Transportation Committee Assemblyman, Albany blocking goal of street safety in Buffalo
By: CindyK. At a meeting addressing block club leaders on March 31, 2008, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown declared that an Assemblyman who sits on the Transportation Committe is blocking his quest for red light cameras.
As with the initiative of street cameras and putting pressure on the criminal element in the City, Brown said he’s been lobbying Albany for red light cameras for added safety.
“These cameras would protect some of our busiest intersection, protect the safety of pedestrians, as well as the safety of motorists. We believe it could reduce accidents by serving as a deterrent at some of these intersections and it would gives us the ability to more effectively and efficiently deploy our police officers to areas, again, where they can crack down on the criminal element.” he stated.
Having said the safety of every neighborhood is taken very seriously. Public safety, The Mayor stated he sees as a critical priority to strengthening the City of Buffalo.
Yet an (unnamed) Assemblyman was said to be blocking the lobby of red light cameras in Buffalo.
“There is an Assemblyman who is pretty powerful in Albany, who heads the Transportation Committee of the Assembly, and to this point he has been blocking and resisting our ability to get these red light cameras installed.” Mayor Brown said.
While he further acknowledged they’re making progress in Albany, he’s still hopeful of getting the permission of red light cameras to the security for Buffalo’s citizens, which furthermore could generate an additional 3-8 million dollars of revenue for the City.
Revenue, he says would be used in the form of putting more police on the streets, and helping to negotiate police contracts.
It may not be a local assemblyman. It may be a New York City guy. A Silver buddy.
Comment by chili willie — April 5, 2008 @ 10:08 am
You could be right Willie, maybe it’s more of the same, downstate trying to control what’s here in upstate… or at least that is what it appears to be. Regardless of all that, the truth is out that there’s an Assemblyman blocking a safety incentive of the citizens of Buffalo.
Comment by Cindyk — April 5, 2008 @ 10:23 am
No wonder nothing gets done here. Business as usual in New York State. Is the New York State budget “on time” this year?
Comment by John K — April 5, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
Actually John, it’s Politcs as usual in NYS.
Think of how much revenue(in tickets) the city could make by using a red light cam at Seneca & Cazenovia (as pictured). Countless times a day people think that that “no turn on red” sign doesn’t apply to them from 7am - 4pm, and our biggest concern is an Assemblyman playing politics?
Comment by Cindyk — April 5, 2008 @ 7:01 pm
This is all about making money for the politicians. The money earned from these tickets won’t come back to us. It’s a racket, and I don’t like it, nor do I like the cameras.
Comment by Jonahan — May 19, 2008 @ 6:05 am