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A Non-Endorsement of Barbara Miller-Williams

Erie County Legislature Chair Barbara Miller-Williams can’t seem to understand why the local Cemocratic party chose to endorse someone other than herself. Either Miller-Williams is not that bright or she and her Grassroots colleagues are playing this community once again. Williams decided to organize with Republican Chris Collins, with the sole purpose of becoming chair of the Legislature. Her choice affected the black community in a huge way. Health clinics closed, hours to libraries were cut, funding for young, single-mother day-care was reduced, and community-based groups lost thousands of dollars.

Simply stated, Miller-Williams and her Grassroots handlers sold out this community as well as the Democratic Party. Miller-Williams’s actions set back the black community 50 years. These are advantages we needed to level the playing field and allow families to grow and improve their stations in life. William’s lack of leadership was displayed best when a local foundation walked away from talks designed to replace monies Collins had already cut from the budget.

The only reason to make Miller-Williams chair was to allow Collins to gut monies from the black community and send it to the suburbs. Democratic leaders made the right choice selecting Tim Hogue. A young black family man, he decided he could make difference and fight for better services and not retreat on the gains of the past.

But this story does have a happy ending. Not only did the Democrats reject Miller-Williams’s shameless selfless acts, the Republicans rejected her as well. There was a lot of harm done here but no foul!

> Clarence Lott, Buffalo



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