In today’s episode, I sit down with local North Tonawanda councilman Will Schulmeister to talk about what’s happening right in our backyard—local power, local decisions, and the future of North Tonawanda and Niagara County.

We break down the role of a councilman—what authority actually looks like on the ground—and how decisions at the local level shape neighborhoods like my hometown. This isn’t abstract politics. This is zoning, development, accountability, and who really has a say over the places we live.

We also get into a deeper, more controversial question: how local party structures operate in Niagara County. We discuss claims of a system driven by loyalty and insider networks—where political alignment can influence access to jobs, contracts, and long-term opportunities—and whether that dynamic is holding the region back. The argument isn’t just about one issue. It’s about whether the broader system is working for the public—or for itself.

If you care about Western New York, this is where it starts—not in Washington, but right here.