As many local officials and Buffalonians are hopeful that pending lawsuits will prevent the construction of the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, Rochester entrepreneur B. Thomas Golisano says that waiting and seeing is not an option. Trying to trigger a powerful anti-casino push with a million dollar ad campaign, Golisano is spending his own money to inform Buffalonians of the consequences of the gambling institution.
Becoming a one man wrecking crew of the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, Golisano has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on newspaper ads and will be utilizing radio airwaves to spread the downsides of casinos. While some people may try to find an economic benefit for Golisano, his intentions and ideas seem genuine. In light of this, Golisano should be commended for his efforts, but more importantly his integrity.
He has no investments directly in competition with the casino and his booming Buffalo Sabres are doing better than just good. So how can we be sure that Golisano's movement is fueled by moral standards rather than economics? There's no way to be definitely sure, one way or the other, but he has gone as far as to control gambling in his own investments. At a news conference this week, Golisano announced that he will not be renewing his contract with the New York State Lottery for advertising at HSBC Arena. This account draws in thousands of dollars for the Sabres and will no longer be a source of revenue for Golisano. After doing the math, less advertisement means less money; so doesn't this seem like a moral decision rather than financial one?
Being "for" or "against", Golisano is a man who cares about our community, and he deserves respect for taking such a public stance. Throwing his intentions aside, one thing is sure - people are taking notice. As he explained his campaign at this week's conference, his words and ideas made audience members question how can they help being of lesser economic status. While billionaire Golisano is shelling out the money for newspaper and radio ads, he encouraged supporters to be active rather than writing a check. It is up to concerned Western New Yorkers to write letters to newspapers and to petition their elected officials. Golisano made the initial splash; Buffalonians must be the ripples.
It's never too late
International coalition slowly takes shape in Afghanistan
For years now, Americans have been whining that only our young men in red, white and blue are over there protecting the western world from terrorism, and in a lot of ways this was true - until now.
On Thursday NATO's International Security Assistance Force assumed power of the US-led coalition, bringing a new beginning of international support to Afghanistan. While about half of the forces in Afghanistan are still American soldiers, each day more troops from the United Kingdom, Canada, and Holland are complimenting the numbers of Americans. Many critics of international support are looking at this as too little too late, but why disregard a stepping-stone that could lead to potential success?
Of course the term stepping-stone usually implies that more steps will follow, and that is the true test for the international community. This first step, although significant, is only a little more than a change of command. About 12,000 American troops were taken under the command of British coalition leaders, and a greater percentage of foreign troops are being lined up to ship out, but this hasn't happened in great numbers yet.
As the Pentagon hands over its control in Afghanistan to the international alliance, NATO will take on it greatest test, but remember one thing: This is far from a major improvement, but it is most certainly a step in the right direction.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
