Press release:

Nate McMurray, the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate in New York’s 27th Congressional District, today released his multi-point Clean up Corruption Plan to crack down on corruption in Washington, D.C.
 
Corruption on both sides of the aisle is all too familiar to the people of Western New York, from Chris Collins’ recent indictment for insider trading and lying to the FBI, to the guilty pleas of former Erie Democratic Chair Steve Pigeon.
 
“Elected officials should work on behalf of the people they represent and no one else -- not corporate boards, not special interests, their constituents. It’s that simple,” McMurray said. “We know the consequences of a man like Mr. Collins all too well in this region: their greed robs us as taxpayers and their betrayal undermines our faith in democracy. It is the antithesis of public service. In Congress, I will fight for this to limit special interests’ influence on our leaders and elections. We deserve better.”
 
McMurray’s “Clean up Corruption Plan” is outlined below:

• Enact far stricter limits on political contributions from special interests, lobbyists and wealthy special interests. McMurray has voluntarily imposed  a ban on corporate PAC money for his campaign, but this should be the law for all candidates;
• Prohibit members of Congress from sitting on for-profit corporate boards;
• Pass tougher campaign finance laws and more transparent disclosures of outside political spending;
• Overturn the disastrous Citizens United decision, which opened the floodgates for unlimited, untraceable spending in our elections.

McMurray has been a consistent voice for good government throughout the campaign. He has refused to accept corporate PAC money and has been endorsed by End Citizens United, a group dedicated to getting Big Money out of politics.
 
McMurray has funded his campaign the right way: 5,700 different people contributed to McMurray’s campaign in the last three months; more than 4,600 of them gave $50 or less. In fact, the average donation was under $70.

City of Batavia leaders believe they have come up with one way to address the traffic safety concerns on the Southside streets of Watson, Thorpe and Maple: Turn Thorpe Street into a one-way street.

Police Chief Shawn Heubusch, in coordination with Director of Public Works Matt Worth and Maintenance Superintendent Ray Tourt, asked City Council to approve a recommendation to allow motorists to travel southbound only on Thorpe Street between Watson and Maple.

Council, during tonight’s Conference Meeting (a Special Business meeting followed), decided to move the suggestion forward to its next Business Meeting on Nov. 13.

If the board votes in favor of the modification, a public hearing on a change in the municipal code would be scheduled.

Over the past year or so, residents of those streets have petitioned City Council to do something about cars not stopping at the Thorpe/Watson intersection, which already is hampered by limited sight lines. Residents had asked for the placement of a stop sign on Watson Street headed eastbound at the intersection of Thorpe Street.

Heubusch said that a traffic study did not warrant a stop sign or other traffic control device, plus there wasn’t enough space to properly erect a stop sign.

“So in order to alleviate that issue, we suggested creating a one-way street – making Thorpe a one-way street,” he said. “It is a southbound street only now (per the recommendation), coming from Watson to Maple.

“We hope that will alleviate the issue with that sight line and visibility issue, because you will no longer have cars northbound on Thorpe Street looking to turn west onto Watson, or east onto Watson for that matter, because they will no longer be allowed to go that way.”

City officials also are recommending that parking be allowed on the west side of Thorpe Street between Watson and Maple, and leaving the portion of Thorpe Street north of Watson as a two-way street with a stop sign and a parking ban on both sides.

Heubusch said that if these changes don’t work, they will explore other options.

In other action last night, Council:

-- Voted to approve an amended sales tax agreement with Genesee County that extends the current pact for one more year, through Dec. 31, 2019.  As it stands now, the City receives 16 percent of the sales tax revenue, compared to the county’s 50 percent and the towns sharing the remaining 34 percent.

A new 40-year agreement which changes the terms is on hold due to objections by the State Comptroller’s Office, which is calling for “special legislation” by the State Legislature to vote on the contract.

-- Voted to schedule a public hearing at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 on an ordinance to amend the zoning map of the City of Batavia per a request by City Church to change parcels at the former St. Anthony’s School/Church campus from R-3 Resident to C-3 Commercial.

As reported previously, City Church leaders are hoping to offer commercial activities such as a dance school, art school and community education classes at the site and they have been working with the City to house the Batavia Youth Bureau, with the idea of renaming it Teen City.

Council also agreed to taking on lead agency designation in a mandated State Environmental Quality Review of the six parcels on Liberty Street and Central Avenue.

 -- Voted to reject bids from two companies for the replacement of two areas of flat roofs and four entry silos at the City Centre due to the fact that the bids came in 25 to 30 percent over the estimated cost (about $150,000) of the project.

Instead, Council is going with Worth’s recommendation for DPW to perform some remedial work on the roof and silos, and then rebid the work to start in the spring as part of a larger project.

Council members Rose Mary Christian and John Canale questioned whether the DPW’s work – estimated at $4,000 – would eliminate the need for all the buckets in the concourse. Worth said he couldn’t ensure that all leaks will be stopped, but said it “will get us through the winter.”

-- Accepted a STOP-DWI grant for $4,576 for a detail that starts this month, and voted to amend the City’s personnel policy manual to adopt the state’s sexual harassment policy, which calls for all employees to be trained by Oct. 9, 2019.

As a matter of precaution, the county's Emergency Response Team was called to a residence on Lewiston Road in the Town of Batavia early this morning to help arrest two men who were accused of threatening another person in the Town of Alabama earlier in the morning.

The incident meant Route 63 was closed to all traffic, and residents in the area were told to shelter in place, from about 5:30 a.m. until 10 a.m.

Taken into custody were Kevin M. Fossum, 52, and Charles L. Beach, 50. Both were charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd, and menacing, 2nd.

Fossum is the primary resident at the house where he was arrested, and Beach is apparently a friend and a roommate.

Fossum is accused of threatening a person over the phone at about 2:30 a.m. and then a short time later showing up at that person's home in Alabama with Beach and making specific threats against that person. That person claims Fossum possessed a firearm during the confrontation.

Since that subject knew Fossum, deputies responded to his residence on Lewiston Road. They approached with caution because of the possible presence of a firearm. 

When deputies did not make contact with the men inside, even though Fossum's car was in the driveway, ERT was dispatched.

Sgt. Andrew Hale said Fossum has become known to deputies recently because of other calls to his residence. He is a retired Army Ranger and a black belt.

"He has serious credentials," Hale said.

Hale said that because of the possibility of a firearm, Fossum's recent behavior, and Fossum's background, ERT and extra officers were called in as a matter of caution, not that an actual threat was made against officers or a more serious immediate conflict.

At some point, while the incident progressed, Fossum, apparently unaware of the police presence, got in his vehicle with an apparent intent to leave the residence. At that point, he was taken into custody.

Officers were unable, however, to make contact with Beach. They were unsure of what Beach was doing inside the house. He could very well have been sleeping, Hale said.

Eventually, officers made contact and Beach exited without incident and was taken into custody.

A search warrant was obtained, and the house, yard, and car were searched. No weapons were recovered.

Neighbors told investigators, Hale said, that Fossum was not known to possess firearms.

Fossum was jailed on $7,500 bail, and bail for Beach was set at $5,000.

The Sheriff's Office was assisted by Batavia PD, ERT, the Orleans County Emergency Response Team, and the State Police.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

In "Kitchen Confidential," Anthony Bourdain famously advised diners, "never order fish on a Monday."

That works out well for Todd and Grace Fannin, who over the summer opened a new seafood restaurant in Batavia with a plan to make sure their fish is always fresh by buying it from the fish market in Buffalo on Wednesday and Thursday and serving it all by Saturday night.

"That's advice we live by because when we do have our liquor license and we are open seven days a week, we are going to have a tighter menu," Todd said. "Our menu is going to be a shorter menu the days we're closed now, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday."

With a little over two months in business under their belts, Todd and Grace like the way things are going and the response they've received from local diners so far.

"We wanted to bring something that Batavia had a need for," Todd said. "There was a customer base here that nobody tapped into. There are the burger joints and the pizzerias and the Smoke House and the Italian restaurants. We thought Batavia had a need for something of this nature that would appeal to a certain audience and we found that audience."

This is the fourth restaurant the couple has opened over the past 30 years. The previous ones were on the shores of Lake Ontario and while they also specialized in seafood, they were seasonal. Fishtales is their first attempt to run a seafood restaurant year around.

The location is 107 Evans St., Batavia, the same location as The Little Ridge and Delavan's previously.

Even without a liquor license yet and little marketing, people are finding the restaurant and the crowds are growing.

"We've had a couple of really great Friday and Saturday nights recently," Grace said. "The best we’ve had. I would say the business is building right now and that was our goal."

In recent weeks, flounder and snapper have been popular, along with tuna, cod, trout, and scallops (there's also steak and chicken on the menu).

"Last Friday, it was not your typical Friday fish fry crowd," Todd said. "It was a younger crowd, a full house and they were going for more of the sauteed and the broiled dishes. Our crowd is changing and yet it's growing."

Some local restaurateurs have shied away from seafood because customers demand freshness and they feared Batavia might not support seafood sufficiently to manage the product properly, but Todd said it's all about listening to your customers and paying attention to what they want. He felt confident he could make it work in Batavia.

"We don’t cut corners here; we try to put a good product out and I think people are starting to notice that," Todd said. "At least that's the feedback we get."

The Batavia Business Improvement District hosted its first Scarecrow Contest for Downtown Batavia.

As a creative way to add some more fall flavor to downtown decorating, the BID invited any business, group or organization to enter the contest.

For $20 each business was provided basic supplies of straw, a post and zip ties along with their pole assignment. Each business could then get creative in creating their scarecrow.

All voting for favorite scarecrow ended Friday, Oct. 19th. 

• First-place Winner for 2018 is Batavia Pediatrics;
• Second-place Winner is Genesee Valley PennySaver;
• Third-place Winner is Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle

First-place winner receives $100 cash prize, second place $75 and third place $50. The BID would like to thank Home Depot for sponsoring the scarecrows and donating of posts, and to our City of Batavia Fire Department for assembling the posts.

For more information on B.I.D. and Downtown events please visit our website at www.downtownbataviany.com.

Press release:

The Harvester 56 Theater Dance Academy, a Batavia-based nonprofit educational institution, is conducting its first fall fundraising initiative.

This school of 20 local dance students will be selling just 300 raffle tickets to community members this month to raise funds to add mirrors and dance mats and other necessary equipment for the school that’s now in its second year and is the only studio in Genesee County that offers Irish dance. 

Raffle tickets available at the Harvester 56 Theater or contact us through our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Havester56TheaterDanceAcademy

List of Prizes include:

• Grand Prize: 2-night NYC stay for 4 includes admissions to American Museum of Natural History, Ripley’s Believe it or Not!;
• 2-night Niagara Falls USA for 2 with admissions to Old Fort Niagara, Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises, Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum and 2 Niagara Falls USA Encounter Passes that include Cave of the Winds, Niagara Adventure Theater, Aquarium of Niagara and the Scenic Trolley;
• 1-night stay for 2 at Farmer’s Creekside Tavern & Inn with an appetizer and craft beverages;
• 1-night stay for 4 at Palm Island Indoor Waterpark with waterpark admissions;
• 1-night stay for 2 at The Hotel at Batavia Downs with breakfast;
• 4-admissions to Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises;
• 4-admissions to a Fall Foliage excursion at the Medina Railroad Museum;
• 4-admissions to Genesee Country Village & Museum;
• 4-admissions to Hidden Valley Animal Adventure Safari;
• $100 “Dine Around Town” -- includes Alex’s Place, Eli Fish Brewing Co., Settler’s Restaurant, Batavia’s Original Pizzeria and Eden Café.

Cost is $20 per ticket, cash or check (payable to Batavia Players).

All prizes valid for 2019 Season, only 300 tickets being sold locally.

Winners will be placed back in for grand prize drawing. Winners will be announced on Facebook Live on Saturday, Dec.15th, at 3 p.m. at www.facebook.com/Havester56TheaterDanceAcademy and then posted online at: www.bataviaplayers.org/dance.html

About The Harvester 56 Theater Dance Academy 

Founded in 2017, The Harvester 56 Theater Dance Academy provides quality dance instruction at an affordable price. Classes are taught by professionally trained instructors in a fun and relaxed environment at Robert Morris School, 80 Union St., Batavia.

We offer classes for students in kindergarten through adult, beginner to advanced. Competition team is available. We are the ONLY school in Genesee County offering IRISH DANCE.  

Its mission: To provide a safe, respected and quality dance program that is designed to be student oriented, parent supported and staffed with excellence.

Its goal: To establish a group of young dancers that will participate in dance performances, theater productions, as well as attempt to learn different types of movement and dance techniques at an affordable rate.

The matter was again postponed, this time until 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 17.

Samuel Alba, an associate attorney with the law firm of Friedman & Ranzenhofer, told Judge Michael Cleveland that plea negotiations with the District Attorney's Office were ongoing and additional time was needed to submit "more documentation."

First Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini said copies of any new documents need to be forwarded to the D.A.'s office. She said she did not have a problem with postponement; but come Dec. 17 the people will demand the case to be adjudicated or a trial date set.

That's exactly what Judge Cleveland had said the last time the case was on the docket, on Sept. 24, when neither Frens nor attorney Michael Ranzenhofer showed up like they were supposed to and without communicating anything to the court.

The matter was also delayed once during the summer, on July 30, after Ranzenhofer cited unspecified "complications."

Frens, who lives on Pearl Street Road in the Town of Batavia, is in her mid-50s and was accompanied to court today by a male, possibly her husband.

She stood quietly next to attorney Alba at the bench, looking different from both her previous court appearance and from her arrest mug shot (inset photo). Today, she had long straight blond locks, and wore a maxi skirt with swirls of teal, black and white, and a purple hooded jacket.

She was arrested July 10 by Troopers out of SP Batavia and charged with overdriving, torturing and injuring an animal; failure to provide proper sustenance.

Troopers were dispatched to the Genesee County Animal Shelter at the request of animal control officers after Frens arrived at the facility to claim her dog that had been found by her neighbor the day before.

"Maya" was in very poor health with multiple issues caused by neglect, according to Volunteers for Animals. The dog was diagnosed with multiple skin infections, mange, double ear infections that left her only able to hear a dog whistle, and her uncut nails were so long she could barely move.

Under the state Agriculture & Markets law, Article 26, Section 353, this is a Class A misdemeanor. If found guilty, a defendant faces jail time of more than 15 days but not greater than one year. In addition, a fine of up to $1,000 can be imposed.

A man who keeps the books for Volunteers for Animals said outside court this afternoon that he guessed Maya's vet bills were between $300 and $500.

The dog's mange has cleared up; knots of scar tissue on her back and shoulders were surgically removed; her muscles are stronger and she's gained weight; she's been spayed. And she's been adopted into a home that cares.

Mancuso Bowling Center manager Mike Sputore rolled lhis first United States Bowling Congress-certified 300 game on Sunday morning (Oct. 21) and he had the additional thrill of being able to accomplish the milestone while bowling with his son.

Sputore reached perfection in the second game on lanes 17-18 of the T.F. Brown's Adult-Child League, minutes after getting some friendly ribbing from his 12-year-old son, Benjamin.

"Ben had just rolled the last five strikes in the first game for 172, and he said, 'Dad, I'm going to get a 300 game before you,'" Sputore said, noting that he responded that Ben probably was right.

However, in the second game, Mike found the line and put 12 strikes together.

"The first two balls in the 10th frame were right there," he said. "The last one, I pulled a bit, and it sat in the oil (and into the pocket)."

Mike started with a 258 but tailed off after the 300, finishing at 165 for a 723 series.

Mancuso's also was the site of another 300 game earlier in the week -- Batavian Jim Pursel's perfect game in a 743 series in the Toyota of Batavia 5-Man League on Thursday night.

On Tuesday, T.J. Czworka shot 297 in the Antique World Coed League, and on Monday, Alex Morris registered 299--753 in the Mancuso Real Estate/No Finer Diner League.

At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Dave Emler had a 297 game and 748 series in the Tuesday G&W Vending League.

For a list of scores from around the Genesee Region last week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

Press release:

The Chamber’s Annual Awards Committee has announced the 2018 Annual Award Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 2, at The Quality Inn & Suites, Park Road, Batavia (formerly The Clarion Hotel).

This is the County’s premier event that honors businesses and individuals for their achievements in business, community service and volunteerism.     

Please note that a brief write-up will qualify your nominee for consideration.

Nominations are now being accepted for:

• Business of the Year, Entrepreneurial Business of the Year;
• Agricultural Business of the Year;
• Innovative Enterprise of the Year;
• Special Service Recognition;
• Geneseeans of the Year.

Business Nominees must be a Chamber Member (If unsure of your nominee, call the Chamber to verify).   

Nomination forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce office, 8276 Park Road, Batavia, and can also be downloaded from the Chamber website at www.geneseeny.com. 

Nominations MUST BE RECEIVED BY Dec. 28, to be eligible for consideration.

If you would like more information, feel free to call Kelly J. Bermingham, director of Member Relations & Special Events at the Chamber office, 343-7440, ext. 1026.

Press release:

Yesterday the New York Post issued their Congressional endorsements for races in New York State and New Jersey, and the sole Democrat to earn their support is Nate McMurray in New York's 27th Congressional District.

The right-leaning paper today made clear that Chris Collins’ indictment made him an unacceptable choice for voters. 
 
Said the New York Post, "After first agreeing to drop out, Collins changed his mind and plainly means to use the seat as a chip in plea-bargaining…voters should return the incumbent’s contempt."
 
The same day, the Buffalo News reported on a lack of enthusiasm among Republicans in NY-27.
 
Earlier this week, the McMurray campaign announced Republicans for Nate, a steering committee of Republican supporters committed to reaching out to fellow GOP voters to support McMurray. 
 
“Voters from all backgrounds can’t run away fast enough from Chris Collins,” McMurray said. “Every day I meet more regular folks who believe in putting country over party. They’re sick of the fighting, sick of being lied to, and embarrassed to be represented by a man out on bail. Voters are smarter than Mr. Collins gives them credit for. 
 
"My commitment was never to any one party, it was always to families like mine, and hardworking women and men worried about health care and Social Security, who feel like the system is rigged against them. We don’t all agree on every issue, but I will always listen and truly represent the people of our region.” 
 
Since the August indictment, national and local Republicans have been turning their back on Collins. The Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan stripped him of all his committee assignments. The National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee said they would “not give a dime” to this race. And the House Ethics Committee voted unanimously to investigate him.

The Batavian: Immigration judge hears testimony in asylum hearing for Abigail Hernandez

The county’s Emergency Response Team (aka SWAT) is at a location just north of the Thruway on Lewiston Road for an unknown type of incident. 

Lewiston is closed between Veterans Memorial Drive and Galloway Road. 

The incident started at about 4:30 a.m.

Sheriff Bill Sheron said no information is being released at this time because it is an ongoing situation. 

Residents have been told to shelter in place. 

UPDATE 10:20 a.m.: Road reopened at about 10 a.m.; no further information has been released yet. 

Reader-submitted photo.

Tracy Ford reprised his role as the Rev. John Henry Yates during the Batavia Cemetary Association's annual Ghost Walk, which gives guests an opportunity to be treated to a lively lesson on Batavia's history.

This year's addition included Gregory Hallock, director of GO ART!, as Eli Fish, the former local brewer who has come to life again, so to speak, in the brewery and restaurant now occupying the former Newberry's building downtown.

Diana Buckman, also pictured below, played Nannie Hunt, whose sons Thomas and Joseph served in the Civil War, with Joseph dying in battle in 1862. She read a letter from Hunt's daughter Martha about Joseph's death.

Once again, the event was a sellout.

Batavia High School inducted its 2018 Athletic Hall of Fame honorees during a dinner at Terry Hills on Saturday evening.

Pictured above are, front row from left Coleen Tooley Oleski, Gerry Carmichael, Michelle Smith Jones, and back row from left Steve Frieday, Jon Santratello, and Rich Anderson. Below, the 1994-1995 Blue Devils hockey team.

Previously: Batavia Blue Devils Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner is next Saturday

When Larry Sharpe was last in Genesee County, speaking to the members of SCOPE, he rejected the idea that he's the spoiler candidate in New York's gubernatorial race.

He said he's got momentum, strong social media support (the mainstream media doesn't see him coming, just like Donald Trump, he said), and is drawing in not just Republican voters, but Democrats and Independents.

A Gravis Marketing poll from two weeks ago showed Sharpe drawing about 13 percent of the vote, or about 13 times more than any previous Libertarian candidate for governor.

Marc Molinaro, the Republican running for governor, Sharpe said, is the spoiler, not, this time, the Libertarian.

Asked about Sharpe's barb while in Elba on Friday, Molinaro sidestepped the question.

"Listen I don't know him," said Molinaro, who had just arrived at Oliver's Candies. "I've met him twice in my life. I'd venture to guess that most New Yorkers have just heard of him over the last year. I don't know. I'm sure there are plenty of people who want to support a Libertarian candidate and they have every right to do that. I'm not going to second-guess that. We're eating candy."

Combined, at 25 percent and 13 percent, Molinaro and Sharpe don't add up anywhere close to the 48 percent of New Yorkers who say they plan to vote for Cuomo. (Stephanie Minor, the mayor of Syracuse, is pulling 8 percent, and Howie Hawkins, the Green Party candidate, is at 6 percent.)

The controversy of the morning was a commitment by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to "debate" Molinaro on WCBS. Apparently, Cuomo had appeared on the show Friday and said he would clear his schedule Saturday morning to appear on air with Molinaro. Cuomo said he would phone it in.

"Listen, what was offered up this morning isn't a debate," Molinaro said. "It's a theater production."

He later added, "New Yorkers are being treated like they don't deserve or don't have any right to having two candidates come before them and answer questions. No, I'm sorry that's not a debate. It is a fraud."

The "two candidates" phrase wasn't Molinaro's statement during the short interview outside of Oliver's Candies in Elba that verbally excluded the other candidates in the race.

Pressed about his seeming exclusion of Sharpe from a debate, Molinaro said, "We've already agreed to debates that include all candidates. They need to include the Governor, too."

Molinaro was in town with Assemblyman Steve Hawley to tour small businesses, meet with small business owners, and then attend Hawley's 11th annual campaign fundraiser at Batavia Downs. The first stop was Oliver's Candies, which was celebrating Friday and Saturday the grand opening of its new production facility in Elba.

The local business tour included a stop at Post Farms, with Jeff Post, in Elba (bottom two photos), and Chapin Manufacturing in Batavia.

Molinaro said he understood how tough it is for small businesses to survive in New York.

"The seismic increases in the minimum wage over a short period time has cost money," Molinaro said. "The fact that property taxes continue to rise is a burden on small business owners so they get it regardless of what they're producing. But listen if you're going to visit a business it should be sweet."

Top photo: Adaiden Hyman and his mother were visiting Oliver's on Friday as a treat for his birthday; Hawley and Molinaro stopped to wish him a happy birthday.

Sen. Charles Schumer made his annual visit to Genesee County (he visits every county in the state at least once a year) to pledge to the local medical community and the citizens who depend on that medical community that he will do everything he can to restore funding for the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

The 340B program was enacted in 1992 provides qualifying hospitals -- hospitals that tend to serve more low-income patients -- with deep discounts on medications used in the treatment of cancer. The intent of the program is to allow hospitals to treat more patients and provide comprehensive services.

Dan Ireland, CEO of United Memorial Medical Center, said the program has allowed the hospital to reinvest $2 million annually into better patient care.

"To some folks, this is about money but really what it is about is the investment that's made for people, for health care, for our friends and our neighbors and our loved ones," Ireland said. "That $2 million gets reinvested in programs to help support cancer care as we talked about and the emergency room and outpatient clinics so folks can access care close to their homes in a timely manner."

He added, "This will change the lives of people if these cuts continue. It will change the lives here at the hospital will change lives throughout our communities. So I'm grateful for the support."

The cuts to WNY regional hospitals add up to millions of dollars a year, Schumer said, and he considers it critical that the funding is restored.

"I always defend our rural hospitals because people in rural areas should get the same health care as people in urban areas," Schumer said. "First, the people have to come greater distances. But second, it's not the density of population. So when you have to use one of these expensive machines, a CAT scan or an MRI, it is very expensive. If you're in Rochester or New York City, that machine can be used almost 24/7, so it can pay itself back. But here, not so, but you still want the person here to have the same CAT scan or an MRI or whatever so they get the same health care."

Not all funding was cut to UMMC. So far, it's been about $600,000 a year.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services enacted the cuts, which makes the cuts merely a matter of policy, so Schumer said he has tools to use to try and restore the funds. As minority leader, he can work to restore the funding through the budgetary process or he can pursue legislation to restore the funding.

He said his effort would receive bipartisan support because there are both Republicans and Democrats who represent rural areas and about 1,000 rural hospitals are lobbying for the funding.

"We are going to do everything we can to get 340B back to the way it was and get Noyes (a hospital in Livingston County) and UMMC and all of our hospitals the help they need."

Critics of the program -- which include pharmaceutical companies -- say that too many hospitals abused the program. Those hospitals, they say, did not use the cost savings to improve patient care. Instead, they say, they padded their bottom line.

Private oncologists have also been critical of the program, saying that it gives hospitals a subsidized, unfair price advantage in providing treatment.

"I'm trying to get lower drug prices across the board so we would try to help them as well, but because you're not getting it doesn't mean you go after somebody who is getting it," Schumer said in response to a question about the oncologists' complaint. "These are hospitals that need the help."

Before discussing the 340B program at UMMC, Schumer reflected on the upcoming World Series and explained why he hates the Red Sox. Listen (mp3).

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Sen. Schumer and Dan Ireland.