By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – As City leaders report that plans are moving forward for Bass Pro to come to Buffalo, one citizen is crying foul.
James Ostrowski, a Buffalo attorney, has launched a campaign called "Free Buffalo." He said it is an effort to free the area from big government, and political machines.
Acting as a watchdog for the public, Ostrowski said he reviewed the recently approved memo of understanding between the Buffalo and Bass Pro. He calls it "corporate welfare" and said the MOU raises too many unanswered questions.
Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader Marc Coppola agreed that the MOU is a non-binding agreement. But he said it is a jumping off point to get a final deal in place.
Ostrowski said he believes the MOU has similarities to the ill-fated Adelphia Waterfront project. Coppola disagrees.
But Ostowski also believes that Bass Pro is inflating its 57-million dollar investment for the project promised in the MOU. He questions if the 14-million dollars in County and City bonds is included.
Still, Majority Leader Coppola said he has already had small business owners in the Delaware district ask what property is available near the old Aud, anticipating that if you build it--they will come.
Ostrowski, however, disagrees. He said the bottom line is the public deserves to know up front what these projects are all about before deals are signed.