Current Issue: Artvoice v7n47, week of Thursday November 20 » back issues
Letters to Artvoice |
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Schoolhouse Crock
Dear Editor,
If there is NO family support group in the home to assist and encourage the child, no amount of money thrown at the schools, teachers or equipment will do a damn thing to ensure the child comes out of the system with a viable education.
I believe the Asian population has proven this fact beyond contest.
Case in point: Asian children (Cambodia, Laos, VietNam etc.) arrive in this country with minimal education. Odds are, their parents and grandparents have even less.
They attend the same downtrodden public schools and yet within five years these kids are at the top not only of their class but of the entire Buffalo Public School System.
Why?? Because the entire family participates in the child’s learning AFTER the school day ends.
The complainers and whiners should begin with the person they see in the mirror before pointing a finger of blame for their child’s poor education.
Rich McCarthy
Buffalo
Artvoice,
I seldom read your periodical, and when I do, it is basically for comic relief. I find that many of your “investigative” stories or “opinions” to be a bunch of left-wing shit. Having said that, recently a colleague of mine suggested that I read the Dec. 1 cover story “Buffalo Schools: Sleeping Giant or Giant Mess?” by Jamie Moses and Peter Koch. I found this article to be well written, investigated and balanced (I guess you folks, like Fox News, can do it if you try!). Please pass on my “job well done” to Jamie and Peter. They perhaps have a chance to go beyond Buffalo.
It is amazing to me that in a town that weeps for months over an inbred county budget fiasco; that debates a necessary and “simple” bridge design for mega years and has made a vast number of “consultants” rich over trying to decide on what the waterfront will be when it grows up, that something as large and critical as this Buffalo schools building project gets little or no attention.
For those involved in construction, this particular situation has been brewing for a long time, and I am awed that it was unnoticed, unchallanged and unmitigated.
Hopefully, to Artvoice’s credit and initiative, the local news media, the state comptroller’s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will challenge the appropriate folks for answers and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law if found criminal.
According to one school board member interviewed in the article, we have a Buffalo school board that writes a contract whereby through the state they release funds of $300,000,000 to the contractor, Ciminelli Construction, and no one knows what interest this is huge sum of money is drawing? Or who gets it?
By my math, a 4.5 percent straight interest—which I believe you can get through a short-term market vehicle, if not better— would produce about $37,000 a day. I think I might want to know where that money is if it was my money. Oh yeah, I forgot, it is my money—I pay taxes. Who in their right mind would approve a fixed-rate construction contract when it comes to unions, many moving parts and “construction phases,” and more importantly, crystal balling labor, material and equipment costs years ahead?
I hope at some point that Steve Rollins gets subpoenaed—that will get us to the bottom of this!
C. Tharsher
[Ed. note: Steve Rollins was the construction expert the school board voted to hire, only to be threatened with a lawsuit by Ciminelli Construction if they brought him on board.]
Fighting NYPA
Artvoice,
Please, please, please do something to stop the county from selling bonds against the Power Authority settlement. I am sure that your series exposing the inequity of the original offer helped this become a reality. But rather than take advantage of the opportunity to have a constant revenue stream, they are talking about mortgaging future income for short term gain. These are some of the same players who wasted the tobacco settlement proceeds and it will result in the same outcome. You have been right on top of this story—please stay with it to the end
Thanks,
Karen Leeds
Buffalo
Dear Editor,
Go Artvoice!
Congratulations for bringing the Power Authority Settlement story to the forefront and keeping it there.
Maybe Artvoice should be nominated for the Buffalo Snooze Citizen of the Year Award...
Mary L. Simpson
Buffalo
CORRECTION
In the December 1 cover story [“Buffalo Schools: Sleeping Giant or Giant Mess?”], Steve Rollins was inaccurately identified as an employee of Centerstone Development. He is actually President and CEO of Rollins Construction Management, Inc. Also, it was incorrectly stated that Ralph Hernandez brought an envelope containing correspondences to Artvoice. After AV contacted Hernandez about the project, he sent the correspondences via a third party.
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Issue Navigation> Issue Index > v4n50: Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide > Letters to Artvoice This Week's Issue • Artvoice Daily • Events Calendar • Classifieds |
Artvoice Blog Headlines
Who Goes Where When Hillary Goes to State?posted November 19, 12:04 pm on Artvoice DailyCity Hall News has flow_chart that tracks who might replace who, from Hillary’s Senate seat on down (click to expand or follow the link—it’s an awkward shape): |
It’s Robert Rich Sr. All High Stadiumposted November 14, 5:05 pm on Artvoice DailyThese new signs properly label the structure. We’ve been reading recent stories in the Buffalo News about sportswriter Tom Borrelli’s terrible fall last week at the old All High Stadium. He’s currently battling life-threatening injuries... (more) |
CWM Fined for Violationsposted November 14, 2:41 pm on Artvoice DailyThis week Chemical Waste Management was fined $175,000 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for violating its permits and the state’s hazardous waste laws. I don’t have much to say about that, except it doesn’t seem to me like too much money... (more) |
Musical Chairsposted November 14, 12:51 pm on Artvoice DailyThe AP reports that Hillary Clinton met with Barack Obama in Chicago yesterday, adding fuel to speculation that she might be Obama’s choice for secretary of state. If that happens, it has long been rumored that Brian Higgins would be appointed to her Senate seat... (more) |
Paint the Townposted November 14, 11:06 am on Artvoice DailyLate last night, at the tail end of one of the few weeks in the past year in which we did not publish anything snarky about anybody, someone threw two gallons of paint on our front doors. Seems a waste; we hadn’t even earned it. Nonetheless, we were cleaning up all morning... (more) |
Old Editions Book Shopposted November 13, 1:58 pm on Artvoice DailyAV videographer Matt Quinn tours Old Editions, an often overlooked treasure at the corner of Oak and Huron Streets downtown: show enclosure (video/x-flv; 21.29 MB) |
This Is Not Today’s Newsposted November 12, 9:37 am on Artvoice DailyBut it would be nice if it were. Via the Data Stream, by way of Jon Winet. |
This Just In…posted November 11, 3:28 pm on Artvoice DailyAlways in the vanguard, researchers of the University at Buffalo’s Center of Human Capital have reached a bold conclusion, according to a statement disseminated this afternoon: Although no official determination has been made about whether New York State or the U... (more) |
Silver Lining: Edwards Remains a Good Guyposted November 11, 11:17 am on Artvoice DailyMarshawn Lynch Amid the anguished finger-pointing, plaintive wailing and resigned head-shaking sweeping the region following the Buffalo Bills’ third straight defeat, Season Ticket would like to apportion a minute sliver of credit. Quarterback Trent Edwards, by most quantitative and qualitative standards, failed miserably at New England on Sunday (not coincidentally, this was also his third consecutive regressive outing)... (more) |
Mazzariello’s Ristorante & Martini Barposted November 7, 4:30 pm on Chew on ThisPhoto taken by Rose Mattrey From Antipasti to Primi to Secondi, Mazzariello’s (114 Bloomfield Ave, Lancaster, 206.0561) has conquered the map of Italian cooking. Your palate will be exposed to an array of spices, herbs, and ingredients indigenous to Northern & Southern Italy... (more) |
Post Election Bits & Bytesposted November 7, 12:02 am on Tech VoiceElection ‘08 is now in the history books - so I figured it’s time to take a look backward, and a look forward at some relevant headlines. Hacking Democracy First, we’ll take a look at one of the best kept secrets of the campaign season, from both sides, care of a Newsweek article published just today... (more) |
BNMC Open Meeting Tonightposted November 6, 1:19 pm on Artvoice DailyTonight at 6pm in the auditorium of the downtown library, everyone is invited to attend a public hearing on the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus—North End Projects. Among the projects planned are a 300,000 square foot Medical Office Building to be owned and operated by Ciminelli Development Company, Inc... (more) |
That Pigeon Won’t Flyposted November 6, 10:05 am on Artvoice DailySteve Pigeon Here’s another example, this one two years old, of the way Steve Pigeon’s political committees are alleged to steer money to candidates illegally. On September 15, 2006, the Pigeon-controlled PAC Citizens for Fiscal Integrity paid “RUR Strategy Group” $9,000 in consulting fees, according to CFI’s campaign finance disclosure forms... (more) |
SeaBar’s Social Calendarposted November 5, 12:44 pm on Chew on ThisSeaBar will host live jazz and sushi nights starting Friday, November 21st at 8 p.m. (5235 Main Street, Wmsvl, 204.5283). A Cave Springs Riesling Tasting Event will take place at SeaBar’s suburban location on Wednesday, November 9th at 7 p.m... (more) |
Artvoice TV: Latest Additions » more on AVTV
Dr. Riyaz Hassanali: The effect Smoking has on your Skinposted November 21, 4:50 pm on channel Local Interest
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Twilightposted November 19, 1:09 pm on channel Movie Trailers
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamasposted November 19, 1:06 pm on channel Movie Trailers
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Avi Takes Artvoice Shopping for the holidays @ Lexington food Co-opposted November 19, 11:52 am on channel Food
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TRAIN DAY! @ the Buffalo Historical Societyposted November 17, 3:07 pm on channel Local Interest
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Mass Appeal: Elmwood Fashion Eventposted November 15, 10:19 pm on channel Events
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Buffalo Contemporay Danceposted November 15, 6:43 pm on channel Events
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Old Editions Book Shopposted November 13, 11:42 am on channel Local Interest
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Off Stage: Conversations with Anthony Chaseposted November 12, 4:50 pm on channel Theater
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Happy Go Luckyposted November 12, 2:08 pm on channel Movie Trailers
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Quantum of Solaceposted November 12, 2:01 pm on channel Movie Trailers
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Flash Party at Essex St.posted November 9, 10:59 am on channel Events
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Lakeview Effect at Nietzsche'sposted November 8, 4:54 pm on channel Music
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Flatbed at Allen St. Hardwareposted November 8, 2:28 pm on channel Music
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Obama's Nightposted November 6, 3:13 pm on channel Politics
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