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Poloncarz says his personal security has been increased due to threats

Stefan Mychajliw / YouTube
Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw says this hour-long video shot from afar proves the county executive violated COVID rules.

The war of words between Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw is getting more and more down into the gutter. This time it is over ice skating.

Mychajliw said video images taken over the weekend at a local ice rink show Poloncarz was playing hockey in violation of state COVID rules. There have been a lot of virus cases among local hockey players.

"Here's full video. Northtown Center. Dec. 27th. Downloaded from video service Live Barn," Mychajliw said in a tweet. "Poloncarz: 'I skated on the ice BEFORE others skated.' Stated all he did was 'shoot by myself and then left.' False. If he can play, so too should kids/youth leagues."

The county executive said Monday there are problems with the video, including that it was shot in November. Poloncarz said it is part of a vicious campaign against him and aides.

"Threats are horrendous. I’ve learned to live with it. But families shouldn’t have to learn to live with it. Dr. Burstein shouldn’t have to learn to live with it. Her family shouldn’t have to learn to live with it. My staff shouldn’t have to learn to live with it," Poloncarz said. "We need to be everyone better. We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

That’s a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.

Poloncarz said his personal security has been increased because of threats. He also said there has been some stalking of him, including during crosscountry skiing with his girlfriend over the weekend in Delaware Park.

Credit Mark Poloncarz / Facebook
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Facebook
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz published this email on his Facebook page.

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.
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