MOVING INTO SPRING

Hope this note finds you in good health, high spirits, and a spring mood.  Because it’s time to return to our task of government reform.

NEW YEAR, NEW CHALLENGES, NEW IDEAS

With the arrival of the New Year, and all the sense of possibility it evokes, I wanted to let you know that for the past several weeks we’ve been giving considerable thought to how best to continue to advance our citizens’ movement.

LEGISLATURE DOWNSIZING: ASKING COURTS TO LET PEOPLE DECIDE

This morning, I’m traveling to Rochester, NY for what should be the final installment in the epic saga of compelling the Erie County Board of Elections to do its job, and let people decide on downsizing the county legislature.  In a functional community, we wouldn’t have to spend such time and resources securing the fundamental right of voters to speak.

OF COURTROOMS, CLERKS, AND COUNTY LEGISLATORS

In the 1970’s, when I was in college, there was a television legal drama called Owen Marshall.  The show and its lead lawyer character shed the black and white feel of its 1950’s predecessor, “Perry Mason,” but lacked the modern veneer of its 1980’s successor, “L.A. Law.”  I watched Owen Marshall every week, and loved every episode.

COMPLETING OUR GRAND ISLAND EFFORT

In the yellow glow of an early autumn Western New York sunset last night, our heroic Grand Island volunteers and I brought our four-month effort to give voice to town residents to a close.  What began last April in the spring dew culminated in a fall mist rising from front lawns, as we walked through a bucolic neighborhood off Baseline Road, delivering our final message in support of change.

POLITICAN TAG-TEAMED IN GRAND ISLAND

The fourth public forum on Grand Island town government downsizing takes place this evening at the Bible Presbyterian Church Family Life Center, 1780 Love Road, Grand Island, beginning at 6:30 pm.  All the previous discussions have been at times robust, often passionate, and always informative.

SAVING VILLAGES BY SHEDDING GOVERNMENTS

As our seven-month community conversation on local government ends, and the historic votes on the fate of village governments draw near, I want to express my immense gratitude to our volunteers.  With determination and grace, they caused these first-ever public referenda in Erie County.  And when history judges our age, it will pay tribute to these heroes who strove to give people a voice in their future.

GATHERING SIGNATURES AND LEARNING

Last week I had the privilege of accompanying our volunteer residents in Williamsville, Sloan, and Farnham as we visited folks in their homes to obtain petition signatures and discuss government reform.  The conversations were sometimes passionate, often enlightening, and always courteous.  And I learned a great deal.

GIVING VILLAGE RESIDENTS A VOICE

Preparations for this week’s petition kick-off brought me into the homes of some remarkable people these past months.  Folks with varying backgrounds and interests, who share four qualities: heightened sense of civic duty; deep affection for community, yearning for better days for all Western New Yorkers; and endless patience in putting up with me.

USA TODAY FEATURES OUR KEVIN AND OUR CAUSE

In a front page article, USA TODAY spotlights both Kevin and our cause.

Written by National Reporter, Rick Hampson, the piece is a comprehensaive look at how Kevin, our volunteers, and Western New York are leading the nation in local government reform.