Paladino Unplugged
More often than not, Carl Paladino comes across as a guy who has a gripe about plenty of things in Buffalo—its politicians, its development projects and even the way its schools are run. And, more often than not, he makes a fair argument. Still, no one can deny that he is a full-time Buffalo Booster, with a particular passion and unconditional love for this city. It’s obvious in his dedication to doing business here.
As CEO of Ellicott Development Company, a real estate development and property management firm which he founded in 1973, he manages 2.8 million square feet of office and residential property, making him Buffalo’s most invested landlord.
Among the properties of which he is most proud, Paladino is particularly pleased with his acquisition of the Ellicott Square Building and its role as a viable entity downtown. He also takes pride in his impressive conversion of the Berger Building from retail to residential property. And, of course, there his new beauty, the Pasquale at Waterfront Place—condominiums for sale, directly on the water.
Growing up on Schiller Street in East Lovejoy, Paladino attended Buffalo Public School #43 and later Bishop Timon High School. He then went south on Route 16 to St. Bonaventure University, during its most famed decade—the glory days of its men’s basketball team, the Little 3 rivalry and the lead up to their appearance in the NCAA Final Four tournament. “Besides our academic lives, it was all about the basketball team,” he said.
Paladino stayed involved with the university, generously donating money, and once serving as a trustee and chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee there. When asked about his commission to have a wooden “Carvings for a Cause” statue of Bob Lanier erected outside of the Reilly Center in 2007, Paladino said simply, “My friends and I did that for him. Bob has come out for the school and has shown leadership there. We were happy to do it.”
After St. Bonaventure, Paladino attended Syracuse University, where he earned a law degree in 1971. He went to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he served in the US Army, retiring in 1981 as a captain.
Paladino returned to Buffalo the year after he went to Texas, started his own law firm, and managed the Ellicott Square Building before establishing his development company.
As his Ellicott Development biography states, Paladino is frequently asked for his input and expertise. He is a Director of Buffalo Place, Inc., a Trustee at Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School, a Director of Buffalo Civic Auto Ramps, a member of the Executive Board of the Niagara Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America, a former member of the Advisory Boards of Erie Community College and D’Youville College, and former director of the Horizons Waterfront Commission.
In discussing Buffalo as it is today, and like most conversations about development in the city, Paladino's attention turned to the waterfront. He spoke at length about his desire to see Buffalo’s Outer Harbor left to the community. He hopes that public space can exist there—green grasses, a beach, a fisherman’s harbor and trails that could be utilized in the summer and winter.
Paladino does not agree with the New York State Department of Transportation’s current plan for Route 5 and the Skyway, arguing that slower traffic on a parkway, as opposed to an elevated highway, would benefit the area more. “Why make the mistake now?” he asked.
He made note of his problems on the waterfront project, for which construction started this spring, adding that the Skyway should come down. “When we got rid of the tolls on the thruway, much of the Route 5 traffic was redirected there, so a slower-speed parkway could handle the cars. ”
He is a strong proponent of Bass Pro, the premiere outdoor hunting and fishing mega store, slated to be built on the site of War Memorial Auditorium. “Buffalo is a perfect venue for Bass Pro. It brings retail back to downtown. I think it is great for the city,” he said matter-of-factly.
What about the casino?
“People who gamble will gamble. No one can tell them they can’t gamble. And they are going over to Fort Erie, six minutes away, to pour $75 million dollars a year into that economy. Buffalo will never get that money back. That money stays right there,” he said adamantly.
“By building a casino in Buffalo, we let people deposit money here. That money will be returned to the local economy, because people will buy products from local vendors.”
Paladino does, however, disagree with giving the Seneca Nation of Indians the right to build restaurants and a hotel, tax-free on that property. He argued that with a franchise like that, they will take what is given to them, and others in the hospitality industry will have no ability to fairly compete.
“[Former] Governor Pataki made a huge mistake, and [Buffalo Mayor] Byron Brown and the Common Council had a major ____ up with the Fulton Street deal, and in giving them what they got, with no stipulations. That was their leverage, and they blew it,” he said.
Paladino then discussed the future of Buffalo and what is needed to change and get the city on the right track. “We need to get quality people in leadership positions, and there are plenty of quality people in Buffalo.”
However, he stated that he does not believe there is anyone involved in local politics who is standing up to make the difference Buffalo needs to right itself.
As for this year’s Presidential elections, Paladino commented on its significance, saying, “This is a very important election, as they all are. This one in particular, due to the problems we face domestically and abroad. I am shocked that people are pinning the faults of the Bush administration on a maverick like John McCain.”
Paladino is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable names and faces in Buffalo. What would he most like to be recognized for?
“I would like to be recognized for encouraging people to stand up and take charge of their lives and their community—to rid themselves of any complacency and mediocrity in their lives.”
Standing up for what one believes can be a daunting task, but Carl Paladino will likely never be remembered as being complacent or mediocre.
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Comment Options
mbhxam
"a maverick like john mccain" - - - i think he may have a crush on palin - - - that or he has had a little too much of the kool-aid!
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mjman4
just when you think you can empathize with Paladino...he is a McSame backer....
BTW look up the great article about " The Mavericks" Hillarious!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/weekinreview/05schwartz.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin
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sambo
Whats with the suit
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STEEL
If I have to hear the work "maverick" one more time I will go insane!
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sambo
Whats with the suit and tie?
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Activist
While it's pretty clear that Carl Paladino has LOTS of money and has heavily invested in the City of Buffalo, I am always confused WHY he's supposed to be such a guru. He's f---ed up on many projects over his career, so he's not this great leader who's guiding us toward economic development enlightenment. He's a guy with lots of opinions who likes to shamelessly promote himself as the wise thinker who would wisely change things to the good, but can't because everyone else is an a--h----.
Not an interesting story. There are soooo many Carl Paladinos in the world to the point of being passe. Anyone out there who's interesting?
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rb66
Thank you, Carl Paladino, for your commitment to Buffalo. Buffalo needs more Buffalonians like Mr. Paladino.
Keep up the fight Carl!
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Dangelo23
So when do we get to see the retail space in the former L.L. Berger become a reality? This guy promised us first floor retail, not first floor offices with window blinds and dirty available space for all to have to pass by daily. At least decorate the windows to make it look presentable.
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BfloHighRise
"unconditional love for this city"....Then why is he letting the Greystone (a historic Pan-Am hotel) crumble? If he really cared how about putting your money where your mouth is!
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lauras
Go, Bonas!
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Dangelo23
That's right BfloHighRise, and wasn't Paladino that wanted to tear down the now luxury Webb Building for parking? and put a Parol office along Main Street with high windows making the former Courtyard Mall look worse now than it did when vacant?
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tonyarmani
Carl Paladino must be extremely smart or extremely stupid for investing in a city such as Buffalo. While 99% of other businessmen would have much rather have taken a larger financial chance in a safer return market (see NYC, Chicago, Boston) Carl continues to invest in an unproven, declining, union-clad, shrinking region. He must either see something most don't, or have tremendous love for Buffalo, NY. Besides the fact he was a major proponent to have the tolls finally knocked down (thank you).
More gets done in this city thanks to him than any politician (with the possible exception of Brian Higgins) so think twice next time before negatively posting on Carl.
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clafleur
There are obviously going to be things that he's done that people don't like, myself being one of them, but we all have to admit that the city would be worse off without him. And not to mention the fact that there aren't too many people putting the time and money into the city that he is. Embrace him, but always push for better things/people.
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Dangelo23
Ok, so we should all be gratefull for the continued first floor eye sore in the former L.L. Berger store (dirty space and only one window with any decorations)? and for having parolee's hanging around Lafayette Square now (like we didn't have enough shaddy charactors there before), and putting a brick wall in what used to be floor to ceiling windows to hide the ex-criminals? And, oh, I am extremly happy this guy did NOT take over the Webb or Greystone, otherwise we would be left with more PARKING spaces. Go Carl.
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clafleur
No, but you should be a little more open minded and grateful for what has been done. If you're so unhappy, then you do something about it. Don't criticize if you can't do any better.
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Dangelo23
No problem, I will continue to call the police everytime I see suspicious activity around Lafayette Square and complain to Buffalo Place for allowing blank walls and parolees around the area of what should be a grand area for all to enjoy with the hasel and nervousness of creepy people begging for cigarettes and change. And btw, if anyone has made a big difference in this town is ROCCO T. only he has transformed and infilled spaces along Ellicott Street WITH RETAIL SPACE and is now working on the Genesee Block with City View to bring more true urban developement to Buffalo. Paladino would have had half those buildigs knocked down for parking and no retail space on the first floors.
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PaulBuffalo
Clafleur, 'Don't criticize if you can't do any better'? If everyone adhered to that maxim, there would be few critics and even more mediocrity.
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clafleur
PaulBuffalo, you're right. I guess I wish that the criticism would just result in more action. Dangelo23, you are right about a lot of this, I am just a big fan of paladino, and think that he has done much more good than harm. There just has to be a way for the criticism to turn into action, I just have no idea how.....
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PaulBuffalo
Can't Paladino simply be praised for his good efforts and panned for his debacles? US culture loves the hero versus villain story lines, but everyday life is more complex than that.
My criticism with this piece is that Paladino wasn't questioned about some of the failures that Dangelo23 mentions. Wouldn't that help BRO readers get a better understanding of the man and the challenges in Buffalo?
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Dangelo23
When do we get to read about a true pioneer on this site, like Rocco T. for once?
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cyndrome
Unplugged? I don't necessarily mean this to be derogatory, but this man has never been anything but.
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Keith
Amazing. I agree with absolutely everything Paladino said.
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BlackRockAdvocate
Be careful there Carl we wouldn't want you to fall over that railing ! [ :
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siloman02
Mr. Paladino is a dichotomy. There are many beneficial areas in which he has excelled. There are others in which he has been the dregs. Mixed emotions, but if I remember correctly James Pitts described Paladino as" a vulture picking over the bones of a dying carcass". At the end, I side with Mr. Pitts
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CRobs
Funny that Paladino broke out his best suit for this picture, but every time he's hitting on groups of barely 21-year-old women at any of the bars in the Mothers neighborhood, he's wearing a t-shirt and Yankees hat. Good for him, I guess.
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sonyactivision
He's a douchebag like John McCain.
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Quijibo
I do not know Mr. Paladino beyond what I have read here and have heard from people who do business with him. From what I have seen and heard, it sounds like he is a very greedy businessman with questionable morals and practices. He seems more interested in lining his pockets than doing the right thing for Buffalo and the people who rent from him. I tend to agree that he seems like a greedy capitalist businessman, much like McCain and Palin, instead of a true champion for the people like Barack Obama.
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AtwaterLouse
Quijibo - Does it bother you that the Obamas are multi-millionaires with weak records of charitable donations?
As of 2006 before the presidential campaign, Mrs. Obama's annual salary was over $270,000 and she was paid an additional $51,000 for serving on a board of directors. That's over $320,000 per year - just her, not even counting his income.
I think that's fine, but don't you often speak out against people having that much money?
The Obamas combined income in recent years has topped a million per year. Since when is that ok by you? In 2007 alone they had income over $4.2 million - just in one year. When have you ever said that's ok? They donated less than 6% to charity that year. From 2000-2004 with annual income between $207,000 and $275,000, their charitable donations were around 1% per year.
They talk a good game when trying to acquire more power and more wealth. But it really doesn't sound like they want to redistribute much of their own wealth, does it?
Reference here on philanthropy.com Excerpt: 'Barack Obama... and his wife, Michelle Obama, have released their tax return for last year showing that they donated 5.7 percent of their income to charitable causes. The tax return shows that the Illinois senator and Mrs. Obama, who reported $4.2-million in income, gave $240,370 to 33 churches and charities in 2007.
... From 2000 through 2004, the Obamas' total income was much smaller, ranging from $207,647 in 2004 to $275,123 in 2001. During this five-year period their charitable giving represented about 1 percent of their total income.'
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benfranklin
The Buffalo Chamber of Commerce published 'The First Hundred Years' in 1945.
The dedication reads "... to the memory of those stout-hearted and aggressive men of Buffalo, who down through the years, gave their energy and time without expectation of personal profit, for the greater good of the city."
Quijibo would have called these men 'greedy capitalist businessmen'. Too bad we don't have more of them today.
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Activist
Hey! I didn't want to besmirch the guy. I just don't get it when he's treated like a celebrity. Yeah, he's a major Buffalo Booster, but so are thousands of other people. Does he invest in Buffalo? Yes and that's good, but he only does it his way and really trashes other visions and efforts. He has no difficulty calling anyone who doesn't think like him stupid or some other derogatory term. I don't see that as someone who demands respect or a lot of a lot of attention. So, he's opinionated as hell, divisive, loves his hometown, and puts his money where his mouth is. Too bad he has a potty mouth and is xenophobic. That's not a leader. That's not a role model. That's not a good feature. That's more like my weird Uncle Ben. Not interesting. Everyone has one. I guess he's Buffalo's. I rather resent him being foisted upon the public as someone special who is worthy of so much attention.
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