Weekend News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on June 16, 2023
Protesters in Rochester gathered at the Liberty Pole Plaza on Friday to voice their opinions and disapproval of the casino planned for downtown Rochester. They say that the casino, which Seneca Nation has been in talks with Governor Hochul and her administration on, would negatively affect the area and cost jobs at other gambling installations. They also protested that Hochul has left Rochester officials and community members out of the discussions which have an impact on their municipalities. The protest was joined by lawmakers and representatives from Western Region Off Track Betting and Finger Lakes Gaming.
49 asylum seekers speaking 12 different languages have arrived in Buffalo from out of New York City. They were received off two buses by Jericho Road Community Health Center, a resettlement agency that is contracting with New York City to conduct new arrival intakes and provide other supportive services. New York City has committed to funding the migrants’ housing at an undisclosed hotel, along with food, basic needs, and case management services for up to four months. Jericho and other agencies say they have been doing this for 20 years. Buffalo is home to over 12,000 refugees from countries such as Afghanistan, Congo, Ecuador, Somalia, Ukraine and many others.
After an incident at the Lockport Underground Canal Tour left one dead and several injured when a boat capsized Governor Hochul is taking action. As part of the discussion about the accident it was discovered that there are no inspection or registration agencies in charge of these types of attractions. Hochul is proposing that the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation take oversight authority to prevent future tragedies.
The second annual UMMC Lemonade Stand in Centennial Park was held on Thursday evening. 11 kids and their families participated in the event by setting up stands that could be as simple as a folding table or as complicated as a full wooden bar. The goal was to raise $15,000 to purchase Heart Failure Care Kits for UMMC patients. The kits have proven to reduce readmissions by up to 73%. The event was created last year by young volunteers in the community who wanted to help the Rochester Regional Health UMMC Foundation and help the community. You can still donate to the cause even if you couldn’t get some ice cold lemonade on thursday. Follow the link at wbtai.com.
https://justgiving.com/campaign/ummclemonade
