Buffalo Criterion

Mr. Parlato published this stinging attack on his long time rival Mr. Olma three days before the primary in a leading African American newspaper, the Buffalo Criterion, as well as in PoliticsWNY.com.

Will African-Americans lose yet another seat as they did in Fillmore?

For 34 years, activist-politician Arthur O. Eve held the NYS assembly seat. He is one of the longest serving African-America legislators in NYS history. The district, which is about 72% black, however, will be changing its representative now that Eve is retiring.

The Democratic primary -- on September 10th - will probably determine who will replace Eve since the district has a large Democratic plurality.

By a curious stroke of (bad) fortune, there are two blacks competing against each other and one white. The latter, Gregory B Olma, is a former legislator who was ousted last year from his mainly white county legislative district after an arrest on charges that he racially harassed two election workers and accusations that he verbally abused a 61 year old Polish woman.

Still, in spite of a long history of accusations of racist politics, Olma is hoping to win in this predominantly black assembly district, especially if there is a low turnout of blacks, a near even split in the black vote between the two black candidates, and a heavy turnout of white voters.

Under normal circumstances, blacks might be inclined to have no concern at all about this primary. "After all," they say, "this is, and always has been a black district." And, "after all, one of the two strong, black contenders, either Charley Fisher or Crystal Peoples will surely secure a plurality." Granted these are perhaps the finest two black, elected officials, not only around WNY, but, I would venture, in possibly any comparable town or city; look at their stellar records. Theirs’ has been a record of service, and a long fight against racism and injustices. How could they both lose in a black district to man of Olma’s ilk? For, after all, as the saying goes, "an empty (wind)bag cannot stand upright."

But Olma, although empty of ideas, has made a strong political point. He says the district has less blacks than most people believe, and, if he can get every white vote, and there is a near even split between Fisher and Peoples, it could give him the edge. Additionally, with Andrew Cuomo dropping out of the primary for NYS Governor, meaning that an African American, Carl McCall is assured of the Democratic line, Olma must certainly be hoping that some blacks will simply stay at home.

Olma might, he hopes, repeat the feat his former employer, Dave Franczyk accomplished in Fillmore, last year, when a split in the black vote (between incumbent Karen Ellington and Ron Fleming) resulted in the election of Franczyk, a white man in a predominantly black district to the common council. Ironically, it was Franczyk’s election which shifted the balance of power from a first-time-in- history, black majority to a white majority again, and Franczyk was, also, the author of the controversial downsizing plan that has caused such furor in the black community.

It is unlikely that Olma will get all (or even most) of the white votes, firstly, since both Peoples and Fisher are popular enough to appeal beyond racial lines. Both of them think and see humanity in broad enough terms that they will be fit representatives for all people in their district.

Secondly, Olma has made many enemies, both white and black, during his infamous career as a county legislator. Indeed, one can argue he has had nothing but controversy throughout.

Last year, Olma was soundly beaten by Erie County Legislator David Dale. White and black voters alike came out en-masse to say that they had enough of the divisive, "in your face" politics that Olma is known for.

For instance, Olma was:

** kicked off the Broadway market board, which he managed for about a decade, after allegations of financial improprieties (including $4,000 in missing money), and $250,000 in unpaid debt. An investigation by the Buffalo Comptroller showed huge waste and mismanagement and possibly theft.

**Accused of stealing money from the Polish Community Center. After a felony conviction of his top assistant, Steve Keller for stealing several thousand from the Polish Community Center, a not-for-profit under Olma’s control, Keller accused Olma of hatching the plan and splitting the stolen money with him. Olma was never indicted.

**The collapse of Olma’s housing program, EBCOP where about one million was spent to create home ownership on 12 mainly ramshackle houses in the Fillmore district and where no home ownership was ever achieved. Critics said Olma used the million to give do-nothing jobs to friends who helped him in past election. The program was censored by city hall and funding was taken away from him.

**A drunken episode where Olma was filmed by all three local tv news stations. TV news showed Olma running away from tv cameramen after being released from the Erie County holding center, following his arrest for harassing two black, female election workers. He allegedly called them "N– bitches."

** His episode of drunkenness also resulted in the removal of the polling booths at the Adam Mickieiwicz library, which serves liquor to its mainly all-white membership and where Olma is a director.

** Olma (the slumlord) was convicted of numerous housing violations in city housing court for multiple derelict properties scattered around his district.

**Accused of creating racist campaign literature sent to whites that exploits white fear of blacks. Some of his literature features a (black) skull and crossbones, and warns of what will happen if a black is elected.

** publically accused of funneling tax money into his private drinking club.

** publically accused of refusing to hire or appoint any blacks to any position during his 8 years as a county legislator

** accused of verbally attacking (using the "f" word") in a tirade against Dorothea Geilinski, a 61 year old Polish woman, who was supporting Olma’s opponent Dale. The story made the front local page of the Buffalo News.

** Accused of blatant nepotism. For years, he transferred most of his Erie County "discretionary" tax dollars into a not-for-profit organization headed by his wife....

Yes, over the years, Olma has been a spectacle.

And true to form, Olma has made his latest campaign one based not upon issues, but entirely a race-based one. He knows no other form of politics. He admitted to the Buffalo News, telling political reporter, Bob McCarthy that what he needs is the support of every white voter, and maybe ten percent of the black vote and he could win.

Actually Olma may need even less. What he needs is simply for blacks to stay at home.

Lastly, and ironically, Olma has boasted he is the best educated of the candidates, and although he is a college graduate and a graduate of law school, he has failed his bar exam six times. Currently, Olma is unemployed and his benefits are due to expire, which, perhaps, is his strongest claim to office. He needs a job! While his opponents are eminently employable, Olma has been unable to secure anything. Even his former pal, County Executive Joel Giambra has refused to hire Olma, opting instead to give his less controversial wife a cushy job.

Now Olma would attempt to ascend by a trick- a split in the black vote - and, as Franklin said, "tricks and treachery are the practice of fools that have not wit enough to be honest."

He is, undoubtedly, a witless man. But a treacherous one.

All it will take for black voters to lose yet another seat and even more political power is to stay at home on primary day, and allow this "empty sack" to get elected, and use the office to disenfranchise African Americans

Frank Parlato can be reached at par730@adelphia.net