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Scorecard: The Week's Winners and Losers

The Week's Winners & Losers

Trolling for Trannies

Gawker reported on Feb. 25 that Congressman Chris Lee—who resigned after his online infidelities were made public—stepped down quickly to avoid the details of his trolling for transmen from coming out. Methinks there’s a good chance Lee was an avid Artvoice classifieds reader.

The Honeymoon Phase

Terry Pegula’s first move as owner of the Buffalo Sabres paid immediate dividends on March 1, as trade deadline acquisition Brad Boyes scored a goal in his first game, a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. At the risk of sounding hasty, this team is going to win the Stanley Cup. You can bank on that.

Side Jobs

Not content with just jiggling your jollies or taking home your confiscated goods, TSA officers at Buffalo Airport have added a new charge to their rap sheet: aiding drug dealers. On March 1, a TSA behavioral detection officer [WTF?] was arrested on charges of helping traffickers to pass through security.

Speaking of Drugs

An 11-month investigation culminated on March 2 with the biggest Buffalo heroin bust in history. Four men were arrested in connection with the Bronx to Buffalo ring and seven kilos with a street value of $3.5 million of raw heroin were seized. I just hope that wasn’t my guy…gotta make some calls.

Higher Education

Don’t call it a comeback, but a revised version of the UB 2020 plan [can we call it 2030 yet?] that caps regular tuition raises at $375 per semester, passed in the New York State Senate on March 2, breathing new life into the stalled plan. The plan now moves on to the Assembly for approval.





By the numbers...

25

First-time registration and license plate fee—with a five dollar annual renewal rate—for personal bicycles in New York State, according to a bill being proposed by State Assemblyman Michael DenDekker of Queens. If passed, DenDekker expects the bill would generate annual revenues of roughly $375,000. What’s next a crackdown against children’s lemonade stands?

1.3

Settlement in millions reached on March 1 between the postage and shipping company UPS and the New York Attorney General’s office. UPS was found to have bypassed state laws, inspecting and passing their own trucks as safe for the road despite serious disrepair and poor condition. Tough teeth New York State. You think a company with $45 billion in revenues last year, is going to be scared by that?

200,000

Dollars to be spent by the NFTA to launch a study exploring the idea of extending the 6.3 mile long Buffalo Metro Rail. The last study to this effect was conducted almost 10 years ago. I believe the next step would be to commission a study to investigate the validity of creating an exploratory committee that might someday advocate the expansion public transit options—you know, if it’s politically expedient.


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