Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Despite some significant backlash from residents of the City of Buffalo after being approved by the Buffalo Common Council back on July 19, the reapportionment local law was signed into effect on Monday by Mayor Byron Brown.
Local Law Intro No. 1 is a new law that will amend Article 1 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo in relation to describing the legal boundaries for the City’s nine Council districts.
Mayor Brown was on-hand nearly two weeks ago for a public hearing at the Burchfield Penny Art Center to hear from residents and other concerned Buffalonians about the Common Council's approved reapportionment map for the City's districts. Not only did the Mayor hear from 26 members of the public that chose to speak at the hearing, but he also reviewed 200 written comments submitted online.
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As set forth in the Charter, the Citizen’s Commission on Reapportionment comprised of nine members - five appointed by Council President Darius Pridgen and four appointed by the Mayor. The Commission met five times throughout the process, and then submitted their proposal to the Common Council for review.
The Common Council submitted an amendment to the proposed map back on July 12, where it was then unanimously passed one week later on July 19.
To encourage public engagement before the public hearing back on Aug. 3, the City’s website was set up to allow public comment a week before the hearing took place.
According to the Mayor's Office, less than one-tenth of a percentage of the City’s total population weighed in, and that the commentary was not overwhelming in opposition of the map, as erroneously described by some.
The Mayor's Office also adds that many of the comments stated that the Council’s approved map is worse for minority voting power. There are seven majority minority districts in the Council’s approved map (Ellicott, Fillmore, Lovejoy, Masten, Niagara, North, and University) as compared to only six in the alternative map.
The Citizen’s Commission on Reapportionment and the Common Council met all legal requirements set forth by the City Charter. The final redistricting plan will now be transmitted to the Erie County and New York State Board of Elections.
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