Commission on Citizens' Rights and Community Relations

Statement from Crystal Rodriguez, Executive Director, Commission on Citizens' Rights & Community Relations

It is unfortunate that the new decade was celebrated by a select few with unnecessary violence. The brutal beating of Lindsay Harmon is not the best of what the City of Buffalo has to offer.  The Commission on Citizens’ Rights and Community Relations is disheartened to hear of Ms. Harmon’s injuries and the reasons for such acts of violence. I am disgusted to live amongst such bigotry and hope that citizens will join together to support Ms. Harmon, her partner and family during this horrific time.  The City of Buffalo is a very diverse community where most people display compassion and respect for the  diverse citizenry that make up our City. The Commission on Citizens’ Rights and Community Relations would like to take this time to urge anyone with information to come forward immediately. Concerned residents can give information and remain completely anonymous by calling the Buffalo Police Department’s Tip Line at 847-2255 or the Commission at 851-8000. Once again, anyone coming forward will remain anonymous. The Commission remains committed to the elimination of prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination based upon race, ethnic background, cultural background, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality and age.

• Crystal J. Rodríguez, J.D., LL.M., Executive Director
• Amina Tillett - Executive Assisiant

Public Meetings are held monthly on the first Wednesday of every month at 3:00 pm. Please call the Commission Office at 851-8000 for the location of the meeting.

• It is the mission of the Commission on Citizens’ Rights and Community Relations of the City of Buffalo to strive to eliminate prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination; to encourage equality of treatment and prevent discrimination against persons based upon race, ethnic background, cultural background, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality and age; and to assure respect for the civil liberties of all citizens. City Charter Section 18:20

The responsibilities of the of the Commission on Citizens’ Rights and Community Relations are extensive as outlined in the Buffalo City Charter, Section 18:22:

• the development of programs to improve relations among city’s racial, religious, ethnic, and other communities and build an inclusive sense of community throughout the city;
• the investigation of incidents, patterns and causes of discrimination on grounds of race, ethnic background, cultural background, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality and age;
• the examination and assessment of issues of equal opportunity and respect for cultural diversity within city government and its services and programs;
• the assistance to citizens with filing and pursuing complaints of police misconduct;
• the review and monitoring of the police department’s (i) initial and continuing training program in community relations and respect for citizens’ rights; and (ii) standards and procedures for investigating, acting upon, and resolving complaints of police misconduct.
• upon completion of the police department’s investigation of a complaint of police misconduct, the review of the police department’s file on the investigation;
• the submission at least one each year, and as requested by the mayor or common council, a report on: (i) its activities; (ii) the state of community relations in the city; (iii) the state of equal opportunity and respect for cultural diversity within city government and its services and programs; (iv) the state of the police department’s initial and ongoing training programs in community relations and respect for citizens’ rights and standards and procedures for investigating and acting upon complaints of police misconduct; and (v) significant issues that have arisen concerning any of the foregoing matters;
• the institution of public and private hearings and take testimony under oath, and to issuance of subpoenas requiring the attendance of persons and the production of books, papers and other things;
• the requisition of the cooperation of the other agencies of city government.

• Although the Commission can not represent individuals in personal claims, the Commission does review complaints of discrimination to assess patterns and incidents of discrimination in government, businesses and organizations for the purposes of making recommendations of change in administration, policy and training. [Click here to download your complaint form]. (Viewable with Abode Acrobat Reader. Click Here to download). You may call for a form or write a letter to the Office of the Commission on Citizens’ Rights and Community Relations.

• John Calvin Davis - Chairperson
• Dana Bobinchek
• William Covington
• Carol Speser
• Sherrill W. Colston
• Kenneth Simmons