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Sorry if this column doesn't measure up to the lofty standards readers have come to expect of "Citycide," but I took a couple days off this week to look for a more prestigious, higher-paying job.
Hey, if it's good enough for Anthony Nanula ...
Niagara Falls' former state senator and alleged Buffalo Comptroller has been under fire from cynics who think that city's chief accountant's first priority should be keeping an eye on the books.
Don't they get it? Anthony had an undeclared campaign for state comptroller to run, with Election Day 2002 little more than a year away. So he spent a day or two per week anywhere but Buffalo, raising a war chest of more than $400,000 while the city hemorrhaged cash. What was he supposed to do? His job? That's not much fun.
As you may recall, Nanula caused quite a bit of hand-wringing among segments of the local punditocracy 22 months ago when he gave up his senate seat to run for Buffalo's top financial job. Losing the representation of a rising star in the Democratic party, the thinking went, could only hurt Niagara Falls.
So much for editorial wisdom. First off, there are few non-janitorial positions in Albany with less political juice than a Democratic seat in the GOP-controlled Senate. And Byron Brown has more than filled the vacancy left by Nanula, even taking the innovative step of spending time in Niagara Falls.
Buffalo's fiscal crisis got a little less horrific late last week, when $19 million that its laissez-faire CFO couldn't quite track down showed up. That lowered the city's deficit, once thought to approach $100 million, to a mere $60 million. Whew. That's a relief.
Like the very good politician he was thought to be, Nanula blamed everyone in sight for his ineptitude -- Mayor Anthony Masiello, the City Council and his own employees. He conceded to delegating virtually every job responsibility, raising the question -- what, exactly, does he do for his $88,412 per year?
Provide a welcome scapegoat for Masiello, for one thing. The former Canisius College forward's eight-year reign has been marked by myriad accomplishments, including ... well ... check back in a month or so. I'm sure I'll think of one.
Masiello helped accelerate Nanula's career arc by handing over his old senate seat when he ran for mayor in 1993, because his one-time protege has got a whole lot of money, and the capacity for raising even more. But when the mayor needed a fall guy, he didn't have to do much searching.
As for Erie County Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon's dreams of Nanula succeeding H. Carl McCall in Albany, you can get better odds on AquaFalls being completed by January.
One element in all this mess should provide solace to Niagara Falls -- despite his wildly undistinguished tenure, Masiello won his third term free of opposition just two weeks ago.
Regardless of how successful Irene Elia's next two years prove to be, you can be sure she'll face an actual opponent in 2003.
And another -- after losing control of the county legislature, as well as the county comptroller's office, even before disintegrating over the Buffalo budget mess, the Erie County Democrats make their often-fractious Niagara County cousins look like an absolute steamroller.
It's unproductive and mean-spirited to chuckle at your neighbor's misfortunes. But it sure can be fun. And Nanula, Masiello and Pigeon make it so easy.
Maybe they should call them the Niagara Falls Music Awards next year.
The city made a strong showing at the annual Buffalo Music Awards last week, including the B Bar's selection as Best Blues Club.
Not that the city got much publicity out of the Buffalo Avenue nightspot's win. Hostess Cindy Chan, whose vacuous ramblings can be avoided by not listening to 97 Rock during the overnight shift, announced the winner by saying, "And the best blues club in Buffalo is ... the B Bar!"
Other local winners included Niagara Falls bands Stemm (in the Original Hardcore category) and Seven Day Faith (Original Rock).
Dean Germele, an account executive in the Niagara Gazette classified advertising department better known to the blues-loving masses as Harmonica Dean, earned Best Blues Harmonica player honors for the second time.
And, in the interest of glomming on to success for which we bear absolutely no responsibility, the Steam Donkeys (featuring the songwriting, guitar playing and singing of Niagara Falls Reporter music writer Buck Quigley) were named best Americana/Roots/Folk act. Doug Moody, like Quigley a Tonawanda native, was honored for his violin virtuosity with the Steam Donkeys.
Overheard while standing in line at a Niagara Falls Boulevard gas station late last week:
"As far as business goes, it's too bad those terrorists didn't go after the power plant," a customer told the guy behind the counter. "Then we'd be getting some of that money that's going to New York City."
I'm not sure, but the way I understand it, "that money" is going to clean up the debris left by the destruction of the World Trade Center, rebuild lower Manhattan and provide meager compensation to those whose loved ones were murdered. I realize this area desperately needs cash, but New York City is hardly getting a bargain.
The idiocy of the comment inspired me to launch a new semi-regular feature in this space -- nominees for The Dumbest Thing I've Ever Heard. It's going to take some effort to top that one.
Note to Falls Street Louie: You can once again get a sandwich and a drink while betting the ponies at OTB's Rainbow Centre location.
Turns out Doug Evans recently opened Newman's Trackside Grill, filling the void left when the Donatos closed up shop in May.
And after eating and wagering, you can get a first-hand look at how David Cordish's "Family Entertainment Complex," promised when the rest of the mall closed more than a year ago, is coming along.
Note to the publisher: Just kidding about that job-hunting crack.