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COMPTROLLER MYCHAJLIW PUSHES FOR HAMBURG TOWN BOARD TO OPPOSE TEARING DOWN SKYWAY

Modified: June 3, 2021 6:37am
Created: June 3, 2021 6:34am

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June 3, 2021

 

 

Hon. James M. Shaw

Town of Hamburg Supervisor

6100 South Park Ave

Hamburg, NY 14075

 

Dear Supervisor Shaw:

 

Bungling bureaucrats have made colossal generational mistakes over many decades that hurt us to this day:

 

  • Building a rapid transit train to nowhere on Main Street in downtown Buffalo.
  • Placing the University at Buffalo in the equivalent of a marshy swamp instead of downtown
  • Literally and figuratively dividing Buffalo with the construction of the Kensington Expressway

 

Now politicians are about to make another big blunder that will hurt Hamburg taxpayers for years to come: tearing down the Skyway.  Regardless of political party or philosophical beliefs, we must all join to fight the shortsighted plan to tear it down. The Skyway does not hinder downtown development.  Quite the opposite is the case.  Canalside is a major destination for families year-round.  Wilkeson Pointe draws many as well.  Our waterfront is flourishing.

 

It is borderline insanity to believe that 42,500 cars per day will be diverted effectively from the Skyway to either the New York State Thruway, the Ohio Street exit or a newly constructed hybrid like highway cutting across South Buffalo to the 190. The Skyway is the fastest and most efficient mode of transportation for those of us living in Hamburg to drive back and forth to downtown.  We even timed a round trip drive from Hamburg Town Hall to downtown Buffalo:

 

  • Skyway: 37 minutes
  • NYS Thruway: 49 minutes and an extra $2.50 in tolls per week
  • Ohio Street exit: 53 minutes

 

Other negative ramifications of tearing down the Skyway include the destruction of eight to ten acres of wetlands, and the risk of travel for an estimated 90 annual freighters and 50 tugboats.

 

Supervisor Shaw and members of the Hamburg Town Board: let us work together, Republicans, Democrats and Conservatives to stop the destruction of the Skyway.  We must unite as one voice, together.  It will be our only hope to keep the Skyway. The first step in this important engagement is for the Hamburg Town Board to pass a resolution at your next public meeting on Monday, June 7th, 2021, condemning the destruction of the Skyway.

 

I promise to work with you and any other public servant to stop short sighted politicians from hurting Hamburg taxpayers by tearing down the Skyway.  We owe it to the families we serve to work together to save it.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hon. Stefan I. Mychajliw

ERIE COUNTY COMPTROLLER

For pdf of letter, click HERE