By Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz
I recently presented the 2025 State of the County address. I was joined by other elected officials, small business owners, administrators of local not-for-profit organizations, religious leaders, local high school and college students and various other community stakeholders as they heard my thoughts and observations on the past year and what Erie County has planned as we continue with my administration’s continued commitment to good government.
I discussed many initiatives and programs during my speech, including our plans for Erie County to take over the former Westwood Country Club property in Amherst and convert the site into a nine-hole public golf course and passive park with walking trails and an inclusive playground. I also shared details about the expansion of the county’s ambulance service, our one-year pilot program aimed at improving the assigned counsel process, ongoing construction of affordable housing, the continued growth of the Erie NET broadband internet project, and our continued efforts to stabilize SUNY Erie.
If you were not in attendance last month and still haven’t taken the time to watch, I urge you to view the video of my presentation of the 2025 State of the County address by visiting www.youtube.com/ErieCountyNY .
While I discussed many actions we've taken to create a better community, I also spent time talking about the current state of our nation and the attack on the basic principles of our democratic republic. The state of Erie County is strong, but our democracy is at risk. Democracy is not a spectator sport and despite what some people want you to believe, democracies can and do fail. Just because it has existed for 249 years doesn't mean its existence is guaranteed.
As I stated in my speech, these are unprecedented times. Despite what right-wing radio talk show hosts and conservative television program moderators tell you, our democracy is at risk. Every generation faces a critical test. This is ours. Please join me in standing up to attacks on the freedoms of Americans. We cannot stand by silently and do nothing when the core principles of our republic are at stake.
A recent editorial in The Buffalo News supported my agenda and celebrated Erie County’s many accomplishments. It also applauded my efforts to call out the harmful actions of Donald Trump and Elon Musk, stating “Every government official throughout the U.S. should be concerned about a presidential administration that seems bent on chaotically undermining its own functions as well as causing real harm.”
Despite demands from some for me to ignore what’s happening in our nation’s capital, I remain steadfast in my criticism of President Trump, specifically the senseless trade war with Canada. National policies and major decisions impact us locally, so expect to hear more from me in the weeks and months ahead. I hope you will join me in speaking out and addressing national issues that affect you and your loved ones.