• Meantime, on Tuesday at the Seneca Niagara Casino, Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder handed a giant fake check for $349 million to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who in turn handed a giant fake check for $89 million to Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster.

Dyster’s office later sent out a press release, saying that the ceremonial check for the nearly bankrupt city would be displayed at City Hall:

As the check is made out to the City of Niagara Falls and as the City its people, beginning immediately, the same ceremonial check presented to the Mayor will be on display in the main Lobby of City Hall for any to come in and to celebrate its arrival. All residents are welcome to view, sign a thank you or other note, or photo as proof the check is no longer “in the mail.”

Chris Scanlon

• A rumor encountered Tuesday afternoon at Buffalo’s City Hall: South District Councilman Chris Scanlon has let go his aide, Matt Fisher. Fisher was the odds-on favorite in the district to replace his former boss, Mickey Kearns, when Kearns moved from the Common Council to the New York State Assembly. But the Council majority blocked Fisher’s appointment, hoping to replace Kearns with someone who would join their faction. To end Fisher’s candidacy, Scanlon—who became a candidate for the vacancy only after it was apparent that Fisher’s appointment was dead—offered him a job and a raise; Fisher, understanding that the Council would never appoint him, took the offer and dropped out of contention. Scanlon won the appointment.

On Wednesday, an aide in Scanlon’s office confirmed that Thursday would be Fisher’s last day. A call to Fisher went unanswered.

• Former Republican mayoral candidate Matthew Ricchiazzi, commenting on the Buffalo News story about the launch of Bernie Tolbert’s “Byron Brown’s Buffalo” web page: “Bernie might have a chance if he hires me to be his spokesperson.”

Riposte from Michael Towers: “Best joke of the campaign so far.”

Ricchiazzi: “No joke. He needs a good $h*t talker who likes to muster up $h*t storms.”

Lou Bordonaro: “Unfortunately you are a joke.”