This week’s Buffalo Rising Roundtable (WBFO podcast) was probably the most varied mixed bag of topics Mark Scott, Newell and I ever tackled.
It started with news of Michael Miller’s sudden death. If you haven’t had the chance, please see the slideshow attachment by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Something about seeing Michael and hearing him speak of all his work and the great hopes he pinned on the Central Terminal is so wrenching. It makes me realize how very hard his wake will be this afternoon, and I don’t look forward to this good-bye, but I wouldn’t stay away from paying tribute. Painfully past tense, and in a few words, he was a very great man.
Buffalo ReUse: Newell and I had some different views on this, much like you, the collective readers of Buffalo Rising. The one thing most seem to agree on, at least by looking at our poll, is that many of you would like to see Harvey Garrett and Michael Gainer continue in some capacity with ReUse. All emotional issues aside, my one most prevalent belief is this – in a Buffalo where we are trying to find our footing for our “next big act” in addition to cleaning up problems left by our past, the book is still being written. I would call for flexibility of thinking and bending of rules to fit new and uncharted waters, with an eye toward past proven methods. I would also say beware the “Issa Factor,” that being the great white hope of free dollars. Having the DEC reports in hand for 635, I am astonished that a fledgling NFP, without two nickels to rub together, could possibly be saddled with a potentially “dirty building,” held up as a good thing. More to come…
The mayoral race is set to kick off with a debate next week on September 11, four days prior to the primary elections, after which the race will be decided. Tonight, there will be a brief encounter via a town hall meeting (see post below) with Councilman Kearns and Mayor Brown at Gallery 464 on Amherst Street to talk about arts and culture in urban revitalization. In all his years as a newsman, Mark Scott has never seen a race drag its feet quite like this.
We ended our discussion with something so fun, that the mood shift was almost perverse. Specifically, we talked about Newell’s bartending gig at Campieri’s at 888 Main Street that happens every Tuesday. In fact, my day today will read a lot like this post because after the wake and the Town Hall Meeting, Campieri’s is exactly where I’ll be heading.