MAYOR ANTHONY M. MASIELLO
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
BOMA/WORKING FOR DOWNTOWN LUNCHEON
JANUARY 12, 2000
Table of Contents:
Economic Development
Education
Environment
The New City of Buffalo
THANK YOU TINA COPPINS AND CAROLYN MURRAY, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE MEMBERS OF BOMA AND WORKING FOR DOWNTOWN. THE ADDED SIGNIFICANCE OF SPEAKING BEFORE YOU AS WE ENTER THE NEW MILLENNIUM IS TRULY EXCITING AND DAUNTING. EXCITING BECAUSE THERE IS GREAT PROMISE BEFORE US AS A CITY; DAUNTING BECAUSE THE CHALLENGES WE FACE WILL DETERMINE JUST WHAT TYPE OF CITY BUFFALO CAN AND SHOULD BE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.ALSO, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY WHO ARE VIEWING THE FIRST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS EVER BROADCAST ON BUFFALO TV 21, THE CITY'S GOVERNMENT ACCESS TELEVISION CHANNEL, WHICH IS CARRIED ON ADELPHIA-BUFFALO CHANNEL 21. THAT IS INDEED FITTING FOR THIS SPEECH, WHICH MARKS OUR CITY'S ENTRY INTO THE 21ST CENTURY AND WILL HIGHLIGHT AMONG OTHER THINGS BUFFALO'S EMERGENCE AS A CENTER FOR DEVELOPING BIO-TECH AND INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THE CITY OF BUFFALO ENTERED THE 20TH CENTURY BURSTING WITH OPTIMISM, OPPORTUNITY AND LIMITLESS POTENTIAL. THE ERIE CANAL HELPED SPAWN ONE OF GREAT URBAN ECONOMIC BOOMS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. BUFFALO'S POPULATION EXPLODED FROM JUST OVER 2,000 IN 1825 - THE YEAR THE ERIE CANAL OPENED - TO OVER 350,000 BY 1900. BUFFALO RULED AS THE GREATEST CITY ON THE GREAT LAKES; IT WAS OUR NATION'S LARGEST INLAND PORT. IN TERMS OF TOTAL TRADE VOLUME, WE WERE RIVALED ONLY BY SIX INTERNATIONAL PORTS, INCLUDING LIVERPOOL AND GLASGOW.
THIS DRAMATIC GROWTH AND ATTENDANT OPTIMISM LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION, WHICH, AS WE ALL KNOW, OPENED IN 1901. IDEALLY, THE EXPOSITION WOULD HIGHLIGHT BUFFALO'S INDUSTRIAL PREEMINENCE AND UNDERSCORE ITS POSITION AS A PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT MCKINLEY AT THE EXPOSITION, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT THE BACKERS OF THE PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION LOST APPROXIMATELY $6 MILLION DOLLARS.
THE POINT IS, THAT DESPITE THE TRAGEDY OF PRESIDENT MCKINLEY'S ASSASSINATION AND THE MONETARY LOSSES, THE PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION IS STILL VIEWED AS ONE OF THE SHINING MOMENTS IN BUFFALO'S HISTORY.
TO THIS DAY, THE PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION IS REMEMBERED FONDLY AND PROUDLY. THE CITY OF BUFFALO IN THE 1900'S CONTINUED TO GROW AND PROSPER, AND OUR FUTURE APPEARED AS BRIGHT AS THE INCANDESCENT LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATED THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE EXPOSITION.
NOW, IN THE YEAR 2000, THE CITY OF BUFFALO ENTERS ANOTHER CENTURY AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFERENT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS; I BELIEVE VERY SINCERELY THAT THE CITY OF BUFFALO WILL CONTINUE TO REDEFINE AND REINVENT ITSELF DURING THE DAWNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
WHEN I ASSUMED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN 1994, I STATED THAT MY ADMINISTRATION WOULD FOCUS ON THE THREE E'S: EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT. SIX YEARS LATER, THOSE SAME PRINCIPLES REMAIN AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR CITY'S AGENDA.
THERE CAN BE NO GREATER SERVICE A CITY PROVIDES THAN THE EDUCATION OF ITS CHILDREN. EVEN A CURSORY EXAMINATION OF ANY MUNICIPALITY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WILL REVEAL THE STRENGTH OF THE COMMUNITY ACCORDING TO THE VIABLITY OF ITS SCHOOL SYSTEM. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT BUFFALO'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS DEMAND OUR IMMEDIATE AND CAREFUL ATTENTION.
THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT PERIOD FOR THE CITY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S RECENT DECISION TO BUY OUT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT CLEARS THE WAY FOR A COLLECTIVE EFFORT IN RESTORING OUR CITIZEN'S CONFIDENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
JUST NAMING A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, HOWEVER, WILL NOT BE ENOUGH. ACCORDING TO A STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REPORT RELEASED IN MAY 1999, 71 PERCENT OF FOURTH-GRADERS IN THE BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FELL BELOW THE STATE READING STANDARDS; STATEWIDE, 52 PERCENT FAILED TO MEET THE SAME STANDARDS. IF SCHOOLCHILDREN ARE INCAPABLE OF MEETING BASIC ACADEMIC STANDARDS, THEN CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM WILL BE ELUSIVE.
I BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO MEET THE NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS AND TO PRODUCE COMPETENT, SKILLED GRADUATES, THEY NEED OUR HELP. THAT IS WHY IN 1999 I INTRODUCED THE PARENT INITIATIVE, WHICH HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN COOPERATION WITH THE EDUCATION FUND FOR GREATER BUFFALO. THE PARENT INITIATIVE WILL PROVIDE GRANTS TO COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT BRING PARENTS AND SCHOOLCHILDREN TOGETHER IN SETTINGS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN CHILDREN'S EVERYDAY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
THERE IS A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE PROVING THAT INCREASED PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OF THEIR CHILDREN ENHANCES AND IMPROVES A CHILD'S OVERALL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. MY ORIGINAL $500,000 APPROPRIATION WAS REDUCED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL TO $150,000, BUT EVEN WITH THAT AMOUNT WE WERE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE FRAMEWORK OF A PROGRAM THAT I BELIEVE WILL LONG SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR ENTIRE CITY.
SEVEN $20,000 GRANTS WILL BE AWARDED TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE RESPONDED TO AN RFP RELEASED BY THE EDUCATION FUND. FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS, THE GRANT AWARDS WILL BE ANNOUNCED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
I WILL, THEREFORE, RECOMMEND A SIMILAR APPROPRIATION FOR THE CITY'S NEW BUDGET LATER THIS YEAR.
OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL AGENDA CONTINUES TO EXPAND AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GREATER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN AND BENEFIT FROM THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WHERE IS IT WRITTEN THAT SCHOOLS SHOULD ONLY BE OPEN FROM 8:00 AM TO 3:00 PM? AND WHERE IS IT WRITTEN THAT SCHOOL BUILDINGS SHOULD ONLY BE CONCERENED WITH THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS THAT POPULATE THEM?
IN EARLY DECEMBER 1999 I ANNOUNCED FIVE NEW COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROGRAMS, THEREBY INCREASING THE CITYWIDE PROGRAM TO THIRTEEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. THE GOAL, OF COURSE, IS TO ONE DAY ACHIEVE COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THROUGH ENHANCED ACCESS TO HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, ADULT EDUCATION AND POSITIVE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS CAN PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE UNAVAILABLE, AT LEAST IN ONE CENTRAL LOCATION, FOR THE IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY.
TO DATE, THE SUCCESS OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS HAS BEEN MEASURED IN SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE PRESENCE OF THIS PROGRAM IN THEIR SCHOOLS. IN 1997, 85% OF STUDENTS AT GROVER CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROGRAM MET OR EXCEEDED STATE REGENTS READING STANDARDS; CONVERSELY, ONLY 59% OF NON-PARTICPATING STUDENTS MET OR EXCEEDED THE SAME STANDARDS. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 95%, WHILE NON-PARTICIPANTS WERE AT 87.3%. ADDITIONALLY, THE DROP OUT RATE FOR PARTICIPANTS WAS NEARLY ONE-THIRD (1.2%) OF NON-PARTICPANTS (3.0%).
IN ADDITION TO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, I AM CALLING ON THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS -- AND THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN INTO LAW -- A SPECIAL SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION ACT FOR THE CITY OF BUFFALO. THE NEW LAW WILL ENABLE THE CITY OF BUFFALO TO CONSTRUCT SIX NEW STATE OF THE ART SCHOOLS WITHOUT THE USUAL MANDATES THAT OFTEN LEAD TO INFLATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND SCHEDULE OVERRUNS. WE WILL CONTINUE AN AGGRESSIVE SCHOOL REHABILITATION AGENDA THROUGH THE JOINT SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTION BOARD, BUT WE MUST COMMENCE WITH THESE SIX NEW SCHOOLS QUICKLY.
THE SAME PROCESS WAS ACHIEVED RECENTLY WITH GREAT SUCCESS IN NIAGARA FALLS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT CITY'S NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS NOW BUFFALO'S TURN. WE HAVE SECURED CRITICAL SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL BUILDING TRADES FOR THIS EXTEREMELY IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING AND ARE READY TO PROCEED ONCE THE STATE AGREES.
I AM PLEASED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TOOK THE STEPS IT DID RECENTLY AND HAS NOW LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR A NEW SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.
BUT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL RECALL -- AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE REMINDED -- THAT VIRTUALLY HALF OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO'S ANNUAL TAX REVENUE GOES TO THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I MAINTAIN - AND I WAS PLEASED GOVERNOR PATAKI REINFORCED IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE MESSAGE - THAT THE MAYOR IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO MUST -- AND SHOULD -- PLAY A PROMINENT ROLE IN THE AFFAIRS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT I HAVE NO DESIRE TO DISRUPT THE INDEPENDENCE OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. BUT AS C.E.O. OF THE ENTITY THAT GENERATES THE MONEY FOR THE SCHOOLS, I HAVE A FISCAL AND MORAL OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THOSE TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. I WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK GREATER INPUT INTO THE EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS OF OUR CITY'S MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE - OUR CHILDREN.
AS OUR CITY'S FORTUNES CHANGED OVER TIME, THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNTIES FOR OUR CITIZENS CHANGED AS WELL. GONE ARE THE HEAVY MANUFACTURING JOBS THAT ONCE MADE BUFFALO'S SHOULDERS AS BROAD AND AS STRONG AS THE CITY OF CHICAGO. NOW OUR LOCAL ECONOMY RELIES PREDOMINANTLY ON SERVICE-ORIENTED BUSINESSES. BUT AS WE ENTER THE 21ST CENTURY, THE CITY OF BUFFALO IS BEGINNING TO SEE THE BENEFIT OF HIGH TECH COMPANIES THAT REPRESENT THE CUTTING EDGE OF NEW AGE INDUSTRIES.
IF I TOLD YOU THAT THE CITY OF BUFFALO - NOT THE SUBURBS OR OTHER OUTLYING AREAS - THE CITY OF BUFFALO, SPECIFICALLY DOWNTOWN, CONTAINS THE FIFTH MOST EXTENSIVE FIBER OPTIC NETWORK IN THE WORLD, HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD BELIEVE ME? IT'S TRUE. BUFFALO - ONE OF OUR NATION'S RUST BELT CITIES; BUFFALO - THE CITY THAT HAS BEEN SUPPOSEDLY LEFT BEHIND IN THE NATION'S NEW ECONOMIC BOOM.
WE SIT UPON ONE OF THE GREATEST ASSETS FOR FUTURE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT. SO HOW DO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH AN ASSET?
FIRST, WE HAVE TO IMPROVE OUR BUSINESS CLIMATE IN ORDER TO COMPETE WITH OTHER AREAS VYING FOR THE SAME JOBS. I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT MAKING IT EASIER TO DO BUSINESS IN BUFFALO BECAUSE OF PROGRAMS LIKE OUR BUFFALO BYTE - THAT'S B-Y-T-E - TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
THIS EIGHT-POINT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FOSTER AND STIMULATE THE CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF EMERGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY OF BUFFALO. THROUGH TARGETED LENDING, VENTURE CAPITAL, DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AND REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE, THE BUFFALO BYTE INITIATIVE WILL MARSHAL THE RESOURCES OF THE BUFFALO ECONOMIC RENAISSANCE CORPORATION AND OTHER CITY AGENCIES TO FOCUS ON ATTRACTING AND KEEPING HIGH TECH JOBS IN BUFFALO.
OVER THE PAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS, SEVEN NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES HAVE RELOCATED THEIR OPERATIONS TO DOWNTOWN BUFFALO. FROM E-MERGE STRATEGIES INC. TO EDGENET INC. TO RECIPROCAL INC. THE WORD HAS SPREAD THAT DOWNTOWN BUFFALO IS THE PLACE TO BE FOR THE YOUNG, CUTTING EDGE ENTREPRENEURIAL I-TECH BUSINESSES. THE REDEVELOPED TRICO BUILDING IS NOW HOME TO DIGICON IMAGING AND SOON DEVELOPER STEVE MCGARVEY WILL INCLUDE 260 MID-MARKET RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS.
WITH APPROXIMATELY 28 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES CALLING THE CITY OF BUFFALO HOME, EMPLOYING OVER 2,000 EMPLOYEES AND GROWING, DOWNTOWN HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY ATTRACTIVE TO THESE AND OTHER BUSINESSES.
I TRUST YOU WON'T MIND WHEN IT GETS MORE CROWDED DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS TREND HAS COME CLOSE TO REACHING ITS PEAK. AND JUST THINK -- WE CAN FINALLY BEGIN TO TALK CONFIDENTLY ABOUT THE REALISTIC ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL BERGER'S BUILDING, WHICH CARL PALADINO WILL HELP BRING BACK INTO PRODUCTIVE AND LASTING USE.
WORKING, LIVING AND PLAYING IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO -- THAT'S WHAT THE MARKET IS CALLING FOR -- AND THAT'S WHAT MY ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING AND SUPPORTING.
OF COURSE, WE MUST CONTINUE TO DO BETTER AND PART OF DOING BETTER REQUIRES COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION. I AM ENCOURAGED THAT OUR STATE LEADERS SEEM GENUINELY WILLING TO DO SOMETHING THIS YEAR ABOUT IMPROVING NEW YORK STATE'S BUSINESS CLIMATE, PARTICULARLY UPSTATE.
I APPLAUD GOVERNOR PATAKI'S CALL FOR ABOLISHING THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX ON ENERGY FOR BUSINESSES AND I WILL PUSH FOR ADDITIONAL TAX INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYERS WHO START OR EXPAND BUSINESSES THAT CREATE FULL-TIME JOBS IN DESIGNATED DOWNTOWN AREAS.
I AM DELIGHTED THAT THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE CALLS FOR CREATING NEW TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE ZONES IN CENTRAL BUSINESS AREAS. LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE READY AND WELL PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT SUCH A STATE-SPONSORED ENDEAVOR HERE IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK.
IN ADDITION TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS, BOTH STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SHELDON SILVER AND STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOSEPH BRUNO HAVE PLEDGED GREATER EMPHASIS ON UPSTATE NEW YORK DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
TO ALL OF THESE WELL-CONCEIVED PLANS I SAY - YES! IF THEY CAN HELP US REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN ON LOCAL COMMERCIAL INTERESTS, THAT IS GOOD. IF THEY CAN HELP US REDUCE THE ENERGY COSTS IMPOSED UPON BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY, THAT IS GOOD. IF THEY CAN STRENGHTEN OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES, WHILE ATTRACTING OUTSIDE BUSINESS INTERESTS AND INVESTORS, THAT IS VERY GOOD. BUT WE NEED ACTION AND BIPARTISAN COOPERATION TO BRING THESE WONDERFUL CONCEPTS TO FRUITION.
AND WHILE THE NEWS FROM ALBANY IS ENCOURAGING, WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT WAIT FOR THESE CONCEPTS TO BECOME REALITY. SINCE BECOMING MAYOR, I HAVE CONSISTENTLY FOUGHT TO REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN ON LOCAL BUSINESSES AND I WILL CONTINUE TO CHAMPION EFFORTS TO REDUCE ENERGY COSTS AND ELIMINATE ALL UNDUE BURDENS THE STATE HAS IMPOSED ON BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY.
ON THIS DAWN OF THE 21ST CENTURY I PLEDGE TO WORK WITH THE NEW COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S ADMINISTRATION TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING GREATER SENSE AND LOGIC TO THE BALKANIZED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MECHANISMS CURRENTLY IN PLACE AROUND OUR COUNTY. THE CITY OF BUFFALO WILL WORK WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS TO UNIFY OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS INTO A SINGLE COUNTY IDA AND TO EQUALIZE INCENTIVE PACKAGES OFFERED WITH A PRONOUNCED EMPHASIS ON BUFFALO AS THE CORE OR HUB OF THE REGION.
AS I STATED EARLIER THERE IS CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM FOR OUR FUTURE: THE EMERGING BIO-MEDICAL CORRIDOR THAT HAS GARNERED STATE, UNIVERSITY AND MEDICAL INSTITUTION SUPPORT; THE COMPLETELY LEASED WILLIAM GAITER BUSINESS CENTER; THE EXPANSION OF BUFFALO CHINA AND AMERICAN AXLE; THE LAUNCHING OF THE CITY'S DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN; THE PASSAGE THIS PAST YEAR OF A NEW, UNIFIED STATE BUILDING CODE, WHICH I LOBBIED LONG AND HARD TO OBTAIN; AND, OF COURSE, THE COMMENCEMENT OF OUR WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, WHICH HAS BEGUN WITH THE $27 MILLION INNER HARBOR PROJECT.
WE CONTINUE FRUITFUL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DESIGNATED DEVELOPERS FOR THE MUCH LARGER WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT, WHICH INCLUDES ADELPHIA COMMUNICATIONS' NEW OFFICE COMPLEX THAT PROMISES 1,000 NEW JOBS. THAT'S 1,000 NEW JOBS COMBINED WITH APPROXIMATELY 500 EXISTING JOBS THAT ARE SCATTERED AROUND THE REGION.
THINK OF THAT: 1,500 GOOD PAYING JOBS HEADQUARTERED IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO WITHIN AN AREA NEWLY DEVOTED TO THE REBIRTH AND REINVIGORATION OF THE NEW BUFFALO. IT MUST MEAN SOMETHING WHEN ONE OF NATION'S LARGEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES IS AS COMMITTED TO OUR FUTURE AS ADELPHIA COMMUNICATIONS IS. I AM CONFIDENT THAT JOHN RIGAS'S DECISION TO PARTNER WITH THE CORDISH COMPANY, BENDERSON DEVELOPMENT, THE CITY OF BUFFALO, ERIE COUNTY AND NEW YORK STATE WILL LEAD TO ONE OF THE GREATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT WILL INCORPORATE EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING FAMILY-ORIENTED ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND ATTENDANT COMMERCIAL/RETAIL DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS CELEBRATING THE HISTORIC LEGACY OF THE WESTERN TERMINUS OF THE ERIE CANAL.
REGARDING THE CONTROVERSY OVER WHETHER WE SHOULD EXPOSE THE ACTUAL SITE WHERE THE ERIE CANAL ENDED OR RECREATE A FACSIMILE, I HAVE CALLED FOR THE CREATION OF A BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS WHO WILL ADVISE THE CITY ON HOW TO BEST REVEAL THE REMNANTS OF THE CANAL'S COMMERCIAL SLIP WITHOUT THREATENING ITS FRAGILE STATE. WORKING WITH ARCHAEOLOGICAL, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND OTHER APPROPRIATE EXPERTS, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE INNER HARBOR WILL SIGNAL
THE REBIRTH OF THIS LONG NEGLECTED REGION, WHILE CELEBRATING ITS STORIED PAST.
I AM A REALIST; I RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE CONFRONTED BY MANY CHALLENGES THAT CAN MAKE OUR CITY'S REVITALIZATION DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING, BUT I BELIEVE SINCERELY THAT OUR LEGACY OF PRODUCTIVE AND EDUCATED WORKERS, EXTENSIVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND IDEAL GEOGRAPHY WILL POSITION BUFFALO WELL FOR THE COMING CENTURY.
IN EARLY NOVEMBER, I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK ABOUT BUFFALO'S FUTURE BEFORE THE CANADIAN URBAN INSTITUTE IN TORONTO. I SEIZED THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUFFALO AND TORONTO. I FOCUSED MY REMARKS ON THE AREA KNOWN AS THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE.
NOW I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE NOT URBAN PLANNERS, BUT THERE IS AN URBAN DYNAMIC DEVELOPING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD KNOWN AS "CITY-REGIONS."
WHAT MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY DO NOT RECOGNIZE IS THAT THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE THAT EXTENDS FROM OSHAWA, ONTARIO THROUGH TORONTO, HAMILTON, ST. CATHERINES, NIAGARA FALLS, FORT ERIE AND INTO BUFFALO AND ROCHESTER. THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE ESSENTIALLY FOLLOWS THE CONTOUR OF LAKE ONTARIO'S WESTERN SHORELINE AND IS THE THIRD MOST POPULATED -- AND THIRD FASTEST GROWING -- CITY-REGION IN THE WORLD. THAT IS A FACT. AND BUFFALO IS THE AMERICAN GATEWAY INTO AND OUT OF THIS CITY-REGION.
WE MUST TAP INTO THE POTENTIAL OF THE COLLECTIVE STRENGTH OF OUR CITY-REGION AND I HAVE ALREADY MET WITH FELLOW MAYORS FROM SOUTHERN ONTARIO TO DISCUSS COMMON ISSUES AND DEVELOP AN ONGOING DIALOGUE RELATIVE TO OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE. WITH THE IMPENDING CONSTRUCTION OF THE MID-PENINSULA TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR, WHICH WILL EXTEND FROM LONDON, ONTARIO INTO FORT ERIE, THEREBY ALLEVIATING CONGESTION ON THE QEW, ALONG WITH THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF "CONTINENTAL ONE" IN THE UNITED STATES, BUFFALO IS IDEALLY SITUATED AS THE GATEWAY FOR THIS BURGEONING COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR, FROM CANADA ALL THE WAY TO FLORIDA AND BEYOND.
BUT WE CANNOT LET OUR OPPORTUNITY ELUDE US. I HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BRING RESOLUTION TO THE PEACE BRIDGE AND PLAZA DEBATE. THE ROLE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PLAYS IN OUR FUTURE CANNOT BE DISMISSED OR UNDERESTIMATED. WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THE PUBLIC CONSENSUS REVIEW PANEL, THE CREATION OF WHICH I BROKERED WITH THE FORMER COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND TWO LOCAL FOUNDATIONS, WILL BE PRESENTED ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BRIDGE AND THE PLAZA. THE PANEL WILL THEN SEND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PEACE BRIDGE AUTHORITY. I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE WILL BE SATISFIED, BUT NO ONE CAN SAY THE PROCESS WAS NOT OPENED UP AND THAT A THOUGHFUL PROCESS FOLLOWED.
THE KEY POINT, HOWEVER, IS THAT WE MUST MOVE FORWARD IF WE EXPECT TO BENEFIT FROM THE OBVIOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT THE BRIDGE/PLAZA WILL CONVEY.
IN ADDITION TO THE PEACE BRIDGE ISSUE, I WILL CALL FOR A SYMPOSIUM OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, CIVIC LEADERS AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY LEADERS TO MEET THIS SUMMER AND DISCUSS THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE AND HOW WE CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE.
A CITY'S HEALTH CAN BE MEASURED MANY WAYS, BUT ITS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WILL ALWAYS REVEAL ITS UNDERLYING
HEALTH AND VITALITY. LAST YEAR I ANNOUNCED A CLEAN AND GREEN CAMPAIGN FOR THE CITY OF BUFFALO. THE CAMPAIGN RANGES FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT OF FORMER INDUSTRIAL
BROWNFIELDS, ENHANCING AND REBUILDING CITY PARKS AND GREEN SPACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, IMPLEMENTING GATEWAY BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMS AND ASSISTING COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER GROUPS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IF OUR CITY HAS AN UNTAPPED ASSET THAT CAN PLAY A ROLE IN OUR REVITALIZATION THEY ARE THE POST-INDUSTRIAL BROWNFIELDS THAT OCCUPY SEVERAL LOCATIONS AROUND BUFFALO. ALMOST HALF OF OUR CITY'S 42 SQUARE MILES OF LAND, HAS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER CONTAINED SOME FORM OF INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.
MY ADMINISTRATION'S SOUTH BUFFALO REDEVELOPMENT PLAN PROPOSES TO REUSE WHAT ARE NOW BROWNFIELDS SO THEY CAN ONCE AGAIN CONTRIBUTE PRODUCTIVELY TO OUR CITY'S COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT AREA'S UNION SHIP CANAL WILL COMMENCE THIS YEAR, THEREBY MARKING AN IMPORTANT AND POSITIVE STEP IN THE COMMERCIAL REBIRTH OF THIS LONG NEGLECTED AREA OF OUR CITY.
AND WHILE I AM ON THIS POINT, LET ME SAY THAT ALL FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY THAT OCCUR ON -- OR ADJACENT TO -- LANDS THAT PREVIOUSLY HOUSED ANY FORM OF INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY MUST UNDERGO A COMPREHENSIVE PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. PERIOD.
OUR MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MASTER PLAN FOR THE REBUILDING OF LASALLE PARK COMMENCED IN LATE FALL OF 1999 AND, WITH THE KEY SUPPORT OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN LAFALCE, OUR GOAL OF RESTORING ONE OF OUR CITY'S PREMIER WATERFRONT PARKS IS UNDERWAY. WITH A PARKS SYSTEM THAT I BELIEVE IS UNRIVALLED, OUR CITY'S FUTURE GREENSPACES ARE WELL SECURED. EVERYWHERE I GO, PEOPLE TELL ME THE PARKS ARE BETTER AND CLEANER. OF COURSE, THE CITY'S CLEAN AND GREEN EFFORT COULD NEVER ACHIEVE THE IMPROVEMENTS SO MANY OF YOU HAVE WITNESSED DAY-TO-DAY WITHOUT THE VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTIONS OF GROUPS SUCH AS THE BUFFALO OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY.
I AM PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE RENOVATED JFK PARK IN OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP ZONE, WHICH HAS BEEN FEATURED IN THE NATIONAL PUBLICATION, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. THE REDEVELOPMENT OF JFK PARK WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL, PARTICULARLY COUNCILMEMBER BARBARA MILLER-WILLIAMS, AND HUD. THIS RENOVATION SERVES AS A MODEL ON HOW TO REBUILD AND REVIVE OUR PARKS ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY.
BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS, MY ADMINISTRATION HAS PLACED GREAT EMPHASIS ON OUR CLEAN AND GREEN GATEWAY BEAUTUFICATION PROGRAM. UNDER THE AUSPICIES OF THE MAYOR'S IMPACT TEAM, THE CITY OF BUFFALO HAS WORKED WITH THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR THE CREATION OF ROADWAY BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMS ALONG ALL OF THE MAJOR ROADWAYS LEADING INTO AND OUT OF THE CITY.
TO DATE, FOUR COPORATE SPONSORS HAVE BEEN SECURED TO HELP UNDERWRITE THE COST OF CREATING ROADSIDE GARDEN AND NATURAL BEAUTIFICATION AREAS. USING INDIGINOUS WILDFLOWERS, OTHER TYPES OF PLANTINGS AND ORNAMENTAL
SHRUBS, WE INTEND TO CREATE A FAR MORE PLEASING ENVIRONMENT ALONG OUR GATEWAY ROADWAYS. IF YOU HAVE EVER ENTERED TORONTO VIA THE GARDINER EXPRESSWAY YOU WILL GET A SENSE OF WHAT WE WILL IMPLEMENT ALONG THESE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES.
IN FALL 1999, SIXTY THOUSAND DAFFODIL BULBS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO CITY SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, BLOCK CLUBS AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THIS EFFORT INCLUDED THE PLANTING OF FIFTEEN HUNDRED DAFFODILS IN AREAS BORDERING THE KENSINGTON EXPRESSWAY FROM THE CITY LINE TO DOWNTOWN. IMAGINE THE SIGHT OF THOSE BLOOMING EARLY SPRING FLOWERS ALONG OUR GATEWAY ROADWAYS WELCOMING PEOPLE INTO OUR CITY.
IN ADDITION, MY ADMINISTRATION HAS DESIGNATED A STAFF COORDINATOR TO WORK WITH THE WOMEN'S PAVILION PAN-AM 2001 TO OVERSEE A CONTEST DESIGNED TO ENGAGE THE IMAGINATIONS OF COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. CALLED BUFFALO THE BEAUTIFUL, THE CONTEST WILL STIMULATE PROPERTY OWNERS TO UPGRADE AND BEAUTIFY THEIR PROPERTIES.
I AM PLEASED THAT THE CITY OF BUFFALO'S ASSOCIATION WITH KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL, A NATIONAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ORGANIZATION, HAS BEEN BOLSTERED BY THE COMMITMENT OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOEL GIAMBRA TO ADOPT THE CLEAN AND GREEN MESSAGE FOR ALL OF ERIE COUNTY.
BUFFALO'S GREATEST NATURAL ASSET IS THE EXTRAORDINARY PARKS SYSTEM DESIGNED BY FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED. HOW MANY CITIES, PARTICULARLY OF OUR SIZE, CAN BOAST SUCH A REMARKABLE SYSTEM OF URBAN PARKS? UPON CONSULTATION WITH THE BUFFALO OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS APPROACHED THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO CONSIDER THE DOWNGRADING OF THE SCAJAQUADA PARKWAY'S SPEED LIMIT ON THE MILE AND A HALF STRETCH OF THE PARKWAY THAT BISECTS DELAWARE PARK.
THE GOAL IS TO MAKE IT EASIER AND SAFER FOR OUR CITIZENS TO TRAVERSE FROM ONE SIDE OF THE PARK TO THE OTHER, WHILE ESTABLISHING A MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING ROADWAY THROUGH OUR FAMED OLMSTED PARK.
THERE ARE MORE ISSUES THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED TODAY AND I WISH I COULD OUTLINE EVERY INITIATIVE MY ADMINISTRATION HAS BEFORE IT, BUT THEN WE'D NEVER GET OUT OF HERE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE HOWEVER THAT DESPITE THE GREAT PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE, THERE ARE STILL ROUGH SEAS AHEAD. WE CONTINUE TO FACE SERIOUS FISCAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED. BE ASSURED THAT I REMAIN AS COMMITTED AS EVER TO THE SOUND FISCAL PRACTICES THAT LED MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE AND STANDARD AND POORS TO LAST YEAR UPGRADE THE CITY'S FINANCES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS. I AM VERY PROUD OF THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE HELD FLAT THE CITY'S HOMESTEAD TAX RATE FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
BUT OUR PASSAGE IS ABOUT TO GET ROUGHER. NEXT YEAR OUR REVALUATION OF CITY REAL PROPERTY WILL BE COMPLETE. AND WHILE THAT PROCESS WILL BRING PROPERTY VALUES INTO PROPER ORDER, WE WILL LOSE ANTICIPATED ANNUAL TAX RVENUES AS A RESULT. AND SO WE ARE PREPARING TO DO MORE WITH LESS. YES, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT, BUT IN THE END, REVALUATION IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND YOU HAVE MY ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL BE PRUDENT AND RESPONSIBLE.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THE 21ST CENTURY OURURBAN POPULATION MAY HAVE SHRUNK FROM ITS ZENITH IN THE 1950'S, BUT WE ARE NO LESS VITAL, NO LESS SIGNIFICANT. WE CONTINUE TO BE A KEY COMPONENT IN THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO THE NATIONAL FABRIC. AND WE STILL POSSESS THE WONDERFULLY VIBRANT AND DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE CONTIRBUTED TO OUR UNIQUE URBAN CHARACTER.
OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS CONTINUE TO ANCHOR AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT THAT MANY OTHER CITIES ENVY. THE CONTINUED REVITALIZATION AND EXPANSION OF OUR DOWNTOWN THEATRE DISTRICT HAS WITNESSED THE EXPANSION OF SHEA'S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, THE OPENING OF THE NEW IRISH CLASSICAL THEATRE AND THE REINTRODUCTION OF FIRST RATE FEATURE FILM PRODUCTIONS IN THE ANJELIKA FILM CENTER.
THANKS TO THE DEDICATION AND DETERMINATION OF OUR CITY'S TREMENDOUS POLICE FORCE, BUFFALO'S CRIME RATE HAS PLUMMETED TO THE LOWEST LEVELS IN FIVE YEARS. DOWNTOWN BUFFALO IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE OVERALL TREND TOWARD REDUCTION IN CITY CRIME.
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE NO ONE GOES DOWNTOWN. ANYONE WHO SUGGESTS THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS NOT EXPERIENCED THE THE VIBRANT CHIPPEWA NIGHTLIFE OR TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE BUFFALO PLACE-SPONSORED THURSDAY'S IN THE SQUARE - OR THE MYRIAD OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING DOWNTOWN.
WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE IN 1994, MY PRIORITY WAS TO REDUCE THE COST OF GOVERNMENT AND DELIVER SERVICES IN A MORE EFFICIENT MANNER. WE STARTED WITH A SELF-EVALUATION OF EACH DEPARTMENT, WHERE EACH COMMISSIONER RECOMMENDED AND IMPLEMENTED COST REDUCTIONS BY CONSOLIDATING, DOWNSIZING AND STREAMLINING DEPARTMENTS. TWO YEARS LATER, WE HIRED A CONSULTANT (PEAT-MARWICK) TO CONDUCT A RE-ENGINEERING STUDY OF CITY GOVERNMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN FURTHER REDUCTIONS.
DURING THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OF THE MASIELLO ADMINISTRATION, WE REDUCED THE CITY WORK FORCE BY 10% AT AN ANNUAL SAVINGS OF OVER $10 MILLION. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CONSOLIDATIONS AND COST SAVINGS TO THE CITY, WE CONTINUED TO PLACE A HIGH EMPHASIS ON CREATING THE MOST EFFICIENT CITY GOVERNMENT POSSIBLE. TO THAT END, I NAMED A FIFTEEN-MEMBER CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION IN APRIL OF 1998 THAT SPENT EIGHTEEN MONTHS REVIEWING THE SEVENTY-YEAR OLD CITY CHARTER. THE COMMISSION THEN RECOMMENDED A GOVERNMENT FRAMEWORK THAT WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY AS WE ENTER A NEW MILLENNIUM.
THE NEW CHARTER, PASSED BY THE VOTERS LAST NOVEMBER, CONTAINS A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS THAT WILL ENABLE CITY GOVERNMENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MORE PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, ENHANCED FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MORE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT.
THE CREATION OF THE DIVISION OF STRATEGIC PLANNING INTEGRATES THE PLANNING AND BUDGETING PROCESSES FOR ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, THUS PROVIDING BETTER COORDINATION OF OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT. A MORE DISCIPLINED APPROACH TO CAPITAL BUDGETING WILL FURTHER EMPHASIZE PROPER PLANNING BEFORE COMMITTING THE CITY TO CAPITAL DEBT.
THE MAYOR AND ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL BE OBLIGATED TO SUBMIT ANNUAL PLANS OUTLINING GOALS AND STRATEGIES FOR EACH YEAR WITH PERIODIC FOLLOW-UP REPORTS ON ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS.
THE NEW CHARTER CONSOLIDATES THE DEPARTMENTS OF PARKS, STREETS AND PUBLIC WORKS INTO ONE ENTITY, CREATES A NEW DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR MORE EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT OF THE CITY'S WORKFORCE, CENTRALIZES PURCHASING AND COLLECTIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, PLACES MORE AUDITING RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE COMPTROLLER AND REQUIRES MORE PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE COMMON COUNCIL ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION, CHARTER AMENDMENTS AND CAPITAL BUDGETING.
BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF THE NEW CHARTER IS THE CONSOLIDATION AND UPGRADE OF LICENSE, PERMIT AND INSPECTION FUNCTIONS IN THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF PERMIT AND INSPECTION SERVICES.
WITH THE HELP OF THE BUFFALO NIAGARA PARTNERSHIP, SEVERAL CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE WORK OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION, WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING A FIRST CLASS, MORE EFFICIENT, LESS CONFUSING AND MUCH LESS TIME CONSUMING PROCESS FOR DISBURSING BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION PERMITS IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO. WE'VE LOOKED AT OTHER COMMUNITIES - CHARLOTTE, CLEVELAND, MILWAUKEE; WE'VE SEEN HOW THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY HANDLED THIS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FUNCTION - SOME OF YOU MIGHT SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT CITY FUNCTION - AND I AM CERTAIN WE WILL ATTAIN THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE. ALTHOUGH THE NEW CHARTER DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR, OUR NEW PERMIT PROCESS IS ALREADY UNDERWAY.
THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF OUR WORK OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS HAS BEEN TO MAKE BUFFALO COMPETITIVE AND TO MAKE OUR CITY A PREMIER LOCATION IN WHICH TO LIVE,WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY.
IN ORDER TO BE COMPETITIVE, WE MUST PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY PRODUCT - IN OUR CASE CITY SERVICES - AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE. THE PRICE IN OUR CASE IS PROPERTY TAXES.
THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX LEVY IS NOW $400,000 LOWER THAN IT WAS IN 1994 - THAT IS TO SAY, EVEN DURING YEARS OF EXPENSE GROWTH, LARGELY FROM STATE MANDATES, WE ARE LIVING ON LESS OF YOUR MONEY THAN WE WERE SIX YEARS AGO.
WE REDUCED THE TAX LEVY BY $6 MILLION IN ORDER TO KEEP TAX RATES STABLE AS PROPERTY VALUES DROPPED. THE CITY HAS LOST ALMOST HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IN PROPERTY VALUE SINCE OUR LAST REVALUATION IN 1993. AND, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAW THAT ASSESSMENTS WERE - ON AVERAGE -- ABOVE THE MARKET WE COMMITTED TO A FULL BLOWN, CITYWIDE REVALUATION OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS. THESE NEW ASSESSMENTS WILL TAKE EFFECT IN THE CITY'S 2001-2002 BUDGET.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT KEEPING TAXES DOWN WILL SPUR BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REINVESTMENT IN OUR CITY AND AS I HAVE NOTED HERE TODAY, WE SHOULD ALL BE EXCITED BECAUSE WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THAT REINVESTMENT HAPPEN. JUST ASK SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AT HUNT OR AT GURNEY, BECKER AND BOURNE OR AT STOVROFF AND POTTER.
IN THE MEANTIME, THOUGH, LETTING THE VALUES DROP MEANS LESS REVENUE FOR US TO USE IN PAYING FOR CITY SERVICES. IN FACT, IF THE PROJECTIONS ARE ACCURATE, OUR CONSTITUTIONAL TAX LIMIT MAY DROP TO THE POINT WHERE THE CITY HAS NO TAX MARGIN - WHERE I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE OPTION OF RAISING TAXES. AGAIN, THE HOPE IS THAT REINVESTMENT WILL OCCUR AND PROPERTY VALUES WILL RISE AGAIN, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WHILE THAT OCCURS, GETTING THE HELP THAT WE NEED FROM THE COUNTY, THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE CRITICAL TO KEEPING US COMPETITIVE.
THERE COULD BE NOTHING MORE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE THAN FOR ME TO RAISE TAXES WHILE THE STATE AND COUNTY ARE LOWERING THEM. AND NOTHING COULD BE MORE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE THAN HAVING TO CUT BACK SERVICES YOU VALUE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP YOU AND OTHERS INVESTING HERE.
FINALLY, OUR SITUATION IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IS NOT UNIQUE; IT'S JUST THAT BUFFALO, AS THE LARGEST URBAN AREA IN THE STATE OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY, STANDS OUT. WITH THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES FROM ROCHESTER, SYRACUSE AND ALBANY, AS WELL AS THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE THAT REPRESENT MANY OF YOU AND YOUR COUNTERPARTS UPSTATE, WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER THE COMPELLING MESSAGE OF UPSTATE'S PIVOTAL POSITION IN THE OVERALL STATE ECONOMY. THE GOVERNOR HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT FACT, AS HAVE THE TOP LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, BUT WE MUST CONTINUE TO PRESS OUR CASE - TOGETHER.
I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN REINFORCING THAT MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS IN ALBANY AND WASHINGTON, AS WELL AS THE LEADERS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO CAN FURTHER ASSIST OUR CONTINUING TURNAROUND.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS THE CITY OF BUFFALO
- Mayor Anthony M. Masiello
12-12-00