President Obama visits Buffalo

"Buffalo LOVES Obama" was the message conveyed by a red,white, and blue sign on a Liberty cab roof when President Obama came to town on May 13th.

The purpose of the president's visit was to talk about jobs and the effect his administration is having on the economy, as well as to hear from Buffalonians, according to White House deputy press secretary and Buffalo native, Bill Burton, as described in an article in The Buffalo News.

The president also held a private meeting with several representatives of the Families of Flight 3407. Obama thanked the families of Flight 3407 for their efforts to boost aviation safety in wake of the plane crash that claimed their loved ones, according to Burton.

Previous stops on on his "White House to Main Street Tour" have included a visit to a local restaurant. Obama and his entourage did stop to buy something to eat, and the prez ordered Buffalo chicken wings. So where did they go? Anchor Bar, home of the Original Buffalo Wings? Nope. They went to Duff's Famous Wings, also an excellent choice.

It was the Buffalo wings stop at Duff's, and in particular something that a local resident said to the president there, that received the most media attention. According to The Buffalo News article, "Obama stories, blog put reader where action was", by Margaret Sullivan, readers of BuffaloNews.com heard about it first, thanks to News Washington Bureau Chief Jerry Zremski, who was with the president almost every step of the way.

Below is the electronic message that appeared on the Buffalo News live blog:
1:23 p.m.: Louann Haley, of Chaffee, greeted the president with the words: "You're a hottie with a smokin' little body." Obama's response: He hugged her. --JZ

Oh, yes, and about jobs and the economy...

Obama did meet with workers at Industrial Support Inc., where he offered a vigorous defense of his economic policies, saying they are creating jobs to boost the economy, according to live blogger, JZ.

Industrial Support Company officials spent about 45 minutes with Obama, introducing him to employees and giving him a tour of the plant, which manufactures a variety of products, from aeronautical parts to salad bars for the grocery industry, as stated in The Buffalo News article, 'President's visit makes impression at Industrial Support', by Jay Rey and Jay Tokasz.

David Sullivan, founder and president of Industrial Support, told Obama that 15 years ago he was in a shoe-box of an office, struggling to meet payroll. Today, he was shaking hands with the president. "That's the American dream," Obama told Sullivan, as he gave him a big hug.

Although Obama was in Buffalo ostensibly to talk about small business and jobs, the national media attention on the president's visit focused on the stop for Buffalo wings and and the "hottie" quote, not on small business matters. This, together with the decision to have the president give his wing business to Duffs, not the Anchor Bar, prompted an editorial cartoon, below, by Adam Zyglis.

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Volunteers: Greenhouses & Garden Beds

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State of Lake Erie Meeting - May 6

New York Sea Grant's

Annual State of Lake Erie Meeting

Free and open to the public

• Thursday, May 6, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

• ARMOR FIRE HALL, 4932 Clark St., Hamburg, NY [ MAP ]
  

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS

• NY Power Authority - Offshore Wind Generation - Sharon Laudisi, Lou Paonessa

• NYS DEC's Lake Erie Coldwater Program Update - Jim Markham, Senior Fishery Biologist, NYS DEC

• NYS DEC's Lake Erie Warmwater Program Update - Don Einhouse, NYS DEC, Lake Erie Unit Leader

• A Response to the Asian Carp Situation - Thomas Marks, NY Director, Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council

Sponsored by: NYS Assemblyman Jack Quinn, In Cooperation With Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY

For more information or directions, contact: Helen Domske, NY Sea Grant (716) 645-3610 or email sgbuffal@cornell.edu

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Editorial Opinion:
Those interested in offshore wind power as a source of clean, renewable energy should definitely attend this meeting.

There will be significant opposition to offshore wind at this public meeting from fishing enthusiasts, as indicated in this document.

If you have been following the news on the oil spill in the Gulf, you know what offshore oil drilling can do to harm the fish, sport fishing and the fishing industry.

Consider an alternative energy source: what would happen if there was a wind spill from an offshore wind farm? No harm, no foul...enjoy the breeze while clean energy powers your home, electric car, trolling motor battery, and just keep on fishing!

Public Meeting: West Valley Nuclear Waste

From the Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes (CWVNW):

The Department of Energy (DOE) will be conducting its Quarterly West Valley Meeting on Tuesday, May 4, 6:30pm at the Ashford Office Complex, 9030 Route 219, West Valley, NY [Map].

This is an important public meeting. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND as a show of support for the protection of our Great Lakes Erie and Ontario and all the people living downstream.

The Record of Decision, issued 4/15/2010, for the Environmental Impact Statement issued in December 2008, does not afford long-term protection downstream because it does not commit to a complete and full waste exhumation, as recognized and requested by the hundreds of comments, representing hundreds of thousands of affected citizens.

DOE and NYSERDA have to be challenged on this flawed decision that is not supported by valid science, nor was it supported by the impressive and vast majority and sincerity of comments submitted to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

The Cattaraugus Creek and Lake Erie and drinking water for millions of people are at high risk for thousands of generations and we owe them the right decision now.

For more information, contact Joanne Hameister, Chair, CWVNW Steering Committee.

Buffalo News Editorial: West Valley needs more

Earlier blog posts on the need for a full clean up of the radioactive waste are here.

Wind Action Group Meeting - May 6

The Wind Action Group meeting is on May 6th at 5:30 pm.

We will have reports from our various committees:

• The UB Law School Clinic students under the direction of Legal Committee Chair, Bob Berger will present their reports.

• Derek Bateman will be looking for volunteers for the Elmwood Festival of the Arts and we will hear an update on the NYPA offshore wind presentation scheduled for June 25th.

The meeting will be held at the CFGB Office, 712 Main St. Buffalo.

Volunteers: Hoop House Urban Farming

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