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Buffalo: Ryan announces steps to improve public safety in Chippewa entertainment district
Submitted
City shifting to long-term strategy focused on traffic, crowd management, enforcement of existing laws
Submitted by the Office of City of Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan
Mayor Sean Ryan announced the next phase of his administration’s efforts to improve public safety in Buffalo’s Chippewa entertainment district following several weeks of enhanced enforcement and evaluation.
In early July, the administration brought together the Buffalo Police Department, the Department of Permit & Inspection Services, the Department of Public Works, the Law Department, and the Office of Strategic Planning to assess conditions in the Chippewa entertainment district. The group has met weekly and maintained regular communication with business owners and other stakeholders to better understand the root causes of repeated disturbances.
The review identified unmanaged crowds as a common theme behind repeated disturbances in the district. This includes large outdoor gatherings in unattended parking lots, vehicle congestion caused by people waiting outside bars to pick up passengers, and groups congregating outside of businesses with no intention to enter.
To address these issues and maintain public safety, the city has significantly increased police staffing in the Chippewa district while the administration develops and implements other interventions. During the past three weekends, Buffalo Police has maintained a highly visible presence that has helped deter violence and improve public safety. Officers have taken enforcement action when appropriate, issuing hundreds of traffic summonses, writing dozens of parking tickets, and making several arrests or mental hygiene law referrals, when necessary, to ensure safety for patrons, pedestrians and drivers alike.
While increasing the police presence has helped maintain public safety in the district, it is not a sustainable long-term solution. Even before the recent increase in staffing, maintaining the historical police presence in Chippewa cost approximately $20,000 every weekend – roughly half the cost of providing public safety for the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
“The City of Buffalo has spent upwards of $1 million per year to barely keep the lid on the Chippewa District,” Ryan said. “We want a safe, vibrant entertainment district where people can enjoy a night out and businesses can succeed, but that requires a public-private partnership where everyone fulfills their responsibilities. Buffalo taxpayers cannot continue to shoulder the burden alone.”
Going forward, parts of Chippewa and Franklin streets will continue to be closed to vehicle traffic during peak nightlife hours to reduce congestion and improve pedestrian safety. The city will also work with the Buffalo Common Council to review the current policy regarding under-21 patrons in the Chippewa district, beginning with requiring establishments to obtain special use permits for events that allow patrons ages 18 to 20 and patrons 21 and older to commingle during late-night hours, ensuring appropriate public safety planning and regulatory oversight.
The administration is also holding owners of privately operated parking lots accountable for conditions occurring on their properties. Several lots have become gathering places for tailgating, underage drinking, open container violations, and other criminal activity. Lot owners have received letters directing them to immediately implement appropriate security and management measures to prevent their lots from becoming public nuisances. Owners who fail to take reasonable steps to address these conditions will face all available legal and administrative remedies, including enforcement actions, nuisance abatement proceedings, and potential suspension or revocation of licenses or authorizations to operate.
As these changes are implemented, the administration will continue monitoring conditions in the district, evaluating the effectiveness of these measures, and working with the Buffalo Police Department, the Buffalo Common Council, and local businesses to ensure Chippewa remains a safe and vibrant destination.
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