I achieved a "Regents diploma" in the mid-1960s upon graduating high school (additionally, I won/was awarded a Regents college scholarship at the same time, and later, in the early 1970s, a Regents war-service scholarship, so I'm not exactly a neutral observer). The "Regents," a council of educators sitting in Albany, N.Y., standardizes and regulates what is taught in N.Y. public schools, and what specific academic coursework leads to, in this case, high school graduation and a diploma. The Regents are still very much in existence today!
My high school, Bennett, in Buffalo, N.Y., had coursework that led to either a "Regents diploma" or a general "local" diploma. The courses required for the Regents diploma were more complex, difficult, advanced, and demanding—whatever those adjectives may connote—than those required for the general diploma. The Regents diploma was not easily earned or lightly given. Additionally, at that time in the 1960s, colleges and universities seemingly preferred applicants and thus entrants with Regents diplomas.
Anyway, the result of this diploma differentiation, now going on 50-70 years to the present day, has been, at best, positive; and at worst, neutral. American society has flourished economically, politically, culturally, and intellectually. At worst, it has not gone backward, maybe only "marched in place." It has maintained its international primary position, with the factors listed above, beginning post-World War II. I'm still here, and my peers from the 1960s with general diplomas are mostly still here! I've had a pretty good life, and all indications are that the general diploma recipients have fared likewise. Everything, with a few glaring exceptions, is good. So, what's the problem here?
Does all this prelude recall something to you? Like the cliché, "Don't fix it if it isn't broken"? Yeah, I thought so!
First, in present-day, the 2020s, expert state education policymakers and administrators propose to eliminate the Regents diploma but keep the Regents coursework, as I understand this issue (based on widespread newspaper reports of the past 30 days). And second, to introduce and institutionalize and fix in stone "broader assessable inputs" to achieve a high-school diploma—whatever that phrase, "broader assessable inputs," means or signifies. Well, I'll be! Replace the Regents diploma and establish for all time one all-encompassing, read "all students," high-school diploma, and add to it a "stamp" (a smiley-face?) or "seal" (waxed?), or some kind of annotation highlighting and recognizing Regents coursework. (Puts me in the mind of the gold or blue stars affixed to a good piece of grammar-school reading or writing or arithmetic)! Has it truly come to this? A "fix" for a "broken" system? In my estimation, these various add-ons are simply "asterisks," and what asterisks may mean: a possible exception, a qualifier, a not-necessarily outstanding achievement, something accomplished under special or extenuating conditions (quite similar to Major League Baseball individual records "under the influence of steroids"). And maybe not even evident or noticeable on the face of the diploma. At best, a superficial change! At worst, a "dumbing-down" of our educational system, a leveling-out of our meritocratic economic, political, and social systems; "everyone gets a trophy"; mediocrity, the new wave of the future, incipient in this proposal; etc.! What do you think?
N.Y. State Regents, instead of making changes based on which way you think the current wind is blowing, maintain long-established standards. You state that requirements for a high-school diploma are "inflexible" for "modern education standards." Aren't requirements and standards, by definition, a bit "inflexible"? In my world, they are. And I suspect, in my readers' worlds, they are too! Even better yet, Regents, strengthen those standards. "Inflexible" as they may be, they have just enough flex, "give," but in a positive or "good" direction! Further, best better yet, strengthen education instruction so that all high-school students can achieve a Regents-level school diploma. Aim high, not low or middle, respected Regents, with your window-dressing on diplomas, and do what you were entrusted to do: make every citizen an intelligent decision-maker in our great State of New York, starting with the teaching you initiate in kindergarten, and continuing through all levels of instruction!
Regents, stop your tweaking and tinkering and twiddling with the controls and standards of state education. Previously, I had railed against the demise of the "top 10" ranking of students in a high school graduation class. And against ditching the positions of "valedictorian" and "salutatorian" of the senior graduating class. I warned that those were the "first shoe to drop" in reference to a high-quality high-school education. I now see these current 2023 Regents' proposals as possibly being the "second shoe to drop." Particularly, if the new "broader assessable inputs" for credits to attain a high-school diploma in N.Y. include not only the much-ballyhooed "basket-weaving" of the past but the new and improved "basketball-playing" or "guitar-strumming-member" of a garage band, and even maybe "just showing up" (reserve that top-notch ability for jobs, post-graduation), as acceptable credit-bearing inputs of the present and the future! If those requirements scenarios come to fruition, we'll all be walking around shoeless!
Who said Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" was the pinnacle of true-crime reporting? They hadn't read Howard Owens's factual article about his protagonist, his character, Abrams; his setting, the Tonawanda Indian Reservation; his action: the comings, goings, and doings or lack of doings, of the crime of said Abrams; and his dialogue of Abrams, and of the judge, the prosecuting attorney, and the defense attorney, in Abrams's criminal sentencing hearing (on 12/7/23?)!
(The only thing missing from the literary account was the probable incredible amount of cash money floating around the reservation from its sales of cigarettes, gasoline, etc., and the reservation's exemption from certain laws, regulations, taxation, etc., applied to the majority of U.S. citizens. But then, maybe those are topics for future "The Batavian" examination).
Instead of City Church and Batavia City government squabbling over the church's food distribution at the former St. Anthony's Catholic facility at Liberty and Ellicott Streets on Batavia's south side, why don't the two adversaries meet, and in partnership, get down to the root causes for the necessity of food distribution in this city in the first place: unemployment, inflation, inequality and the 1 percent, racism, sexism, ageism, education shortcomings, capitalism, conservatism, etc.? You know, all the "usual suspects"!
Since that prospect is probably neither feasible nor productive, here are some questions, thoughts, and musings, from my pen:
Remember when there was an issue, interestingly also taking place on the south side of Batavia, within the past 2-4 years, concerning street parties, private-yard get-togethers, whatever you want to call them? Isn't this current issue quite similar to that former one? Is this all about NIMBY ("Not In My Backyard")? Just saying.
Speaking of NIMBY, come on, Rachael Tabelski, Batavia city manager, you suggest that the food distribution be moved "outside the city"? Wouldn't that be the supreme NIMBY, not even suggesting an alternative site WITHIN the city? What do they say? Even an animal doesn't soil its own nest or stall. So, we send the soiling elsewhere? Hmmmm. Just saying!
Referring back to #1 above, wasn't there a "racial" undertone involved with that? Just saying!
Referring to the current imbroglio, is there a "religious" undertone to it? City Church, at best, is non-denominational; at worst, it leans Protestant. Wasn't south side Batavia historically Catholic; In fact, the site of the distribution, St. Anthony's, is a former Catholic Church. And you know the traditional relationship between Protestantism and Catholicism? Again, just saying!
Referring back to both #1 and #4 above, what is it with the "south side" here in Batavia? I suspect there is a long-entrenched populace who are "insiders" in the "south side". But now, there has been a significant influx of a new populace into the "south side", "outsiders". Inevitable conflict between "insiders" and "outsiders"? Probably! Isn't it the responsibility of Batavia city leaders to defuse the conflict and not inflame it? Ditto, just saying!
Is there a social/economic/political/religious "class" aspect to this latest iteration of a donnybrook within the confines of the city of Batavia? Maybe, and finally, just saying!
I'm sorry, I have no hard and fast answers or solutions to the questions I pose. But I believe that the questions should be posed! All I can suggest is that we all try to get along together! As E.M. Forster wrote in "Howards End," "Only Connect"!
Op-Ed submitted by Karyn Winters and Angela Grouse
We just keep GLOWing! Vendors and volunteers from across Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties recently conducted another successful hands-on career exploration program for local students. This workforce development program is designed to educate the next generation of employees in the skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and food production workforce.
Now in its fifth year, the September 26th GLOW With Your Hands event welcomed 1,100 students and chaperones from 30 school districts across the GLOW region who connected with 200 representatives from more than 60 agencies and employers sharing engaging activities that provide exploration of careers and pathways into these industries.
The retirement of baby boomers, attrition, relocation, and a reduced number of job seekers in general have created tremendous pressure points in these industries in our region and across the country. “It is critical that we continue to engage students and employers to share the message that financially rewarding careers exist in our region, the pathways into those jobs are cost-effective, and employers in these arenas offer long-term opportunities with upward mobility.
With support from vendors and school districts, students were able to engage in hands-on activities and informative conversations throughout the day-long event. GLOW With Your Hands provided students the opportunity to operate an excavator, run a CNC machining simulation, try their hand at welding and so much more. Students explored the careers they were interested in and learned about others they did not know existed. Our vendors are subject matter experts with on-the-job experience, and they were well-equipped and excited to answer students’ questions.
The increased enrollment in BOCES programming and now the employment with participating vendors of students who have participated in prior GLOW With Your Hands programs is a testament to the success of this career exploration event. Employers know that by engaging and guiding students at an early age, they can recruit from a well-educated and prepared pool of potential workers seeking career opportunities right in their own backyard.
An event of this scale – the largest ever in our region – would not have been possible without the support of so many public and private sector entities. A big thank you to our platinum sponsors, National Grid and LandPro Equipment, and the dozens of other companies, unions, and agencies whose significant investment generated a successful event.
In addition to the support of vendors, 100 people from across the community volunteered their time to assist with the event, serving as part of the set-up team, parking attendants, tour guides, lunch servers, event clean up, and more. This program would not have been possible without the support of these valued sponsors and volunteers.
It is also vital to share our thanks with the students who once again expressed tremendous enthusiasm for exploring career opportunities at a successful GLOW With Your Hands event! The second annual GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare is just 5 months away, providing yet another venue through which to engage the emerging workforce and local employers!
Karyn Winters is Director of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance, and Angela Grouse is Director of Education to Employment with the Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce. Both served as co-chairs of this year’s event.
Letter to the Editor from Donald Weyer, of Batavia:
Investigative Post, a not-for-profit online media outlet, agrees that "advertising is evil." Well, I do too, and I suspect that Howard Owens, editor and publisher of The Batavian, a for-profit online media outlet, would concur! But it's advertising, a necessary evil, part of the cost of doing business. And I think that all would agree that the result of that evil, money or revenue, whether it gets into the hands of a non-profit or a for-profit, or my own greedy ones, is a good thing, an exceptionally good thing, as long as we're playing the game of capitalism! Don't you all agree too? (I suspect that the Post doesn't necessarily think that they're playing that game, although they really are, they just don't honestly admit it, but The Batavian and I are clearly playing it, and we freely admit it).
As far as I'm concerned, there's room for both media outlets in Western New York, and heck, even for a third good source of news and opinion,the Batavia Daily News! And why not let the consumers, the readers, of these three sources decide for themselves whether there is bias, slant, or fakery in the way that the news is presented?
Come on, providers, treat us like adults, and don't tell us, like children, how to think about or interpret what you provide! After all, isn't that what you all promote and encourage: independent, intelligent, and informed readers of your news output? Leave it to us and our capabilities of cognition, reason, and what have you, and you, respected news outlets, worried about your advertising revenue sources, advertising bottom lines, and the directions you aim that advertising money at! Admit that "evil advertising" is here to stay, yes, it's a bogeyman, and get on with the news, so I can consume it; forget about your internecine arguments and accusations. We, the readers, aren't really interested, and to the extent that we are, allow us, sovereign and autonomous individuals, to weigh the importance of what you say or write about each other. I'm tired of hearing about the decline of conventional news reporting and publishing, you know, about how we all are getting our news from social media today, but your attempts to cannibalize each other are only quickening and facilitating that trend. So, stop it!
Yeah, I notice and also think about The Batavian's recent increase in reports by Mr. Bojarski and Ms. Richenberg of Batavia Downs racing results (a subsidiary of WROTB, the bogeyman here). Don't know what to make of it other than that there is a much bigger audience for harness racing here in Batavia than I thought there was. Alternatively, the seemingly progressive stance of Investigative Post's questioning and then demonizing aspects of business, read advertising, and, yes, capitalism makes me note and think about that source and its news reliability.
Gambling, what they do over there on Park Road in Batavia, superintended by WROTB, and the home of Batavia Downs, is a nasty and dirty business! The only difference is that it's legal now. (Remember when people went to prison and were murdered or killed because of gambling? No more prison, at least!) Anyway, what do you expect to avoid stepping in and recoiling from today when you attempt to report on it to look into the business of legal gambling? You're bound to absorb some of its taint, its slime, its smell, merely reporting on it, just accepting advertising from it, merely thinking about or critiquing it, just by your proximity to it! The secret is to keep the "guilt by association" with gambling to a minimum.
All right then, sisters and brothers of the news media, you see what I mean. It's really hard to scrape it off the sole of your shoes or expunge the scent of it from your pant cuffs or skirt hems! But keep on keeping on! We readers want and need you.
What I've learned from this "tete-a-tete," this tiff, this baring of teeth and fists, this throwing of stones at glass houses, between The Batavian and Investigative Post:
The Post exists.
The Batavian has a business relationship with WROTB.
As a consumer of news media and its outlets, I'm better informed and more learned.
This is from a recent edition of an email newsletter published by Investigative Post.
The Batavian has drawn a fair amount of attention over the years for being a successful online, for-profit news organization. What’s been left unsaid is its practice of writing favorable stories about its sponsors and advertisers, in particular, the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. Owner Howard Owens was at it again the week before last, penning another story that echoed the OTB party line (sic on the link).
The Post is a Buffalo-based startup news not-for-profit that doesn't attempt to offer its community complete and comprehensive coverage but rather to cherry-pick the stories it chooses to write.
The publication has been on my radar for a while for its sensationalistic, often incomplete reporting.
Now it is attacking me and my publication, and I think that deserves a public response.
Yes, we're for-profit (though, honestly, it's not that much profit, just enough to keep us in business). And I've known plenty in the nonprofit news sector who consider advertising-supported news to be unethical. Throughout my career, going back to 1986, I've come across no shortage of reporters and editors who thought news should be a charity case.
In 2010, I was in Chicago at the first gathering of small, independent online news publishers. Several of the publishers represented start-up nonprofits. At one session, somebody in the middle of the room stood up and said, "Can we all agree right now that advertising is evil."
I responded by saying essentially that advertising support is far superior to the nonprofit model because you have a greater diversity of revenue. If you're doing it right, no one advertiser is going to be able to hold you hostage. If the need arises to report something negative about a business, you can do so without fear or favor because if that advertiser cancels its promotions, it's not going to put you out of business. It likely won't even mean significant cuts in expenditures. No layoffs. No furloughs. Nobody is hurt.
That diversity of revenue gives us a lot of freedom to report what is factual and honest without succumbing to threats.
I don't give in to blackmail.
For example, by a hard-and-fast policy, we run all arrest reports without favoritism. I've written up arrests of good friends, people I know well and respect. I've had volunteer firefighters, who I have a soft spot for, call me and ask me not to run their arrests. There's no shortage of people calling and asking that we just make this one exception this one time.
But it would be unfair to all the people I don't know, the people who have no connections or advantages or even think to call, to play favorites. We run all arrests we receive from local law enforcement. Period. No exceptions. That has cost us money and hard feelings, no doubt.
Over the past 15 years, three business owners have been arrested (that I know of). In the first case, the advertiser had -- the week before he was arrested -- said he wanted to double his spending with us. The day after we ran news of his arrest, he canceled his ad. He's never advertised with us again. In the second case, the business owner called a staff member and rudely and profanely canceled her ad. In the third case, a friend of the advertiser called me and warned me about running his arrest report. This business owner was a top-tier advertiser. We ran his arrest report the following week when we received it, and he canceled his ad and hasn't run with us since, nor will he again as long as I own The Batavian.
In another case, we ran a story about a local organization that mentioned a newsworthy faux pas by the director. The next time we called for an ad, she said no, citing our previous story.
Look, if an ad buyer has some business reason for not advertising with us and we can't convince that person about why they're wrong, it's the ad buyer's right not to buy an ad from us. But when a buyer tries to blackmail our coverage, that's a line ad buyers are not allowed to cross, as I made clear to this particular ad buyer. We don't change the course of an article to please an advertiser; that's what journalistic integrity is all about.
Batavia Downs Yes, there's no hiding the fact that Batavia Downs is a major advertiser. And yes, we put effort into covering most of the Downs' good news stories (Wiener Dog races, donations, concerts, etc.). Some of this stuff is just fun to cover. And being a comprehensive local news publication, or at least trying, we cover positive events as well as news that is less than favorable to people and places. A news outlet that isn't covering what is good in a community is not serving the community. It's a drain on the community if all the news is negative and sensational, something the folks at Investigative Post clearly don't understand.
I don't think positive stories about local businesses are a bad thing. They are not unethical. Investigative Post seems to disagree, based on the statement above. We cover a lot of business openings. We celebrate significant business anniversaries and expansions. We make it to as many ribbon cuttings as we can. I think successful small businesses are critical to a healthy local community (one of my major complaints about not-for-profit news outlets is they often ignore their locally owned shops, which ill-serves their communities). You will never see positive coverage of locally owned businesses in the Post because, you know, "advertising is evil," which means small business owners don't matter to the "serious journalist."
As for Batavia Downs and what it means to The Batavian: If Western OTB canceled all spending with us, yes, it would hurt. It would hurt a lot. I'd probably cry. But it wouldn't put us out of business, not with our diversified revenue streams (something Early Access Pass is slowly helping with, as well, so please join). If that happened, we would cut back on some spending but nothing that would hurt our employees.
Our main reporter for Western OTB is Mike Pettinella. He's a freelancer, which is ideal in this circumstance because, in accordance with state employment law, I have limited ability to direct his work. He chooses his own stories for the most part (I can suggest stories), and he chooses how to cover them. Investigative Post is making it sound like I cover Western OTB, but I've only ever been to two meetings of the board, and I've done only one significant story about the organization's legal issues. This is by design. I recognize that Batavia Downs is a major advertiser. When Mike is available to cover OTB, his coverage provides a degree of separation between me and that business interest.
Mike is an experienced and professional reporter. He does something that the folks at Investigative Post often fail to do -- he makes sure all sides are represented. He doesn't cherry-pick. He doesn't sensationalize. He just reports the story straight.
It seems the folks at IP think we toe the "OTB party line" (itself a loaded phrase that betrays the Post's bias). No, we just ask Henry Wojtaszek questions and are careful not to misquote him or misrepresent him. Apparently, the folks at IP equate telling a balanced story, letting both sides have their say, with biased coverage. That tells us something about their mindset. Being fair is biased when your view is already made up about a person or entity.
It's almost like they want to try and cower another publication from calling into question their shoddy reporting.
Take, for example, their latest report on Western OTB's legal fees.
The basic presumption of the article is biased, that Western OTB isn't entitled to respond to legal challenges.
Legal challenges that were largely created by the past sensationalistic reporting by IP on Batavia Downs, a fact IP pretty much admits to:
Investigative Post used 2018 as a benchmark for spending on lawyers and lobbyists because OTB operated in relative obscurity until Investigative Post began reporting on its problems that December.
Investigative Post considers mistakes and oversights to be "problems," implying misdeeds in the context of the story. More bias.
An old journalist's trick to justify reporting on something you think should be scandalous is to find somebody to criticize it without full transparency about the source's agenda or finding a way to balance his or her opinion. IP has those sources, an Erie County elected official with a political agenda and a former disgruntled OTB executive. Not that there is anything wrong with giving those people a platform to speak their minds, but knowing up front that they are biased against the target of a story, a fair so-called investigative reporter would seek out sources who might have a different point of view, particularly the chief spokesperson for the agency in question, in this case, Henry Wojtaszek. Of course, Wojtaszek refused to comment on this particular story, but who can blame him, given the IP's history of sensationalizing its coverage of OTB? But surely, the reporter, J. Dale Shoemaker, could have found another legal expert to address the issue that would balance the story, perhaps noting that these expenses are not out of line given what OTB has had to deal with since December 2018.
We now know that Shoemaker could have called City of Rochester OTB representative Dennis Basset for a less sensationalistic take on the legal expenditures, though one suspects that Shoemaker didn't much like Bassett's response to his questions following Thursday's OTB meeting. There are surely other board members who support Wojtaszek who would have shared their views on the matter.
Then there is this quote from Mike Nolan, the former OTB employee, that is presented naked of any meaningful context.
“As a former chief operating officer, the costs that you’re speaking to seem to be extraordinarily high from what they were in years past,” he said.
Well, of course, costs have gone up since Nolan left. He's one of the reasons for higher legal costs since he filed a lawsuit against Western OTB alleging wrongful termination. And since he's left, there have been other questionable attacks on Western OTB that officials there feel the need to defend. Why is it surprising that the agency's legal costs have gone up? And isn't it the right of OTB leadership to defend themselves against what they see as unfair and legally misguided attacks?
Here's their most significant 2018 story reported by IP:
This started the ball rolling on the accusation that the OTB board has illegally or improperly provided itself health care insurance. In the one story I've written on this topic because Mike Pettinella wasn't available, Wojtaszek explained how this issue has been misrepresented. The interview was in response to a now-dismissed lawsuit by George Maziarz (who was represented by another Erie County Democratic politician, Nate McMurray). (It's worth mentioning that this story gave Maziarz his say and allowed Wojtaszek space to respond -- fair and balanced reporting, as it should be done).
As for health insurance for board members, Western OTB has attorneys working on the issue. The agency does not agree that board members can't receive health insurance coverage.
While Maziarz says that the Comptroller's Office and a legal firm hired by Western OTB say the practice is illegal, the issue doesn't appear to be that cut and dry. There is an older Comptroller's opinion that says the practice is permissible. The memo on the topic, prepared by attorneys Gabriel M. Nugent and Robert J. Thorpe for the board, cites the 1978 opinion as well as the later opinion and suggests board members no longer accept health insurance. It doesn't, as Maziarz claims, call the practice illegal.
Health insurance, Wojtaszek said, is justified because pretty much every other public benefit corporation in the state offers it, and Batavia Downs operates in a very competitive environment and needs to attract and retain the most qualified board members.
The other issue addressed by Wojtaszek is the allegations first raised by IP and echoed in the Maziarz suit is the use of free tickets to sporting events.
Batavia Downs acquires tickets as perks for high rollers and special guests, Wojtaszek said. A host from Batavia Downs typically accompanies these guests to the events. The role of the host is to ensure things go smoothly that people get their tickets, get into the venue, receive the service expected for the event, and that the host takes care of any issues that arise.
"Previously, if you were host, we provided a ticket to the host and then the host was allowed to bring a guest with them," Wojtaszek said. "At that point, they may have brought somebody from a wife, a husband, a son, or a daughter with them. We have since corrected that. Subsequent to the recommendation from the compliance company, it's just a host who takes care of whatever event, hockey game, football game, concert, and I think we're doing it properly now."
He said that the accusation that board members could just casually ask for tickets to Bills or Sabres games at board meetings and receive them misrepresents what actually took place. He said anybody, including board members, could ask for tickets on behalf of patrons of Batavia Downs. They were not, he said, asking for themselves and friends and family. However, to help improve the procedure, all requests must now be in writing and clearly state who is receiving the tickets.
There were about 100 tickets unaccounted for, not the thousands previously alleged.
Shoemaker was so eager to push the corruption narrative that he used that loaded word with Bassett in an interview after the board meeting on Thursday.
Clearly, Shoemaker didn't like Bassett's full response to his question because he truncated the key portion of Bassett's quote in his report on the meeting.
"I think corruption is a very strong term," he said. "I've been on this board, as I said, 14 years, and I don't see corruption."
The denial of corruption by a Democrat completely upsets the narrative being pushed by the Post, so of course, Shoemaker didn't include it. Shoemaker's article on the whole overlays and misrepresents Bassett's discussion of "reform." Overall, Bassett concentrated on how well Western OTB is doing and that it is important to stay focused on the business of the operation and its success and not be distracted by politics.
Shoemaker also left out Bassett's statements about changes and reforms already undertaken, instead focusing on potential further "reforms." Again, it would disturb the narrative to report that Wojtaszek and the board have actively responded to criticism and made changes.
If your news business model is to always attack and criticize without ever recognizing the good in people or institutions, then that's a flawed business model. As long as Investigative Post maintains that business model, all it will do is hurt its credibility with fair-minded people while partisans cheer them on, giving them the illusion that they're doing everything right.
It's worth noting that nobody yet, not even the Post, has turned up any evidence of corruption. Mistakes, yes, as Wojtaszek has owned up to, which IP hasn't reported. Throughout five years of constant badgering by IP and others, no illegal activity has been identified. Yes, there is an FBI investigation (which is helping drive up OTB's legal costs), but that has been ongoing for years -- apparently, but the FBI never confirms anything -- and an investigation is not proof of illegal activity. Yet IP throws around the word "corruption" often enough to convince me that the folks there clearly believe OTB is corrupt. In old-school journalism, we call that kind of belief "bias."
GCEDC Based on a prior email conversation with Shoemaker, the folks at Investigative Post also seem to think we pander to GCEDC because GCEDC bought some ads from us. Yes, GCEDC this year -- for the first time -- placed some ads with The Batavian. The entire expenditure is less than one percent of this year's revenue. Yet Shoemaker called into question my ethics. He was ticked that I wouldn't grant him an interview about the ad buy. Why? Because I don't trust the Investigative Post, which I made clear to him.
We've had no issue in the past reporting stories that are unfavorable to GCEDC's agenda. Most notably, we brought attention to GCEDC's plans to use tax incentives for remodeling at Batavia Towne Center. Those design changes would eventually, as expected, lure Dick's Sporting Goods to Batavia. Tax incentives to support retail businesses are a questionable use of an IDA's power since locally owned businesses can be damaged. In fact, both businesses mentioned in the story above are now out of business. I know for a fact that our stories did not please, to put it mildly, the folks over at GCEDC.
Tainted Money So let's return to the for-profit vs. not-for-profit debate.
I've encountered the arrogance of nonprofit publishers many times over the past 15 years. They think that because they are not driven by profit in capitalist terms, their motivations are pristine. And that is their blind spot. All news organizations need to bring in more revenue than they spend and set some aside for inevitable revenue shortfalls when business cycles take a dive, as financial disclosures show Investigative Post does.
Here's the thing though: All money is tainted in some way. The need to raise money to fund journalism doesn't isolate the publication's leaders from pressure to shade coverage. It doesn't matter if you operate with a profit motive or without. As Bob Dylan sang, "You've got to serve somebody."
If you rely on advertising, you might be tempted to bend to an advertiser's will (though, as I explain above, this is less likely, but I have seen it happen). If all of your revenue comes from readers, either through subscriptions or memberships, then you will be more likely to cater to the will of the readers, who don't always see the full picture or have a balanced view of the world. For example, if you're a publisher in a largely progressive Democratic community, you're going to be hard-pressed to publish stories that run against that orthodoxy. If nothing else, you'll be less welcome at swank cocktail parties. And, finally, if all your revenue comes from donors, you're going to be beholden to your largest donors.
If most of your donors are institutional -- meaning big annual grants -- you're only going to get grants if your operations conform to the foundation's political ideology if they have one, and in my experience, many do, either left or right, because that's why they get into the business of handing out money -- to push agendas.
Investigative Post reported $434,875 in donations in 2022. Jim Heaney, the founder, editor and executive director, was paid more than $70,000. That isn't exorbitant for his leadership position, but clearly, he needs the Investigative Post to be successful if he wants to continue earning that salary in an era when good-paying journalism jobs are hard to come by.
The Post lists among its major donors some fairly progressive, left-leaning funders, such as the Wallace Global Fund, the Rowboat Family Foundation, and the Knight Foundation (this might surprise some, but I have personal experience dealing with that foundation's agenda-driven contributions in another organization where I served on the board).
These potential ties to Democratic donors, and the need to pander to mostly Democratic Erie County, are important to think about because the reporting of the Post has helped lead the the disenfranchisement of the rural counties that are members of the OTB board of directors. Earlier this year, Democratic State Sen. Tim Kennedy of Buffalo pushed through legislation that weighted the OTB board voting in favor of the Democratic-dominated counties of Monroe, Niagara and Erie.
For the Investigative Post, mission accomplished, perhaps. The problem is the current board seems to favor Monroe County's Bassett, who seems to support Wojtaszek, as its new chair, with one notable exception. Erie County's board member Jennifer Hibit blocked Bassett's appointment to chair.
Isn't it interesting that an Erie County Democrat, Sen. Kennedy, wrote legislation to put enough power in the hands of Erie County's Democrats that one OTB member can thwart the will of the rest of the board, including non-Erie County Democrats? A more cynical and conspiracy-minded person (and I hate conspiracy theories) would suspect that Erie County Democrats, aided and abetted by the Investigative Post, are trying to angle to gobble up more of the revenue generated by Batavia Downs. Legally that might be difficult, but way less difficult for Erie County Democrats to pull off is selling Batavia Downs to the Seneca Nation or the politically connected Delaware North (where Gov. Kathy Hochul's husband works UPDATE: A couple of days after publication I was informed Bill Hochul recently left Delaware North). Don't be surprised if there is pressure from the governor's office on Monroe County to remove Bassett from the OTB board. Would Heany and Shoemaker call that corruption?
And don't expect the Investigative Post to question the motives of the Democratic Party when it comes to Western OTB.
Savarino and Elliott Station If the Post isn't just about pushing a political agenda and really, truly, about investigating questionable conduct, why hasn't it written anything about Sam Savarino and Savarino Companies?
Savarino is one of Buffalo's most prominent developers and has been involved in multiple projects supported by taxpayer dollars, which is normally just the kind of target the Post likes.
As The Batavian has pretty much exclusively reported -- Ellicott Station was sold to the community first as market-rate housing, then as workforce housing, only to find out it was really intended to be very low-income housing with subsidized rents. The Investigative Post has called into question our relationship with GCEDC, but that reporting by Joanne Beck led to a less-than-pleasant phone call from a GCEDC official. Of course, we knew our reporting would upset some people locally, but we did it anyway because it was the right thing to do.
Since then, Savarino Companies has gone out of business. The result, apparently, of questionable dealings with Alfred State and New York State, leaving, we're told, multiple projects incomplete, including Ellicott Station.
This is surely a situation that begs for more investigative reporting. We're doing our best to push hard on the Ellicott Station issue, the only news organization to do so, even though we must rock some boats in the process, but we don't have the resources to commit to a major investigative project. A developer of Savarino's history certainly has a deep and long paper trail an investigative reporter could explore. I would love to do it, but I wouldn't be able to cover soccer and basketball games, school board meetings, planning board meetings, town board meetings, community events, and other such news that I'm sure Heany finds beneath his dignity. All my time would be taken up by digging through Savarino documents and ferreting out sources.
Meanwhile, the Investigative Post is generating substantially more revenue than we are, has a much larger staff with only one charge -- digging up dirt -- and they're letting Sam Savarino off the hook. Why?
My only guess is it has something to do with Savarino being a major contributor to Investigative Post and sitting on the board of directors.
Talk about a conflict of interest for Heaney. He's living in quite the glass house, but he wants to throw stones at me.
Young people are off to college this month. We talk with kids about substance use and other risky behaviors, but what about gambling? It is important when talking with college bound students to help them understand the risks. Most young people can gamble without it causing any issues but for other young adults, gambling can cause serious harm. When you talk with your young adult about the facts of gambling and risk-taking, they can be better prepared to make decisions.
There are reasons why college students may be at a higher risk of developing a gambling problem. According to CollegeGambling.org these include: Age: College years are associated with a wide range of at-risk behaviors, Availability: This is the first generation to be exposed to wide-scale legal gambling. Technological advances make placing bets easier than ever. With the legalization of mobile sports betting in New York State the availability of gambling is everywhere, Acceptability: Gambling is part of our culture, gambling is legal in NYS, commonly endorsed by schools, and integrated into mainstream culture, Advertising/Media: More than ever we are seeing advertisements everywhere we go. Promoted as sport, glamorized, and with winning bias it can be easy to think that gambling is risk-free when it is not, Access to cash: College students may get an allowance from their parents or guardians, and have access to student loans or credit cards. The average college student receives about twenty-five credit card solicitations per semester (National Public Radio).
Problem Gambling is “the hidden addiction.” It can be easy to hide from others and often not noticed that there is a problem until well into the behavior If you are concerned about your loved one’s gambling, there are warning signs to look out for. These include Preoccupation with gambling, asking for larger amounts of money or gambling more frequently, personality changes, such as irritability, restlessness, withdrawal, alienation from family and friends, Inability to cut back or stop gambling, lying to friends and family about how much you gamble, Borrowing money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling, Suicidal thoughts.
Whether you are trying to learn more about gambling harm or looking for resources and services for you or a loved one, the Western Problem Gambling Resource Centers can help! 716-833-4274 or visit NYProblemGamblingHELP.org.
Recovery Month is celebrated by many in the addiction and recovery communities. These celebrations serve to recognize those who are recovering from addiction disorders and their loved ones who are fighting the recovery battle alongside them. Every day, millions of individuals are recovering from mental health and addiction disorders. Among those is gambling addiction.
Recovery looks different for everyone, and no one person’s recovery journey is the same. Recovery is a big deal and people in recovery continue to work diligently to find peace and maintain their recovery.
We celebrate recovery month because we know the devastating effects gambling harm can have on those struggling, and their loved ones. As a diagnosable mental health disorder, we know that the brain chemistry changes for individuals who are experiencing gambling disorder. We know the effort and strength it takes to work towards recovery from gambling, and we want to celebrate those who start and continue their recovery journey.
The consequences from one’s gambling behaviors can include withdrawal from family and events, loss of a job, lying to family members to hide the extent of gambling, and stealing. By coming together as a community, we can reduce shame and stigma to create a place where people work on their path to recovery.
If you or a loved one are impacted by gambling harms, the Western NY Problem Gambling Resource Center can help connect you to local support and resources including; recovery meetings, scheduling an appointment with a counselor, outpatient programs, and even peer support. We want you to know that you are not alone, and we are here to help. All calls are confidential. 1-716-833-4274 or WesternPGRC@nyproblemgambling.org
Is it just me, or doesn't it seem that there are more-than-the-average serious automobile accidents on that stretch of Route 5 between Batavia and Clarence? You know, through East Pembroke, Pembroke, Newstead, etc.
Any explanations? Any remedies? Any solutions for the loss of lives or serious injuries?
N.Y. state road,no? Not a state priority? If not, whose?
Like a lot of these governors, county executives and city mayors are lately fond of pontificating, "My first job is ensuring the safety of my state, county, city (substitute as you please) citizens"
Love Bugs Learning Center is open at the First Baptist Church, 5 E. Main St., LeRoy!
While we all want to move forward, it is important for Love Bugs to maintain the trust of its constituents. This letter includes certain clarifications to encourage continued support of Love Bugs.
In late March 2023, Church leadership sent an email to Love Bugs’ parents to announce meetings the following week, without any notice to administrators. This caused concern and confusion among parents who, until then, only interacted with administrators/teachers.
Love Bugs did not manage its own money. All tuition and fundraiser proceeds were paid to the Church and all expenses paid by the Church. The Church knew the economics of Love Bugs.
There were complaints that Love Bugs did not pay rent/utilities. While true, no one ever asked or expected Love Bugs to pay any rent/utilities.
The Church did offer to rent its space to Love Bugs for $400/month. Love Bugs intended to accept that offer, but decided against it when supplies were removed from the space, while school was still in session, without notice to administrators/teachers.
It is our hope that Love Bugs will continue to develop the LeRoy youth for years to come. To enroll, please email lovebugsleroy@gmail.com. To make a donation, please make the check payable to Love Bugs Learning Center, PO Box 114, LeRoy, NY 14482. Please note, Love Bugs is not yet a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, but we are working to gain that status. Thank you.
Citizens have a right to know who they’re dealing with, whether it be in government or private enterprise.
But that's not the case when it comes to Limited Liability Companies or LLCs.
LLCs, for example, can own property, apply for grants, operate as landlords and donate to political campaigns. Holding the government accountable for its action demands a well-informed public.
We need to know who, not what is benefiting in order to do our jobs as citizens. Discovering who’s behind the curtain isn’t easy.
Cruise through your local property tax rolls or the state’s campaign finance disclosure database. You’ll see plenty of LLCs, but you won’t see plenty of names.
Anonymous shell companies have been a popular vehicle for money laundering, tax evasion, organized crime, terrorism and other forms of corruption for decades. Yet, as the bill notes, establishing an LLC requires less personal information than getting a library card.
That's why it's important for Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the Limited Liability Companies Transparency Act, passed by both the Assembly and Senate, which would require these special kinds of business organizations to publicly identify the owners to the state and to the public registry run by the Department of State.
At the federal level, the Corporate Transparency Act, which takes effect next year, seeks similar disclosures from businesses, including LLCs, but stops short of making the information publicly available.
A wide variety of businesses, from pizza shops to mall developers and property buyers, use the LLCs as an organizing business structure. The approach, sanctioned by state law, provides the owners with some limits on liabilities the company could face.
As a practical matter, LLCs also offer the people who actually own the company the ability to remain anonymous. Under current reporting requirements, LLCs need only supply a company name, county of operation and a basic address where legal documents should be sent. Sometimes, the address is a post office box; sometimes, it’s an attorney’s office; sometimes, it’s a registered agent. For anyone interested in knowing more, the information provided is often frustratingly non-descript and consequently useless.
But we all have a well-established interest in this information, and the legislature should be commended for recognizing this by including solid public disclosure requirements.
The lack of transparency with campaign donations is just one of the reasons the LLC Transparency Act has the support of good government groups such as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters. While a 2019 law change required LLCs making political donations to disclose their owners, many are ignoring the requirement, the groups say.
The Business Council of New York State opposes the law, saying it will violate the privacy of law-abiding businesses – including thousands of small businesses organized as LLCs - and put their security at risk. There are some provisions in the legislation for public disclosure to be waived when “a significant privacy interest exists.” The law’s efficacy will be determined in part by how waiver requests are handled.
Given the benefits state law confers on LLCs, it’s not too much to ask that they at least let us know who they are. This is a good step toward much-needed transparency.
So Rachael Tabelski, Batavia city manager, wants to support a business in Batavia, Empire Hemp? Great, no problem there!
So Empire Hemp wants to sell its product at the Farmers Market, I assume including the one in Batavia?
Wait just a sec, here!
Rachael wants to combine the two, and I assume that Empire Hemp is all for selling its product, hemp, CBD, etc., at the market.
Despite some philosophical and legal issues about this combination, I'm mainly concerned that the Farmers Market, and I guess, Rachael, aren't worried about providing a better variety of actual farmers market traditional products, such as more fresh cucumbers, ears of corn, tomatoes, radishes, onions, cauliflower, etc., and the logic displayed by Rachael, Empire Hemp, and all the other players involved with cannabis.
And here, all I wanted to do was spend my $50 worth of veterans farmers market coupons on food produce! (Thank you, N.Y. State!) But seriously, I guess it's more important to "get high" than it is to "get healthy." Or is this whole issue just an illustration of "intersectionality," the new buzzword?
What's with the amateur, childish, home-made Muckdogs signs popping up on Batavia city property, advertising upcoming fireworks at the Muckdogs games (there's one at State and Denio streets, another at Richmond Avenue and Oak Street, maybe more around town).
Unsightly, driver-distractions, unprofessional, illegal ("post no signs")?
An issue for the Batavia Beautification Committee?
Nothing against fireworks, Muckdogs, or baseball! What if each one of us posted, on public property, anything and everything that we felt like posting? Or is that not an issue anymore in 2023?
I note that the Batavia City Council approved a $4,000 grant to the Muckdogs for fireworks on July 3 at Dwyer Stadium. Apparently, that money was from the canceled Picnic in the Park on July 4. This is from an article Joanne Beck posted on The Batavian.
Three questions and comments:
1. I applaud the Muckdogs for pledging some of this money windfall for needy residents' tickets to the game and, thus, their enjoyment of the fireworks.
However, I have resided on Denio Street, contiguous to the stadium, since 1992, and every year since anyone who wanted to view the fireworks could do so freely and with a great view outside the stadium in MacArthur Park. That's just the nature of fireworks! So I question the $4000 grant as something that was not necessary for needy residents' enjoyment. (Yeah, they might be interested in the baseball game too, but then again, they may have no interest in the game, just the fireworks show). Anyway, and additionally, if the Muckdogs intend to use the grant for a bigger display of fireworks, well, you know, a fireworks display is a fireworks display, bright lights and booms, and the incremental size of that display doesn't mean a whole lot. I'm trying to say that the grant was not necessary and could be better used for other purposes: attacking potholes in the streets, damaged portions of sidewalks, improving the Little League facilities at self-same MacArthur Park, making the streets safer for Bicyclists, stepping up police enforcement of TRAFFIC LAWS, providing some type of Sun-Shading for the Farmer's Market on the Mall parking-lot, many other projects, too numerous to mention in our great city of Batavia NY, etc.
2. If the $4,000 was meant for the canceled Picnic in the Park, that event attracted a diverse range of any and all, Batavia residents. Muckdogs games have a much smaller and less diverse range of residents that are attracted to said games. And we all know how important "diverse" is in 2023! Was this budget transfer made simplistically because both events involved the Fourth of July? Is that any way to manage our money?
3. Heck, the $4,000 could have been used to reduce Batavia City property taxes proportionally. You know, "every little bit helps!" While we're on the topic of the July 12 Council meeting, just one more question (again, from an article by Joanne Beck) about the "open containers" in Jackson Square: how much extra will the bars have to pay to secure the $1 million liability insurance, if they don't actually already have it? (I know I can pay $80 per year for an excess $1 million personal liability policy).
Maybe we can get Assemblyman Hawley in on this with his expertise! Then we would have two of the three "big hitters" involved in this issue.
All we need is a federal presence to decide and manage our existence!
Honorable Geno Jankowski, respected President of the Batavia City Council, please lighten up, my good man. We Batavia residents are not criminals, thugs, ruffians, juvenile delinquents, "grunts" in the military, young children in need of discipline and guidance, and etc., and etc. We are responsible, tax-paying citizen-civilians of Batavia, whom we beg you to represent! And we get it, we know your Batavia Police Department background (thank you for your service!) and possible military background(?) too. (My own grandfather was a police officer in Buffalo, a stern, wooden, no-nonsense man, not "grandfatherly" in any way). But your governing style, also stern, absolute, antagonistic, defensive, "take-no-prisoners," and even autocratic, is turning us civilians off.
As well as that of Mr.Bialkowski and Ms.Tabelski, who always seem to be enabling your verbal admonishments and directives and pronouncements, in addition to your actions indicating oppositional attitudes toward us residents. All we ask is that you treat us as mature adults, and we promise to reciprocate in kind in our relationships with you. You are no longer on the police force or in the inspection line of a military formation or police unit, so please act accordingly.
Concurrently, us citizens are no longer in short pants and T-shirts awaiting instruction and direction and reproachment from the neighborhood (but retired) policeman!
Hey, Geno, you're a "sharpshooter." Use your ability in that practice: understand, assess, and act. To "read" every last one of your Batavia constituents' needs and wants, then satisfy every last one of them with your expertise in focus, attention, and cool! Forget about all the condescension, distrust, arrogance and "father knows best" attitude, displayed periodically in your service, yes service, to we citizens. Continue to do your good job of city governance, which, again, periodically, you certainly do.
You made a statement recently to the effect that certain individuals always want to make an issue in the city, a"racial" issue. (In reference to the question of "block parties"). Remember, one of your recent campaign slogans was "vote for the three 'skis.'" (You know, sir, JankowSKI, BialkowSKI, and TabelSKI. The Tabelski, who resigned, in deference to his spouse, Rachel, so that she could ascend to the throne, er, position, of Batavia City Manager. You see, some of us residents are paying attention). Your slogan was not overtly "racial," but it was certainly ethnic, tribal, which some people conflate with "racial." I'm just saying, be careful, be consistent, and above all, please don't "speak out of both sides of your mouth"!
Anyway, a second current "bone" that I wish to "pick" with you, Geno: your voiced stance on the proposal to allow "open" alcoholic beverages in Jackson Square for the Summer music entertainments held there. I know, and you know, my man, that people will do the "open" regardless of what the law says. So go ahead, allow it. Make it equal with the legalized gambling and marijuana which you have already endorsed and allowed within city limits. Why discriminate against alcohol, since it is probably the oldest, more-acceptable, potential stain on the human strain, and more ingrained in our society, than the other two! It maybe even causes less damage to the human condition, I don't know. Plus, the city can maybe wrangle some extra revenue, taxes, and licensing fees from it! Again, don't allow some things and forbid other things based on your superior judgment or knowledge of what is moral or immoral; what is right or wrong; what is in accord or in discord with your personal beliefs! After all, haven't all those things gotten us to where we are today? "Heaven on earth," or "hell in a hand-basket"? You, revered residents of Batavia, decide!
In closing, Mr.Jankowski, remember Florence Gioia, sir? Remember Rose Mary Christian, sir? You are becoming the cynosure, the lightning rod, of early 21st. Century Batavia. I haven't figured out yet whether that is a good, bad, or indifferent happening! Progress forward, or in reverse? Ultimately, the voters will decide. Or will they? We wouldn't want to miss out on your positive characteristics, but we can well do without your negative ones!
GLOW With Your Hands Manufacturing Event from September 2022: (Left to Right): Rich Monroe (Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program), Hon. Roberta Reardon (Commissioner, NYS Department of Labor), Chris Suozzi (Co-Chair, GLOW With Your Hands), and Jay Lazarony (Co-Chair, GLOW With Your Hands). Submitted photo.
By Chris Suozzi GCEDC Vice President of Business and Workforce Development
According to the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP), comprised of workforce development boards across New York State, there is an urgent need to prepare the next generation of workforce candidates as approximately 25% of the labor force in the state is 55 years or older.
And locally focused solutions are already in place to solve this nationwide issue.
Public and private sector entities across Genesee County and the GLOW region have made it a priority to collaborate in preparing and implementing youth workforce development programs.This collaboration has been extremely effective in engaging our youth by helping them learn about local career opportunities and by providing employers the opportunity to engage area youth.
What is unique in our approach is being able to expose students at a very young age to skilled trades, manufacturing, mechatronics and other growing employment sectors where we are with them each step of their workforce journey. Due to our location between New York’s second and third largest metros, we can specialize within specific industries and skills that fit within our own business ecosystem to promote good-paying jobs located in students’ backyards.
The collaboration among entities such as the four-county GLOW Workforce Development Board, Genesee Valley’s 22-school BOCES, National Grid, manufacturers like Liberty Pumps, HP Hood and future employers such as Plug Power and Edwards Semiconductor has been the foundation for the success of workforce development.
We also have seen a return on youth workforce investment through collaboration with Cornell University’s Food Processing Bootcamp, Genesee Community College and Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association, among many other business, education and youth organizations.
One of our most successful programs, GLOW With Your Hands – Manufacturing, is an innovative day-long hands-on career experience that guides youth to careers in manufacturing and the skilled trades. This past March, we launched GLOW With Your Hands – Healthcare, another day-long career exploration event in another sector experiencing a strong need for workers.
There are significant benefits for both employers and students through these day-long career exploration events. Employers in the manufacturing and healthcare sectors get the opportunity to interact with the next generation of workforce candidates first-hand, learning about their potential career interests, while over 1,600 students learned about the career opportunities available in their community this school year.
Our region will continue to see investment in advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, and construction, especially with the development of the Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP in the town of Alabama). The demand for a plentiful pool of skilled and productive workers is only going to increase as companies in these emerging sectors bring their operations here and workers at existing companies in the region begin to retire.
However, when you surround yourself with people that care about the future of their community, you can build something special, and that is what we are experiencing in Genesee County and the GLOW region through these collaborative workforce development initiatives.
Cornell Food Processing Boot Camp: Bootcamp participants tour Yancey’s Fancy dairy processing facility in Buffalo East Tech Park in the Town of Pembroke. Submitted photo.
Finger Lakes Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camp: A participant receives instruction from Tambe Electrician and GV BOCES instructor Rich Monroe using state-of-the-art, portable mechatronics equipment. Submitted photo.
Some illuminations for William Bardenwerper, in reference to his contrasting the old, professional baseball Batavia Muckdogs and the present amateur baseball Batavia mock "Muckdogs," as reported in "The Batavian," on June 7.
1. It's all about money. It's just whether the N.Y. Penn League and the owners of the pro team rake in the money; or the current private owner of the team, Mr. Nichols, rakes in the money! I applaud Nichols; he appears to me to be a consummate marketer, which is the primary part of current-day late-stage, capitalism. (We don't make "things." We manufacture "experiences," "ideas," "consciousnesses," "influencers," and "sports and entertainment"). It doesn't matter what you're selling, as long as you can convince enough people, Batavia fans, to buy it! He's good at it, and only if he had been associated with the professional Muckdogs. They couldn't tell a marketing or advertising campaign from an aluminum baseball bat; both were anathema to them!
2. Nichols is attracting children to the games at Dwyer Stadium in 2022 and 2023. Children have no money, but their parents do. I suspect the parents are more interested in entertainment for their offspring than in the game of baseball, and particularly in Amateur baseball, considering all the negative press professional athletes receive in any sport. (Parents these days seem to be over-protective of their children). Anyway, a genuine baseball aficionado doesn't care about negative press. They just want to see expert baseball. I, personally, would prefer to watch high-school baseball instead of Division II and Division III collegiate baseball, but would certainly pick any level of Professional baseball over either of the two former entities! (But then, I'm not a parent of young children). The child fans, and by extension, their parents, probably don't know the difference, and that's what Nichols plays off of. Heck, the current parents would send their children to the Stadium if it featured a circus of clowns and donkeys, or a Halloween-themed costume party, all of it with Nichols as impresario! He's that good!
3. Bardenwerper is plain wrong about the current college players being "more involved in the community." The pros were involved in the community. They, in fact, were "fan friendly" also. To an extent, I saw it with my own two eyes. (Instructional baseball camps for local children; appearances at local community events; residing in local community residences; signing autographs both before and after games; what else did one want them to do!). Remember, the pros were being paid a salary, they had to concentrate on their "play," and the owners of the pros' teams had to concentrate on a return on their investment in the "play" of the players. "Community" wasn't ignored. It came second to their jobs as pros! I'm sure that Judge, Machado, Ohtani, et al. don't spend much time glad-handing in their respective "community." Do they? The current collegiate players supposedly don't get paid. Their time is a lark. They're students, first, on "Summer Break," and one direction of their attention can easily be the "community." I suspect that both Martinez, the manager of the current Muckdogs, and Nichols tell the players that "community" comes First. And baseball, Second? At least I'm sure Nichols does(remember "marketing," which we started out with here in #1!)
4. Major League Baseball realigned Minor League Baseball from 160 cities to 120 cities in 2020. Seems like a smart move! You know, the old economics law of "supply and demand." Too much supply, constant demand, profit goes down, doesn't it? Limit supply, constant demand, increase price, and voila, more profit! And isn't MLB a business governed by profit? See #1 above; substitute "profit" for my point about "money."
5. The city of Batavia paid for and built a new Dwyer Stadium in 1995-96. Excuse me, city property taxpayers paid for the stadium. As far as I know, there are no "baseball people" over at City Hall or on City Council. (I think that Brad Rogers was already gone as general manager of the Muckdogs when the new stadium opened. And he was the last general manager of the pro team who had any sense of what minor league baseball could and should be!).
So why didn't the city get the Major League affiliate to pay for some of the stadium construction or stadium operation? (As far as I know, the affiliate only paid for the team's salaries). If the MLB affiliate had a moneyed interest in the stadium, it would have provided some professional management and direction for the games and its fans at that stadium. There's nothing like a financial interest to motivate individuals with expertise to protect that interest! The city of Batavia protected its financial interest in the stadium but couldn't give a hoot about the business going on at that stadium. It didn't have the expertise, anyway, to manage and promote a professional baseball organization. So maybe, that's why everything "went to hell in a handbasket" with attendance at the real, professional Muckdogs games. You tell me!
6. Related to #5 above, I would like to see the current Muckdogs operation publish and announce the attendance at all home games and particularly the "paid" attendance.
In this time when we are trying to reduce the amount of fuel used or wasted, there may be some simple steps that could improve things.
I have wondered if the stop signs are really necessary on East/West Saile Drive, where it intersects State Street (South)? There doesn't appear to be a lot of traffic coming off from State Street, and I feel the traffic could make its way onto Saile Drive without much trouble.
All the traffic on Saile has to stop, usually for no apparent reason. How much fuel has been and continues to be wasted by all the trucks heading to and from the construction sites in the area, along with all other traffic?
A similar situation is the intersection at Clinton Street and East Avenue.
I'm sure there may be others that could be considered for improvement. Am I the only one who feels this way?
Man, oh man, Rick Rapone, the baseball coach at Batavia's Notre Dame H.S., knows how to "talk up" his team's players and performance, and by extension, that school's standing in the eyes of local sports fans! He could give a teaching seminar to the area's public school coaches in the art of public relations, contact with the media, the construction of sports narrative, call it what you want. What it all accomplishes is the elevation of Notre Dame and the motivation of the players on the team.
Read a report that he provides to local media on an individual contest: all the reports have a context, a scenario; a development of that scenario, of suspense; a climax of the scenario, a resolution or conclusion, a win or loss. Compare his reports of competition to the often three-sentence reports given by his compatriots in local high school reports: score of the contest, and two sentences describing, usually lackadaisical, a couple of names of the contributing players.
What the public school coaches don't understand is that if you don't "talk up" your team and school, no one else will talk up your team and school. Some of them even sound like they're ashamed of their team's win or not embarrassed by their team's loss.
Rapone is an asset to our area's media, high school sports, Notre Dame H.S., and especially, in my case, a reader of his media narratives!
I look forward to his future ones and some improvements in local public high school coaches' media relations after reading or listening to some of his!
I'm confused! So let me see if I can work my way out of this perplexing welter.
It seems to me that almost a day doesn't go by without hearing about "news" and supposedly its opposite, "fake news," being batted back and forth over the net, only to fall to the ground, no foul, no point, scored. My ears' sense of sound gets tired following the word-
To better understand this phenomenon, I need to flesh out on the page some of my observations of the match on this court of public dissension:
1. Rochester, N.Y. has a newspaper, the "Democrat and Chronicle," which doesn't have an editorial page. Why? Unheard of in a relatively big city's newspaper.
2. Buffalo, N.Y. has a newspaper, the "Buffalo News," which does have an editorial page, but only prints its "letters to the editor," at most, 2 days out of 7 days in its publishing week. Why? Unheard of in a relatively big city's newspaper. (All 7 days of "letters" are published in its "online" edition, which a reader must pay for). One can read the paper edition for free at the public library.
3. Batavia, N.Y. has an 'online" only, news site, "The Batavian," which is principally local- and regional-directed. No national or international news, very little business news, a small amount of state news. (It is currently charging a fee for readers to get "first-access" to certain articles, and after a limited amount of time, the articles are then free to read). There's a lot to be said for staying small, focused, and doing what you know best! This news site does all these well, without becoming a newsletter. Better yet, not a Bezos or a Berkshire Hathaway, huge corporations that ventured into media. At times though, its local coverage becomes almost quaint:Girl Scout Cookie sales, pine-derby competitions, quilting bees, etc.!
4. Also in Batavia, N.Y. is the "Batavia Daily News," print and "online". (The "print" is free to read at the public library, and the "online" has a subscriber fee). This newspaper checks most of the boxes for a traditional one: international, national, local, sports, weather, obituaries, etc., although the "online" edition tilts mainly local, maybe in competition with "The Batavian," which is a good thing. Anyway, it, too, has an editorial page and "letters to the editor," and is probably stronger in "opinion" than "The Batavian". But then "The Batavian" can always improve, can't it?
5. The "Wall Street Journal," unfortunately associated in many peoples' minds as a solely business and stock-market publication, which it no longer is, represents the best of the current collection of print newspapers, in my estimation. (Check out its "Life," "Art," and "Books" sections, and particularly, its Saturday edition). The "New York Times" and "U.S.A.Today" pale in comparison to the "WSJ". (It too has an "online" edition, which a reader must pay for. The print edition is free to read, again, at the public library).
After all this context, and hopefully my readers' attention, my point is I think that a lot of the "fake news" issue results from the weakening, hollowing-out, fragmentation, single-issue politics and slant , of which the traditional newspaper didn't have to cope with.
You know, all the long-established, respected press institutions had one aim and one aim only:publish "all the news that's fit to print." (Credit to "N.Y.Times"). And from my point of view, hopefully, print all the competing opinions, both professional and pedestrian! The newspaper business, as currently constituted, is at fault, itself, for the rise of accusations of "fake news". Not the left wing, the right wing, the central wing, progressives, or conservatives, with their concomitant agendas and loves and hates! And I lay the cause of all your hand-wringing, vociferations, assaults, and attacks, relating to "fake news" squarely at your own feet. If you, big press, had all reported all the "real" news, there would have been no opportunity for "fake" news to creep up and proliferate in the cracks of the sidewalk beneath your own guilty feet. But no, today's big press, you were solely focussed on the "bottom line" of your balance sheets, and getting as many "eyeballs" reading your publications, come "hell or high water". Period!
