City September 14, 2009 1:24 PM

BRO On BFO: Mayor's Race, XXX, Buffalo Public Schools and eStudent Network

BRO On BFO: Mayor’s Race, XXX, Buffalo Public Schools and eStudent Network
Elena Cala Buscarino
Elena Cala Buscarino 4
In this week's segment of the Buffalo Rising Roundtable (Podcast) with WBFO News Director Mark Scott, we talked about the mayoral race for the first 12 minutes, and then Newell made an endorsement for his choice of mayor. 

We also discussed the XXX video store that closed on Chippewa, along with the face of change on the street and improvements that are needed moving into the future.  What does it take to make a district thrive, and how can the main players work together to make it happen?

Mark brought up the subject of the Buffalo Public Schools and Dr. James Williams' convocation last week.  The schools are on the rise, and though the bottom line numbers are there, public opinion still lags.  We're nearing the point where this 2nd largest school district in the state could become a point of pride, and though it's taking some time, strides have been made that will pay off in the future with a higher graduation rate and overall school health.

eStudent Network: Newell talks about his newest endeavor, separate from Buffalo Rising, that helps to introduce college students and people outside of Buffalo to life in the big city.  The site provides a public service in its wealth of user-generated information that points to Buffalo highlights and makes them easy to get to.

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littleacorn
September 14, 2009 11:26 AM
littleacorn

Would Elana define "point of pride" and at what point in the future will this occur? There isn't indication that anyone is buying the concept that the Buffalo Public Schools are attracting future residents and families into the city. If my kids did not go to the best elementary school in the district I would probably be out of here.

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Sean Brodfuehrer
September 14, 2009 12:10 PM
Sean Brodfuehrer

It took too long for Chippewa to come together as a business group. The infrastructure NEEDS a make-over. Bump outs should be a first priority here. Anything that will allow people and drivers to better see and interact would make it a lot safer. Shorten the intersections, protect the parking, define the parking!

And against what I normal stand for. I don't feel Chippewa should have trees. The poor things get trampled, broken, and just beat up. There is too much traffic and not enough room for trees to properly grow. Instead the added room would be very appreciated on the busy nights... and especially in winter that would make the whole thing flow better.

As for Williams, I do agree that the stats have been great for the district! I look forward and do hope that they continue on the same direction.

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Sean Brodfuehrer
September 14, 2009 12:29 PM
Sean Brodfuehrer

as for eStudent network... I completely agree with the premise behind it.. but the organization makes me wonder whether or not it really is much better than just doing a search on Google Maps for stuff.

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queencity
September 14, 2009 8:03 PM
queencity

I frankly thing the Chippewa needs to go. I would have thought the Chippewa bars would have relocated around the Buffalo Creek Casino but since that isnt happening, the current location will be with us for a while yet. Why do I think the Chippewa needs to go...because with the construction of the Federal Courthouse, Avant, the 8 story Court Street Building and future redevelopment of the Statler...this area is maturing into a residential, government and business district...where people want to patronize cabarets, jazz, restaurants, the philharmonic at Kleihnhans and dinner/theaters than the early 20s-early 30s bar crowd.

PS...and the Buffalo Creek Casino...is close enough to the DL&W and the Buffalo River to evolve into a sort of Fells Point (Baltimore).

As far as the Kearns/Brown Mayoral race...its very stereotypical. From purely fact based demographics, the african american community will vote uniformly for the african american candidate much as demographics show that the jewish vote uniformly votes for the jewish candidate while the truly assimilated people vote for who they think is the best candidate regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender or orientation. To be fair though...Buffalo has a long string of corrupt and/or incompetent mayors who get re-elected over and over again. So I guess that we could say incumbancy then beats out any other demographic in most cases. Its a near statistic impossibility for a democrat mayor to be voted out and replaced with a republican mayor...so even if there is a throw the bum out vote...Buffalo will only manage to get another democratic mayor loyal to the same party, the same unions, the same albany connections, etc etc etc.

Still...we have seen enough Pitts, Brown, Howard to know that these are party incompetents...these arent grass roots leaders with loyalty to Buffalo. In every case whether Brown or Masiello or prior...none except perhaps Griffin...would break with albany, break with the unions, break with patronage or party if it meant obeying the local voting constituency of the city they represent.

I say throw Brown/Pitts out ... and give Kearns a chance to disappoint us?

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