ERIE COUNTY NOTEBOOK: Political football over Grand Island bridges
By Dan Miner/minerd@gnnewspaper.com The Tonawanda News
Rus Thompson called it “political football.” He may be right. Thompson, the endorsed Republican candidate for the Erie County Legislature 10th district in the November elections, and his competitor, incumbent Democrat Michele Iannello, are both pushing hard for the removal of tolls at both ends of Grand Island. But while they’re united in the cause, they certainly aren’t united in their efforts.
The tolls will likely be the central issue in the campaign, which might strike some as strange because Thompson and Iannello essentially agree. The tolls have long been a cause for Thompson, who started a petition at nogitolls.com, which includes more than 6,000 signatures. Thompson has blasted Iannello for not yet signing the petition.
At a Monday press conference, Iannello was accompanied by heavyweight developer Carl Paladino, a major force in the successful effort to remove the Black Rock and Ogden toll barriers on the I-190.
And if Gov. Eliot Spitzer decides to remove the barriers before the November elections, there could be one heck of a fight over who gets credit.
Iannello to tout new law
If lawmakers pass a resolution up for vote Thursday which would give the Legislature more powers over the county administration’s spending, Iannello likely won’t have to fight for credit.
She’s the law’s main sponsor, and introduced it in reaction to County Executive Joel Giambra’s rehiring of Joseph Passafiume, the budget director during the 2005 fiscal crisis. There was outcry by lawmakers and the county’s control board after the hiring, but nothing could be done legally.
The law would change that. If passed, it will give the Legislature power to decrease or delete items and expenditures and allow for cancellation of contracts from the county budget after Feb. 1.
Passafiume was signed to a contract paying him $1,000 per month over the next six months. The county’s control board only has power over contracts $50,000 or more. The legislature can approve or deny contracts of $10,000 or more.
If passed, look for Iannello to tout one step to her reform agenda, which also includes imposing term limits for the county executive and legislators. That law has not yet made it out of committee.
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