A question that comes up frequently from some of my constituents is why do I and other members of the Erie County Legislature maintain district offices, such as the one my staff and I operate at 1214 Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga.

With the enormity of government in some instances to the intricacies of contacting and utilizing the services offered by county government, people often need assistance in figuring out which agency or person to contact and in determining what services are available and which ones they qualify for, and they need to know is a short period of time.

In many of these cases, my staff and I can act as ombudsmen, answering people's questions, directing people to the proper government worker or department and providing them with the proper documents, publications and information.

On other occasions, even when people may have a good idea of what information they are seeking or who they need to contact for help, they get the feeling that government is an impersonal entity, when it should be a responsive, people-oriented service organization. My experience as a County Legislator during the 1990s, as well as serving as a Cheektowaga Town Board member, continues to keep me familiar and up-to-date on the needs of the residents of the Eighth District.

With such vital and strongly needed programs as HEAP, which assists seniors and people with financial needs with home heating during the winter, listings and contacts of services funded by grants and getting a hold of agencies, people should not be shy in contacting or visiting my office.

Many people do not have the time to visit the downtown County Legislature offices or to go to the separate county offices and agencies to conduct their required business, so my district office can save people not only time but effort and provide convenience. If someone is working at their office or at home, is watching children or attending school, a quick stop at 1214 Walden Avenue will much more conveniently fit into the schedule of someone in a hurry.

My staff and I also welcome and encourage people stopping in at our office so we get to know not only the issues that are important to the residents of the Eighth District, but I also enjoy and appreciate meeting and talking with as many of my constituents as possible and finding out what they care about and how I can help improve the services offered and the delivery of these services by Erie County.

Again, feel free to stop in at my office at 1214 Walden Avenue, just west of Harlem Road.

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