The Tao Of Paul

2007 was a big year for me. My daughter got married, my son moved to Arizona, big life changes. I also started the two year countdown for retirement! Oh yeah, started my blog.
All these changes caused me to lose focus a little bit, threw me off my routines, so to speak.
So this new year, I am going to get on track. Not just the usual lose weight, cut back on the cigars type deal. I want to get serious about the Chinese brush painting. I want to try different cuisine when I dine out. I want to read more. I want to be more active in the WNY community.
I want to get off my ass and do stuff.
So anytime you hear of something good going on, let me know.

Let me start by stating comparing the Buffalo Creek project with the Seneca Niagara Casino doesn’t work. The neighborhoods are not the same, neither are the local economic drivers. This article seems to be your standard “Woe is us, we have a casino” type deal. Pictures of run - down houses with the Casino complex in the background always tugs at my heart strings. You get great quotes like this:

“You could build a wall around the casino and the hotel for all the good they do for neighboring businesses,” said Buffalo developer Carl A. Paladino, who is trying to redevelop the second-tallest building in Niagara Falls, a block from the casino.

Carl is right. The local bars and restaurants are in direct competition with the casino. But then again why would visitors coming to the casino leave for food and drink when they don’t have to.
Does this come as a surprise?
Let’s look at this a minute…
Niagara Falls. sits on one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, and attracts thousands upon thousands of tourists each year. Yet the city I once called home is a dump, has been for years. The hotel business is doing alright. Matter of fact, there are a few million in upgrades going on right now. But these tourists don’t frequent local bars and eateries on Main, Pine, or around the casino. What made people think that another tourist attraction would be any different?
What does the casino bring to the area anyhow?
Almost 3,000 jobs, a 76 million payroll. And the city of Niagara Falls will receive 23 million this year. Not too bad.
What does the city bring to the table?
A dysfunctional government that makes Buffalo and Erie County look efficient as hell. A merry go round of mayors that provide endless fodder for Mike Hudson to write about, including a mayor under investigation by the FBI, and whose daughter purportedly held a drinking party in his office.
Has the city provided any incentives for businesses to move into that area? Has any program been initiated for current businesses to receive tax breaks for improvement? Is there anything in place where the city and casino jointly promote the local businesses in conjunction with the casino?
As for the run down homes in that area, they were like that pre-casino, so that’s a wash. And you can’t convince me that there are not some property owners in that area just maintaining the status quo, hoping that someone will buy the property at an inflated values just because of the proximity to the casino.
Bottom line - Seneca Niagara is a business. It is not their responsibility to pull that area up by its bootstraps. Business owners have to work that themselves. The city government has to pull its head out and offer incentives to make it worthwhile to invest.
If anything, that is the lesson that Buffalo has to learn. If the Casino does happen, do not sit back and wait for the magic to happen. The district must be marketed properly, and you have to work with the casino for things to happen.
Oh, for the record, I have never set foot in any casino anywhere. Not even for the food and entertainment. Not my cup of tea.

In my shameless self promotion, I am increasing my readership, one relative at a time.
Today it is my niece Leanna. Same age as my son, lives in NYC, works advertising. She’s hoping to get a chance to see a little more of Buffalo someday. When she was little, family visits were just that. Up for the weekend, visit family, zip home. Maybe she can hook up with her cousins here and see some sites, have some good times. The cousins are good for that..
Anyhow, I have a new reader, even though it’s a relative.

It’s not unusual to shake your head at the things coming out of Albany, but this is gold-star, you gotta be shitting me type stuff that really stands out.
Eric Adams Is a Freshman with big ideas about big money. This comment makes me wonder how much NYPD types make:

He expressed his dissatisfaction over a base pay salary of $79,500 a year (that’s the base salary, without the perks known as lulus), declaring it a level that could “qualify for public assistance.” He aimed this vitriol at editorial boards from “Buffalo to New York.”

I could rant and rave about the greed, the stupidity, the sheer idiocy of this one, but all I can do is shake my head and say, “now THAT is a clueless dumbass”.

At least other politicians have the grace to keep their greed a little more low key..

May you all get a chance to spend time with family and friends, may your day be joyful and free of stress. May you feel the warmth the season brings. May you and yours enjoy good health and good cheer…

Merry Christmas to all,
Paul W.

Just messing around, probably go back to black when I get bored playing…

Disclaimer:
The following is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of any other member of WNYM.
Seems that there is a little brouhaha over at Pundit’s place.
Let’s face it. we have had plans, coalitions, more plans, public forums, ad nauseum. What we haven’t had is a whole lot of progress. Some people are opposed to a project, some aren’t. If some folks at WNYMedia choose to use a little parody to voice their opinion, fine by me. But to insinuate that these people are any less interested in the betterment of Western New York simply because they don’t engage in dialogue in the manner that you prefer, is pretty freaking arrogant.
These people work their asses off for the area. If you don’t like the medium they use for their message, then you have issues. Perhaps we need to be a little more vocal, ruffle a few more feathers to get things moving.
So to bastardize the Bard, “Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of WNYM”

Update 12/20/05:37
After waking up and reading my post this morning, I realize my anger directed at those commenters not happy with the parody is borne of frustration. I could have stated it to them more clearly with “Be thankful that those who did the parody care enough about the renewal of Western New York to be active participants. And I will be thankful that they also have a sense of humor.” It may behoove them to add a sense of humor to their repertoire as well.
And thanks to DougK for the great quote to start the morning.

For starters, I hate it when I am up at 4. Granted, I fell asleep on the couch at 8 last night, but it still goofs me up.
We’ll start by dropping off the gifts at the mall for the angel tree after work. That means by the time we get home we’ll both be starving and neither will want to cook. Take out night.
Putting up the tree and a few decorations perhaps on Saturday. Sunday, finding a good place to watch the game.
Anyone starting the office party routine yet?

So here I am,2 weeks away from the holiday, trying to figure out what’s different.
For starters, no decorations up yet. It would have been done this past weekend, but other things came up. And with the kids out of the house, the sense of urgency isn’t there. So we do it this week. No problem. And there will be a lot less as well. No need for 10 boxes to come out of the basement. We’ll have the big tree (as opposed to the little aluminum).
What else is missing? (more)The shopping! My siblings and I send cards. No gifts. Kate’s family is doing the Angel tree thing at the mall. You get a kid’s age and gender, sizes, wish list if any. A lot easier than trying to figure out what to get a sister in law. The Kids, some clothes and gift cards. A bit old for Barbies and GI Joes.
My wife and I don’t get much for each other either. We have come to the decision that at this point in our lives we have more than enough shit in the house, and need no more. There is really nothing that I need and can’t think of anything I really want. Kath has hinted that she would like a Router, but I might save that for our anniversary. I think 31st anniversary is power tools for gifts.
So, fewer decorations to put up, less shopping to do, means more time to enjoy the season with friends and family.
Life is good…

Yeah, a lot of the others have jumped and changed their style. Me? I kinda like my industrial look for now. Maybe I might try a change later on. But I guarantee one thing:
No cute pictures of puppies romping around. Possibly irritating cats, monkeys of some sort, or the ever popular head-on-a-stick photo (which may be rented for a nominal fee for your next vacation!),
But no puppies.