Last night I was invited to come on 13 WHAM News in Rochester for a one-hour political special that will include a couple segments “on the rise in prominence of western NY blogs.” They would provide participating bloggers to live blog from the studio during the hour (from 10pm to 11pm) and do on air interviews.

I had to unfortunately decline the request since it was unfeasible for me to ride out to Rochester and back so late in the night when I have work the following day. I hate to turn down media opportunities, especially when the topic is blogs and a conservative voice is needed. But, unfortunately, there are some I have to turn down.

Nevertheless, I appreciate the invite.

Hopefully next time.

UPDATE: I’ve been invited by Buffalo Pundit to participate in WNY Media’s live blog of the primary election results tonight, starting at 9pm. I’ve agreed to participate. Check back here at 9pm, 

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Apparently some leaders are more serious about cutting costs and saving taxpayer dollars…

Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy plans to slash the city’s take-home car fleet, and he believes the best place to start is at the top.

“He decided to lead by example and give up his city car,” said Communications Director Gary Walker. “He’s leasing one on his own dime.”

Duffy isn’t using campaign funds, either. “It’s coming out of his pocket,” Walker said.

Duffy turned in his Chevrolet Trailblazer last week. In Buffalo — a city not much larger than Rochester — Mayor Byron W. Brown also has taken steps to slash the number of take-home cars. Unless unions win arbitration fights, 35 city employees who have enjoyed take-home cars at taxpayers’ expense would lose one of City Hall’s more coveted fringe benefits.

But not Brown.

Of course not. Brown is so important he needs to be on call 24/7. Imagine how disadvantaged Buffalo would be if Brown had to pay for his own car.

[Brown]’s keeping his city-owned 2006 Ford Crown Victoria. He does give up the vehicle when the snow starts to fly — but only so he can use a city-owned 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe. 

Brown makes no apologies, insisting his mayoral duties keep him on call 24/7. There’s never a day when he isn’t performing city business after hours, he has repeatedly asserted.

But Rochester’s Duffy is anything but a 9-to-5 mayor, according to his aides. While Duffy will receive reimbursement for mileage he racks up performing business with his personal car, city taxpayers will no longer be footing the tab for his rides back and forth to work. 

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Looks like Rochester is the latest city to waste money on a program that will do nothing to reduce gun related crime.

Rochester police say they collected 133 guns and more than 300 rounds of ammunition over the weekend during a “no questions asked” gun drop-off.

Police spokeswoman Officer Deidre Taccone says each person who turned in one or more shotguns or long rifles received $50 Wegmans grocery-store gift cards, while those who turned in handguns, assault rifles or fully automatic weapons received $100 gift cards.

Police say they collected 159 guns during a similar drop-off program last month.

The gun buyback program in Boston, MA didn’t work, I don’t understand why cities continue to hold similar programs when they do nothing to decrease gun related crimes.

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