Easy Money

Republican nominee Mitt Romney harbors no illusions of winning New York, but that didn’t stop him from dropping by on June 29 to collect the money from the proverbial nightstand at a fundraiser at the home of Buffalo’s resident political ATM Anthony Gioia. Mitt’s total take two hours worth of handshakes and back slaps: a cool $1.4 million.

Celebrity Sightings

Despite denials from church officials, rumors flew that celebrity Scientologist Tom Cruise was in Buffalo on June 29 for the local center’s re-dedication. To be clear, under the advisement of our lawyers, AV would just like to make clear our position that Cruise is a “sane” practitioner of a totally “rational” religion…

Drinking the Kool Aid

Our fair city and its recent development initiatives were the recipients of quite the flattering writeup in the June 30 edition of The Economistem>, arguably the world’s most highly respected and pompously name-dropped news magazine. It didn’t deny the harsh Rust Belt realities, but it’s clear the perception of our town is changing.

Important Agendas

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and the Common Council joined 17 cities nationwide in officially declaring June 3o “Social Media Day” to help promote the use of online networking and bring together professionals in the industry. For all the hardcore twatters out there, you can file this symbolic proclamation under the hashtag #yawwwwnnnnn.

Packed Bags

Flags flew at half mast on the Chip Strip on July 3 upon hearing the news that former Buffalo Sabres center and alleged locker room “cancer” Derek Roy had been traded to Dallas for gritty forward Steve Ott. It’s unclear just how much the Sabres will miss Roy’s semi-consistent and brooding effort, but at least they’re embracing change.

Estimated number of people in the Buffalo—10.7 percent of all noninstitutionalized city residents—who lack any form of health insurance coverage, according to 2010 US Census figures, several points less than the nationwide average of 15.5 percent.