Press Pass

Most of us are familiar with such local institutions as the Buffalo Club and Saturn Club. But in this month's Buffalo Spree, freelance writer Kevin Purdy explored an ultra-secret social club that has been around for more than 75 years -- a club that the vast majority of Buffalonians know nothing about.

A major effort is underway to entice the Buffalo Bills to build a brand new stadium on the city's waterfront. In this week's Press Pass conversation, WBFO'S Eileen Buckley and Buffalo News reporter Brian Meyer discuss the proposal that calls for a year-round facility featuring a retractable roof. But land ownership needs to be cleared as a first hurdle for such a project.

Election Day for seats on the Buffalo Board of Education is quickly approaching.  Voters will be making their choices on Tuesday May 7.

Buffalo's waterfront is filled with grain silos.  Some see them as eyesores.  But one visionary silo owner sees potential.  Buffalo Spree Editor Elizabeth Licata talks about Silo City and other preservation issues in this week's Press Pass with WBFO's Mark Scott.

The Elmwood Village remains a thriving and bustling commercial district in City of Buffalo. WBFO's Eileen Buckley and Buffalo News reporter Brian Meyer explore the successful of the Elmwood strip and what changes could be in store in this week's edition of Press Pass.

This year's race for City Hall could be heating up in coming days. There is also a new battle brewing inside City Hall. Those are the topics on WBFO'S Press Pass conversation with Chris Jamele and Artvoice editor Geoff Kelly. 

Led by suburban Republican lawmakers last month, the Erie County Legislature passed a memorializing resolution that seeks repeal of New York's tough new gun law. 

In this week's Press Pass, WBFO's Mark Scott and Buffalo Spree Editor Elizabeth Licata are talking cocktails!  They're taking a break from the weighty issue of preservation to have some fun with this month's Buffalo Spree cover story.

This week in our Press Pass conversation, WBFO's Eileen Buckley and Buffalo News reporter Brian Meyer discuss advances made at the Erie County Medical Center. They also tell us what the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper says is the"blue economy."  Eileen and Brian begin their conversation with ECMC's plans to open a brand new nursing home this month on the Grider campus replacing the former home in Alden.

The issues of hydrofracking and preservation continue to make news in the Western New York area, but the loudest story of late is Carl Paladino's announcement that he will be running for a post on the Buffalo School Board. 

When a snowstorm buried the Buffalo area under more than a foot of snow the day after Christmas, pedestrians in some spots were forced to walk in the street -- dodging cars, buses and trucks because sidewalks were clogged with snow.  In a column that followed the storm, Buffalo News Suburban Editor Bruce Andriatch called on municipalities to begin ticketing property owners who fail to clear their sidewalks. 

An historic property at 204 High Street is facing an uncertain future.  It's been vacant for decades, but a local contractor and artisan is interested in restoring it.  Yet, the city has thrown roadblocks in his way and there are fears the structure could be demolished to make way for future development.

First Night festivities begin at 5 p.m. Monday at the Buffalo Niagara Convention.  The event is designed for families to celebrate the New Year.

Legislative action on the 2013 Erie County budget is complete.  A coalition of five Republicans and one Democrat pushed through spending cuts that eliminated the tax increase that County Executive Mark Poloncarz had recommended in his proposed budget.  WBFO's Mark Scott has more with Buffalo News Suburban Editor Bruce Andriatch in this week's Press Pass.

This month's issue of Buffalo Spree profiles Western New York "game changers" -- 24 local movers and shakers who are shaping the "new" Buffalo.  One of them is Dana Saylor-Furman, an historical researcher who is involved in building preservation. 

Buffalo businessman Mark Croce continues the huge task of working to renovate the Statler Towers on Delaware Avenue.  It's one of many revitalization projects underway in the city.   WBFO's Eileen Buckley and Buffalo News reporter Brian Meyer discusses Croce's progress in this week's Press Pass conversation.

Buffalo Schools Superintendent Dr. Pamela Brown is confident she can lead the district through challenging times. 

That is just one of the topics in this week's Press Pass conversation. 

WBFO'S Eileen Buckley talks with Buffalo News reporter Brian Meyer about his online "In Focus" video interviews with newsmakers.

A recent poll for the 60th State Senate District race has incumbent Republican Mark Grisanti with a sizable lead over his two opponents.  

Grisanti faces opponents Michael Amodeo, a Democrat,  and Chuck Swanick, a Conservative.

WBFO's Chris Jamele and Artvoice editor Geoff Kelly take a close look at this race as well as the Congressional campaign between Kathy Hochul and Chris Collins in this week's Press Pass discussion. 

Suburban governments in the region have been releasing their respective 2013 town budgets in the past week.  Buffalo News Suburban Editor Bruce Andriatch has more in this week's Press Pass with WBFO's Mark Scott.

Lancaster Town Supervisor Dino Fudoli released a budget that cut taxes.  Amherst Town Supervisor Barry Weinstein's plan increases spending but holds the line on property taxes.  And residents of several other towns, including the Town of Tonawanda and Orchard Park, will see slight tax increases. 

The Sabres organization and the City of Buffalo will begin preparing for Webster Block development.

That is one of the topics of conversation in this week's Press Pass conversation with WBFO & AM-970's Jay Moran and Business First reporter Jim Fink.

Jay and Jim also discuss new concerns that surrounded the Buffalo Creek Casino.

An historic building at Main and Allen Streets in Buffalo was months, if not weeks,  away from collapsing.  But as we hear in this week's Press Pass, it's now on a path to being saved.

The building at 918 and 920 Main Street was constructed in 1891 to house a company known as the Bosche Carriage Repository.  Buffalo Spree Editor Elizabeth Licata wrote about the landmark in her monthly Preservation Ready column in the September issue.  She says it was designed by architect Cyrus Porter who is known for several famous buildings locally, including the Cyclorama.

Efforts are underway to boost tourism through projects to make Buffalo more visitor-friendly. 

In this week's Press Pass conversation WBFO & AM-970's Eileen Buckley talks with Buffalo News reporter Brian Meyer, who has been focusing on the issue.

The primary election season is heating up locally.   This week's Press Pass conversation looks at the races voters will decide on Thursday, September 13, 2012.

WBFO & AM-970's Chris Jamele sits down with Artvoice editor Geoff Kelly about the candidates.

Lancaster Town Supervisor Dino Fudoli has proven to be quite a controversial leader since assuming office on January 1st.  He's a proponent of limiting the financial incentives granted by the region's various industrial development agencies.  Fudoli then targeted town employee unions for criticism by describing public employees as being the "unproductive" segment of the economy.  Finally, he admitted late last month that he has not paid property taxes on various properties he owns. 

Though they may eventually stay in their current location, Delaware North officials are examining some key downtown spots for their headquarters.

Jim Fink of Business First says Delaware North will be keeping its 350 employees downtown, however the company is exploring its options prior to their lease expiring in 2015.

That's one of many items Jim Fink touched upon during his Press Pass conversation on WBFO and AM 970.

Mayor Brown, Fink expects, will make a decision this week on who will develop the Webster Block near First Niagara Center.

The city is getting closer to developing a prime piece of land in downtown Buffalo that borders the new Canalside at the hockey arena. 

Buffalo developer Carl Paladino and the Buffalo Sabres presented their separate plans for the Webster Block.  That's the topic of this week's Press Pass conversation.

WBFO & AM-970's Eileen Buckley sits down with Buffalo News reporter Brian Meyer who spoke to the developers about details of their proposals in this week's Press Pass conversation.

Some vacant houses targeted for demolition in the City of Buffalo could get reprieves from the wrecking ball. 

This week on Press Pass, Buffalo Spree editor Elizabeth Licata tells WBFO & AM 970's Eileen Buckley how one East Side woman saved a vacant Victorian home from being torn down.   
 

Western New York is in the midst of a drought.  Rain late last week brought some relief.  But it wasn't nearly enough to help the region's farmers whose crop yields are expected to be much lower this year. 

Buffalo News Suburban Editor Bruce Andriatch joins Mark Scott on this week's Press Pass on WBFO and AM 970 for a discussion of the drought's local impact.

Now that the Affordable Care Act has been deemed constitutional, it is expected to set off plenty of debate in the political arena. 

In this week's Press Pass conversation WBFO & AM-970'S Eileen Buckley and Buffalo News reporter Brian Meyer talk about the reaction that is underway over the new healthcare law.

Prescription drug abuse in Western New York has been described as an epidemic.  But a new prescription drug bill approved by state lawmakers would begin to prevent the problem. 

This week  in our Press Pass conversation WBFO & AM-970's Eileen Buckley talked with Buffalo News reporters Susan Schulman and Dan Herbeck.  They were part of an award-winning News series last year called "Prescription for Danger" and reacted to the new bill that Governor Cuomo promises to sign into law.