In this space I'll try to add some perspective to the local media scene in Buffalo.

And there are more issues than I've ever seen . . . about 35 in M&T Bank . . & about 65 in Frontier Liquor across the street. The previous evening I also found a few left-over January issues of Hora sneaked onto the inside (paid) newspaper rack at Tops Market (Grant & Amherst).

Hora is a disgrace. It contains no news. The front page is photos of "Salven el Hospital Children's" & white-pajama-clad kids at "Taekwon-Do de 'Pucho' . . . "

It is part of Buffalo's booming poverty industry, with ads in every issue by BMHA the captain of Buffalo's poverty industry. Hora is published by 'poverty professional' Luis A. Rodriguez Sr and the Rodriguez family (Luis Jr, Carmen, Bianca, Richard & Angel Rodriguez). He prints it from his office on the 16th floor of the Rath Building (down the hall from Giambra's offices) and uses his WS home address & phone (804 West, Tel/fax: 882-3869)

Although a Democrat, (close ties to Chito Olivencia, Dem Party Treasurer, who is also Erie Co Parks Commissioner of Ellicott Creek Park) Rodriguez is now paid $47,000 by taxpayers to be a token Hispanic in the Giambra administration, along with Mohamed Mohamed, who was tenant-elected as a BMHA Commissioner several years ago (with my help). He was immediately given a $30,000 job in City Hall by then BMHA-Bd member, Housing Commissioner Tony Marconi . . .& never talked to me again. Mohamed is now a somewhat lesser-paid poverty professional for Giambra as well.

Rodriguez is a close political ally of Maseillo-poverty professional Modesto Candelario, who also serves a Vice Pres. of BMHA's Board . . no matter the obvious confluict-of-interest. And Candelario is BMHA's rep toi the Marine Drive Apartments Board as that BMHA-owned bonanza on the waterfront faced end of its 40 year lease in 2004. There is top-secret negotiation going on to see which developer reaps the profits in its next life . . as the "connected" tenants (who pay as little as $230 per mponth to live on the waterfront, all utilities included.) Many tenants have sold their homes in Buffalo to live in Florida in the winter . . & on Buffalo's waterfront in the summer . .with the help of generous local taxpayer subsidies.

But you won't read about that problem in Hora, nor about the incredible scam advancing at Lakeview & HOPE VI.

In the vernacular, Rodriguez is a poverty pimp . . it is very lucrative and it is totally legal. Decent or ethical is another matter.

But who's watching? as TAXPAYER FUND A FRAUD ON BUFFALO'S EVER-GROWING RANKS OF THE (HISPANIC) POOR.

Rodriguez earns a good living . . .thanks to (Hispanic) poverty!

PICK UP YOUR ULTIMATE WHORE TODAY!

And ask your friends how many have heard of "WESTERN NEW YORK MOST READ HISPANIC NEWSPAPER". But don't expect to find any news. Some good poems, birthday pix & recipes though!

R. Kern
882-2388

REMINDER:
BMHA public hearing on its $82 million budget for next year:
Wed, April 3, 10 AM at BMHA offices (300 Perry)