And then there were five
Last night, four local civic groups accomplished something rarely seen in Buffalo - they successfully collaborated on a politically significant event. All four are to be commended for the excellent program they put together. They quite rightly selected a moderator - Stefan Michajliw - who reflects their own under-40, professional memberships.
The candidates began with a brief opening statement. Kevin Gaughan wants to “change Buffalo’s future.” Charlie Flynn’s focus was on weeding out corruption and ending the two-party “duopoly”. Kevin Helfer reminded us that, “it’s the economy, stupid,” and that his major objective is to attract business and improve efficiency in City government.
Byron Brown’s opening statement was somewhat free of real content and heavy on “I believe”. He told us that he has a plan, he’ll bring leadership to City Hall, he has a vision, and he represents “inclusiveness” in the political culture. Ultimately, to Brown, “good paying jobs” are the key to improving and growing Buffalo. Steve Calvaneso reminded us that he’s accomplished the difficult task of running a successful, growing set of businesses in the City of Buffalo, and that he’s not a career politician, but a candidate who can use his business acumen to clean up City Hall.
Reading haltingly from a yellow pad, Calvaneso looked quite unprepared during his opening. Brown and Gaughan are both smooth orators, while Helfer and Flynn sounded like guys you’d encounter in a tavern.
Mychajliw started off with a lightning round:
1. Do you support a casino in downtown Buffalo? No: Calvaneso, Gaughan, Flynn. Yes: Helfer, Brown
2. Do you support a single health insurer for Buffalo teachers? All candidates replied that they do.
3. Do you support the NMG’s “North Gateway Plaza” plan for the Peace Bridge? Ditto.
4. (This question first went to Byron Brown): Would inspections czar Ray McGurn still have a job in your administration? All replied “No” except for Byron Brown.
5. Is there enough off-street parking downtown? All replied “yes” except for Flynn.
6. Do you support the continued imposition of a pay freeze on City workers? All replied “yes”.
7. Do you support the expansion of charter schools? All but Brown replied “yes”.
8. Will the Bills win the Super Bowl? Astonishingly, Calvaneso and Helfer replied “no.”
THE INTERVIEW
Mychajliw started out with a job interview-type question about the candidates’ biggest career mistake, and what they learned from it. I don’t think anyone in the crowd learned anything from that round. Helfer learned to be fiscally conservative, Flynn learned to be a team player (hence the fissure in the EC Independence Party, I guess). Brown learned to be prepared after having walked into his boss’ office one day not anticipating his questions(!?) Whatever.
EMINENT DOMAIN
Two questions dealt with the recent Kelo v. New London SCOTUS ruling on eminent domain. Most of the candidates indicated that they opposed the holding of Kelo, which permits government to take private property by eminent domain for the benefit of a private entity if it will have an ancillary public benefit, like growing tax revenue. Calvaneso and Helfer gave well-reasoned answers, explaining that they thought Kelo was “scary” and “too broad”, respectively, but that they do think eminent domain can play a positive role in urban planning in Buffalo, so long as it’s used judiciously. Gaughan is against Kelo, and Flynn said it was more evidence of the political “duopoly.” Brown? He basically said “me too” to Helfer and Calvaneso’s answers.
Specifically, Gaughan would use eminent domain against “reticent and negligent property owners.” Flynn seemed very out-of-touch, indicating that he’d use eminent domain on the “crumbling, dilapidated” Central Terminal. Helfer pointed to its past use for the police station at Tupper & Main, and Brown said “me too”. Calvaneso said that he’d use it against land owners who refuse to develop their properties, especially the block at Genesee & Oak.
PRIVATIZATION OPPORTUNITY
Gaughan thinks that the purchasing department is ripe for competitive sourcing. Flynn suggested putting Marine Drive up for sale and returning it to the tax rolls. Helfer and Calvaneso both suggested putting sanitation out for bid. Brown suggested the already-privatized water department, and added that they should sell their extra capacity to the suburbs and make some more money.
NAME ONE SUCCESSFUL MAYOR YOU RESPECT
Flynn and Helfer picked Giuliani for having improved NYC’s quality of life. Flynn especially praised Giuliani’s dealing with “punks.” Brown mentioned Baltimore’s Mayor O’Malley, who turned NYC’s “CompStat” into “CitiStat”, which analyzes each department’s performance on a biweekly basis. Calvaneso likes Denver’s Mayor Hickenluper who, like he, comes from a business background. One of the things Denver did to help its downtown is remove the parking meters, and Calvaneso would like to do that in Buffalo. Calvaneso got a good shot off on Brown, stating that we need a Mayor who will succeed, not one with the most endorsements who has already cut every deal he needed to cut in order to get those endorsements. Helfer went after Brown’s reliance on CitiStat, reminding us that we already have something called “BuffStat”.
Gaughan, unable to follow the directions, named two mayors he admires.
PARKING TICKETS DOWNTOWN
Ah, the topic voters in Amherst and Orchard Park were waiting for.
Helfer said that parking tickets downtown hurt, but the City has to do what it has to do. He’d avoid punitive ticketing of easy targets, however. Brown again relies on improving technology, and would introduce more pay & display meters, and meters that show just how overtime a parked car is, and he’d introduce something of a grace period. He said that parking meter revenue generates about $1.3 million each year, and we can’t afford to lose that.
Calvaneso jumped all over Brown’s answer, and indicated that he would immediately rip down every parking meter in downtown Buffalo. He says that the City raises $1 million from meter coin revenue each year in the budget, yet it costs $1.23 million to enforce parking violations and collect fines. He said that, “if we always do what we always did, we’ll always get what we always got.” If you want downtown business to compete with the suburbs, let people park for free.
Gaughan said that it’s pretty sad that the City is so dependent on a measly $1 million from parking meters. Flynn said that he’d insist on underground parking for new construction downtown, and that the City should stop “nickel-and-diming” motorists.
WHAT THREE THINGS DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH?
All around, they said they want to improve the schools, grow business, and reverse Buffalo’s population drop. Flynn added that he wants to abolish loud car “boomboxes”, and enforce a strict residency law. Helfer and Gaughan mentioned that, after three balanced budgets, that would trigger control board dormancy.
IMPORT IDEAS FROM OTHER PROGRESSIVE MAYORS
Greenspace and other quality of life concerns took center stage during this round. A regional planning council to minimize sprawl was on Gaughan’s mind. Flynn reminded us of his distaste for “punks” on the corner and car “boomboxes.” Helfer said that quality of life issues are little things that will enable the big things to work themselves out. He suggested that cops return to walking a beat in neighborhoods. Brown said, “me too.”
MERGER OPPORTUNITIES
Gaughan said that the water department should be run by the County, and he reminded us that he’s not here to abolish the City. Flynn would wrap the BERC into the ECIDA. Helfer mentioned the water department (every answer included the phrase, “guess what?”) Brown says the City should take over the County’s water, not vice-versa. Calvaneso would get rid of the drug & alcohol abuse program, since it’s redundant.
LAND VALUE TAX
A new idea that rewards good landlord and punishes slumlords; the opposite is true today. Everyone is for it, except for Helfer and Brown, who don’t know enough about that idea.
MULTIPLE IDAS
All candidates would merge and streamline the IDAs to prevent them competing for businesses.
BARRIERS TO BUSINESS GROWTH
Permits and inspections got mentioned quite a bit, as did reform of block grant money distribution. Flynn would eliminated patronage. Calvaneso repeated his call to remove parking meters. Brown said “me too.”
One woman asked a question about, of all things, Love Canal. Love Canal is in Niagara County, so it merely gave the candidates an opportunity to talk about how important each thinks the environment is.
CITISTAT & UNION RULES
One questioner sought some clarification for points where CitiStat implementation conflicts with existing union contracts. All of the candidates indicated a willingness to sit down with unions in a constructive manner to work out, and enable them to be part of, solutions. Since CitiStat measures things, they’d respond as necessary. Brown reminded us that he’s been endorsed by all the unions, and claims not to owe them anything and that he’d change the culture and hold them accountable.
RESIDENCY
All of the candidates would require all city workers, including Fire, Police, and teachers, to be City residents, and they’d all enforce that rule.
CLOSING
CALVANESO: Brown is the status quo. Gaughan’s is a risky scheme. Steve has invested in the City, and he’d get rid of the patronage, and grow the City by focusing on education.
BROWN: I’m not a career politician, I’m a public servant. And a father. And a husband. And a neighbor. And I’ll work hard for you, 7 days per week. I bleed for this community, and I have the experience and know that it’s all about the future. Nobody else has real accomplishments - I do.
HELFER: We need to grow the economy, and improve the city for my kids and their kids. I have executive experience and leadership.
FLYNN: Hey, I’m from the Independence Party, and I want to get rid of the hacks and break the duopoly.
GAUGHAN: Buffalo has an awesome story to tell, and it mixes East Coast sophistication with Midwest sensibility. Here’s a gratuitous string of SAT words to describe Buffalo’s story. I’ll hire a City manager to do the work while I go out and tell Buffalo’s story.
[Update: I forgot the casino question in the lighting round. Thanks, EAL)
