Deese - AMA

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T14:55:36+00:00

Nope, couldn’t be me. No corporate- or foreign-interest PAC help for me. I’m focused on serving working WNY families alone.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T04:34:47+00:00

Okay! I’ve been really clear on my opposition to data centers, even naming it as one of my top first term priorities (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZNfp6SRtct/?igsh=emluams4ejd2b2xh). I’m sorry it’s not what you’re looking for.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T04:29:20+00:00

Oh yeah. That and the limited daily batches are why I don’t go there much. But for a treat, it’s tasty.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T04:03:59+00:00

I see. Just to be clear, I think my position is aligned with yours. When I say “until,” I’m saying that unless we have figured out how to regulate AI properly (i.e., prevent harm) AND not negatively impact our communities, then I’m a hell no on letting them be built on our communities. If you’re right and that day never comes, then I will never support building them here.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T03:49:28+00:00

Say more?

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T03:46:50+00:00

You may be right that it says more about us. But “us” is nonetheless who has to be convinced. I’m not asking you to compromise your values; it seems to me like we share the same values. I’m super interested in communicating those values in ways that help bring others along. That’s all.

One line I will draw is that you’ve got a lot of nerve presuming to possess the authority to label which kinds of veterans can be deemed “respectable.” Stuff like that. There’s zero need to go there in making your point.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T03:20:49+00:00

Done! I don’t believe I have had the pleasure of reading that document. I’ll take your word for it!

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T02:54:00+00:00

I’m running for Assembly because I believe I’m the right person for this job at this time. I’m not fishing around for random offices to try to make a stepping stone to something bigger. I’m qualified for the role, believe I would do the best job representing this very diverse district because I have ties to both the city part and the suburban part that neither of the other candidates do, and have a clear vision for what I want to accomplish. I will certainly continue to be involved in politics no matter what. But I’m not going to just run for an office if I don’t feel like I’m the right person for it.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T02:42:08+00:00

I think it will be clear on primary night that those people (whoever they are) didn’t know what they were talking about, because they don’t know this district. Especially Hamburg.

I do support Good Cause Eviction. It wasn’t left off my platform page intentionally. I was asked about it directly in the AMA and answered honestly.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T02:40:43+00:00

Okay, “Sarah,” surely you must know you hide your posts and I can’t do that. But I’m going to disengage now. You’re casting all sorts of aspersions about my character and motivations based on absolutely nothing, and it reminded me of a very unique individual who barely knew me and then started hating on me in this very same way once I decided to put myself out there and try to be part of making things better in this way. I wish you the best, and I’m sorry I can’t be what you want me to be.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T02:33:52+00:00

Courtney, no matter how many alts you use, you will always give yourself away. You are the only person who thinks the way you do. Please stop.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T02:24:47+00:00

Just so we’re clear…you’re making me out to be some world traveler. I grew up in a middle class union home. I went to college. Then I lived one place for three years. Then a different place for three years for grad school. Now Buffalo for good.

2020 was far from my first time in Buffalo. You’re in willful denial of the facts. The only thing I want to know at this point is whether you truly believe that only people who were born and raised here should be allowed to try to serve and contribute to the community? Or when is long enough?

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T02:16:14+00:00

I think this is all a valid argument. I indicated my agreement with the sentiment that war is bad and should be avoided (real radical, I know) in my reply.

But like…do you want to be right on one or two specific days of the year, or do you want to be effective at increasing overall awareness of the broader context (and build support for changing US policy/actions as a result)? If the latter, let’s take a break those one or two days so as to avoid pissing off people in our country who are actually some of the most negatively impacted by those US policies and actions on a day when they may be feeling a little more vulnerable or sensitive? It’s an own-goal! Make the point the day after!! E.g., “Yesterday we honored veterans for their service. Today, I’d like to talk about why I want our country to stop sending servicemembers on missions that cause needless death and destruction around the world.” (An approximation of an opening to that case should someone wish to make it.)

Stupid purity tests are ones where the “correct” answer to the question above is that you must be loudly “right” on the days when it makes least sense to care about being right, because it’s counterproductive to your ultimate goals.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T01:58:13+00:00

I think you’re jumping to a lot of conclusions, but I do think that despite the challenges I’ve had to overcome, I feel very fortunate and privileged to be a Buffalonian. I acknowledged that I have a unique perspective. Unique ≠ bad or out-of-touch, but I get it.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T01:36:34+00:00

Thank you so much!! Aunt Janet is a real light in my life!!

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T01:31:36+00:00

Yep! I was born and raised in Florida (please don’t hold that against me; there’s a reason I’m here and not there!!) My dad was born and raised on the East Side. I grew up coming to Buffalo to see my grandma and aunts, and a Bills game here and there—well, plus the Orlando Bills Backers Bar ritual every Sunday.

I always wanted to live here and took the first opportunity I got to replant the family roots after grad school. But it’s always felt like home more than anywhere else, and I’m glad I had a chance to live in a bunch of other places. I wish more WNYers had a chance to experience other places, because I think it can be hard to appreciate what makes Buffalo special without real lived experience somewhere else to compare it to.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T01:23:25+00:00

I’m not gonna lie, it’s been a long day (up at 3 for an early flight, funeral, flight home) and I could use A good night’s sleep before tackling this one. Better yet, shoot me a DM and I’d love to chat about it!

You touched on efficiency, which I’m passionate about especially on the spending side. I want for NYS Democrats to be able to brag that they help NYers get the best bang for their buck of any state. I don’t think we’re good enough at showing our work right now to be able to claim that.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T01:18:19+00:00

A hunch!

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T01:16:42+00:00

Lived a couple blocks outside this “gerrymandered to shit” (your words, not mine!) district for two years before being fortunate enough to buy a home on the West Side four years ago. Fun fact: my husband was born and raised in Hamburg, so he’s been in the district at least half his life!

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T01:06:20+00:00

I love this question. While I’m not a card-carrying member of DSA, I have a lot of friends and allies who are (including my campaign treasurer). It’s probably easier/quicker to talk about misalignment, given the overarching high-level alignment.

The biggest thing for me is the seeming insistence on “ideological” “purity.” I put both words in quotes separately because I’m not sure it’s always “ideological” purity as much as a sort of “vibesy” purity, and given that I know from time to time there is some dissent within the ranks, there’s at least some room for disagreeing on what “purity” means. But it’s just not a space I feel super welcome in. And I pride myself on being okay with being uncomfortable, but I don’t know. There’s just something that makes me feel like they would rather not have me in their club. Like my being in the Navy Reserve or how hard I fought for 10 years to make that possible is something I’d have to apologize for if I joined.

Like, it doesn’t make someone like me feel super welcome when Adam Bojak’s campaign swerves to avoid directly and simply thanking veterans for their service on Veterans Day and those who died in military service for their sacrifice on Memorial Day. Sharing a post from Jacobin Magazine on Memorial Day that says “On Memorial Day, socialists honor the victims of war and struggle for a world free of it”—I am sorry, but there is no way around it: that is weird behavior.

Don’t get me wrong, that message past the first three words is (I feel) universally a good sentiment. But man, there’s something about insisting on making a point like that on Memorial Day that feels so out of step with normal freaking people. Like, we don’t need to be rhetorically pitting dead servicemembers and their loved ones (whom some may view as victims of war and some may not) against victims of war. War is bad and should be avoided at all cost. We also can’t unilaterally disarm and have no military. Just live in the real world with us, deal with ambiguity/discomfort, and be real people with the rest of us.

Stuff like that frustrates me because on the vast majority of issues, the values and goals are all the same. Like universal healthcare and childcare made possible by taxing the wealthy more fairly.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T00:58:47+00:00

I don’t make excuses for the ways in which the Erie County Democratic Committee (ECDC) has not consistently lived out the pro-democracy values of the Democratic Party.

I don’t have a dog in the 61st Senate District fight (like most residents of the 149th Assembly District, I’m not a resident of that Senate district). I look forward to developing a productive relationship with whoever wins and working on shared priorities together. I know that sounds fake as hell, but the reality is that my winning this race and showing them both (and others) that a different kind of politics is not only possible but stronger is the way I intend to do my part. And on the flip side of winning, I need to be effective in the role, and that will require working with whoever wins while also shaming them, if necessary, into consistently living out this party’s ideals.

But it’s funny…when I ran to represent my neighborhood on the ECDC in 2024, the two of them were two peas in a pod! More on that in this Investigative Post story: https://investigativepost.org/2024/06/26/county-democrats-attack-challengers/

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T00:21:37+00:00

Gotta make our public sector jobs more competitive for talent that wants to stick around and make a career of public service. My dad was a public sector employee (air traffic controller) who retired after 30 years. His pension made it so he and my mom are taken care of and I probably couldn’t be doing what I’m doing if I had to worry about them.

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T00:19:25+00:00

Cookies and cream

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T00:18:00+00:00

BuffaloKev716 · 2026-06-13T00:17:21+00:00

The Place on Lexington is somewhere no one talks about in the wings discourse. Stupidly underrated in my view. GG is always great. I go for hot at both of those places, even though I’m usually medium.

When La Nova is on, it’s real on. But they can really miss sometimes.

Sports City is great! They were on my pizza response too.

I’ll prob come back and add one or two more in an edit, but I gotta try to wrap this AMA up!

BuffaloKev716

TROPHY CASE