I hope you all enjoyed your Independence Day celebrations. It is an important recognition that this country has remained the land of the free and home of the brave for 250 years now. It remains the great promise for so many who have fled countries where they are oppressed or are limited in opportunities and freedoms. America must continue to uphold the principles this country was founded on and be that shining city on a hill where so many come to for a better life.
The violence that occurred the July 4th weekend in the City of Buffalo is deeply troubling. One way to cut down on this is people knowing there will be consequences for their actions. The soft on crime policies being pushed in Albany do little to deter people from creating havoc in their neighborhoods. Unless and until we ensure there is a heavy price to pay this violence will continue. I hope our leaders in Albany and in Buffalo understand that and do more to punish those responsible.
This week we are holding mid-year budget hearings, which allow us to hear from the different departments in Erie County and get a status update of where they are financially half-way through this year. Erie County offers a variety of services and funds several programs. It is important that we learn through the department heads how well we are doing, what needs work, and how fiscally sound we are. It does concern me that Erie County government has grown significantly under this Administration. We cannot continue to expect taxpayers to shoulder the burden that comes with overspending. Residents are deserving of a break from the government consistently reaching into their pocket. They work hard and this Administration should not be continually holding its hand out for more. We want a county and community where our children and grandchildren want to stay and raise their families. But making that possible means giving them a reason to do so. Easing the heavy and expensive burden that comes with living in Erie County and New York State is one way to do that.
I’m pleased the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation is providing funding to four libraries in my district. They include the Angola Public Library, Boston Free Library, town of Collins Public Library and North Collins Public Library.
I continue to serve on the capital projects committee, where we meet to determine which projects are needed or necessary for Erie County to complete for the betterment of our community.
Serving in the Erie County Legislature has been a great joy of mine. As I continue my final year as your legislator it is important to me to visit the many communities I have represented for the past twenty years. In August I will be meeting with residents of North Collins, Brant and the Village of Farnham. It has always been a priority of mine to spend time in the towns and villages I represent. I have long believed that is the best way to understand the needs of my constituents.
As always, if you have a county related issue, contact my office at (716)858-8850 or by email at John.Mills@erie.gov You can also follow me on Facebook at Legislator John Mills.
