When was the last time a Public Hearing was held before most of the public was home from work? When was the last Public Hearing not held by City Council? On a Wednesday and not a Monday? This leads you to think this is all a done deal.

On the other hand, the last important Public Hearing, on ambulance service, only drew three speakers. More people showed up to talk about an ice skating instructor than the ambulance. So if it had been held at the regular time and by Council, would anyone show?

People here tend to express their opinion at election time, so we’ll see. I have not found too many people who trust that we are not just bailing out the owner with $200,000 of our money that does not have to be paid back, and not going to get stuck paying for this for years and years.

The $200,000 John is speaking about was given to us by the Federal government to use to develop business in the city and that is what this project is doing. Those funds can only be used to help businesses in our community.

Give the 200k to me and I'll move home and start a bmf demolition company. But the mall goes first then that stupid loopty loop by the Post Office.

Not a big fan of the loopty loop either Richard. I avoid it at all costs, especially at night because it is not well lit or well marked and I never really seem to end up where I wanted to. Just end up at the end of a parking lot.

Richard, you would take money from our “socialist” government to start a business? What is wrong with you man? This just goes to show, that you can take the man out of NY but, not the NY out of the man.

How could you show up to your separationist tea parties down there in Texans and face your buddies? You would have to protest yourself..

Mr Mallow- is this an affirmation that we have indeed evolved into a full-fledged "socialist" government? I've suspected it for quite awhile, but to hear it from the horse's mouth?
And, as far as the NY statement, I moved back here for the family and nature aspect of WNY. So, in my case, you can take NY out of the man, but not the man out of NY. I certainly didn't miss the taxes,fees,surcharges,tolls..this is THE most bureaucratic state in the USA. And what really sucks is that EVERYONE knows it, and laughs it off as "business as usual". Private and public sector. Our dysfunctional government, with its layers and layers of commisions,authorities,villages,towns,counties,..get the picture?
I know your statement to Richard was personal, but it touched a nerve here Charlie, and I appreciate the chance to express my feelings. Thanks Howard for this great sight.

Chucky boy I would lower myself to take money from a socialist government program to knock down an atrocity that a previous socialist government program created in order to relief the mental aquish and misery it has imposed on the populus over the years and continues to impose, every time anyone has to drive by the stinking Centre(sp).

I wouldn’t look to gain much affirmation in what I said, tongue in cheek to Ricky. I just wanted to make sure I was hearing him correctly. That remark just seemed un-Texan to me and I didn’t want his cowboy buddies to get the wrong impression.