ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE
Democrats address community college charge
Democrats in the Erie County Legislature have proposed a resolution that would call on state lawmakers to change what they called an “archaic, parochial practice” of charging counties when their residents attend community colleges in other counties.
The proposed resolution would ask Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the State Legislature to change state law so that counties would not be charged if a resident attended college within the same state-designated economic development region in which the student resides.
Erie County is in the same regional economic development as Niagara, Cattaraugus, Allegany and Chautauqua counties.
The proposed resolution followed a story in The Buffalo News that highlighted the cost of the community college charge-backs to Erie County residents.
Erie County paid more than $4 million for students that attended two-year colleges in other counties last year.
Erie County Legislator Lynn M. Marinelli, D-Town of Tonawanda, called the practice “outdated and unfair.”
The County Legislature is scheduled to meet Sept. 20.
PUBLIC HEALTH
Youth agency receives grant for substance abuse education
The West Side Youth Development Coalition in Buffalo will receive $125,000 from the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The federal money was secured by Sen. Charles E. Schumer and will be used to increase substance abuse education for Buffalo youth and to boost training for local officials to help curb drug abuse among young people in Western New York. Specifically, the coalition will use the funds to improve coordination with alcohol retailers, limit the availability of illegal prescription drugs, work with local parents to improve attachment to children, and design substance abuse prevention policies.
clarence
Hochul, Corwin, Rath set for Chamber breakfast
The Clarence Chamber of Commerce will host a legislative breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sept. 8 at the WBBZ-TV studio at Eastern Hills Mall.
Scheduled to attend are: Rep. Kathleen C. Hochul, Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, State Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer, County Clerk Chris Jacobs, County Legislator Ed Rath, Clarence Town Supervisor David C. Hartzell Jr. and Clarence School Superintendent Geoffrey Hicks.
COMMUNITY
D’Youville College to honor Benatovich, Cunningham
D’Youville College will honor two community leaders for their service at the 26th annual Michael F. and Eleaine Dillon Presidential Scholarship Reception at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 in the College Center, Porter and Fargo avenues.
Honored will be Lana D. Benatovich, president of the National Federation for Just Communities for Western New York and chairwoman of the Erie County Coordinating Council on Children and Families, and Raymond “Cash” Cunningham, president of Cash Realty and Auctions, and a longtime community fundraiser. Tickets are $100.