The Buffalo Chronicle Stop bashing teachers, says Senator Thompson outlines bold plan Al Coppola, on brink of primary win on property tax reforms Senator Al Coppola, the De- Rarely does one come across a mocrat running for State Senate politician whose plan is fresh, against Mark Grisanti, is dis- bold, uncompromising , and gusted with the way that to- catalytic. day’s political discourse has Former Senator An- wrongly bashed teachers in the toine Thompson has a plan that media, often using hard work- would eliminate the property ing career professionals as po- tax’s investment penalty — and litical scapegoats — for pur- could breath new life into all of poses that often have little to do our neighborhoods. with education and more to do Mr. Thompson is chal- with privatizing public services lenging longtime Assembly- and school district dollars, he woman Crystal Peoples-Stokes says. in the Democratic Party pri- “It is deeply offensive mary on September 9th. He that politicians and real estate knows that a subtle policy developers use teachers as po- change in how we tax property litical punching bags for their could wildly change how home- own self interests. When I hear owners behave and how our it, it instinctively disgusts me,” neighborhoods develop. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 7 Panepinto’s Stocker to re- Grisanti’s be- Peoples-Stokes campaign cash peal Cuomo’s trayal of West blamed for no raises eyebrows YSAFE Act Side Italians Eastside money State Senate candidate Marc Former Town Prosecutor Kevin infuriates base Not quite four years ago, a Panepinto, a Buffalo Democrat Stocker is dead set against Gov. newly elected Governor An- who was once convicted of Andrew Cuomo’s NYSAFE The historic neighborhoods of drew Cuomo promised to make election fraud and whose li- Act, which was pushed through Columbus Park and Prospect Buffalo boom — even dedicat- cense to practice law was sus- the New York State Senate Hill have deep Italian American ing $1 billion over his first term pended, is expecting that the swiftly and secretly — with roots. State Senator Mark Gri- for economic development in- New York State Union of Sen. Mark Grisanti’s help. santi continues to maintain a vestments that, he said, would Teachers (NYSUT) will be Stocker is vowing to repeal the law office on Niagara Street turn the city around. bankrolling his campaign. Pan- law as soon as he gets in office. near Jersey, where he is a 3rd Crystal Peoples-Stokes epinto said as much in a meet- Stocker is a long time generation criminal defense represents the 141st Assembly ing with the Erie County De- gun enthusiast, recreational attorney. district, the poorest in New mocratic Party’s Executive hunter, and card carrying mem- Upon his taking office, York State, and ranking first in Committee earlier this summer, ber of the National Rife Asso- it was thought that he would be population loss. Since 2006, she where he effectively bullied ciation. With many second an advocate. The Columbus has represented the most eco- Laura Hackathorn out of the amendment activists, Stocker Park Association had high nomically devastated and so- Senate race — despite the com- has been waging the most ag- hopes that a Senator Grisanti cially distraught assembly dis- mittee working closely with her gressive grassroots primary in would call attention to the pub- trict in New York State, where for months. the state this election cycle. lic health crisis in the West Side all major indicators on crime, Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 Continued on page 3 Panepinto not worried about All eyes on Dr. evergold, as Sampson attempts to his election fraud conviction build a lasting coalition on Buffalo School Board Despite being dogged with New York State Supreme ethics’ criticisms that identify Court Justice, Catherine Nu- Political observers have their being very well funded. Dr. Nev- deep character flaws, Democ- gent Panepinto. eyes on Dr. Barbara Nevergold, ergold is close to Hernandez. rat town zone chair Marc A small number of the former President of the “If Sampson is able to Panepinto continues to chal- operatives argue that — be- School Board. Dr. Nevergold is build a good working relationship lenge former Senator Al cause of the union money the African American commu- with Nevergold, that would go an Coppola, who has been that is backing him — he is a nity’s leading voice on educa- enormous way in defusing the pulled out of retirement by relevant (if not a potent) poli- tion issues and has robust politi- overtly racialized politics on the various factions of the party. tician who must be acknowl- cal support. Despite press re- school board,” explains a recent Panepinto’s exten- edged in the political dis- ports championing the recent school board candidate who asked sive involvement in labor course. election of Quinn and Pierce, it not to be named. “If Sampson organizing includes a long- In 2001 he was was the black community who instead aligns himself closely time relationship with the charged with Criminal Pos- voted in record numbers — but with Paladino, Nevergold could mafia-affiliated International session of a Forged Instru- was thwarted because so many choose to exercise her political Laborers’ Local 210. Report- ment in the second degree, a black candidates split the com- muscle — actively leading the ers have just begun digging Class D felony. That felony munity’s vote. Board’s opposition bloc while into a jaw dropping history of complaint reads that Mr. Pan- Nevergold was re- organizing the black community racketeering allegations, in epinto, “knowing [the docu- cently elected to an at-large 5 and building political relation- the midst of which both the ment] to be forged, and with year term. During that time, ships that oust Sampson in the elder and younger Panepinto intent to defraud, deceive, or Paladino, McCarthy, and West District and perhaps even find themselves. injure another, possessed a Sampson will all be up for re- McCarthy in the North District.” Most political ob- forged instrument to wit: pe- election. Sampson, who is As the de facto leader of servers dismiss Panepinto as titions for the designation or elected in the West District, is the black community on educa- a “disgraced, wannabe Mafi- nomination of a candidate for the most vulnerable. He nar- tion issues — in a majority black oso” who fancies himself as a public office.” rowly defeated Ralph Hernan- school district — she could very Westsider, despite graduating dez by a couple dozen votes, well be the most influential mem- from a leafy suburban high Continued on page 3 and could only muster himself ber of the school board, despite school and now married to a fewer than 450 votes despite losing the presidency. September 2014 Top 10: Who will be Buffalo’s next Mayor? (page 6) Page 1 are upset with Grisanti because date for months and that he too next reorganization meeting. they opposed Zellner’s recommendation). Panepinto ex- of his sponsorship of a Tuition serves as a Town Chair. Zellner is a divisive figure in They figured that Zellner was be- Tax Credit support for the Many sources say that the party who has lost support holden to the teachers, and they were be- pects big special Common Core standards that Panepinto was acting arrogant, from a multitude of party fac- holden to Zellner, so there was nothing they interest money were poorly rolled out by the condescending, and mean.There tions. could do about it. The next day, Laura “Not if he’s not en- Hackathorn was thrown under the prover- Continued from page 1 Cuomo Administration last were widespread feelings of year. sadness for Hackathorn, many dorsed, no; I wouldn’t” Pane- bial bus. There was an enor- worried “what are we going to pinto responded to their sur- Still though, some political opera- Several sources say that Pane- mous amount of pushback on tell Laura?” prise. tives continue to speculate that Panepinto is pinto threatened to run without the committee, because the Committee members They suspected Zell- running as a placeholder candidate who the endorsement and guaranteed Town Chairs had worked for were shocked because just the ner’s hands were tied because intends to help Republican Mark Grsianti that he would win because months organizing the cam- night before Chairman Zellner the NYSUT has donated to the run for office on the Democratic line, after Mike Deely (of NYSUT) com- paign of Hackathorn, a popular hosted a fundraiser for Erie County Democrats heavily his widely expected defeat in the GOP pri- mitted to delivering “hundreds Hamburg Village Trustee who Hackathorn, where he gave no in the past, and just two years mary. of thousands of dollars” to his was encouraged to run by for- indication that he would be ago spent staggering sums on They are baffled why Zellner campaign. mer Rep. Kathy Hochel. introducing Panepinto as the Zellner’s efforts and gained would endorse a weak and deeply flawed Marc Panepinto is Hackathorn was well liked by party’s candidate the next night. very little to show for it. The candidate who cannot possibly win with a married to New York State Su- the Town Chairs. They asked So understandably — executive committee then re- history of election fraud hanging around his preme Court Justice Catherine why Panepinto didn’t inform suspecting a conspiracy was signed themselves to voting the neck. Nugent Panepinto, who for- the committee of his intentions afoot — Panepinto was asked if way that they were told (as merly served on the Buffalo sooner — knowing that they he would be supporting Jeremy many hold patronage jobs that Do you have an investigative Board of Education.