Spring is here and with that road projects are getting underway. In the 11th legislative district there is considerable work being done this road construction season. Those projects include mill and overlay for portions of Powers Road, Jennings Road, Mayers Road, Rice Road and Feddick Road. There will also be cold recycle with top course treatment on portions of New Oregon, South Abbott and South Feddick Roads. Oil and chip work will be done on portions of Boston-Colden, Langford-New Oregon, South Jennings, Zoar Valley, Sweetland, Hardpan, Gowans, Cain, Haag and Clark. In addition, engineering projects are planned for Lakeshore Road and various bridge work will be done this summer. Maintaining our infrastructure is so important to ensure the safety of all our residents.
At the Buffalo Bills recent Topping Out ceremony, the final steel beam was raised into place at the New Highmark Stadium. I was pleased that the thousands in the skilled labor workforce who have worked through all kinds of weather were recognized for their efforts, and with their signatures on the beam they will forever be a part of the stadium they are constructing.
As we work towards the next milestone, it is so important we do it right. This is a once-in-a-generation project, and we must ensure development surrounding the stadium is done smartly and enhances the game day experience. The towns of Orchard Park and Hamburg are central to this effort. We must lean into the experts and approach this development with the understanding that we are leaving a legacy for our children and grandchildren. I will also continue to press the importance of making it pedestrian friendly for Bills fans. We only have one chance to create a destination that will be the envy of the rest of the league. Let’s make sure we rise to the occasion and be the talk of the NFL for decades to come.
While the correction’s officers strike was deemed “illegal,” I do believe they turned to picketing as a last resort, after their concerns were not heard. Corrections officers worked too many hours and in increasingly dangerous conditions. They felt they had no other option. To add insult to injury, Governor Hochul said the fired corrections officers would not be allowed to pursue other employment in the state or in the municipalities. That is unfair, and while I’m glad that her Executive Order to bar fired corrections officers from state employment expired, New York State needs to do more to keep them safe.
Meanwhile, I am increasingly concerned that Collins Correctional Facility may be targeted by the state for closure. This would absolutely devastate the local community. It is highly unfair that the Gowanda facility was shuttered just a few years ago and now may be looking to do the same with Collins. There are a number of nearby businesses that rely heavily on the workforce at these facilities, not to mention it would put hundreds of local residents out of work. There needs to be fairness when determining which prisons to keep open. Southern Erie County has already suffered enough.
Thank you for the honor of serving you. If you have a county related issue, contact my office at 716-858-8850, or by email John.Mills@erie.gov
