Legislator Todaro
The decision by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz to cancel a Department of Homeland Security job fair just days before it was set to begin was an abuse of his authority. We are a border community that is home to thousands of federal workers. We need to be providing opportunities to people to come or stay here. Visit Buffalo Niagara, which is tasked with promoting our region, should not have been so eager to also turn these opportunities way. While I am grateful that The Coast Guard Buffalo Station stepped up to host this event, it never should have come down to that. The applicants came from all walks of life, and many left that job fair after being hired on the spot. This is a region that is hungry for career opportunities. Visitors came from all over, spending money at hotels and restaurants. One person does not and should not ever have the authority to unilaterally make such a decision that ultimately negatively impacts our region. Companies that were tasked with helping to set up the job fair at the Convention Center also lost out. They spent time and money preparing for the event. As a border city, we know the importance DHS provides through the various sectors that fall under its umbrella. The county executive’s decision to pull the plug was wrong on so many levels.
It is hard to believe it has been 25 years since the September 11th attacks. Nearly three thousand souls died that day. The effects from those who worked in recovery operations in the days and weeks that followed also suffered. We were never more united as a country than we were on September 12, 2001. There is still more that unites us than divides us and I hope we can find our way back to that understanding, where we can have differing beliefs, but still know as a country, we are better together.
Democrat Legislator Jeanne Vinal has submitted a resolution proposing a county wide planning board. I am strongly opposed to this, as it takes the voices away from the individual communities as to what they want for their towns or villages. The representation on that board by representatives outside the city would be limited, leaving others to decide the fate of communities they don’t even live in.
In the coming weeks Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz will be presenting his proposed 2027 budget. In the years that he has been in office he has grown the size and cost of government significantly. We are not a region seeing population growth, so it makes little sense that he wants to continue expanding county government. I am hoping his 2027 spending plan is fiscally sound, but if history is any indicator, that may not be the case.
I hope you all enjoyed a safe, healthy and happy summer. If you have a county related issue, contact my office at 716-681-2071 or by email at Frank.Todaro@erie.gov You can also stay up to date on issues impacting Erie County by following my Facebook page at Legislator Frank Todaro. Thank you for the honor of serving you.
