A fire broke out in a second floor bedroom at 66 Oak Street in Batavia around 9:30pm last night, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. Two people were home at the time, but both escaped without injury. A preliminary investigation has termed the cause accidental, and damage to the home has been estimated at around $15,000.
Fischer picked up a choice piece of audio from our state Assemblyman, Steve Hawley, who spoke of the wastefulness of yesterday's special session of the state Legislature and called for more productive meetings to cut spending in the future. Hawley called the episode "politics as usual," a phrase which—not to knock Hawley at all—was surely used by countless grandstanding state politicians yesterday, all of whom, in the end, are themselves the practitioners of the usual. Are any of these representatives, in truth, practicing the unusual: in other words, getting things done, not shrinking in fear from the collective threats of special interest lobbyists, not wasting time and (our) money on circus shows that masquerade as fruitful discourse? Fischer tells us that yesterday's special session cost the taxpayers in excess of $100,000. Listening in on another news report last night, I heard that the costs were related mostly to overtime and travel expenses for the legislators! How's that for politics as usual. Or irony. Call it what you will.
They are all scared, worrying
They are all scared, worrying about how many votes it’s going to cost them to do the right thing. Right now they are playing a game of chicken and no one wants to show the other side what they are willing to cut. They fear the other side will play political games and work up the sympathies of these special interest groups against them.
A couple of years ago we had the same problem in the city. So a few of us got together and put our cards on the table. We made a compromise. We cut everything. What they don’t seem to understand is no one is going to be happy, so you might as well bite down hard on the bullet.
Weak yellowbellies make me sick. Their so scared to do the right thing, they are blinded by their false sense of power and how to retain it.
Let’s go Steve! Now is your chance, step up and put your finger on something that needs to be cut!!!
mr Hawley needs to pratice
mr Hawley needs to pratice what he preaches he could start by cutting 10,000 out of his own budjet he pay 4 politicle buddys money to be community liasons two of the are on the gains board, these are payback job because if you look at who he uses as a liason and then look at his contributers it not magic the names remain the same this should stop
I would like to commend the
I would like to commend the Batavia Fire Department for the wonderful job they did last night. I live next door to the house that was on fire and called 911 and they were here within a matter of minutes. They worked very quickly and got the fire under control and minimized the damage as much as possible. I question the $15,000 damage figure though as half of the second story appears to be completely gutted and there is smoke and water damage throughout the entire house. Of course that doesn't take into consideration the personal property that was lost - furniture, clothes, etc. 2 cats were killed but it appears that the other 5 made it, including 3 kittens that I have over here now. The other 2 were just spotted in the house by the owner and we're hoping to reunite the mother with the kittens soon.
Beth: Thank you so much for
Beth: Thank you so much for the information. Very sorry to hear about the cats that died in the fire. Do you know if the family is need of anything?
I know that everything in the
I know that everything in the bedroom was destroyed so they will be in need of bedroom furniture and clothing. The Red Cross put them up last night. Not sure about what comes next. We have a great fire department. I think the house could easily have been a total loss if not for their quick work. Everyone please check your smoke detectors to make sure they're working properly. There were 7 working ones in this home.
Legislators get paid
Legislators get paid overtime? Man, I wish I could get that gig.