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Scorecard: The Week's Winners & Losers

The Week's Winners & Losers

Head Starts

Buffalo officials on May 13 launched into full spin mode after a run-of-the-mill family party at MLK Park—the recipient of $4.5 million in city development aid— was shattered by gunfire, wounding five people. Everyone knows summer brings out a unique brand of crazy in this city, let’s hope this isn’t an early glimpse of the future.

Brewing Controversy

Who’s excited for the next great quarterback controversy in Buffalo? On May 11 the Bills signed former top draft pick, Rookie of the Year and alleged headcase Vince Young to one-year deal. While team brass stressed Young’s backup role and their total confidence in Fitzmagic, a few early losses and fickle fans will be wailing.

Celebrity Inmates

After 31 years of maximum-security imprisonment in Attica, celebrity assassin Mark David Chapman, who murdered former Beatle and world-peacenik John Lennon in 1981, was transfered to Wende Correctional Facility in Alden. Already denied parole six times, Chapman will next be eligible for (unlikely) release in August.

Unsurprising Findings

The new Shale Resources Institute at UB released a report on May 15 that claims that increased state oversight and safer industry practices have decreased the risks of hydrofracking natural gas. Conclusive findings­— which we’re sure have absolutely nothing to do with the Institute’s pro-energy corporate funding.

Arctic Environments

Buffalo Zoo president Donna Fernandes warned county officials that unless the final $3 million towards construction of a new $18 million arctic exhibit is funded the Zoo’s two polar bears Nanuq and Anana may be in jeopardy of leaving permanently. Well, they could always return to their natural habitat... oh, nevermind.





By the numbers...

120,000

Thousands of dollars donated by Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula for sod, landscaping work and labor costs for city-owned property around the Central Wharf area of Canalside. The Buffalo Common Council officially accepted the gift on May 15.

74

Percentage of parking spots in downtown Buffalo, on- and off-street, occupied during peak periods, according to a 2008 study by Desman Associates for the City of Buffalo. Just 76 percent of off-street spots are occupied during peak hours.

55

Percentage of registered voters in New York State who support same-sex marriage according the last Marist Research poll conducted in August 2011. This includes 66 percent of Democrats and 39 percent of Republicans. The New York State appeals court heard the first arguments of a lawusit brought by the conservative New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms on May 15 on whether open meetings laws were violated last June during internal political negotiations to woo Republican State Senators—including Buffalo’s Mark Grisanti—to vote in favor of gay marriage.


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