MAZIARZ RIGHT CHOICE SAYS CHAIRMAN ROSS

Niagara Falls Reporter

MAZIARZ RIGHT CHOICE SAYS CHAIRMAN ROSS By William L. Ross
In a recent interview with the Niagara Falls Reporter, Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino had some harsh words for New York State Senator George Maziarz, while pushing his hand-picked candidate to challenge Maziarz, Niagara Falls school board member Johnny Destino. While Mr. Paladino is certainly entitled to his opinion, I can state without hesitation that Sen. Maziarz is the right choice for Niagara County. In my 50+ years of being involved with organized sports, there’s one premise I have never deviated from: In order to give your team the greatest chance to win, you always put your best players on the field. In putting Niagara County in the best position to thrive, George Maziarz gives us the best opportunity to succeed. I’ve been in the county legislature for just about the same amount of timeSen. Maziarz has been in the Senate. During that time, I have had the opportunity to work with him time and again on local, state, and federal issues. Every time I reached out to him for assistance or to collaborate on an issue, he has willingly engaged. Even in the rare times we haven’t agreed, Sen. Maziarz has been a partner and always willing to work together for the betterment of the community. As anyone whoever called on Sen. Maziarz knows, he is a fierce advocate for his constituents. Over the years, countless residents have told me how “shocked” they were, after calling his office for assistance, to have the Senator personally call them back. Having worked with officials from across the state for years, I can assure you this is not the norm. It’s that desire to work with every constituent to try to resolve every issue that sets him apart. Fortunately for us, he takes that passion to Albany. During his Senate career, he has been associated with many landmark pieces of legislation, including “Megan’s Law,” the registry which helps law enforcement and communities track the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders. He authored the Assisted Living Reform Act, which created a host of long-desired reforms in the assisted living industry to better protect seniors and consumers, and successfully championed the effort to have New York State sign the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact to manage the Great Lakes for generations to come. As Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, he championed the 2008 net metering law and continues to advocate for a 21st century energy policy that capitalizes on new technology and regional assets like the Niagara Power Project. In 2011, Sen. Maziarz championed the creation of the ReCharge New York and Power New York programs to enhance business access to hydropower and site new power generation facilities. From a county perspective, I can personally attest that Sen. Maziarz led the charge to demand accountability from the New York Power Authority, and this led to substantive changes in leadership, as well as the manner in which they conduct business at NYPA. In what is also critically important to Niagara County, Sen. Maziarz championed the passage of a new level for participants in the New York State Retirement System, called Tier 6. Its implementation is a significant accomplishment in our efforts to gain mandate relief and is projected to save County taxpayers $9.3 million over the next five years and $40.5 million over 10 years. One doesn’t have to look much further than the Niagara Falls International Airport to recognize one of his greatest accomplishments. I remember years ago when most people didn’t even know that an airport terminal existed at NFIA, and passenger traffic was non-existent. George Maziarz, seeing the possibility of what the airport could be, and definitely in the minority, began the crusade to upgrade the airport’s terminal by the NFTA. Throughout the effort, there were dozens of meetings and even more controversy. But Senator Maziarz, holding firm and true to his beliefs, continued to push for the terminal upgrade. We all now know what an amazing success story this has become. The NFIA, once an embarrassing shell of a building, now has multiple carriers and passenger traffic so significant that an additional parking lot was constructed to handle the overflow of travelers. Make no mistake about it, good things are happening in Niagara County, and much of it is due to the efforts of Sen. Maziarz. Now is not the time for on-the-job training, and now is not the time to put a rookie into the game. It’s time to keep our best player, George Maziarz, on the field.

By William L. Ross

In a recent interview with the Niagara Falls Reporter, Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino had some harsh words for New York State Senator George Maziarz, while pushing his hand-picked candidate to challenge Maziarz, Niagara Falls school board member Johnny Destino.

While Mr. Paladino is certainly entitled to his opinion, I can state without hesitation that Sen. Maziarz is the right choice for Niagara County.

In my 50+ years of being involved with organized sports, there’s one premise I have never deviated from: In order to give your team the greatest chance to win, you always put your best players on the field. In putting Niagara County in the best position to thrive, George Maziarz gives us the best opportunity to succeed.

I’ve been in the county legislature for just about the same amount of timeSen. Maziarz has been in the Senate. During that time, I have had the opportunity to work with him time and again on local, state, and federal issues. Every time I reached out to him for assistance or to collaborate on an issue, he has willingly engaged. Even in the rare times we haven’t agreed, Sen. Maziarz has been a partner and always willing to work together for the betterment of the community.

As anyone whoever called on Sen. Maziarz knows, he is a fierce advocate for his constituents. Over the years, countless residents have told me how “shocked” they were, after calling his office for assistance, to have the Senator personally call them back. Having worked with officials from across the state for years, I can assure you this is not the norm. It’s that desire to work with every constituent to try to resolve every issue that sets him apart.

Fortunately for us, he takes that passion to Albany. During his Senate career, he has been associated with many landmark pieces of legislation, including “Megan’s Law,” the registry which helps law enforcement and communities track the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders. He authored the Assisted Living Reform Act, which created a host of long-desired reforms in the assisted living industry to better protect seniors and consumers, and successfully championed the effort to have New York State sign the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact to manage the Great Lakes for generations to come.

As Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, he championed the 2008 net metering law and continues to advocate for a 21st century energy policy that capitalizes on new technology and regional assets like the Niagara Power Project. In 2011, Sen. Maziarz championed the creation of the ReCharge New York and Power New York programs to enhance business access to hydropower and site new power generation facilities.

From a county perspective, I can personally attest that Sen. Maziarz led the charge to demand accountability from the New York Power Authority, and this led to substantive changes in leadership, as well as the manner in which they conduct business at NYPA.

In what is also critically important to Niagara County, Sen. Maziarz championed the passage of a new level for participants in the New York State Retirement System, called Tier 6. Its implementation is a significant accomplishment in our efforts to gain mandate relief and is projected to save County taxpayers $9.3 million over the next five years and $40.5 million over 10 years.

One doesn’t have to look much further than the Niagara Falls International Airport to recognize one of his greatest accomplishments. I remember years ago when most people didn’t even know that an airport terminal existed at NFIA, and passenger traffic was non-existent. George Maziarz, seeing the possibility of what the airport could be, and definitely in the minority, began the crusade to upgrade the airport’s terminal by the NFTA.

Throughout the effort, there were dozens of meetings and even more controversy. But Senator Maziarz, holding firm and true to his beliefs, continued to push for the terminal upgrade. We all now know what an amazing success story this has become. The NFIA, once an embarrassing shell of a building, now has multiple carriers and passenger traffic so significant that an additional parking lot was constructed to handle the overflow of travelers.

Make no mistake about it, good things are happening in Niagara County, and much of it is due to the efforts of Sen. Maziarz.
Now is not the time for on-the-job training, and now is not the time to put a rookie into the game. It’s time to keep our best player, George Maziarz, on the field.

Niagara Falls Reporter www.niagarafallsreporter.com June 05 , 2012