Home > Leadership > Mayor > Mayor's Plans and Proposals > THE BROWN ADMINISTRATION’S FIRST ONE HUNDRED DAYS

THE BROWN ADMINISTRATION’S FIRST ONE HUNDRED DAYS

ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY,PRODUCING RESULTS

OVERVIEW

Since taking office on January 1, 2006, the Brown Administration has followed three guiding principles: focus on economic development opportunities, improve quality of life for city residents and demand accountability in City Hall.

As promised during his mayoral campaign, Mayor Byron Brown has aggressively implemented a reorganization of city government, including creating two deputy mayor positions and a new Commissioner of Economic Development, Permits and Inspection Services, which includes the city’s Office of Strategic Planning.

Keeping his commitment to hire the best and the brightest, Mayor Brown’s Transition Team worked diligently in conducting searches locally and nationally, looking throughout government, private business and not-for-profit organizations to find the most qualified Cabinet-level candidates. As a result, Mayor Brown has assembled a diverse administration that is filled with experienced professionals that shares his passion for Buffalo and believes in how great the city can be.

With his management team in place, Mayor Brown reaffirmed his commitment to making all aspects of city government more accountable, more efficient and more responsive.

Mayor Brown has made economic development the highest priority of his administration, along with developing and implementing best practice initiatives like CitiStat (a computer-based management tracking program), which will lead to greater efficiency in the delivery of city services, greater accountability for all city employees and streamlining city government.

Fostering economic development and creating fiscal stability have been two of the Mayor’s top priorities because they are vital to Buffalo’s future success. With the creation of the Department of Economic Development, Permit and Inspection Services, which includes the Office of Strategic Planning, the city now has a more “user-friendly” business atmosphere, which promotes investment and greater development throughout Buffalo.

Already, we have seen much progress on projects that have long been considered stalled: a comprehensive vision that links Buffalo’s waterfront to the outer harbor has been announced and a Memorandum of Understanding between Buffalo and Bass Pro has been signed. Gaining a seat on the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, Mayor Brown looks forward to continuing to work with Buffalo’s state and federal legislative delegations and private developers to see real results on the city’s waterfront.

In early March, the Mayor traveled to Springfield, MO to BassPro’s headquarters to see firsthand how the giant outdoor retailer can affect Buffalo’s reviving waterfront and economy.

In an effort to support the administration’s goal of stimulating Buffalo’s economic growth, Mayor Brown has been advocating tirelessly for more state and federal aid for important economic development projects and other city-related initiatives. As a former member of the Buffalo City Council and a New York State Senator, the Mayor is well acquainted with the need to put together a clear, concise and focused legislative agenda at the state and federal levels of government.

Shortly after taking office, the Mayor directed his staff to prepare the necessary documents in preparation for the already unfolding state and federal budgetary processes. In each case, focusing on specific and identifiable city needs, the Brown Administration submitted its state and federal budget and legislative agendas to its delegations in Albany and Washington.

In a similar fashion, several key city issues required Mayor Brown to act quickly and responsibly soon after taking office. Some of the issues related to general public policy matters, while others involved administration oversight of development projects that will have a significant impact on the city’s future.

In each case, Mayor Brown, upon the advice and input from his Cabinet and staff, carefully determined the proper course of action and then promptly delivered his decision on how to treat each issue.

Blending his experience as a legislator, both locally and in the State Capitol, and developing a staff of experienced professionals, Mayor Brown has reinforced one of his administration’s key principles of ensuring accountability. Paying attention to detail, responding quickly and effectively to any city-related issue, and being accountable for every administration action, Mayor Brown has instilled within his administration, and by extension the entire city workforce, the need to provide the city’s taxpayers with the best possible service in the most efficient manner possible.

The development and implementation of the CitiStat management tracking system, used to such beneficial effect in cities such as Baltimore, Maryland, will serve as the cornerstone of the Brown Administration’s commitment to improved and responsive services throughout city government. In addition, Mayor Brown met representatives of the Baltimore business community, who shared their insight into public/private partnerships that have benefited Baltimore and its citizens.

Implementing public policies such as the Mayor Brown’s Zero Tolerance Law Enforcement plan, issuing an action plan – A Strategy for Change – for the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, and advocating successfully for a greater city share of extra one percent of sales tax, represent Mayor Brown’s commitment to progressive public policies that improve the city’s quality of life, demand greater accountability of all city agencies and authorities, and guarantee fair and equitable sharing of financial resources with the City of Buffalo.

Whether speaking at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government or before the New York City-based Drum Major Institute for Public Policy or testifying before the state legislature’s joint fiscal committees, Mayor Brown, during his first 100 days in office, has repeated consistently that the City of Buffalo, if provided the proper resources, can and will initiate and carry through programs and policies that will improve the city’s fiscal health.

In effect, Mayor Brown’s message has been – “Give us the tools to help stabilize Buffalo’s fiscal and economic situation and we will succeed in restoring the city’s economic vitality and viability.”

That was the message the Brown Administration repeatedly regularly in the State Capitol, beginning with Mayor Brown’s first-ever testimony between the joint legislative fiscal committees on January 23, 2006 and carried through the recent state budget negotiations, which resulted in a 22% increase for Buffalo in state general purpose aid over 2005-06 appropriations ($26.3 million), $10 million in Efficiency Incentive Grant monies (versus $2 million originally proposed in the Governor’s budget, funding that will go directly to programs and initiatives like CitiStat) and $10 million for land acquisition and demolitions, which are key to future city development opportunities.

But as important as it is to develop these policies and hold administration staff accountable for their delivery of city services, it is equally important to continue to meet with officials and representatives of other municipalities who have employed best practices to improve the overall condition of their respective communities.

Recently, Mayor traveled with senior staff members to Baltimore, Maryland to see first-hand how Mayor Martin O’Malley and his administration established and successfully carried out CitiStat, the management-tracking program that will be a centerpiece of my administration.

By assuring accountability and determining the best deployment and use of city resources, CitiStat will provide the necessary platform for tracking accurately how city services are being delivered and help the Brown Administration create greater efficiencies in every city department.

Economic and Waterfront Development

During first week in office, Mayor Brown tours Buffalo Inner Harbor and is briefed on development activities occurring there and other development activities planned for adjacent parcels of city-owned land.
Mayor pledged city cooperation and collaboration with state, federal and private sector partners in both Inner and Outer Harbor development projects.
Mayor Brown gains seat on Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, which will oversee comprehensive $1.4 billion planned development along city’s Inner Harbor waterfront and at the foot of Main Street, including the development of BassPro’s planned Outdoor World superstore in the Aud.
Mayor Brown and other members of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation traveled in early March to Springfield, MO to meet with the top BassPro executives and reinforce city’s commitment to success of the project.
Participates in ceremony commemorating the reconstruction of the Erie Canal’s historic Commercial Slip, which includes the use of all of the original stones used to build the first slip walls in the early 19th Century.
Brown Administration successfully resolves proposed $40 million office- building development at 50 Court Street that establishes clearly Brown Administration’s position on land disposition agreements for developments in downtown Buffalo and elsewhere.
Mayor states that this project underscores Administration’s view that all downtown property has value and should be priced accordingly.
50 Court Street project will bring $700,000 to city for sale of the land, based on appraisal of the property, without any offset for unusual or underground site conditions.

RESTRUCTURING CITY GOVERNMENT

Fulfilling his campaign pledge, Mayor Brown restructured city government by creating two new deputy mayor positions and establishing a new Department of Economic Development, Permits and Inspection Services.
The First Deputy Mayor/Administration essentially serves as the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, overseeing all administration activities.
The Deputy Mayor/Operations chief responsibility is the development, implementation and oversight of the city’s CitiStat program.
The newly configured Department of Economic Development includes the city’s Office of Strategic Planning, as well as all permits, inspections and license services.
Reflecting Mayor Brown’s focus on fostering and encouraging economic development throughout the city, the new Department of Economic Development is designed to provide a “business-friendly” and more navigable environment for businesses interested in investing in Buffalo.

Sales Tax

Worked collaboratively with the members of the Association of Erie County Governments, Mayor Brown in late January/early February argued successfully to establish a more equitable sharing of the extra one percent sales tax.
Following the Association’s overwhelming vote on February 1st in favor of a resolution introduced by Mayor Brown that called for support of state legislation that would provide a greater amount of sales tax revenue to the county’s cities, towns and villages, the Erie County Legislature on February 2nd delivered a home rule message to the State Legislature in support of the measure.
After 21 years, the cities, towns and villages of Erie County can look forward to a source of sales tax revenue they deserve.
Mayor Brown argued that the sharing of the sales tax revenue with the county’s cities, towns and villages will “…finally help achieve more fairness and greater regional stabilization.”
The State Legislature approved the measure on February 12, 2006, bringing nearly $5.9 million additional revenue to the city.

State Legislative Agenda

Mayor Brown’s efforts on behalf of the City of Buffalo during the State Fiscal Year 2006-07 budget negotiations yielded significant success for the city and bode well for future Administration-led efforts in the State Capitol.

Below are the results of the 2006-07 state budget for Buffalo:
Local Assistance Aid	$26,391,000 (22.78% increase over 2005-06 appropriation of $115,876,026)
Efficiency Incentive Grants	$10,000,000 ($8M increase over Governor’s recommendation)
Capital Projects	$10,000,000 ($5M for land acquisition; $5M for demolitions)

	TOTAL $46,391,000*

* -- In addition, the state budget agreement between the Senate and the Assembly includes $5,200,00 for the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus for purposes of land acquisition, demolition and other economic development purposes.

Consequently, the state budget provides $15.2 million in new funds for creating shovel ready sites and neighborhood stabilization within the City.

Federal Legislative Agenda

CAPITAL FUNDING PRIORITIES

Project Description: Cars Sharing Main Street

Amount of funding requested in FY07: $17million

Complete Phase I, which is the Theater District portion of the project, and begin Phase IV, which would compliment the lower Main Street/ BassPro project and ongoing waterfront development on the city’s Inner and Outer Harbors. BassPro will bring its Outdoor World superstore to the mothballed Memorial Auditorium and contribute to the continuing revitalization of the city’s lower Main Street/waterfront region.

Project Description: Fruit Belt Redevelopment Project

Amount of funding requested in FY07: $3 million

Seeking $3 million of a total $8 million, three-year project for roadway, streetscape, pedestrian access and other infrastructure improvements necessary for the development of a viable, sustainable neighborhood.

Project Description: Main Street Buffalo River Bridge Project

Amount of funding requested in FY07: $1.5 million

Seeking $1.5 million for preliminary study work including the funding needed to engage in the environmental review process.

NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT PRIORITIES

Project Description: City of Buffalo Micro and Small Business Loan Program

Amount of funding requested for FY07: $500,000

Project Description: The Buffalo Way-Finding Program

Amount of funding requested for FY07: $300,000

Project Description: The Buffalo Home Choice Program

Amount of funding requested for FY07: $500,000

Project Description: The City of Buffalo Targeted Demolitions Program

Amount of funding requested for FY07: $500,000

Project Description: Buffalo Urban Arts Center

Amount of funding requested for FY07: $500,000

POLICY PRIORITIES

Shared Border Management

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Buffalo Comprehensive Plan

In February, the Buffalo Common Council adopted the city’s Comprehensive Master Plan, “The Queen City in the 21st Century.” Work on the Plan began in 1995. Since then, several public hearings were held across the City of Buffalo in every City Council district. Over 7,000 citizens provided input for the Plan.

Goals of the Master Plan:

better coordination of city services
highlight housing and neighborhood issues
strengthen and position the city for growth in the future

The primary objectives of the plan are: fix the basics, and build on the assets.

Fix the basics: maintaining the existing infrastructure that supports daily life in Buffalo, delivering quality city services, restoring the physical framework of our streets and parks, and our waterfront.

Build on the assets: transforming our economy, reconstructing our schools, implementing a community preservation plan, and rebuilding our neighborhoods.

Factors to making the plan successful:

The city must integrate economic, social and environmental considerations on the way to restoring its:

economic well-being
population
and environmental health

BUFFALO MUNICIPAL HOUSING AUTHORITY ACTION PLAN

Appointed Special Counsel on January 4th to review HUD audit and provide recommendations for Brown Administration action.
Received Special Counsel’s on January 25th as directed by Mayor Brown.
Released a recommended action plan, entitled A Strategy for Change, on February 15th to help establish better management policies and oversight at the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority.
The combined reports of HUD, the Office of the City Comptroller and the Special Counsel indicated the need for immediate and decisive change in management practices at the BMHA, particularly in the role and composition of the Board of Commissioners.
The recommendations Mayor Brown’s Action Plan addressed the immediate and pressing needs of the BMHA, particularly in terms of the Mayoral appointment of new commissioners to fill existing Board of Commissioner vacancies and the management actions that will be directly responsive to concerns raised in the three aforementioned reports.
As Mayor Brown stated at the time that he appointed attorney John V. Elmore Special Counsel to review the HUD report, the BMHA tenants (and adjacent neighborhoods) deserve nothing less than the best possible housing that is safe, clean and affordable.
Mayor Brown stated that he will not tolerate any action that threatens those essential conditions in every BMHA-managed property and adjacent neighborhoods.
With the expert analysis of the HUD report, the review of the City Comptroller’s Office and the professional and timely review of the Special Counsel, Mayor Brown’s Action Plan set into motion the necessary and critically important actions that will guarantee that the BMHA is not only acting in compliance with federal regulations, but that it is meeting the needs of its tenant population in an efficient, effective, transparent, professional and responsible manner.

Zero Tolerance Law Enforcement Plan

On March 8th, Mayor Brown released his Zero Tolerance Law Enforcement Action Plan, a comprehensive action plan targeting specific “quality of life” crimes and violations throughout Buffalo.
During his mayoral campaign, Mayor Byron Brown introduced an aggressive Zero Tolerance law enforcement plan that targeted quality of life crimes throughout the City of Buffalo. Called Tough on Crime, Smart on Crime, the plan was designed to make policing in the city more proactive and directed at improving safety for residents and businesses alike.
Designed to be flexible and aggressive, the Zero Tolerance Action Plan will initially target three key areas: street-level drug activity; graffiti vandalism; and excessive noise disturbances.
Seventy percent of violent crime and ninety percent of property crime in the United States is now drug-related and the Mayor’s Zero Tolerance plan will target drug crime, as well as other quality of life offenses, that harm residents and businesses throughout the city.
The Mayor’s plan combines law enforcement zero tolerance with a tough crackdown on crime with a direct community-based approach, with police officers engaged more actively in “walk and talk” activities.
The City of Buffalo’s Law Enforcement Zero Tolerance Action Plan will provide for stepped-up enforcement of violations of all city ordinances, as well as homicides, violent crimes and robberies.
It will be tailored for each of the city’s five police districts, reflecting their unique and distinctive activity, as well as the Detective Division and the Traffic and Flex Units.
In addition to the Action Plan’s three initial key areas of focus, other crimes and violations that will be addressed are: youth curfew enforcement, prostitution, street gambling, panhandling, illegal street vending, littering, parking enforcement (including abandoned vehicles), open container law and obstructing sidewalks/storefronts.

HUD HOME ZONE RESOLUTION

Brown Administration, through Office of Strategic Planning, put together plan for resolving past problems in the federally funded Home Zone.
As a result, city will not be required to repay HUD $3.4 million on past performance in this targeted residential development area of Buffalo.
City will construct forty-eight low- to moderate-income homes by end of 2008.
The matter is considered closed.

MARKETING BUFFALO

Mayor Brown was invited to deliver the keynote address at Harvard University’s 6th Annual City Fair, hosted by the John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Institute of Politics on February 22nd.
The event marked Mayor Brown’s second visit to Harvard since being elected mayor, having attended in December 2005 the JFK School’s seminar for newly elected city officials.
Besides delivering the event’s keynote address, the Mayor and staff met with Harvard and MIT graduate students to discuss potential job opportunities in Buffalo following their studies in Cambridge.
On March 9th, Mayor Brown addressed the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy in New York City.
Invited to speak of the unique and challenging issues facing American cities, Mayor Brown discussed the general issues affecting cities across the country, as well as the specific circumstances confronting his administration in Buffalo.
Chaired by former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young, the Drum Major Institute has evolved out of an original organization founded by Harry Wachtel who was an advisor and counsel to the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.