The Buffalo News is part of the Problem

While the public is screaming for an alternative to the corrupt political machine that has lead Buffalo and Erie County into the ground, The Buffalo News refuses to report anything substantive about the two Mayoral candidates that are challenging the Democratic and Republican front-runners.

Below are a brief statistical analysis of the Buffalo News’ coverage of the candidates over the past 6 months, and a critical analysis of their coverage of the two mayoral debates.

This is the number of times over the past 6 months that a candidate’s name has appeared in a Buffalo News article.

Byron Brown	213 times
Kevin Helfer	122 times
Judith/Judy Einach	40 times
Charles/Charlie Flynn	about 40*

It is difficult to get an estimate for Flynn because there are a lot of Charles and Flynns in the city.

It is also useful to see how many times the News mentioned more then one candidate in the same article. If two or more candidates names appear it usually means that they are being compared against each other at some level. Comparative articles are usually more in depth, and placed more prominently in the paper. They also tend to be about more important issues, as opposed to an article mentioning just one candidate which might be a simple blurb about overcoming some legal obstacle. Brown and Helfer received 4 times more attention than Einach and Flynn.

# of articles mentioning specified candidates in the same article. Past 6 months

Brown and Helfer	106
Brown, Helfer and Einach	25
Brown, Helfer and Flynn	24

Coverage of the Debates

The debates are worthwhile to watch for the simple fact that all the candidates get equal time to express their views. However the Buffalo News Coverage of the debates was not nearly as fair.

The News’ Coverage of the first debate was absolutely appalling. The article by Anthony Cardinale was titled “Brown-Helfer Duel Enlivens Debate”. I understand people are on short schedules and only have about 6 hours to write a major article for the newspaper but seriously, Charles Flynn and Judy Einach were mentioned in the 13^th and 14^th paragraph respectively… and it was only a 15-paragraph story. We got a brief snippet of their opening statements at the very end of the article, at which point most people have already stopped reading, especially if they don’t want to listen to two political heavyweights take cheap shots at each other.

Some of the more interesting questions and answers were addressed, such as Brown’s union ties and Palidino’s sponsorship of Helfer’s campaign. However, as I watched the debate the two minor candidates were far more interesting than Brown and Helfer, yet they were given a measly amount of space. They were offering innovative solutions to key problems in the city. For example, if we want to create jobs why not focus on allowing entrepreneurs and small businesses start and expand their businesses instead of trying to lure in national and multinational corporations, that are not tied to our community and whose profits go out of town.

When people asked me what I thought about the debate I said that I was glad we had Flynn and Einach there, because they actually discussed the issues and enriched the discussion. I fear how little would have been discussed if it was only Brown and Helfer bantering back and forth and spending their energy on trivial accusations.

Some people may get excited about watching Brown and Helfer try to beat the other guy down as if this was some sort of wrestling match, but most of buffalo is turned off by it, and it’s a poor way to frame an article.

The News and Mr. Cardinale learned some lessons after their first article and didn’t make as many mistakes in the article “Mayoral hopefuls debate issues one last time before election: Brown ignores gibes from opponent Helfer” published today. They actually gave a synopsis of the opening statements in the first 7 paragraphs. Einach was mentioned 5 times and Flynn 4 throughout the 850 word story, although that’s about half the attention that both Brown and Helfer received.

The article was still framed as a battle, and biased toward Brown, mentioning the Buffalo news recent poll that heavily favored Brown. And also mentioning his endorsement by respected state comptroller Alan G. Hevesi, both of which had nothing to do with the story. Also an obvious omission in the piece was Brown’s refusal to answer a question about the downfalls of a casino and how he would deal with them, instead Brown chose to list the same positives he mentioned last week. Brown was then directly asked to answer the question and didn’t, annoying many members of the audience, and leaving a lasting impression.

Don’t trust the Buffalo News to give you a fair account of area politics. If you want to know what happened at the debates watch the video. And if you want to learn about the candidates you have to go to their websites or ask them directly. Especially if you want to know about Judy Einach and Charles Flynn, because the news won’t cover them. The News will not and cannot give you the whole story, so don’t let them frame the discussion for you. Listen to the interviews and visit the websites. And no matter how many times Helfer and Brown say “my opponent” remember that they have three opponents, there are four candidates in this race. Don’t be fooled.

Article Posted on WNY Media.net

The Casino is not a Done Deal

By David Coffee

10-18-2005

The casino in Buffalo... there's a lot to the issue but one thing about it is really offending me right now, NOBODY ASKED US! The governor woke up one morning and said "I know how I'm going to close the gap in our budget, I'm take a piece of Buffalo and give it away to a sovereign nation. They can take the land right off of the tax rolls and make $150 million off of it each year from a casino.” but the really outrageous thing is that he didn’t ask Buffalo, Erie county, or even the state legislature. And he sure as hell didn’t use a referendum to ask us, the people who live here. Seriously, I’m outraged.

Especially since Buffalo is not doing bad right now, there’s actually a lot of old architectural gems being renovated and turned into mixed use apartments and commercial buildings. And new buildings are even starting to fill in the parking lots. The nice areas of the city are actually growing, as more people are moving into the downtown neighborhoods. Main St is improving from the theatre district past the medical campus and all the way up to the Artspace lofts project near Summer St. There’s also the interesting Health Now building right behind City Hall and all kinds of stuff is happening. All we need is for the government not to screw it up. You can read about the new developments at Buffalo Rising’s City page http://www.buffalorising.com/city/ .

Now is not the time to be giving pieces of downtown real estate away to a sovereign nation.

The jobs argument is bullshit, look at other cities that have tried this, like Atlantic city, Detroit, or Niagara Falls, yes even in Niagara Falls at least two hotels and a restaurant have already closed, and they actually have tourists! By contrast 80% of the money that the casino makes in Buffalo is going to come from us, the local economy, and it’s not staying here, it’s going to the Senecas.

The casino will also be nicely situated at the center of all the bus routes, Downtown, where people who cant afford cars can easily get to. Not so with the Niagara Falls or Salamanca casinos. The poor in Buffalo are going to get poorer. I live in an inexpensive Allentown apartment, most of my neighbors in this building are poor, both white and black, I thought about them. Who would go, would they spend more money than they could afford, and what would they do to try and get that money back? What would happen to our neighborhood because of their poverty? I don’t like what I see, really.. more theft, more drugs, more broken car windows and missing stereos, more people outside bothering you for change, or asking you to buy their crap, electronics and fake drugs. It won’t be as nice of a neighborhood. This is one of the most pedestrian friendly and architecturally beautiful sections of the city, but people will enjoy it less, and less often, because they will be harassed and confronted by the struggling poor.

It’s not good, I mean seriously if you want numbers here’s some stuff from Donn Esmonde’s recent article :

The casino will make $150 million a year

About 80 percent of the people who will gamble at a Buffalo casino live within 50 miles of Buffalo,

The casino brings about 1,000 jobs (although at a cost of some existing jobs), with those workers taking home about $25 million a year.

The state gets about $30 million of the annual casino profits,

With the City and County splitting about $7 million.

But $25 million in take-home pay and a $7 million local cut doesn't balance the nearly $150 million we'll pay for it.

"The number one casino spinoff business is a gas station," Thompson said. "Maybe a restaurant within walking distance . . . Most people going to the casino won't do a single thing in Buffalo other than gamble."

If you read this whole thing you definitely care enough to call some representatives and say that if a casino is proposed the public should have a say,

There is a public comment period from now until November 7^th, you have to fax or e-mail Gale Norton, the Interior Secretary, she’s the one who approves land transfers. I encouraged my representatives to send her a fax as well. (FAX# 202-208-6950) (E-Mail: webteam@ios.doi.gov)

Also call your local representatives and tell them to introduce a bill to their legislature so that they have to address the issue and hear from their constituents about it. Or encourage them to sponsor a referendum for the people to vote on. Also give them the fax number for the Interrior Secretary and ask them to send her a statement demanding that this transfer be delayed until the local people have had their say in the matter.

This process is going way too fast, it needs to be properly deliberated.

We are handing over a chunk of our city.

You can find your city reps here: http://www.city-buffalo.com/document_6_3.html

County reps here: http://www.erie.gov/legislature/legislators.asp

State reps here: http://map01.elections.state.ny.us/boe/Main.asp

Casino's local benefits come up short

10/14/2005
By DONN ESMONDE

The more I talk to Bill Thompson, the harder I root for Joel Rose.

Thompson knows more about casinos than anybody this side of Donald Trump. The University of Nevada professor has spent a professional lifetime separating winners from losers in the gambling business.

Joel Rose heads the anti-casino group that will sue to stop the Seneca Nation from building a casino on the downtown waterfront, likely in the vacant DL&W Terminal.

Rose and his followers think little good for us will come of it. Thompson, the casino expert, agrees.

"The winners," Thompson said, "are the Senecas and [George] Pataki."

There are ways in which casinos work for communities: When most gamblers come from outside the region, stay a few days, leave money behind and the host city keeps a lot of the lucre.

Instead, we get the worst of all casino worlds: Mostly local gamblers who don't linger long, with massive profits going to a sovereign nation and Buffalo left with pocket change. It doesn't help the local economy, it hurts it.

Rose & Co. think they can stop it. If they can't, our so-called representatives in Albany ought to at least send more of the casino dough our way.

The casino will make about $150 million in its first year, the bulk of it going to the Senecas. Most of the money will come at our expense, because Buffalo is no tourist mecca. "About 80 percent of the people who will gamble at a Buffalo casino live within 50 miles of Buffalo," Thompson said. "The casino will make a lot of money, but it will come [mainly] from Western New York pockets."

Because most of the $150 million will be dropped by local folks, it amounts to a self-imposed tax. The irony curls your Ben Franklins: The idea of forking over another $108 million last year in sales tax sparked a citizen revolt. A Seneca casino in Buffalo will put a similar hole in local pockets - and the mayor leads the cheers.

I don't have anything against the Senecas. They got a great deal, cut years ago with the governor. It was rubber-stamped by the same Albany lawmakers who blocked the private casinos that would have done cities like Buffalo far more good. The Senecas are only taking what politicians who are supposed to watch our backs gave them. Unless the same state lawmakers give Buffalo a bigger cut of Albany's take, which they can do, the casino will suck more money out of Buffalo than it puts back.

Granted, it's not like we get nothing. The casino brings about 1,000 jobs (although at a cost of some existing jobs), with those workers taking home about $25 million a year. The state gets about $30 million of the annual casino profits, with the city and county splitting about $7 million of that.

But $25 million in take-home pay and a $7 million local cut doesn't balance the nearly $150 million we'll pay for it.

As for development around the casino, Thompson said don't hold your breath.

"The number one casino spinoff business is a gas station," Thompson said. "Maybe a restaurant within walking distance . . . Most people going to the casino won't do a single thing in Buffalo other than gamble."

Add it up, and you understand why Joel Rose and friends want to stop it. Add it up, and you understand why Thompson - if the casino comes - thinks the state should fork over its entire cut to Buffalo.

"It's Buffalo that needs that money," Thompson said of Albany's $30 million share. "Buffalo doesn't need to send [casino] dollars to Albany that will then go to Westchester and New York City. The state should let the local governments keep it all."

Instead, we get pocket change after having our pockets picked. As they say at the blackjack table: Hit me.

Ouch.

e-mail: desmonde@buffnews.com