The New York Office of Children and Family Services ripped the performance of the County CPS unit yesterday.    OCFS reviewed almost 900 open case files.   It appears that case workers do as little as they can within regulatory requirements for investigation and documentation so they can close cases quickly, often within 10-15 days.  

County Executive Mark Poloncarz humbly accepted full responsibility for this debacle stating, "Expecting a contemporary CPS worker to respond to a call and solve an issue immediately is akin to expecting law enforcement to respond to a 911 call and instantly resolve the problem."    He went on to express his belief that the state has out-of-date policies and procedures.    http://www.wivb.com/news/local/agency-issues-scathing-report-about-cps     When the County Exec and Andy Cuomo chat, you have to wonder if they have time for anything but blaming each other for policy and program failures.

So what's a guy to do?    Maybe the County Exec should spend less time on intraparty Democratic politics and more time on his job?

Perhaps his pal, Michael Szukala, who Poloncarz appointed to the newly created job of Medicaid Inspector General, could take time out from coloring maps showing where Medicaid recipients live and do something productive.   General Mike, here's a clue: Medicaid recipients are poor people.  They live in poor neighborhoods.   And we have the second poorest city in the country in Erie County.   It's called Buffalo.    I'll bet lots of Medicaid recipients live in Buffalo!   Unless we decide to move them to McMansions near your trendy Amherst home, colored maps won't be of much value will they?    But, on behalf of taxpayers, I want to thank you for all you do as President of Poloncarz's personal political club, The WNY Democrats for Progress.   http://www.wnyprogress.org/officers.html     I'm sure abused children appreciate your work as President too.

In the midst of all the whining about the purported illegal activities of Steve Pigeon's Western New York Progressive Caucus, it's fun to look at financial reports filed by those doing the complaining.    For instance, since October 16, 2012, the Erie County Democratic Committee has reported receiving $175,000 from " VOTE-COPE COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION OF THE", 800 TROY SCHENECTADY RD, LATHAM, NY 12110.    Unfortunately there is no such committee.    However, there is a "VOTE-COPE UNAUTHORIZED COMMITTEE" of the United University Professionals listed with the same address, but it hasn't given the ECDC any money during that time period.   How fascinating.

In order to find out who is actually sending Wonder Boy Zellner this loot, one has to turn oneself inside out and search the NYS Board of Elections database for anyone who has given money to the Erie County Democratic Committee.    Fortunately this sleight of hand retrieval reveals that a committee named "VOICE OF TEACHERS FOR EDUCATION / COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION OF THE NEW YO" controlled by the New York State United Teachers is the source of this bonanza.    If this NYSUT political committee had misspelled the name of the ECDC, we would never know the source of $175K in political loot.   You have to wonder, if someone gave you a $175,000 political contribution, wouldn't you at least know their name and report it properly?   

This is a very large contribution for NYSUT  to a county committee.   By comparison, NYSUT gave the "BRONX DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMITTEE HOUSEKEEPING" entity $5100, the " DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMITTEE (RICHMOND)" $4000, and the "KINGS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE" $8000, during the same time period.    Kings County includes Brooklyn and has about 2.6 million people.   Bronx County has 1.4 million people and Richmond County  (Staten Island) has about 500,000.    So NYSUT gave $17,100 to Democratic committees representing 4.5 million people and $175,000 to the ECDC representing 920,000 in Erie County.     Furthermore, this NYSUT political committee gave the "DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE" for the whole state  (19.6 million population) $155,000 in the same time period.

What gives here?   Why would NYSUT invest this kind of money in the ECDC?    What teacher/education issues have been forwarded in the last year?    Which teachers have been supported as candidates?    During this time period, Wonder Boy lost a congressional seat (Hochul to Collins), the county comptroller (Mychajliw, twice), the Grisanti state senate seat in a heavily Democratic district, and the Democratic majority in the county legislature (first time since 1977).   What kind of return is this on a political investment?    If you belong to NYSUT, call your union PAC representative and ask them WTF is going on.  

 It's that magic time of year when three lame duck county legislators (Mazur, McCracken and Hogues) get to show their true character and prove how much they care about the citizens of Erie County.    Chris O'Brien was ordered to resign to make way for a Democratic Party hack, but we're sure the three musketeers will show them a thing or two.    In order to guide them and the rest of the big six Democratic legislators who will make this monumental decision, all our avid readers should call their elected representative and tell them to vote for the following:

First Choice)  Peter A. Reese

After due deliberation I am the clear best choice.  Some might claim I'm biased, but in the words of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, "but since it's me, I have to support myself..."   My goals are clearly stated in my resume submitted Friday:

Goals as Water Authority Commissioner

            The purpose of the Erie County Water Authority is the improvement of the health, welfare  and  prosperity of the people of Erie County by operating water treatment and supply facilities.  See Public Authorities Law §§ 1053, 1054, and 1058.    There is nothing in the statute to indicate that the Authority is to serve as a source of jobs for the relatives of public or political officials.  

My primary focus as commissioner will be on the effective and efficient operation of water facilities without regard to irrelevant external political concerns.    The first step is an analysis of all Authority functions, including facilities and staffing to determine whether the current configuration is the best possible.   Following this review, I will attempt to make improvements to ensure that the Authority fulfills its goals in the best interests of the citizens of Erie County.    I will also attempt to implement performance based budgeting methods to provide transparency and accountability for Authority activities.   My background in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research makes me well qualified for this appointment.

I intend to contribute any salary I receive as commissioner to local animal welfare organizations.

How you gonna top that?     Kind of gets you all verklempt.  Even the non-Democrats love me.

Third Choice)  Daniel Ward/Paul Wolf (tie)

This one is a tossup next best selection if I get rubbed out in the next few days.    Both are attorneys in good standing and outstanding citizens of excellent character.   But Ward is already elections commissioner (or is that his brother Dennis?).  

Q:  How many patronage jobs does one guy need?               A:   None

Wolf seems like a nice enough guy, but can we trust someone who runs The Center for Reinventing Government (http://reinventinggov.org/)?    For God sake, the guy is a lawyer.   They invented government.    Did he get it wrong the first time?    Why does he get a Mulligan?    And why is he "Challenging the Status Quo!"?    The status quo is working fine for the local glitterati. 

Fourth thru Next to Last Choice)  Who Cares?

The fix is already in suckers.

Last Choice)  Jerry Schad

This guy is Amherst Democratic Town Chairman place keeper for Party Secretary and Elections Commissioner, Dennis Ward (or is it Dan?).    He already has a $40K per year patronage job as counsel to the Democrats on the county legislature.   And he doesn't have to account for his time.

Q:  How many patronage jobs does one guy need?               A:   See above.

It's not our fault that he has to "volunteer" as lawyer for Zellner, the Democratic Committee and Betty Jean Grant.    You take the gain, you feel the pain.  

Prediction:   This is the last guy the county legislature is ever going to appoint as ECWA Commissioner.

Coming articles to look for:   Wonder Boy Meets NYSUT and The Man Who Would Be Judge: Cleaning Up Dennis Ward

Everyone has an opinion as to why Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy (Wonder Boy)  Zellner managed to lose the Democratic Party majority on the Erie County Legislature for the first time since he was born in 1978.    Something which has been overlooked by other commentary is a fact well known since the salad days of Joe Crangle:  The chairman of the ECDC doesn't need to win any general elections to retain power.   All that is necessary is to keep an iron grip on the Committee by winning the biennial reorganization meeting following the even year primary election.   The rules of the Committee do the rest, as the chairman gets to name enough executive board members to give every boot licking yes man in the county a push button vote under the chairman's control.    The rules give the votes of these supplicant puppets equivalent weight to the vote of the chairpersons from the largest towns, thus producing an impossible to overcome majority for whatever the chairman wishes.   Once in control of the Committee, patronage, power and favor seeking soft money will normally come flushing in like the action of your butt activating the infrared sensor on the toilet seat in the bus station rest room.   As New York is dominated by downstate population power, most Albany leaders just go along with whoever manages to be in charge here.    Erie County looks like Eastern Ohio from Manhattan and Albany leaders seldom want to pay any attention to what is actually going on here.  

This results in a view of the chairmanship as a final destination to be plundered  rather than a post from which to serve the party faithful.    In Wonder Boy's case, this rewards structure is enhanced by the fact that he has a patronage plum job as chief of staff of the legislature, to the tune of $80K per year.  (Not a bad gig for someone barely qualified to work at Walmart.)  Retaining this job requires support of a majority of the county legislature.   Since the legislators who employ him depend on the party endorsement which he controls, Zellner has a screaming conflict of interest which has somehow gone unchallenged and unexplained.  As his personal enrichment is more important than electing Democrats, Wonder Boy can only back Democrats who will blindly obey his whims.   That's where the crux of the issue lies.   Zellner cannot allow a Democrat to be elected who will not back him without question as chairman and chief of staff.    As a result, he openly violated the rules of the ECDC, intentionally failing to reorganize town and zone committees or hold endorsements in districts he didn't control.    This robbed he ECDC members affected of their rights to participate in party decision making and allowed Wonder Boy to misapply ECDC resources to support his boot licking candidates without the support of district committee members.   This is a formula for disaster in a close race, and Wonder Boy struck out three times.   

1)  Independent newcomer Pat Burke snuck down the middle between committee member backed Rick Zydel and Zellner's unendorsed candidate  in LD-07 (Cheektowaga, Buffalo Lovejoy and South).    It is unlikely that Burke would have run or won if Zydel had been endorsed.   The future path of young Burke is uncertain, as only one other independent Democrat has ever been elected to the county legislature and she only lasted one term.

2)   LD-08 (Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Alden) was a special circumstance.    When it became clear that Republican Ted (Money Bags) Morton was going to run, it so frightened the incumbent legislator that he decided not to run for re-election and reportedly applied for a job out of town.    Morton had spent lavishly on a prior run for Cheektowaga Supervisor in 2011 which he narrowly lost.   He can apparently spend whatever he wants on politics.   Had the committeemen been allowed to exercise their right to endorse, Wes Moore was considered a favorite.  Wonder Boy never scheduled an endorsement meeting and went with the troubled Alden Town chairperson who was widely viewed as a weak place keeper while a more viable candidate was sought.    After  Wonder Boy's pick beat Moore in the ensuing low turnout Democratic Primary Election, she was unceremoniously trounced by Morton in the general election.   Morton's win cost Democrats the majority in the legislature, but Morton's victory was way too easy, and he is rumored to be nominating Wonder Boy as Republican of the Year.  

3)  The endorsement votes in LD-10 (West Seneca and points southeast) are concentrated in West Seneca.   This is not Wonder Boy country, so he again chose not to schedule an endorsement meeting and decided to support an unknown recent law school graduate.   She was beaten like a rented mule by former Democrat turned Conservative incumbent Joe Lorigo.   Three auto endorsements by Wonder Boy, three train wrecks.

In another key contest, insurgent political veteran Barbara Miller-Williams took back her seat from ineffective first termer Tim Hogues in LD-01 (Buffalo).   The Miller-Williams vs Hogues battle was unavoidable, as Hogues had been nominated by the ECDC executive committee in 2011, denying Miller-Williams any opportunity to enter a primary election and give the Democratic voters a choice.   Hogue's unanticipated loss to Miller-Williams probably cost Wonder Boy the votes necessary to remain as chief of staff, even if Democrats had held the legislature majority.   

In one of the more comical contests, school teacher William Conrad was reported to be staging a competitive race in LD-04 against popular incumbent Canisius College professor Kevin Hardwick.   That's when Zellner sent out a personal letter to voters in the district, which began, "Two years ago I earned your support when I ran for the Erie County Legislature...."    Apparently Wonder Boy suffers from amnesia, as he was clobbered by Hardwick  in 2011 by nearly 4000 votes.    However, Zellner's 2011 race was notable for the fact that he spent nearly $54,000 to garner 9543 votes, an astronomical cost of nearly $6 per vote!     This is Ted Morton level spending and much of his financial support was garnered while Zellner was employed as Executive Director of the Democratic party, well positioned to strong arm the faithful to the detriment of other more viable Democratic candidates.    Clearly, his voters would have been better served if he had bought them each a pizza.    This year, Zellner's attempt to capitalize on his self-perceived popularity failed miserably and Conrad was beaten so badly by Hardwick that it probably wasn't even a good lesson. 

Coming articles to look for:   Wonder Boy Meets NYSUT and The Man Who Would Be Judge:  Cleaning Up Dennis Ward.

Right to the end, our local political analysts and pundits kept reporting on Bert Dunn's campaign on the Law and Order ballot line which "he created for himself," and allowed him to spin the lie that he was an independent who didn't owe anything to party bosses.   Let's examine some facts.   Dunn was endorsed by Jeremy (Boy Wonder)  Zellner even though Bert openly stated that he wasn't a Democrat, despised Obama and Cuomo, and Ronald Reagan is his personal hero.  While not all Democrats are enchanted with Barry and Andy, very few of us hold Reagan in high esteem.   Wonder Boy's mentor, former Democratic Chairman Lenny Lenihan's "consulting" outfit, Glendale Associates, got an $8,000 payment from Bert to guide his glorious march to victory.   A little research reveals that Bert is an opportunist who changes his party almost as often as his underwear.    He is a lieutenant in Howard's sheriffs department and in line for appointment to captain, the highest level of civil service.    He has openly supported Sheriff Howard, Carl Paladino and the Republican Party in the past.   Bert has reportedly skated on some interesting high jinks during his police career, including driving stunts with his patrol car while on duty (http://www.politicsny.net/feature.php?id=97&c=2#sthash.KUrpHGIZ.dpbs).   This is not the kind of guy who runs against his indulgent boss.   

With Dunn as the endorsed candidate, Zellner's fellow travelers passed Democratic designating petitions and got Bert into the Democratic primary using the full resources of the Erie County Democratic Committee.    But that wasn't enough.   Unable to get the Working Families line for his Reagan adoring candidate, Wonder Boy led the effort to establish the Law and Order ballot line right out of ECDC headquarters.     ECDC employees Elizabeth Abbott, Marisa Bartolatta, Kristen Bishop, Shea Brode,  Michael Carbone, Jacob Deely, Siobhan Maloney, Jeffrey Sheridan, Christina Wasinger, Ta'Dia Wideman, and Andrew Woods circulated nominating petitions for Bert on the so called Law and Order line.    They were joined by Wonder Boy himself, as well as Zellner pals ECDC Vice Chairman Margaret McLaughlin and NYS Health Department employee Robert Sienkiewicz.     That's right, the ECDC Chairman himself circulated petitions to establish another party's ballot line!   {See Petiion below}   Joining this noble cause to establish an "independent" campaign for Bert were Board of Elections Democratic employees Michael Agostino, Thomas Gleed, Thema Haron, David Ksiazek, Harrell Little, Gary Pajonk and Adrian Pinto.   When the Moreland Commission has some spare time, they might want to subpoena the Board of Elections employees to see if they were coerced to work on Dunn's independent campaign.    I'm sure their interest in creating a new party is just a coincidence and they freely volunteered their time because they love supporting non-Democrats.   As a final measure, ECDC employee Jeffrey Sheridan was listed on the cover sheets of the Dunn Law and Order nominating petition as the person to contact to correct deficiencies and the petition was filed by the above named Christina Wasinger.

Then something went terribly wrong.   Bert lost the Democratic Primary.    Who could have known that you can lose an election?    By creating an independent ballot line for Dunn, Wonder Boy poisoned the well for any Democrat who might happen to defeat the headquarters selected Reaganite.    Dunn's continuing campaign on the Zellner created Law and Order line following his Primary Election defeat by Dick Dobson doomed any chance for any Democrat to best the clearly beatable Sheriff  Howard.

So let's sum up.   Dunn was on the ballot in the Democratic Primary because party boss Zellner endorsed and petitioned him there.   Dunn's Law and Order ballot line in the General Election was obtained by party boss Zellner.   Without the efforts of Zellner, Dunn isn't even on the ballot, any ballot.   So where is the independent here?   

Unresolved questions remain.   Was the Democratic Party endorsement for sheriff  purchased, at least in part, by the eight grand payment to Lenihan?   Did Zellner block the Working Families from endorsing Dobson?    (Working Families had no candidate.)   With the political genius of Lenihan on payroll, why was Dunn completely unprepared to counter late primary campaign television attacks concerning his previously reported Obama, Cuomo and Reagan comments?   Was Dunn's campaign a serious effort or an expensive sabotage of any Democratic opposition to Howard's re-election?    Dunn's future career path in the Sheriff's Department will be interesting to follow.