5-15-12: Courtesy of WKBW. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz joined host Linda Pellegrino on AM Buffalo to discuss a number of initiatives he is spearheading in his first few months in office.

5-16-12: Courtesy of WIVB. We’ve heard many promises over the years to fix-up parks in Erie County. Last summer, News 4 ran a series of stories showing the poor conditions at several parks. Those reports caught the attention of Mark Poloncarz, who vowed to address the problem while running for county executive. The parks became a hot button issue in the race for county executive last year. Incumbent Chris Collins claimed the parks had never been better, but opponent Mark Poloncarz disagreed – and grabbed his video camera. In a video posted to YouTube, Poloncarz told voters, “If this is the best shape it’s been in in years, I hate to see what it looked like beforehand.” But Poloncarz says things will get done when his county budget takes affect at the beginning of next year. www.wivb.com

5-14-12: Courtesy of YNN. They risked their lives to protect others, and Monday, local law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty were honored during a memorial service in Buffalo. YNN’s Kaitlyn Lionti has more on the ceremony and the effort to make sure their sacrifice is never forgotten. BUFFALO, NY — Some died more than a century ago. “Patrolman Louis Wanner, 1896.” One just last year. “Trooper Kevin P. Dobson, 2011″ Law enforcement officers from all over Western New York were remembered Monday at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo. Each was killed in the line of duty while serving the community. “It never seems like what we can do today will truly ever honor what they did on our behalf,” said Mark Poloncarz, (D), Erie County Executive. The annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service also honors those they left behind. “Although this memorial service is only one day a year, please know this: we remember our fallen brothers and sisters, we remember them as colleagues and friends; we remember you as part of their family, and as part of our law enforcement family,” said Daniel Derenda, Buffalo Police Commissioner. Descendents of Buffalo Police Patrolman Herman Radel, who was killed in 1919, came to pay tribute to their grandfather. “We’re here to honor him, to honor our parents who have passed away, and to set an example to our children so they will remember in the future,” said Richard Radel. As the officers are recognized locally, a fallen State Trooper …

5-2-12: Courtesy of WIVB. BUFFALO, NY (WIVB) – How do your benefits stack up against county workers? Six years ago, we brought the story of how some county workers were enjoying almost double the time off than the private sector. Local leaders promised changes and News 4 is seeing if they followed through. Six years ago, Erie County employees were working the equivalent of eight weeks less than their counterparts in the private sector. Joel Giambra’s priority at the time? “To reduce the number of hours that county employees do not work,” he said. Six years later, not much has changed for CSEA county workers with seniority. They’re still under the same contract, and work 360 hours a year less – that’s nine weeks less -than the private sector, according to the County Personnel Department. Personnel Commissioner John Greenan said, “You’re dealing with union contracts, and that’s something that has to be negotiated with those unions, and obviously their role is to protect their workers.” County workers receive 32 hours more of paid holiday time and 120 more hours when it comes to combined personal, vacation, and sick leave time under the old contract terms. But unlike the private sector, county workers do not get disability insurance. “If we get sick,” says Nora Macy, who works in the Buffalo Erie County Library’s Human Resources Department, “we gotta use your sick time. You’ve got to bank it because we don’t get the same kind of benefits the private sector does.” Over the …

4-25-12: Courtesy of YNN. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is looking at revamping the county’s Industrial Development Agencies. Poloncarz questions whether the tax breaks handed out by the town IDAs actually create jobs and promote real economic growth. YNN’s Kevin Jolly talked with one local restaurant owner who says without help from his town’s IDA, he wouldn’t be in business. CLARENCE CENTER, NY — Tim Smith, the owner of Clarence Pizza Company, has been serving up slices in Clarence Center for more than 20 years. Eight years ago, when he was forced to move from his old location, it was the Town’s Industrial Development Agency that helped clear the way. “Without them, it wouldn’t have been possible, because the way they helped us out was they gave us tax breaks for it, and a lot of things we didn’t know they helped us out with,” said Smith. But IDA’s in towns like Clarence, Hamburg, and Lancaster could soon be out of business if County Executive Mark Poloncarz has his way. Poloncarz says town IDA’s do little to create jobs and promote real economic growth. He issued this statement saying in part: “We can no longer allow the five town IDA’s to have an unfair advantage in luring existing jobs and existing businesses into their town at the County taxpayers’ expense. If they want to complete a deal that benefits one town at the expense of another, they should use their own town resources to do it.” Tim Smith disagrees. “The plumber was local, the electrician was local …

4-19-12: Courtesy of WIVB. Western New York and people around the world remembered one of the darkest eras of mankind on Thursday. A candle lighting ceremony was held Thursday for Holocaust Remembrance Day in County Executive Mark Poloncarz’s office in the Rath building. Six candles were lit in memory of the six million Jews slaughtered by the Nazis. President of the Holocaust Remembrance Center Gabriel Ferber said, “The Holocaust began in 1933 with government sponsored discrimination against those the government considered less than human. Over time it evolved to government sponsored murder. Justice and humanity were silenced.” People who survived the Nazi concentration camps said the last words of those who were taken away to be put to death were, “Remember us, remember us.” The center says it’s important for every new generation to know what happened in those death camps.

4-18-12: Courtesy of YNN. An Elmira health care center is serving as an example for a Western New York County. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz visited the Priority Community Healthcare Center Wednesday. An Elmira health care center is serving as an example for a Western New York County. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz visited the Priority Community Healthcare Center Wednesday. It is a primary-care doctors’ office for recipients of Medicaid. Chemung County leaders said the clinic serves 3000 patients a year and saves the county $3 million annually, because it’s much cheaper to treat a patient at the clinic than at the emergency room. . Poloncarz said he visited the Elmira facility for ideas on thinking “out of the box” when it comes to saving money on health care. Poloncarz said, “As I said, to do two things, to not only ensure that they’re reducing long -term costs to the program, because Medicaid is very expensive, but to ensure at the end of the day that this underserved population is getting the health care they need so they can lead productive and long lives.” Poloncarz wants to establish an Erie Community Health Care Office similar to the Elmira facility. centralny.ynn.com

4-16-12: Courtesy of YNN. Fifty-five “Volunteer New York” billboards have been put up around Erie County in an effort to recruit more volunteer firefighters in the area. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz joined local firefighters Monday to announce the “Volunteer New York” campaign, which is aimed at raising awareness of community service in New York State. The Fireman’s Association of the State of New York is working with National Volunteer Week to make sure the community is safe with the help of volunteers. Volunteer fire departments in Erie County are hosting an open house Saturday and Sunday during which people can come and learn more about being a volunteer firefighter. “Most of them will certainly offer a tour of their facilities. Get to introduce you to firefighters. Probably try on some turn-out gear and maybe give you some hands on and interactive opportunities,” said Tiger Schmittendorf, Deputy Fire Coordinator for Erie County Emergency Services. Erie County Firefighters say they hope to recruit more than 600 volunteers this year.

4-16-12: Courtesy of WKBW. When it comes to fighting fires… communities that rely on volunteers are in need of more recruits….that’s why officials here and all across New York are kicking off a drive to help boost the ranks of volunteer firefighters. Open houses and new bill boards are all part of this state wide push. As part of National Volunteer Week, Volunteer fire departments across New York State are taking part in something called RecruitNY this weekend. Erie County’s version is known as VolunteerNY. Fire department open houses are the plan…as each fire company looks to bolster its membership in light of a shrinking population. “Erie County still has as many neighborhoods and communities in need of protection as ever before and we need the volunteers to man that task,” Said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, as he was surrounded by firefighters from throughout the area. Behind him, on Grand Island Boulevard in the Town of Tonawanda, was one of the county’s new recruitment bill boards.

4-16-12: Courtesy of WIVB. Volunteer firefighters often are the people who come running when you call for help in case of a fire. But their ranks in some area are dangerously thin. They show up with sirens roaring and lights flashing. They are the faces of the volunteers who respond to fires throughout Erie County, saving lives while dousing flames. But about 600 more are needed, says Dan Neaverth, Jr., County Commissioner of Emergency Services. “Traditionally, the problem that we face in Erie County is that for every firefighter that comes in, you might lose one or two. It’s slowly been slipping. As a result of that, the scale has started to diminish,” he lamented. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz explained, “As our population gets smaller and as our population gets older, just like every other part of this community, we’re seeing less volunteers in the effort and we need more.” Poloncarz says the population is dropping, but the calls for help keep coming in. “What hasn’t dropped is the need in our community,” he added. While firefighters say there is a job for anyone who wants to volunteer, the fact is some smaller stations throughout the county are reaching seriously low levels during what’s called the “critical hours” – 9-5 or 8-4, during the day. David Jacobowitz is the president of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York and says these volunteer stations are having to reach out to other agencies for help, when resources are low. “What we’re doing is …