I recently sponsored legislation that would cap Erie County’s tax on gasoline to help ease the pain at the pumps for residents. My colleagues and I in the Republican Caucus moved to pass that cap last week. Unfortunately, all but one of our democratic colleagues were not in support of providing you with that relief and as such, the measure failed. I will continue to push for passage of this cap. It’s unbelievable to me that in these times, legislators don’t see the necessity in giving you a break.
I was encouraged that the youth hunting bill, which allows 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt larger game with adult supervision, passed in the Erie County Legislature. Unfortunately, the County Executive vetoed the law, even though the Department of Environmental Conservation has recorded zero incidents since this law was passed in other counties statewide. At this point we have enough votes in the legislature to override that veto, as long as none of the lawmakers on the other side of the aisle are pressured into changing their vote.
I was less than impressed with the 2026 State of the County Address by County Executive Mark Poloncarz. The address lacked any big ideas or bold thinking. If we want to move Erie County forward, we must be willing to take some risks. Instead, the Address was filled with small initiatives that do nothing to advance our region. I want my children and grandchildren to have a reason to stay here. His speech offered nothing new, and nothing transformative. It was a big disappointment and another reason why we need new leadership willing to take on bigger initiatives that will move our region forward.
Last week we marked the 4th anniversary of the Tops shooting that left ten beloved members of our community dead. We must never forget this tragedy. It is important that we remember not only the lives lost but work to heal and always stand up to racism. There is no place in our society for the ugliness of hate.
The proposed highway improvement project on William Street between Transit Road and Bowen Road will get underway this summer with design and acquisitions of the stretch west of Aurora Street to Bowen Road. Construction will take place in the Summer of 2027 and 2028. For Phase 2, which is Transit Road to 600 feet west of Aurora Street, final design and acquisitions will occur in the Winter of 2028 and 2029, with Construction work completed by December 2029. The project is necessary to improve safety, alleviate delays at intersections, restore the pavement to a smooth riding surface and accommodate the increased demand on that roadway. To learn more about the project, go to https://www.cscos.com/williamstreet/
If you have a county related issue, please contact my office at (716)681-2071 or by email at Frank.Todaro@erie.gov You can also follow me on Facebook at Legislator Frank Todaro. Thank you for the honor of serving you.
