The proposed downtown Buffalo casino, which was once trumpeted as a done deal by supporters, now faces stiff resistance on multiple fronts. And we couldn't be more pleased with this new development.
The impetus for the opposition came from documents filed with the Security and Exchange Commission by the Seneca Nation that made clear the casino will target Buffalo and its suburban residents as it's customer base. It will not be a resort, or a tourist destination-type casino as promised. It will instead pray on Erie County's populace. This led Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano to come out strongly against the casino. Reverberations were felt immediately as Erie County Executive Joel Giambra joined Golisano's opposition. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown still seems to be on the fence.
Our question is, why has it taken this long for opposition to reach critical mass? It seems that Buffalonians suffer from a "hear we go again" attitude, which causes them to bend over and take whatever misguided development project comes their way. That's why UB was moved to an Amherst swamp, the Buffalo Bills play in Orchard Park, and Riverside and the majestic Humboldt Parkway were destroyed to make room for expressways.
Giambra's opposition stems from the environmental (read: economic) impact study the Seneca Nation has yet to complete. We agree with his stance because impact studies are extremely comprehensive in development projects of this magnitude, and will expose the stark social consequences a casino will bring. In fact, it was the impact study that led to the Peace Bridge authorities abandoning their ill-conceived "twin span" scheme, which would have been a travesty for the region if completed.
Mayor Brown's stance is what frustrates us. While campaigning, he supported the casino because of the tourist dollars it would bring. Now that it's clear Buffalo's dollars are what the casino aims for, he should do all he can to stop the project. Instead, he seems to be hedging his bets. Brown should show the leadership displayed by Golisano and use his high profile to scuttle the project to protect Buffalo's greater good. That's the kind of power mayors should - and can - have.
Kill them with kindness
The Israeli-Palestinian violence will continue until humanity is restored
Nuclear diplomacy rarely works, especially if that diplomacy is conducted with rockets and bunker-busters. With Hamas-led Palestine being cut off by Western support, Iran is able to portray itself as a lone Palestinian supporter offering support, further hurting U.S. and Israeli diplomatic efforts.
But the terrorist bombing in Israel this week, carried out by Islamic Jihad and applauded by Hamas, should crystallize the fact that U.S. and European officials made the right decision to withhold money from a Hamas-led Palestinian government. For now.
The solution we'd like to see is for Hamas to renounce terrorism as Arafat's PLO did upon governing, but Hamas won't pull that trigger for peace. Along with Fatah's ineptitude, their opposition to Israel is what got them elected in the first place. By wallowing in their isolation and pointing to others as the cause of their desolation, Hamas can win another election from an abused and mislead population. The Palestinians' dissatisfaction level is that high.
In the event that Hamas does not bend to international pressure, it's still hard to justify giving aid to a Palestinian government that would likely spend some of that money on terrorism against Israel. What the United States should do, regardless, is launch an extremely generous effort through non-governmental humanitarian groups to make sure the Palestinian people are not fully punished for their leaders' decision to continue the violence.
Israel is holding the Hamas government responsible for the carnage because it declared the bombing "legitimate." Israel's response is both understandable and logical, but like all politics in the Middle East, there are three sides to every coin. In the long-term the hard line stance will only increase the divide, and it doesn't help resolve the big picture. It is polarizing the Middle East even further by forcing Palestine closer to Iran, who recently pledged $50 million in aid to Palestine to offset the loss of aid from the West. It is also pushing the United States that much closer to a potentially disastrous war with Iran.
It seems Israel and the United States might be forced to move beyond their stern diplomatic rhetoric and find a humanitarian solution to what's needed. Palestinian suffering is wrong, and so are suicide bombers blowing up Israelis. The U.S. and European Union's isolation of Hamas has merit, but further exacerbates the conflict. A new way is needed - the United States can afford humanitarian efforts of hundreds of millions, but not a war that costs billions.
Photo: Breadchastick / Wikimedia Commons
