"Delaware North Extortion" written by Joe on estrip.org

10/28/13 11:40 - ID#58202

Delaware North Extortion

So Delaware North and Uniland want to knock down the serviceable and occupied Delaware Court building at Delaware and Chippewa to build a new headquarters/hotel. I could almost understand this being done with completely private money, even though I sympathize with the preservation argument. There are plenty of vacant lots even a block or two away that I'm sure Uniland could leverage a good deal out of.

(Although I still don't understand why the collapsed Erie Fright House was rejected by the preservation board to be relocated for condos - it's now being left to rot with no further use. Did developer Savarino not grease the right palms on the preservation board?)

But now Delaware North is demanding tax breaks to fill a $10 million dollar gap in the project budget, plus Uniland is looking for $5 million more from the Empire State Development Corporation. Allegedly, they need a new HQ here otherwise they'll head to their Boston or California offices - because I'm sure they'll save so much in operating costs by moving there. So they need $10 million for a *potential* of 65 new jobs? Oh, and we'll have a half vacant Key Center to go along with an empty HSBC Tower (also being emptied by subsidies - . Why should we pay to shuffle the deck between offices? What does anyone gain out of this, besides the developers that get picked as winners?

This is corporate extortion, and I'm absolutely sick of it. Every company seems to play this game now, because no politician wants to even think of having a company HQ leave on their watch.

I call any claims of job growth and relocation a bluff. If you need to look to nearby examples, this happened in Ohio with American Greetings getting $93.5 million for a new headquarters, before laying off 300 workers. Same thing with Diebold and their $55 million Ohio tax break.

Permalink: Delaware_North_Extortion.html
Words: 312
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/28/13 11:43

Category: partt

10/28/13 12:45 - ID#58197

Strange Party

While we were at craving on Friday, (e:Paul) got a text from a number he didn't know inviting him to a Halloween party that night. he managed to get more details about the party and we invited (e:Mike) and (e:libertad) along in case we were about to get murdered.

We got home and quickly threw together costumes from whatever we could find in the closet. Terry was a farmer, Paul was a costume box slash Indian bling bear, and apparently I was the green lantern in an skanky-tight costume.

Next we met up at Mike and Dave's since they lived right around the block from the party. It was sort of awkward at first because we still had no idea who Paul allegedly knew there, until he came to the party after us. It turned out to be someone we met months ago at sky bar for Mike's bday. A

Actually it still was awkward after that but there was tons of booze and delicious pudding shots, which is all you need, right?.

First attempt at a costume before Paul decided it was too cold

Peacock Mike and the bling bear

Hegla and the farmer

Helga, the farmer and our connection to this party

Helga Pataki and me, uh uh

Permalink: Strange_Party.html
Words: 220
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/28/13 12:53

Category: food

10/28/13 12:36 - ID#58196

Restaurant Week at Craving

Friday night after helping (e:paul) prime the bathroom a little, paul, (e:terry) and I headed out to restaurant week at Craving. I got the handkerchief pasta, which was arugula pesto, asparagus, mushroom and Parmesan, and house salad with fried polenta.

Everything was amazing but definitely on the greasy side. That's okay since I was super hungry. It was way more than I like to spend at $20.13 for restaurant week, but I guess getting the salad and pasta individually would have been way more than that normally.

Permalink: Restaurant_Week_at_Craving.html
Words: 91
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/28/13 12:53

Category: going out

10/25/13 10:24 - ID#58188

Healthcare at Fugazi

last night (e:Paul), (e:Terry), (e:xandra) and (e:Mike) headed out to fugazi for cheap dranks. Terry and I ended up in a drunk discussion on healthcare and the need for a single payer system. I always love drunk nerdy conversations like that. We also came to the conclusion that we still could be the 1% profiting off our current system if we started the right company. should we be commie pinkos or capitalist pig dogs?

next up was cathode for a big ass drink. We got our dance and on and I made a bunch of new friends to invite to the Halloween party. we'll see who is true blue and shows up.

So cute

Paul wants a 666 tag

Permalink: Healthcare_at_Fugazi.html
Words: 123
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/28/13 11:51

Category: movies

10/24/13 01:43 - ID#58184

Gravity

After the errands, (e:Paul), (e:terry) and I went to see Gravity out at the Transit IMAX with Holly and Brian. First we went to Korea House in Williamsville for dinner, which was really good. Terry had an amazing kimchi pancake thing, and I had the soonbudu jjigae tofu kimchi which was just as awsome.

I hadn't been to an imax movie in a while but the tickets were outrageous at 16 bucks each. The movie itself was alright plot wise, filled with bad science but I was just being a nerd. The 3D was amazing, the satellite debris looked like it was flying right at you enough that I was flinching. We sat so close to the screen that you actually had to turn to see things, including the Sandra Bullock's costars, Sandra Bullock's badonk and legs.

Pretty beastly for 50.

There also was an ad in the hallway for a movie called Black Nativity. Straight to the point I guess?

Permalink: Gravity.html
Words: 168
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/24/13 01:47

Category: shopping

10/24/13 12:56 - ID#58183

Pumpkins and Big Box Hell

On Sunday, (e:Paul), (e:Terry) and I managed to get a lot of errands and things around the house done, or at least started.

We started off the day with brunch at the Left Bank. I had never eaten there before, but it was amazing - I had the waffles with the raspberry sauce and pecan sweet potato home fries. Tons of sugar and fruit.

After that, we headed out to get some things from Walmart, Home Depot, and to get a pumpkin.

The Hamburg Walmart was super weird. It had three different entrances dressed up to be tacky versions of different storefronts, which is a concession Walmart now makes to get into more uppity places I guess. It was probably the biggest store I have ever been in, even compared to other Walmarts.

They also sold a second hand Burger King advertisement/video game for $15. There were tons of copies, I wonder if they ever actually sold one.

Paul all dolled up

Paul managed to find things for his Halloween costume, and also the gaybrella which is definitely the best I've seen.

We got a absolutely massive pumpkin and tons of squash from a farm out in Eden. It took two of us just to lift it up into the car.

Next we went to Home Depot. I can't think of a good experience at Home Depot. It's so large, overwhelming and I've never received good help from their employees. We weren't able to find anything we needed, the right size wall board, vent cap, or furnace filter. We just ended up leaving because it was such a waste of time. I felt so less stressed and antsy outside of the store, Paul says it's probably the fumes from all the materials outgassing.

I really hate big box stores like Walmart and Home Depot because I find them so overwhelming. I know that's a bougie thing to say but I'm already proto-bougie and living with two of the most petite-bourgeois people I know so I'll run with it. First world problems!

When we got home, we washed and cleaned up Basra for the new tortoise basement home that Terry spent the Saturday cleaning. Lots accomplished!

Permalink: Pumpkins_and_Big_Box_Hell.html
Words: 373
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/24/13 01:49

Category: dancing

10/20/13 04:32 - ID#58169

Roller skating

last night, (e:terry), (e:Paul) and I went roller skating at the dance night at Rainbow Rink in North Tonawanda.

It was crazy fun. our outfits were all out with the ridic colors and tails. the music was decent dub step, and skating was amazing. I haven't been roller skating since Catholic schools week in 8th grade, so I was super rusty. (e:Terry) on the other hand was a beast. His outfit's colors reminded me of Captain Planet.

Apparently the Skateland on East Ferry is still open? I wonder if they ever have anything like this because it would be so much more convenient. Paul thinks we could make an awesome dance rink in an empty warehouse.

Permalink: Roller_skating.html
Words: 124
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/20/13 04:32

Category: birthdays

10/20/13 03:58 - ID#58168

Cycles/Emily's Bday

On Friday, I came home to watch (e:Paul) finish up programming the cycles project for the Burchfield Penny. He's been working on it so much the past few weeks when the deadline was approaching, it reminded me of school project type stress. Paul of course was all in as usual and working crazy fast. It was awesome when it was running smoothly for the most part though. So many conditionals it blows my mind.

crazy Friday night of programming

after (e:terry), (e:xandra) and Jake came back from the opening, went out on Allen for Emily's birthday.

gay art teacher

Smoking sugar

Permalink: Cycles_Emily_s_Bday.html
Words: 113
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/21/13 08:19

Category: robot

10/16/13 10:59 - ID#58151

e:Paul as a robot

While we were hiking, Paul decided to try his robot running skills that we saw in a video earlier

Half man, half machine, all grace:

Just wait until they add the machine guns.

Permalink: e_Paul_as_a_robot.html
Words: 44
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/16/13 11:11

Category: hiking

10/15/13 12:05 - ID#58147

Gorge Hike

Last Sunday, (e:Paul), (e:Terry) and I managed to do some cleaning before we headed outside for the amazing weather. We rescued my brother from CHS open house, went out for lunch and then drove up for hiking to Niagara Gorge.

Shish Kebob Express - really good and the prices weren't terrible. I'm glad Emily told us about it.

On the way

Derp!

Paul falling off a cliff

Top of the world!

Not respecting the river -some ranger

Old flames

Between a rock and hard place

Topless walk back, owow

It was an awesome day for a hike. We then went home, had a good dinner/apple crisp with Brian and Holly before the macsanity began.