CACGEC Candidates’ Forum

CACGEC Candidates’ Forum, September 7, 2004

NOTE: Below is a summary. Click Here For Online Audio

27^th US Congressional District

Michael Collesano (D)

Casino

Casino will bring problems
Casino being talked about only because politicians push it as a way of saving area
“We’ll never build a casino if we all speak up and say we don’t want one.”
Casinos prey on people who can least afford it.
The law that allows states to negotiate with the Senecas is a federal law, so this is a national issue and he would speak out against it
Feels casinos have hurt, not helped native Americans
We all pay for gambling problems
A casino will not help our deteriorating areas – it is the mentality that thinks it will that is comes up with these ideas
Gambling will not bring tourism or other new development

Other issues

Politicians are addressing issues with “wrong focus”, ie, “big projects” like casino, inner harbor, etc – looking for the “big home run” that doesn’t work
Instead, should spread the money across many smaller projects
Instead of “big bang” projects we should take the money and spread it out among multiple smaller projects

Peter Crotty (D)

Casino

He is for casino gambling
Says until we get economic development we should keep the money here instead of letting it go to Fort Erie and Niagara Falls
Thinks will bring peripheral development
Thinks issue is a “diversion” from more important issues
Would support current federal laws allowing native American gambling – believes laws were passed to helped native Americans
Says CACGEC is trying to “roll back the times” _”casinos are here to stay”
Believes casino development within State’s constitutional authority
Thinks casino should go downtown, not waterfront

Other issues

National focus needs to be on budget- deficit is a problem
Favors John Kerry’s proposal to raise taxes on those making over $200,000
Wants to cut military spending
This election is about getting out of Iraq, we have to get UN in, and get partners who are real
Jobs being outsourced are a drain on economy

60^th NYS Senate District

Byron Brown (D) - Not in attendance, sent e-mail

Casino

Emin “Eddie” Egriu (D)

Casino

Against casinos – they will never change economy
Has not benefited people in other cities – only benefits big developers
We contradict ourselves with casinos – we are concerned about kids playing dice in streets, but not concerned if people go to a casino
Will not bring tourists to Buffalo
Opposed to giving away heart of our city and losing tax base
“I will walk with you on this issue”

Other issues

Imagine if the $500 million spent on waterfront development had been spent on our neighborhoods
We need to clean up the forgotten neighborhoods
4 issues of his campaign; better education, less crime, better neighborhoods, better real estate
Reproductive rights – believes in family values, but does not believe we are designed to be judges, so believes in choice
Economic development – Our real estate has low value, therefore no tax base. Clean up forgotten districts, don’t just knock down but create something – create jobs within our cities

Al Coppola (D)

Casino

Will be detrimental to city
Sovereign nation would own 50 acres – would hurt restaurant, gas, hotel industries
CACGEC should work to put a non-binding referendum on the ballot in 2005 “I will be glad to guide you on this process”
This issue is the future of Buffalo – we should have something to say

Other issues

We have best power source in country, but pay high rates – should have a chance to have municipally-owned power authority
Ambassador bridge would take more property off tax rolls
Reproductive rights – believes both sides headed in wrong direction. We need education – if we talked to the kids we would not have the abortion problem
Economic development – stop taking property off the tax rolls and lower our energy costs

144^th NYS Assembly District
David Penna (R)

Casino

Other issues

Upstate NYS is getting clobbered
Problem is the State – the Medicaid problem gets worse
State puts onus on communities to pay for its mandates
We rely on local representatives to put the brakes on, but that hasn’t happened
Regionalism: NYS does not have too many governments. Portland has problems because they tried to build public transportation instead of roads, he favors the way Atlanta was developed. Erie County is shrinking –regionalism won’t help – problem is the loss of jobs
Albany reform: he supports the “tax payers’ bill of rights” – politicians have to make the reforms necessary so we are not paying such high taxes

Sam Hoyt (D)

Casino

Thanks CACGEC for work it has done
Has stood against casino from “Day 1”
Position based on sound economic research – in the end there will be no economic benefit

Other issues

As incumbent, says his record is clear – education has been his #1 priority –inequity between suburbs and city is unacceptable
Points to Richardson Towers as a project he promoted that will result in jobs
Buffalo should share in sales tax
Health care: He has delivered Medicaid relief for Erie County and fought to keep Children’s Hospital in current location
We need more visionary economics that will lead to better jobs – must stop looking for the “big bang” from casinos, Bass Pro, etc
We need to exploit intellectual capital at UB by marketing products developed at UB
We are an international border – explosive growth in southern Ontario is moving toward us, but we’re doing nothing to plan for the opportunity coming our way
Regionalism: most important question is how you define it. Definitely too many governmental units in Erie County, and duplicative services. He sponsored smart growth legislation because we need to stop sprawl.
Albany reform: has tried to bring home to Buffalo what is needed by working within the system while at the same time fighting for reform. He supports the Brennan report. Yes, Albany is broken, and he is leading many reforms. There are so many ingrained problems associated with state government that we need a constitutional convention.
Decries the negative campaigning being done in this race –believes it is being paid for by a Giambra-controlled PAC that wants Golombek to win

Joe Golombek (D)

Casino

Not opposed to casinos, but opposed to Seneca casino because takes land off tax rolls, especially since the compact allows for “other gambling-related activities”
Should have been a referendum – would not support any gambling, Native American or otherwise, unless community passed a referendum in support.
Believes Hoyt should have stood up to Sheldon Silver re: casino issue
Admits that received large campaign contribution from Carl Paladino which included money from Seneca groups, but says that there was no “quid pro quo” and he will not be beholden to Senecas or other gambling interests

Other issues

Says has record of independence on Common Council since 1999: supported a smaller Council, stood up to unions and to Masiello
Albany is broken- “bipartisan incompetence”
Regionalism: supports regionalism referendum being on ballot next year, but cannot say if he will be for or against until he sees what it says – favors metro government rather than the piecemeal stuff we’ve gotten so far
Albany reform: would fight to stop unfair rules from being enforced. Would not support Silver for Assembly leader.
Says he is not behind the negative campaigning nad does not know the source of funding