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Today's Poll: Do you want to see a veteran's cemetery built in Genesee County?

By Howard B. Owens
bud prevost

Certain to create a bunch of jobs (insert sarcasm)!
Mr. Schumer, how about finding a way to get some good paying manufacturing jobs here in WNY? We used to be a rather productive region of the country. Xerox, GM, Kodak, Bethlehem Steel, Bausch and Lomb. Heck, I even recall Batavia and Leroy bustling with manufacturing, and I'm not yet 50. We need to figure out how to stop shipping jobs to cheap labor countries, and get back to being #1 again.

Mar 8, 2011, 8:14am Permalink
Lorie Longhany

While this might not be a direct job creation mechanism, it may bring in visitors from the region who will undoubtedly need to eat. Maybe visitor's will stick around long enough to enjoy some of the other things that Genesee County has to offer. Another reason to make Genesee County a weekend destination.

I think it would be a real honor for Genesee County to be home of a veteran's cemetery.

Mar 8, 2011, 8:48am Permalink
Irene Will

There is a parcel of land owned by NEW YORK STATE - parcel 11.-1-71, which is on the northeast corner of Judge and Alleghany roads that contains 228.7 acres. It is only ONE of the parcels that formerly belonged to the White Game Farm. It is used occasionally for DOG TRIALS - otherwise, it sits there - UNTAXED. How about Senator Schumer having NEW YORK STATE DONATE THIS PARCEL FOR THE CEMETERY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mar 8, 2011, 9:15am Permalink
bud prevost

That is exactly why we are in the spot we are in. Food service, hotels, retail...all areas where you can currently, with no problem, get a job. Why? Because they pay $8 or 9 an hour, with no benefits. Those aren't jobs that a family can live and grow on.

Mar 8, 2011, 9:30am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Bud, the vast majority of now lost manufacturing jobs that were in WNY weren't created by politicians or government programs. They were created by entrepreneurs.

Mar 8, 2011, 9:50am Permalink
Jerry Buckman

I think it has been long proven that a saavy, large scale entrepreneur would not choose NYS to set up a business. Might as well go with an honorable National Cemetary.

Mar 8, 2011, 11:10am Permalink
Irene Will

JoAnne - I believe the STAMP project [which I sincerely doubt will happen in OUR lifetimes] stops at Rt 77, extending to the WEST of Rt 77. The parcel I'm referring to is entirely on the EAST of Rt 77.

Mar 8, 2011, 11:47am Permalink
bud prevost

Jerry, exactly why I addressed my original post to Chuck. I don't want government to create jobs, Howard, I want them to get the hell out of the way, and stop stifling any business growth with the oppressive taxes and regulations.

Mar 8, 2011, 11:54am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Jerry, Bud,

Large-scale manufacturers don't come into being full bloom. They start in garages and barns.

An entrepreneur blooms where he or she is planted, government, taxes, weather, employment base, be damned. He or she just does it.

Mar 8, 2011, 12:06pm Permalink
Bea McManis

Bud took this topic on an entirely different path. The question was about a final resting place for our veterans.
Bud, are you really against the cemetery? Do you feel the fallen veterans should not be buried on the hallowed grounds of a national cemetery and close to family?
The question wasn't about entrepreneurship; jobs; or government intervention in creating jobs, but specifically about having a cemetery in this area.

Mar 8, 2011, 12:46pm Permalink
bud prevost

Bea, where did I say I was against this idea? Are you trying to put words in my mouth? I have the utmost respect for our servicemen and servicewomen, and I know several veterans on this site that will attest to the high level I hold our armed forces. Ask Jeremiah P about the utter contempt I hold for Westboro Baptist. That's been pissing me off for years, and I wrote an extensive research paper on the topic! I have a fairly thick skin, but you touched a nerve there. To imply that I have no heart towards the people who protect me and my family offends me.
Perhaps you should re-read what I wrote, and try to comprehend the true intent. I'm sick of our politicians doing nothing to save our great state. I moved back here because THIS IS HOME!! How ironic that a cemetery is being perceived as a job creator, because that's what WNY has become, one big over-taxed and over-regulated clusterphuck with little to no chance of turning things around in sight!

Mar 8, 2011, 2:24pm Permalink
Bea McManis

You were the first to bring up the job creation issue. That, by the way, is a valid issue but why rant on this thread?
You may be patriotic but, If you don't want the cemetery here, just say so.
You never answered the poll question.

Mar 8, 2011, 2:39pm Permalink
bud prevost

I voted yes,Bea. And what better time to question the job being done by our senator. Freedom of speech. And thank you for this forum, Howard, and for the civil discourse, Ms. McManis.

Mar 8, 2011, 2:53pm Permalink
Daniel Jones

I'm for the cemetery. It is firstly and foremostly a way to give a final resting place to our service men and women, they gave everything they had for our country and their families have sacrificed as well. They deserve not to have to drive long distances to visit the graves of their fallen relatives.

Tourism, or "touri$m" as I call it is always good for our economy and we should encourage it. It's true that many retail/food service positions may not pay a wage that one can support a family on, but increased revenues from businesses due to a larger influx of outside visitors mean that governments have more funds to be able to lower taxes or spend on economic development. It may not be a direct source, but it certainly is a secondary source. It also may not be that much but every dollar counts.

It's a win-win the way I see it.

Mar 8, 2011, 4:29pm Permalink
Irene Will

again - There is a parcel of land owned by NEW YORK STATE - parcel 11.-1-71, which is on the northeast corner of Judge and Alleghany roads that contains 228.7 acres. It is only ONE of the parcels that formerly belonged to the White Game Farm. It is used occasionally for DOG TRIALS - otherwise, it sits there - UNTAXED. How about Senator Schumer having NEW YORK STATE DONATE THIS PARCEL FOR THE CEMETERY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mar 9, 2011, 12:16am Permalink
Sam Tambe Jr.

I would like one built here in our area that so when I die (As a Desert Storm Veteran) I might be put to rest in my "home area" instead of having to be buried in Bath, NY at the VA cemetary there or at some other "out of the way" location.

Mar 9, 2011, 2:17pm Permalink
Irene Will

WOW JoAnne - THAT is the FIRST TIME I've EVER seen anything POSITIVE about this idea. Two years ago, roughly, our local Veterans were told that the State would NOT give the land for this. If this is TRUE, it's a WONDERFUL THING !!!!! THANKS for the site !!!!!

Mar 9, 2011, 7:50pm Permalink
Jeff Waterman

The whole idea of confiscating the John White Game Farm apparently started in 2004 when Charlie Nesbitt started the push to turn it into a cemetery. More recently the GCEDC has been trying to obtain portions of it for their STAMP project. While it perhaps is underutilized by sportsmen, it does indeed host dog trials, handicapped hunting, youth hunts, has grasslands for pheasant and other game, and is used for other sporting and conservation activities. The John White Farm was acquired and maintained with conservation money, some of which from the federal Pittman-Robertson Fund. These conservation lands cannot just be taken away and used for other purposes without serious ramifications. The only way this can happen (properly) is to get permission from DEC, get approval from the State Legislature (and maybe federal approval also), and REPLACE this land with other land of equal or greater conservation and habitat potential. Failure to go this route would then lead to New York State forfeiting their share of Pittman-Robertson money (somewhere around $10 Million annually). Note that Pittman-Roberson money comes from a tax on sporting equipment, so it is paid by the sportsmen, and not coming from the general fund
While we should honor our veterans and see that they have a proper cemetery, bear in mind that many fought and died to prevent things like abusive governments from just taking away property to do with whatever the current regime sees fit.

Mar 10, 2011, 9:45am Permalink

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