A New Year, A New Mayor: Hopefully, A New East Side!

By Betty Jean Grant

Betty Jean Grant

Especially, for the residents of Buffalo's eastside, a brighter future is on the horizon! Since my arrival in Buffalo, NY, in 1970, despite the significant financial investments made by the Bangla Community, the eastside has remained largely neglected. However, my journey in Buffalo has been marked by a profound connection to the city, particularly through my involvement in politics. I've had the privilege of serving in four elected offices: democratic committee member, councilmember, school board member, and county legislator. Additionally, I've run for the esteemed positions of NYS Senate and Mayor of the City of Buffalo. Although my mayoral campaign came in third in a field of three candidates, I'm proud of the progress my mayoral candidacy made in detailing how the eastside, minus the medical corridor, had been largely forgotten or ignored in the past years leading up to the 2017 mayoral election. The 2012, September, Democratic Primary, which was decided by a mere 139 votes, still raises questions about the outcome and which candidate actually won,13 years later, but I'm optimistic about going forward and the future.

After 20 years of having the same mayor, the voters of Buffalo elected a new mayor in last year's November General Election. Former Democrat NYS Senator and neighborhood legal expert, Sean Ryan was elected in a landslide vote that could be seen as a unified call for change and hope, by the majority of citizens all across the city. The fact that Mayor Ryan has lots of experience in working with poor, distressed residents, particularly on Buffalo's westside, gives me hope that he will use that same energy and enthusiasm to fix or begin to focus on a 'side' of Buffalo where some love and attention are sorely wanted and needed. I believe Mr. Ryan's vast experience in working for or sitting on the boards of organizations such as PUSH Buffalo, Neighborhood Legal Services and even serving briefly as the Chief of Staff of the Erie County Legislators, puts our newly installed mayor in a position where he has first hand knowledge of how to deal effectively and positively with his staff and colleagues in Buffalo City Hall and his constituents out in the community.

This writer, if she can get the ear of our mayor, would tell him to host a town hall type meeting as soon as it is feasible, to find out what the residents, business people and other stakeholders want the mayor to address or tackle during his first year in office. As we wait for the mayor to call this meeting, I would suggest addressing the concerns around Buffalo Public Schools funding, student transportation and safety issues and rental and adequate housing ownership options be supported and expanded.

Finally, Mayor Ryan, let's talk about a plan, put in place, to fix the numerous pothole problems we know we are going to get this spring. But even before the pothole season actually begins, there are literally hundreds of bus shelters that will probably need to be shoveled and de-iced starting around about now. It also may be a good idea to solicit RFPs to  make sure we keep the shelters nice, ice-free and safe for our students, elderly and general bus riders.