Latest news with #BuffaloCommonCouncil
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
More Buffalonians to be protected from housing discrimination with new legislation
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Fair Housing law expansions were passed earlier this month to guarantee protection for more Buffalonians with minority status, according to a spokesperson with the Buffalo Common Council. The laws now cover those with disabilities, those apart of the LGBTQ+ community, those from other countries, and those who require housing vouchers or public assistance. Race, religion, and national identity are already protected by the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The legislation was passed on April 1, the first day of National Fair Housing Month. 'This critical legislation will give the City of Buffalo's Fair Housing law teeth to ensure that everyone in Buffalo is treated equally when purchasing or renting a home,' said Fair Housing Officer Harold Cardwell, Jr. 'The ability to find safe and sustainable housing of your choice is an inalienable human right.' Realtors and landlords in the city will be required to make 'reasonable' accommodations for those with disabilities, including equal housing language and symbols. In addition, exclusions will be removed for those who own fewer than 20 housing units and fines will be increased for first-time and repeat violations. More time will be given to resolve accusations. 'The ugly legacy of housing discrimination can be seen in cities across the nation, and we see its toxic aftermath in the disparities that impact black communities and low-income households here in the City of Buffalo,' said Majority Leader Leah Halton-Pope. 'With this legislation, we will help ensure that no Buffalonian is denied fair access to housing simply for being who they are.' Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
7 officially file to run for Buffalo mayor
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Seven candidates are officially in the race to become Buffalo's next mayor — with a potential eighth candidate on the way. Thursday was the deadline for mayoral hopefuls to submit their petitions to get their names on the primary ballot. Six Democratic Party candidates — Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon, New York State Senator Sean Ryan (the party's endorsed nominee), Buffalo Common Council Member Rasheed Wyatt, former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield, community advocate Anthony Tyson Thompson, and Greater Jefferson Avenue Business Association member Michael Gainer — all turned in at least 2,000 petition signatures from registered voters by 5 p.m. Another candidate, community organizer James Payne, has mailed his petition to the Board of Elections, the campaign told WIVB News 4. The Board of Elections must receive the petition by Monday in order for Payne to go on the ballot. On the Republican side, James Gardner, a former law clerk for Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case — and the party's endorsed nominee — also received enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Challenges will be accepted for a few weeks, which means candidates could potentially get kicked off the ballot. News 4 spoke with Scanlon inside the board's Eagle Street office, and the acting mayor said the petition process was both humbling and motivating. 'It's an indication that our campaign is being supported by people, residents of the City of Buffalo – live here, work here, raise their families here and are supportive of our campaign,' Scanlon said. Scanlon said he turned in more than 7,500 signatures. Wyatt, who has represented the city's University District on the Buffalo Common Council since 2014, delivered nearly 4,000 signatures. Whitfield, the former Buffalo Fire Commissioner, filed around 4 p.m. — and his campaign is hosting an end-of-petitioning celebration Thursday night. The primary elections will take place in late June, and the general election is slated for Nov. 4. Dave Greber is an award-winning anchor and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here. *** Mark Ludwiczak joined the News 4 team in 2024. He is a veteran journalist with two decades of experience in Buffalo. You can follow him online at @marklud12. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buffalo Common Council approves restrictions on short-term rentals
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Common Council approved changes to rules for short-term rentals in the city, which comes after city leaders temporarily halted new applications in December of last year. The changes include restrictions on where people can operate short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, in the future if they do not reside on that property. The new changes state that any non-owner-occupied rentals are banned from residential zones. The owners of those properties are also required to reside in Buffalo or designate an agent or managing company. In October of last year, city leaders proposed the temporary ban on new applications for short-term rental spaces as they looked for ways to balance the preservation of neighborhoods with an increase in Airbnbs. At the time, Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski said there were countless complaints from residents saying the neighborhoods were becoming 'less residential.' He also said areas that have seen an increase in short-term rentals have also seen a rise in 311 and 911 calls. The amendment said that the changes do not apply to existing short-term rentals currently operating with a legal license. Click here to see Buffalo's zoning map. See all of the new changes in the ordinance amendment below. Ordinance-Amendment-for-Chapter-380-Short-Term-Rental-HousingDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
