shuffle to bflo

every time i turn around it seems i'm in the company of someone from buffalo

after seeing so many buffalonians in nyc as of late, it occurred to me to check in (virtually) with buffalo. hello buffalo! i miss you all!

stay gold

things fare well down here. 55 degree weather for new years, the year starts well. so much to say but ohwell.

don't bother
emailing me, I've forgotten my password to log in. paul can you do anything about that?

so long, farewell

i also just got an email about the city failing to keep its word with the asbury church (a.k.a ani's church) i guess i can't help but post it..


Many of you may have read a story in today’s paper about the City of Buffalo essentially being about to pull the plug on the revitalization of the Asbury Church as a performing arts center by Righteous Babe Records and Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center. Here’s a link to it:



The story is misleading in some respects. Costs for the project have grown (as they do with ANY renovation project), but Righteous Babe and Hallwalls are fully prepared to meet any increases through their own fundraising. They are only asking the City to honor an agreement made two years ago to provide 2.7 million in funding—1.7 of which will come from HSBC Bank, who is ready and willing to step forward. Righteous Babe also plans to pay the City back for its contribution, although this IS a City-owned building. Righteous Babe, a local business,  has already spent 2.5 million on a building they do not own and Hallwalls (an internationally-respected thirty-year-old arts organization) has so far raised 400k (88% private) towards the project. Many national and local funders are excited about this project—it is in fact an enormous gift to downtown.  This is a nationally recognized performing arts center which will regularly bring patrons to downtown restaurants, hotels, and other businesses as well as further enriching the existing residential district—to which new apartments are being added yearly. Not to mention the preservation of a historic landmark. God knows what will happen to it if it reverts to City management.

Even the most anti-government-funding libertarian would have to recognize the huge benefit being returned for a small investment. Almost all the dollars going to this project are private.

This is what needs to happen. The Common Council must RE-APPROVE the agreement between the City and Righteous Babe on Tuesday, 1/11.

This is how you can help: Call, fax, or email your Council Member, regardless of where you live in the City. Urge them to let the project go forward. Attend the meeting if you can. Louis Grachos, director of the Albright-Knox, and others, plan to be there to speak in favor.