MAYOR MASIELLO, COUNCILMEMBER FISHER CALL FOR EXPEDITED FORMATION OF COMMISSION ON CITIZEN RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
March 24, 2000
Contact: Peter K. Cutler (716) 851-4841

BUFFALO (3/24/00) - Mayor Anthony M. Masiello and Common Councilmember-at-Large Charley H. Fisher III today called for the early formation of the Commission on Citizen Rights and Community Relations. The Commission was created by the voter-approved City Charter and will replace the existing Commission on Human Relations. Ordinarily, all Charter changes would occur July 1, 2000. The Mayor and Councilmember Fisher are calling for the formation of Commission by May 2000.

As stated in the Charter, the Commission is designed "to encourage equality of treatment and prevent discrimination against persons based on race, ethnic background, religion, sex, sexual preferences, disability, nationality and age; and to assure respect for the civil liberties of all citizens." The Commission's Duties and Powers, including pursuing complaints of police misconduct, are detailed on the attached document.

According to the Charter, the Commission will consist of eleven members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council.

"The nature of the Commission's responsibilities, coupled with the elimination of the Commission on Human Relations, necessitates the swift formation of this critically important panel," stated Mayor Masiello. "Any form of intolerance or bias based on sex, sexual preference, race, nationality, age or disability is unacceptable and my administration will pursue every legal channel, in concert with the effort of the Commission, to hold any groups or individuals responsible for such despicable behavior."

The Mayor and Councilmember Fisher each cited the experience of the 200-strong Junior Uniformed Mentoring Program (JUMP) children who marched in this past Sunday's St. Patrick's Day Parade. The predominantly African-American group, composed mainly of children with behavioral problems or learning disabilities, was subjected to racial slurs from some parade spectators and had objects hurled at them.

"We are turning a corner in this city," stated Councilmember Fisher. "There is real change coming. And yet, undermining all of our work and progress, dimming the vision of our glorious future, is the shroud of bigotry and hate. When I ran last year, I ran on a platform of inclusion, tolerance and progress. Unless we become a city too busy to hate, we doom our city and its future to oblivion."