taxes- The Buffalo Bean

The Most Competitive Democraties Ever...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Erie County, Kook Left, NY State Government, The Skyway on 03 7th, 2010 | 2 Comments

Expanding the Best Picture Oscar field to 10 entrants may water down the field. But some competitions feature a plethora of worthwhile candidates. Take trying to pick the Best New York State Democrat. The academy that’s in charge of issuing the Democraties ™ would have to permit a similarly...

Failing to Earn Credit...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Buffalo, Campaign 2010, Commentary, Economy, Erie County, Federal Government, House of Representatives, Media, U.S. Senate, White House on 02 3rd, 2010 | No Comments

The one thing that’s better than making money is being handed some. That’s why anyone who doubts the Earned Income Tax Credit is the most wondrous gift our benevolent government has ever bestowed upon us should read The Buffalo News. In particular, their January 31 take on the subject, helpfully...

Posted by Matt in Buffalo, Economy, State Assembly, State Legislature, State Senate on 01 5th, 2010 | No Comments

New Yorkers are miserable. But at least now we know why. Specifically, a state government that eats much of your paycheck is concurrently making you sad. The phenomenon of Empire State-based dejection has been analyzed before. Now, Allysia Finley of the Wall Street Journal has highlighted a Science...

Posted by Matt in Erie County on 12 15th, 2009 | No Comments

The following letter to the editor by Erie County Legislator Ed Rath will appear in the Amherst Bee tomorrow: Dear Editor: Erie County has adopted its 2010 budget. I am happy to report that the budget keeps tax rates steady for next year. During these difficult economic times, it does not make sense...

Dinner Should be on the Hall...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Buffalo, Commentary, Economy, Media, News on 12 15th, 2009 | 1 Comment

The City of Buffalo would like you to dine out. Please. But kindly only do so at sanctioned eateries that the local government has blessed with cash. The Buffalo News recently highlighted the specific flaws of a loan program that removes “free” from markets: City Hall lending to business...

The City Loves Your House! Um…...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Buffalo, Commentary, Economy, Media, News on 12 8th, 2009 | No Comments

If the rents increased organically in an improving area, class warfare warriors would moan about how gentrification was driving out the proles. Alternately, when the government prices out the very people who toiled to made city sections livable, it’s apparently equality in practice. Many Buffalonians...

Makeovers Don’t Last...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Buffalo, Commentary, Economy, Entertainment, Media, News on 11 17th, 2009 | 6 Comments

I’d rather track scarcely talented American Idol contestants, get caught up on Glee’s let’s-relive-high-school plotlines, or endure a fan’s lecture about how Earth-shatteringly wonderful 30 Rock is before hearing another hyped word about Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Many...

Having Fun Making Fun of Artvoice...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Buffalo, Commentary, Economy, Erie County, NY State Government on 11 16th, 2009 | 1 Comment

The Artvoice Dilemma comes down to whether it’s worth pointing out any random article’s problems. It’s usually best to avoid the chore of reading an issue, much less critiquing its contents. But sometimes they churn out something so egregious that it deserves a shredding. For...

New York’s Empty Feeling...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Buffalo, Commentary, Economy, NY State Government, News on 10 28th, 2009 | Comments Off

Having fewer bad congressional representatives isn’t worth it. And, while it’s nice to enjoy shorter waiting times at restaurants and cope with less traffic, it’s ultimately not fun to have a broke ghost town to yourself. The remaining residents of New York State are coping with...

Posted by Guest Blogger in Amherst on 10 23rd, 2009 | Comments Off

To hear people speak at the town board meeting last Monday night, one would think that everyone in the Town of Amherst would like to see property taxes go up so that we don’t have to lay off any employees. I am mindful of the effects of layoffs on employees and their families. Any proposal...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Buffalo, Commentary, Economy, Federal Government, News on 10 7th, 2009 | Comments Off

Money? Good. Fighting cancer? Good. But money intended to aid the cancer fight could be spent ineffectually despite the astoundingly noble goal. The Buffalo News carried a recent story about a federal grant that’s by default more useful than every other project that has been or will be funded...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Commentary, Economy, NY State Government on 09 29th, 2009 | Comments Off

>It figures: David Paterson starts to get it as soon as he’s politically toast. New Yorkers don’t appreciate President Obama basically encouraging the governor to spend more time with his family. But the same story notes that this doesn’t mean they like the state’s leader: >Just 17 percent...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Campaign 2010, Commentary, NY State Government, State Assembly, State Legislature, State Senate on 09 21st, 2009 | 1 Comment

It’s an ominous moment for one’s career when the President of the United States tells you to quit your job. Granted, it’s the same president who spends his free time micromanaging banks and car companies, but David Paterson can’t feel comfortable about an anti-endorsement that submarines his...

Pay to Tax? Welcome to New York...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in NY State Government on 09 17th, 2009 | Comments Off

Small-government sympathizers may have picked up help they’d rightly never expect. Specifically, tea party types can enjoy a new sign that the tide is officially turning in their favor: The Buffalo News is acting like it’s pro-business. Well, it’s true at least one time. A recent front-page story...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Campaign 2010, Federal Government, NY-20, U.S. Senate on 09 16th, 2009 | Comments Off

Politics didn’t change Kirsten Gillibrand, but a new job did. She became a company woman once since she was assigned to stand for in the Senate; that’s different that how she acted while representing only New York’s 20th Congressional District in the House. Unfortunately for her, she may have just...

Posted by Anthony Bialy in Buffalo, Commentary, Education on 08 31st, 2009 | Comments Off

Buffalo’s schools suck less than before. But that’s far different than being successful. Even if the wobbly district has taken the first step that begins a thousand-mile journey, there’s still much ground ahead. The Buffalo News article detailing their status starts with a rather rosy perspective...