Legislator Lawrence Dupre: As we move forward

by Jewelean Magee

Legislator Lawrence Dupre

For the past few months, Erie County’s first district legislator, Lawrence Dupre and fellow county lawmakers, have worked hard to ban the Biometrics Law in Erie County. This law prohibits commercial establishments, or any other stores from collecting, storing, using or selling customer’s biometric information (facial recognition technology) in Erie County.

According to Legislator Dupre, who sponsored and led the discussion during a legislative session starting back in January 2026. He collaborated with other legislators, county executive office, and legal counsel. The legislators voted on this law on April 30, 2026. “This law doesn’t ban security cameras or stop shoplifting.” The difference between using a regular security camera and a security camera that collects and stores biometric data is, the regular security camara records video for security and law enforcement purposes.

Security cameras can not run facial recogni tion software (biometric technology) to build a profile of every customer who comes into the store. This law can and will ban commercial establish ments from storing, using or selling customer’s biometric information in Erie County,” said Mr. Dupre. Erie County Executive Mark Polon carz signed the measure into law at a press confer ence on May 26, 2026. Mr. Dupre went on to say that “You can reset a password, but you can’t change your face.”

In other news, Mr. Dupre announced the “Serving Our Seniors” program has begun with the first meeting held at the God City Apartments located at 175 Pershing Avenue. “I was joined by the Erie County Depart ment for the Aging and met with the residents and discussed what county resources are available for them. I want to meet the seniors where they live, because it’s challenging to get them downtown and travel can be a barrier for some of them. “I plan to visit more senior apartment buildings in the city during the next several months and talk about making more services and transportation avail able to them,” said Mr. Dupre.

Other plans for the community entails hold ing three community meetings at local library branches in the city. The first one will be at the Frank E. Merriweather Library at 1324 Jefferson Avenue from 4pm – 5:30pm on June 8, 2026. The second meeting will be at the East Clinton Branch Library located at 1920 Clinton Street from 5:30 pm- 6:30pm on June 15, 2026. The third community meeting will be at the Isaias Gonzalez Library Branch located at 280 Porter Avenue from 5:30pm—6:30pm.

Mr. Dupre will be speaking on The Bio metrics Law and other concerns and issues. He will also have a question and-answer session at each meeting. Early vot ing will begin on June 13, 2026 – June 21, 2026. “There are a lot of quali fied candidates on the ballot. Please make sure that your voice is heard by voting in the primary election on June 23, 2026, and the general election on November 3, 2026, for the general elections,” stated Mr. Dupre.

Finally, Mr. Dupre will be out at this year’s com munity events such as Juneteenth, Pappy Martin Jazz Festival, Pine Grill and all other events in between. “I am looking forward to being out at all our great summer events and many to events that I can support. I want everyone everywhere to have a good and safe summer. If you see me, come say hello,” said Mr. Dupre.