Anarchronistic

What the Hail?

Calendar says June 16.

Weather says:  LOL OMFG!

Excuse me while I count the dents in my car.....

Goodnight, Jimmy Six-Pack!

Former Buffalo Mayor James D. "Jimmy" Griffin died today at age 78.

When I was 18 during the Blizzard of '85, Jimmy implored Buffalonians to grab a six-pack and stay home. If there was ever an essence of of a man and his philosophy, that was it. Plain, working class and controversial, Griffin tried his best save the Queen City from the fate of so many Rust Belt steel town with mixed results. Yes, there were new hotels, the new ball park and the marina but there was also the partisan squabbling, the downtown-killing Metro Rail, the fractious "Spring of Life" and the ridiculous affair over "Green Lightining".

While Buffalo was "Talkin' Proud" in the early 1980's, by the time Jimmy left office in 1994, Buffalo was suffering the exodus of thousands of citizens for warmer climes and better opportunities that continues today.

Could someone else have done better in those years and circumstances? Who knows. Love him or hate him, Jimmy left his indelible mark that many of us will be discussing over that six-pack in the days to come.

Goodnight, Jimmy Six-Pack!