Buffalo Rising Online

Peter is a great choice. He's worked as Counsel for Administration and the Common Council and has the experience to drive chain with a short learning curve. I'm glad to see fresh, hard-working, smart leadesrhip taking over. Go Pete!

A youth movement on the council is long overdue, but Pete Savage? Can't we find warm bodies that aren't a part of or related to old city administrations? Just seems that we recycle the same old folks for these positions. Experience is fantastic, but a new perspective I think would be more appropriate. Let's hope this isn't a coronation.

don't mean to be mean but... Bonifcacio was as sharp as peanut butter and did nothing for me and my neighbors duing his time in office. surprised? and, it's so good to hear that his likely replacement (elections actually mean anything in this town?) is a long-time City insider. how optimistic am I?

"Bonifacio has worked tirelessly throughout his nearly eight years with the city to improve the quality of life in his community. He secured funding for more than 200 demolitions, found a new home for the Massachusetts Avenue Project, and encouraged the $4 million investment in Front Park"

This is all he did in 8 frickin years?

Enough of people with "roots." I want someone with ideas, not boring rhetoric like, "house by house, block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood. We need to revitalize them so today's headaches aren't tomorrow's major problems." That's terrible. Moreover, this job isn't just constituent service, he or she will have a vote on issues that impact the entire city. Some competition for this seat wouldn't be a bad thing. The people of Buffalo should decide its councilperson, not some retiring politician.

Pete has always been responsive and friendly to me. Just because he is politically connected doesn't make him a bad candidate. Personally, I would give him a chance.

Bonifacio, on the other hand, I believe should relinquish his seat now. He took city funds illegally and had a water line installed on private property at 322 Bryant Street. I believe he was well-intentioned in doing this but the city lost a few thousand dollars in the process.

In working on another deal at 291 Bryant, I sent Bonifacio an e-mail but have yet to receive any follow-up. Here's a copy:

"I will check on the status." -----Original Message----- From: Superman3d@aol.com [mailto:Superman3d@aol.com] Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 11:24 AM To: Councilmember Bonifacio Subject: Fwd: 20 Wadsworth and 301 Bryant

Nick, Are we getting anywhere with this proposal? Sal Zambito Superman3d@aol.com

It’s real convenient to pull a line or two from a statement and twist into rubbish by saying “that’s all he’s done in 8 years”. There isn’t enough room for Mr. Bonifacio to list his accomplishments while serving his term, not that he would list them anyway because he is far too modest. There has not been one elected official more personable, more accessible, more straightforward, and frankly more hard-working than Nick Bonifacio. Anyone who knows Nick knows that he’s the first one in the building and the last one out, returns every call personally, and does everything in his capacity to better the West Side and the city. I wish him the best and thank him for his many years of service.

The West Side is unfortunately plagued with numerous housing related issues. I am optimistic that someone with Mr. Savage’s legal background as the former housing court prosecutor for the city of Buffalo, and as the current legal counsel for the Common Council - where he has drafted a number of key housing ordinances, would make him a major asset in our battle to address derelict properties in our neighborhoods.

Thanks Nick but we already have a system in place that picks candidates but I guess we should be grateful Savage is not a relative of yours!

Peter was on Bonifacio's staff years ago from what I remember.

An interesting note - City of Fort Lauderdale has a mayor, city manager, FOUR PART-TIME coucilmembers and ONE staffmember; City of Buffalo has a mayor, NINE FULL-TIME councilmembers and SIXTY staffmembers. Call or e-mail Fort Lauderdale and they respond!

HelenWheels - actually I was just adding to Matthewjohnp's comment about Peter not being a relative of Bonifacio's. My voice doesn't count in the election at all because I'm no longer a Buffalo resident (although I still pay a lot of city property taxes.)

Thanks for the Buffalo v. Fort Lauderdale stats. I agree it is hard to compare the cities as Fort Lauderdale's "population" swells something like 5 times in the winter months. It is also in a different county than Miami. Buffalo could be considered part of Toronto, if you want to make a larger evaluation.