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<\/a>The debut of the Bills\u2019 new stadium a week ago has been the talk of the town. I have some thoughts.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019ve been following our work for some time, you know Investigative Post raised a lot of issues when taxpayer support for the stadium was being debated. (Our reporting ran counter to the cheerleading that characterized much of the coverage in other local news outlets.)<\/p>\n
We reported, for example, that stadiums typically generate little new economic activity<\/a>, about as much as a Target store. That subsidies to build and maintain the Bills stadium are richer<\/a> than what taxpayers in New York and other states typically spend. That the stadium\u2019s design falls short of the green standards<\/a> found in many sports venues. And that the lease has an easier escape clause<\/a> for the team than most other stadium leases negotiated in recent years.<\/p>\n In short, I wasn\u2019t keen on the project, especially given the stadium was going to be built in Orchard Park, not the City of Buffalo, where it could have had more of a benefit to the community.<\/p>\n With that in mind, I headed to the stadium last weekend to take in the Bills open practice. I have to say, I liked what I saw.\u00a0<\/p>\n I was impressed by the engineering and construction (the building is MASSIVE), the sight lines and the many small touches, including naming the numerous concession stands after city neighborhoods.\u00a0<\/p>\n Concession prices are as high as they are at Sabres games, in some cases even higher. I mean, $19 for a souvenir popcorn or $24 for super nachos?<\/p>\n Parking isn\u2019t cheap either, starting at about $60 in stadium lots.<\/p>\n This past week a vocal minority of fans have raised a fuss, in particular about the size of the scoreboard and seats with obstructed views. The Athletic published a couple of interesting stories (here<\/a> and here)<\/a>\u00a0that addressed the complaints, along with what it called the stadium\u2019s \u201cwow factor.\u201d<\/p>\n On balance, I think the complaints are minor, although if I was a fan who shelled out big money for tickets and a personal seat license only to get a seat with an obstructed view I\u2019d be plenty upset.<\/p>\n If people have a legitimate cause for complaint, it\u2019s the cost. Tickets. Parking. Concessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n The folks I sat with for the open practice are paying $300 a ticket to sit about 35 rows off the field on the 30 yard line. Good seats, but yeesh. I sit six rows off the ice for the Sabres and pay $75 per seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n Investigative Post has received several calls from folks with tips on other stadium shortcomings that we\u2019re looking into, so I\u2019ll reserve final judgment. But based on early returns, I\u2019ll stick with my positive first impression.<\/p>\n Subscribe to our free weekly newsletters<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Buffalo Rising wrote about a grassroots effort to turn abandoned land at Elmwood Avenue and West Utica Street into an urban playground \u2013 for adults and kids<\/a>. The conceptual drawings are interesting.<\/p>\n Proponents of Utica Fields envision something that would be a city-wide attraction for families, artists, musicians, and anyone else that appreciates the idea of a multifaceted urban park that is within reach by a large populace of people.<\/p>\n Instead of vacant lots littered with trash, abandoned vehicles, and overall blight, Utica Fields would be a safe, vibrant park where people could gather together to celebrate city living.<\/p>\n Buffalo Rising also highlighted a proposal to establish a 5 mile walking and bike path<\/a> connecting Riverside and Black Rock and other recreational trails.<\/p>\n According to the Trust for Public Land, Black Rock and Riverside are prime for this sort of investment. Both of these underserved neighborhoods would greatly benefit from the investment, which would result in the advancements of green infrastructure, stormwater improvements, tree plantings, flooding and air pollution remediation, and local wildlife benefits. <\/p>\n Of course the residents living in nearby proximity to the trail would also benefit in ways that range from enhanced health benefits, increased property values, environmental stewardship, social engagement opportunities, etc.<\/p>\n A mother is suing the city over the beating of her son by Buffalo cops<\/a> and is using officer-worn body camera footage to make her case, according to reporting by Holly Kirkpatrick of WKBW, 7 News.<\/p>\n Reinvent Albany did the math: subsidies handed out to film and television producers to work in New York State, primarily New York City, totaled $1.2 billion last year<\/a>. The biggest corporate welfare recipients included Amazon Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix. \u2018Cause, ya know, they need the help.<\/p>\n Speaking of Amazon, Jeff Bezos and Company are investing in a power plant in Texas that would serve its data centers that, if built, could be the single largest source of climate pollution in the country<\/a>.<\/p>\n Two stories from The New York Times (gift links, as always) about Flock, the nation\u2019s biggest supplier of license plate readers:<\/p>\n The company announced changes aimed at reducing abuses of the data its technology generates. Critics note loopholes<\/a>, however. If you haven\u2019t already read his stories, J. Dale Shoemaker reported last month on the use of extensive license plate readers in the Buffalo area (here<\/a> and here<\/a>).<\/p>\n Is it too early to start talking about Democratic candidates for president in 2028? Here goes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Donald Trump doesn\u2019t know what he doesn\u2019t know.\u00a0<\/p>\n Last week there was his executive order messing with the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine<\/a> (story courtesy NewsGuard AI \u2013 you should try it) and an order for the Navy to redesign US aircraft carriers to use steam catapults rather than digital technology to launch jets<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s next, an edict to replace machine guns with bows and arrows?<\/p>\n ICE has ordered $20 million worth of gloves that give off painful electric shocks<\/a>. What could go wrong?<\/p>\n Speaking of which, the Homeland Security Department used the protests against ICE violence in Minneapolis last winter as a pretext to investigate left-leaning groups.<\/p>\n
\nWhy is the technology generating so much blowback?<\/a><\/p>\n