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Artvoice Weekly Edition » Issue v8n48 (11/25/2009) » Section: Week in Review


Six Days: The Straight Dope From the (Abbreviated) Week That Was

A scant hour after Brian Davis had announced his resignation from the Ellicott District seat on Buffalo’s Common Council, the bargaining and maneuvering over his replacement was the principle subject of conversation at Gene McCarthy’s Irish Pub in the Old First Ward. Gathered for a Thanksgiving-themed fundraiser to benefit Council President Dave Franczyk, a host of politicians, their supporters and staff, community group directors, and innocent bystanders considered the list of purported candidates, particularly firefighter Bryon McIntyre, attorney Bill Trezevant, and True Bethel Baptist Pastor Darius Pridgen. They debated the implications of filling the vacancy on the Council presidency, which is a bargaining chip both the mayor and the Council majority have to offer; on deliberations over the mayor’s capital budget, which the majority can alter at will if they can place an ally in the Ellicott District seat to counter the mayor’s veto power; and on next November, when whoever is appointed to the seat will have to run in a special election.

Scorecard: The Week's Winners & Losers

While Buffalo’s ranking as the 27th most violent city—sure to rise next year!—is nothing to brag about, at least we can take solace in the fact that we beat out most of our Rust Belt sisters. Top (dis)honor went to the Dirty D, Detroit, which was the fourth most crime-ridden in America, followed closely by Cleveland (8th), Baltimore (13th), and Cincinnati (19th). If only our football teams were inversely successful to our likelihood to be shot on the street!



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