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Scorecard: The Week's Winners and Losers

The Week's Winners & Losers

Sewage

Citing unacceptable pollution from wastewater runoff in the Niagara River, EPA regulators on March 16 ordered the Buffalo Sewer Authority to submit new plans for compliance with federal Clean Water Acts. I think the collective feeling down at the BSA can be summed up as “Oh shit!”.

Inferiority Complexes

Much of the conversation surrounding the Buffalo Bills signing of defensive end “Super” Mario Williams focused on the shock and amazement that a top notch free agent would actually want to play here. I’m pretty sure the $100 million Williams received had a little something to do with his motivations.

The "Earmuffs"

A judicial panel on March 19 finalized New York’s congressional redistricting map, axing the infamously gerrymandered 28th District and forcing Louise Slaughter to run in a new Rochester-centric district. Farewell Congresswoman Slaughter, we’ll miss that delightfully transplanted Kentucky accent of yours.

Great Escapes

A 400-pound silverback gorilla escaped through an unlocked door at the Buffalo Zoo on March 19, spurring a novelty account on Twitter and forcing zookeepers and a police SWAT team to recapture the frightened ape. With the aid of some heavy tranquilizers, the gorilla was safely recovered.

Underage Girls

The Buffalo Common Council passed a bill on March 20 to ban underage patrons from bars after 10 o’clock, a move intended to help restore the Chip Strip’s image. Did you hear that sound? It’s as if hundreds of sleazy 40-year-old guys cried out in terror and then were suddenly silenced...





By the numbers...

63

Retirement age for New York state workers. On March 19 Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a series of sweeping pension reforms which include raising the retirement age from 62. The moves are expected to save state and local governmentsmore than $80 billion over the next 30 years. Since 2002 penison payments made by local governments have increased by over 650 percent, to $12.2 billion in 2012. The full retirement age for federal Social Security benefits in the United States is 67.

80

High temperature recorded in Buffalo on March 20, a record high for the fourth consecutive day and the earliest 80 degree day in Buffalo weather history. The previous earliest 80 degree day was on March 26, 1945.

1

Number of players in NFL history who have signed contracts in excess of $100 million dollars. With the Buffalo Bills’ signing of Mario Williams to a six-year $100 million deal, Williams became the twelfth member of that list and only the second defensive player.


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