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Scorecard: The Week's Winners and Losers

The Week's Winners & Losers

Infrastructure

While waiting at a redlight on Hertel Ave. near Colvin on June 9, a Buffalo woman and her van were swallowed up by a rapidly opening sinkhole in the middle of the road. Okay, swallowed up is a bit of a stretch and city engineers were able to cap the mega-pothole, but damn! That is a serious hole.

Annual Letdowns

Another successful edition of the annual Allentown Art Festival went down June 11-12, drawing thousands of disinterested suburban visitors who shuffled past overpriced landscapes and faux dreamcatchers while looking for the Kettle Korn stand. Yes, another smashing success.

Your Papers, Please!

While not quite as harsh as Arizona’s downright facist immigration laws, Buffalo Common Councilman Mickey Kearns proposed a resolution on June 14 to require ID for children seeking use of city pools. Kearns believes ID would make it easier to identify troublemakers. We say, let them be free…to swim.

Do The Right Thing

State Sen. Mark Grisanti announced on June 14 that he has officially changed his position on gay marriage from “no” to “undecided.” Grisanti now may hold the deciding vote in an upcoming vote for marriage equality in New York. Buffalo, if you believe in equal rights, make it a point to let the man know.

Green Thumbs

After three years wait, on June 14 the Buffalo Common Council approved 34 leases to turn vacant city-owned lots into community gardens—a move we’re sure had nothing to do with a recent Buffalo News column on the subject. Yup, three years does seem to be the going rate for common sense in this town.





By the numbers...

5.7

Percent decrease in the four-year graduation rate of Buffalo Public Schools—to 47.4 percent—when compared to the previous year. While statewide the graduation rate rose by 1.6 percent—to 73.4 percent—Buffalo was the only city among the five largest school districts to see a decrease. However, Buffalo’s grad rate did outpace both Rochester (46.1) and Syracuse (45.9).

7

Fewer hours of tailgating—read: drinking—this season at Ralph Wilson Stadium. On June 15 the Buffalo Bills released two new rule changes to their Fan Behavior Policy that will take place this season—if and when it actually occurs. Parking lots used for tailgating will now open four hours in advance of kickoff, an hour earlier than last season and more in line with most NFL teams. Also, a zero-tolerance smoking ban will be enacted on stadium grounds and all designated smoking areas will be removed.

1,800

Square footage of the flag raised at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park on June 14 to celebrate Flag Day, which, apparently, is still a federal holiday. The flag, which is reportedly the largest American flag in New York State, measures 30 by 60 feet and was donated by the Rotary Club of Buffalo.


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