” Fruscione says. “We could lose and get nothing or the Seneca’s compact with the State of New York could be revoked…But, the important thing is that we established communication with Albany on this issue. And, I think that’s important.”

CHAIRMAN FRUSCIONE, COLLEAGUES TAKE LEAD IN SAYING NO TO FRACKNG IN NIAGARA FALLS…”IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN HERE”

As a young boy, Niagara Falls City Council Chairman Sam Fruscione found himself swimming in a pool that would regularly turn black for no apparent reason, forcing him and his friends to have to suddenly vacate the premises. What he and his buddies didn’t know at the time was that their inconvenience would morph into a national tragedy known as Love Canal, one that afflicted untold thousands with severe health problems courtesy of a rogue corporation known as Hooker Chemical.

Back then no one did anything to stop Hooker’s murderous practices until it was too late for many.

Now Chairman Fruscione and his colleagues have moved to prevent the predatory corporate interests of today from introducing the controversial practice of “fracking” into Niagara Falls, an operation which a unanimously passed City Council resolution condemns for “its widely reported negative effects” that include “release of gas and dangerous chemicals and carcinogens into wells and other public water supplies.”

“Our resolution says this is not going to happen here in Niagara Falls,” he declares. “The reason is that fracking is very dangerous. It causes cancer because the chemicals they use to extract natural gas from rocks deep underneath the ground are carcinogens. So what they do is take the natural gas out and leave water left deep underground that is filled with poisonous, cancer causing chemicals. These waters can get into our water supply. These companies can also use this water in their industrial processes. Whatever happens, anyone who comes into contact with this water is in danger of getting cancer. They say these waters will be so far underground that they won’t hurt anyone…But, common sense and experience tells you that is not true.”

The Chairman reports that already, we have seen earthquakes in Ohio caused by fracking.

“They had ten earthquakes in the Youngstown, Ohio are that were caused by fracking,” he reports. “Fracking causes the ground under which people walk to be unstable and filled with polluted, cancer causing waters. This is something we definitely don’t want here.”

The Council Chairman believes the resolution supported unanimously by himself along with Council Members Glenn Choolokian, Robert Anderson, Kristen Grandinetti, and Charles Walker, will stop fracking in its tracks in Niagara Falls.

“Our resolution prohibits the ‘storage, transfer, treatment, or disposal of natural gas exploration and production wastes’ in Niagara Falls,” the Chairman explains. “We have stopped it from being done here and I’m hoping what we have done will encourage other communities to do the same thing. Fracking has got to be stopped because it puts all of our lives in danger.”.