Erie County (N.Y.)--Directories]]> Grosvenor Room of B&ECPL (repository)]]> eng]]> United States--Constitution]]> Physical description: bound in contemporary half calf with marbled paper covered boards,gilt rules and red title label on spine, in a modern brown morocco and cloth solander case. Rare Book Room's copy was presented in honor of their late brother, Robert L. Wickser, by John P. Wickser and Melissa W. Banta on Jan. 20, 1983.]]> Federalist]]> Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804]]> Madison, James, 1751-1836]]> Jay, John, 1745-1829]]> Rare Book Room of the B&ECPL (repository)]]> Wickser, Robert L. (Honoree) (repository)]]> Wickser Family (Donor) (repository)]]> eng]]> 15th Century (1400-1499)]]> Postcards--New York (State)--Buffalo.]]> Bridges--New York (State)--Buffalo.]]> Parks--New York (State)--Buffalo.]]> Railroad bridges.]]> ENG]]> John Paul II, Pope, 1920-2005]]> Popes--Biography]]> Catholic Church--History]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Reporter)]]> Mombrea, Mike, Jr. (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> eng]]> Theater programs -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.]]> Star Theatre (Buffalo, N.Y.)]]> Bonstelle Company]]> Bonstelle, Jessie]]> Fitch, Clyde, 1865-1909]]> McVicker, Julius]]> Dwyer, John T.]]> Cluxton, Walter]]> eng]]> Early Twentieth Century (1900-1925)]]> Penfield, Edward]]> Rare Book Room of the B&ECPL (repository)]]> eng]]> Early Twentieth Century (1900-1925)]]> Postcards--New York (State)--Buffalo.]]> Mansions--New York (State)--Buffalo (N.Y.)]]> Buffalo (N.Y.)--Buildings, structures, etc.]]> Architecture, Domestic--New York (State)--Buffalo (N.Y.)]]> ENG]]> Foringer, A. E.]]> Rare Book Room of the B&ECPL (repository)]]> eng]]> Early Twentieth Century (1900-1925)]]> Sliwa, Curtis, 1954-]]> Sliwa, Lisa]]> Guardian Angels (Organization)]]> Crime prevention--United States--Citizen participation]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Reporter)]]> Mombrea, Mike, Sr. (Photographer, Editor)]]> Sliwa, Curtis (Guardian Angels Founder)]]> Sliwa, Lisa (Guardian Angels Founder)]]> eng]]> Waddell, M.]]> Rare Book Room of the B&ECPL (repository)]]> eng]]> Early Twentieth Century (1900-1925)]]> Theater programs -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.]]> Buffalo Academy of Music]]> Howard, Bronson, 1842-1908]]> Robson, Stuart, 1836-1903]]> Woodward, George S.]]> Elwood, W. H.]]> McKean, Gabriella]]> May, Olive]]> Hayden, W. R.]]> eng]]> Late Nineteenth Century (1850-1900)]]> St. John, J. Allen]]> Rare Book Room of the B&ECPL (repository)]]> eng]]> Early Twentieth Century (1900-1925)]]> Homelessness--New York (State)--Buffalo]]> Homeless persons--New York (State)--Buffalo]]>
Only half a block away from the place where bread was being distributed, a poverty-stricken, laid-off shipping clerk tried to offer his services to load and unload trucks in a desperate attempt to provide milk and other essentials for his two children.

2 For some of Buffalo’s homeless, living quarters are concrete spaces under the New York State Thruway. Some use cardboard to shield themselves from the elements. 67 year old Harvey Bryant was one of them. He was a “hobo” who was barely surviving on food from trash cans. His health was failing when a Buffalo family came to his aid. The City of Buffalo’s Human Resources Department and Catholic Charities were made aware of the case and immediately provided Mr. Bryant with shelter, while also addressing some of his other basic needs.

3 Buffalo soup kitchens faced increased demand in the 1980s during a period when the city experienced economic decline. Families suddenly found themselves in dire need. The federal government set aside money for cities hoping to do more for the homeless and the hungry. Buffalo’s Department of Human Services vowed to cut through red tape in order to help the neediest.

4 Sunny Miano, a modern day Robin Hood, stole money to provide for the needy of Buffalo. He served time for writing bad checks. He then established a soup kitchen called Helping Hands. He became a beloved life-saver for the poor. His operating philosophy: “If we can’t help somebody along the way, what good are we? We’re nothing!”

5 As we entered the new millennium, there were still more than hundred homeless people in Buffalo living in tunnels, under bridges, in abandoned homes, and on the streets.

One of the most compelling and heartbreaking stories was about a man named “Jeff.” He lost both legs to frostbite. Various agencies came to his aid. He was provided a furnished apartment, but sadly, according to reports, he reverted back to heavy drinking and passed away.]]> Newberg, Rich (Reporter, Archivist)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Terranova, Michael (Digital Editor)]]> A Life in the Balance: Struggles of the Mentally Ill]]> eng]]> Escaped prisoners]]> Phillips, Ralph James ]]> Fugitives from justice.]]> Ralph "Bucky" Phillips had appeared on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

Background
On April 2, 2006, Ralph "Bucky" Phillips escaped from the Erie County Correctional Facility by using a can opener to cut through the metal roof of the kitchen.

He had been arrested on a parole violation following a burglary conviction in 2005. Although his criminal record also included grand larceny and other crimes,
he was initially not considered to be a violent person by friends and relatives, according to early reports.
Some believed he was intent on patching up his relationship with his daughter and grandchildren.

During the initial phases of his escape, the public became fixated on Phillips' ability to allude police, who at times were hot on his trail. Feeding into his "folk hero" status, one restaurant established the to-go "Bucky Burger," for those "On the Run." T-shirts were marketed saying "Run, Bucky, Run!" A song with the same title was written.

The Bucky Phillips saga turned dark when he shot and wounded New York State Trooper Sean Brown near Elmira on June 10, 2006. Trooper Brown was approaching a stolen Ford Mustang Phillips was driving.

A second shooting took place in the Chautauqua County town of Pomfret on August 31st. State Troopers Donald Baker Jr. and Joseph Longobardo were hit during a house stakeout of a relative of Phillips. Longobardo later died from his wounds.

Phillips was captured by Pennsylvania State Police on September 8, 2006. He surrendered in a wooded area with his hands raised. While in custody and taken in for processing, there were still supporters who cheered him on, much to the disgust of troopers.

On November 29, 2006, Phillips pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. He was sentenced in Chautauqua County Court to life without parole.]]> Newberg, Rich]]> eng]]> Rare Book Room of the B&ECPL (repository)]]> eng]]> Early Twentieth Century (1900-1925)]]> T. E.]]> Rare Book Room of the B&ECPL (repository)]]> eng]]> Early Twentieth Century (1900-1925)]]> Rare Book Room of the B&ECPL (repository)]]> eng]]> Early Twentieth Century (1900-1925)]]> Terrorism--United States
]]> Yemeni Americans--New York(State)--Lackawanna
]]> Muslims--Civil rights--New York (State)--Lackawanna]]>
Discussions centered on whether or not the six friends from Lackawanna, New York, just outside of Buffalo, were actually part of a terrorist “sleeper cell.” Questions were raised about the practice of what has been called “preemptive justice,” meaning the arrest of individuals who were considered possible threats for violent acts that were never committed.

Prosecutors argued that attendance at a terrorist training camp and failure to disclose the fact to the FBI, were grounds for the arrests. All the defendants ended up pleaded guilty to “providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.” They were given sentences ranging from seven to ten years.

Defense attorneys maintained that their clients were lured into attending the training camp and realized too late what they had gotten into. They accepted plea bargain agreements that limited their prison terms. They agreed to cooperate with the U.S. government regarding information they had obtained during their time in the Middle East.

During their stay at the camp in Afghanistan the men from Lackawanna had been addressed by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin-Laden who said the United States would be a target of terrorist activity. Most of the defendants, according to their attorneys, decided they wanted to leave the camp early and have nothing to do with any attacks on America.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hochul said the defendants were told by bin-Laden that “forty to fifty men (would be) enroute to attack America,” but chose to remain silent when they returned home in the summer of 2001.
He questioned whether that information might have helped avert the attacks on 9/11.

Defense attorney John Molloy said all six had remained silent “out of fear.” He said they “were petrified” on 9/11 and that “they were afraid that they were next.”

]]> Newberg, Rich (Guest on “At Large with Geraldo Rivera”) ]]> Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)
]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Terrorism--United States--Prevention.
]]> Yemeni Americans--New York(State)--Lackawanna.
]]> Muslims--Civil rights--New York (State)--Lackawanna.
]]> Civil rights--United States.
]]> Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-]]>
President Bush maintained that The Patriot Act had been instrumental in the arrests of the so-called “Lackawanna Six,” a group of friends from a small city outside of Buffalo, New York who attended a al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan just months before the 9/11/2001 terror attacks on the United States.

While President Bush had referred to these men as belonging to a “terrorist cell,” their defense attorneys said the six had been lured to attend the camp, not realizing what it was all about. After being addressed by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin-laden, most tried to leave the camp early. According to their attorneys, they wanted nothing more to do with al-Qaeda.

Faced with a trial and potentially lengthy prison sentences, they all pleaded guilty to “providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.” They received sentences of seven to ten years in prison and agreed to share information with the US government.

WIVB-TV senior Correspondent Rich Newberg reports on President Bush’s visit to Buffalo and the Patriot Act support he received from US Attorney Michael Battle and Buffalo FBI Agent In Charge Peter Ahearn.

Four days after the president’s visit, Fox News journalist Geraldo Rivera conducted a debate on the Patriot Act during a live Fox News Channel cablecast originating from Buffalo’s City Hall. “At Large with Geraldo Rivera” took a second look at the case of the The Lackawanna Six.

In reviewing the case, Rivera reports that the FBI had been tipped off by an anonymous letter that a group of Arab Americans that had traveled to Afghanistan was there to “meet bin-Laden and stay in his camp for training.” Rivera states that the men had told their neighbors they were going to Pakistan for religious instruction.

President Bush had stated that the Patriot Act “helps us to be able to connect the dots.” However, University at Buffalo constitutional law professor Dr. Lee Albert maintained that The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 had already allowed the CIA and FBI to cooperate in the Lackawanna Six case. “I don’t think the Patriot Act had a lot to do with this case,” he said.

FBI Special Agent Peter Ahearn disagreed and said, “The dots were connected” through the Patriot Act. He said shared information between the CIA and FBI led to the connection to a foreign terrorist organization. He said it had started as a criminal investigation but that the “spin of this case” changed. He added that seeing “the whole picture” helped reveal “how al-Qaeda operated overseas.”

During the debate, Patriot Act proponent Heather MacDonald of the Manhattan Institute maintained that there had been “utter paralysis in the country’s intelligence community before 9/11.” She added, “For months after 9/11 the political community, the media, was railing against our failure to connect the dots. The Patriot Act solved that.”

Patriot Act critic, former US attorney Bob Barr, said there has never been a federal law that prohibits intelligence agents and prosecutors to talk with each other. He said there is a danger that the Patriot Act could be used “as a subterfuge to undermine the Bill of Rights.” He added, “If we say, well prosecutors should be able to get anything, anytime, anywhere that they want simply because they say it’s to fight terrorism, then we might as well just throw the Bill of Rights, and especially the 4th Amendment (the right against unreasonable searches and seizures) out the window, and I don’t think we ought to do that as a country.”
]]> Newberg, Rich (Guest on “At Large with Geraldo Rivera”) ]]> Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)
]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Theater programs -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.]]>
The author of this play, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, was a British politician and writer. He coined the phrases "the great unwashed," "pursuit of the almighty dollar," and "the pen is mightier than the sword."  The opening line of his novel Paul Clifford (1830) is that now classic phrase, "It was a dark and stormy night".]]> Buffalo Academy of Music]]> Burns, T. H.]]> Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron, 1803-1873]]> Langtry, Lillie, 1853-1929]]> Coghlan, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1848-1899]]> Everill, Frederick, A.]]> Calvert, C.]]> Carne, Joseph]]> eng]]> eng]]> Late Nineteenth Century (1850-1900)]]>