Should Buffalo taxpayers be paying for FOUR deputy mayors?

Should Buffalo taxpayers be paying for FOUR deputy mayors?

Should Buffalo pay $250,000 for a police commissioner—yes or no?

Buffalo has a $109 million deficit should salaries be going UP?

Poloncarz unveils Envision Erie Survey to gather taxpayer input Erie County leaders are asking residents to share their perspectives on county services, priorities and future investments.

Erie County, NY just launched a 23-question survey to shape its future

— but term limits, ethics reform, and government accountability aren't on it.

What would you add?

Drop your question in the comments.

www.btpm.org/local/2026-0...

Buffalo commissioner resigns after holding 2 full‑time jobs at once A top City of Buffalo official was quietly working two full‑time executive jobs at the same time — and one of them wasn’t with the city.

Buffalo taxpayers deserve answers about this two-job controversy.

www.wgrz.com/article/news...

200 people outspent 206,000 regular New Yorkers in state elections.

That's not democracy — that's an auction.

Term limits. Open primaries. Ballot initiatives.

New Yorkers want all three.

Party bosses in New York made one word illegal: ‘Independent.’

How many take-home vehicles are taxpayers funding that no one is tracking?

Three million independent voters. Zero representation. That’s not democracy—that’s design.

Eleven legislators. $65,000 salaries. Meetings shorter than a lunch break.

Erie County government isn’t busy—it’s absent.

If this is representation, we’re being under-served and over-billed.

The Erie County Legislature is not a governing body, it's an awards show.

Erie County leadership has a favorite ATM: you.

Erie County charges YOU more interest than banks legally can. Let that sink in.

The picture says it all

What an absurd place to hold a public meeting

drive.google.com/file/d/1Xfck...

No bank statements. No receipts. No accountability.

Just $570,,000 of your tax dollars gone in Erie County.

“The fact that some city council members think this setup is ok is shocking.

If other meeting spaces are available with more room and seating available, they should be used.”

drive.google.com/file/d/1z0JR...

As She Raises Millions, Hochul Isn’t Saying Who She’s Meeting With The governor’s meeting logs are 15 months out of date, and she won’t release her calendar.

The lack of government transparency starts at the top with Governor Hochul

“truly incredible that Governor Hochul, who promised a new era of transparency, is 15 months behind in making her schedule available to the public.”

nysfocus.com/2026/01/20/h...

Brisport ‘asked to leave the stage’ at Hochul event after endorsing Antonio Delgado Gov. Kathy Hochul knows a picture is forever.

To party machines dissent cannot be tolerated

Whether Republican or Democratic, the message is clear: fall in line or face retribution

This isn't how democracy is supposed to work

The fastest growing group of voters are non-party blanks for a reason

www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

In Erie County NY

Three county leg districts haven’t seen an incumbent lose in 48 years

Two haven’t seen one lose in 47 years

That’s not democracy at work

That’s a system designed to protect incumbents

We don’t have elections—we have coronations

drive.google.com/file/d/1FLKG...

"This is just another maneuver by the Sheriff’s Department to withhold information that the public is entitled to see.”

Paul Wolf, president emeritus of the New York Coalition for Open Government

www.wivb.com/news/investi...

Things that make you go hmmm

NY was the last state in the nation to pass an open meetings law (1976)

The requirement to post meeting documents online 24 hours before meetings didn't become law until 2021—and even that is inadequate.

Some states require 72 hours' notice

'An honor': Erie Co. Democrats endorse Jeremy Zellner for vacant state Senate seat amid controversy Erie County Democrats endorse Jeremy Zellner for vacant state Senate seat despite protests over nomination process. Election Feb. 3rd.

Election reform advocate Paul Wolf

"No one can run besides handpicked party candidates. That's a terrible process.

That's not democracy. When people take the time to go vote, they should be able to have all options available.

This restricts people from running,"

www.wkbw.com/news/local-n...

Special election set for Ryan's Senate seat Democrat Jeremy Zellner will face Republican businessman Dan Gagliardo on Feb. 3. Assemblyman Jon Rivera enters the mix in June's primary.

NY's special election process for state vacancies is undemocratic

Only candidates selected by party bosses can appear on the ballot

This flawed process can be changed through legislation

Are any state legislators willing to stand up for democracy?

www.investigativepost.org/2026/01/07/s...

We have an affordability crisis in NY State

The state legislature passed a bill to create an independent Utility Consumer Advocate

Governor Hochul vetoed the bill

You don't raise $30 million in campaign funds by standing up for the average person.

New York has an open government crisis.

The Open Meetings Law and Freedom of Information Law are routinely violated with zero consequences.

The legislature has been receptive to reform.

The roadblock is Governor Hochul, who promised a new era of transparency.

reinventalbany.org/2025/12/hoch...

Over 50 New Yorkers were barred from speaking at a state meeting

Under NY's Open Meetings Law, the public has NO legal right to speak at meetings

You can only speak if officials allow it

13 states mandate public comment periods

NY should become #14

drive.google.com/file/d/1Dhq4...

50% of elections across NY were uncontested

It is virtually impossible to defeat incumbents who win 90% of the time

Ways to fix this are

• Term Limits

• Reduce the number of signatures needed to run

• Elections, Not Appointments When a vacancy occurs

These can all be done at the local level

Let Erie County Voters Decide on Term Limits We, the undersigned, support term limits for all Erie County elected positions and demand that…

Incumbents say we don’t need term limits because “we have elections.”

That’s nonsense. From 2001–2025, Erie County legislators won re-election 96% of the time.

Only places like Russia and North Korea have higher incumbent win rates.

We need term limits

www.gopetition.com/petitions/le...