BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – The four candidates running for mayor in Buffalo this November debated gun violence, policing, development projects, housing, education, and other local topics in what was the only planned debate ahead of the November election.
DEBATE THREAD:
Democratic candidate for mayor, India Walton, and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown are the two most well-known candidates for the city’s top elected position. Walton stunned Brown in the June primary, forcing the four-term incumbent mayor to seek a last-ditch effort via write-in votes and a pending independent line to win the election. Joining the two in the debate were Benjamin Carlisle and Jazz Miles.
While the candidates each took shots at one-another over the course of the debate, much of the criticism was focused on both Walton and Brown. For Walton, she was blasted for her inexperience in government, her embrace of democratic socialism, and by Brown in particular for her public stance on wanting to raise taxes for city residents.
“She said in an interview that she’s going to raise taxes by 3%,” Brown said. “3% is not a modest tax increase. If you own a $100,000 home in the City of Buffalo that means an extra $300 a year.”
Walton said prior to American Rescue Plan funding, the City of Buffalo was at a $65 million deficit and said the increases were necessary and more ethical than fines and fees.
The criticisms were piled on against the mayor, too, so much so that at one point he said he felt like a “three-way punching bag”.
“What has not happened over the last 16 years is an evaluation of how we’re spending our money, where we’re putting our priorities, and that needs to happen,” Walton said. “When something isn’t working, then we need change.”
“The people of Buffalo shouldn’t have to choose between someone who has (wasted taxpayer dollars) for the last 16 years or a socialist,” Carlisle said.
“We need better representatives for the City of Buffalo,” Miles said. “Buffalo deserves better representation.”
After debating the issues, the candidates gave their pitch to voters why they should be elected the next mayor of Buffalo.
“This is our moment,” Walton said in her closing remarks. “For so long we have needed bold, competent leadership. For so long, we’ve needed ground-up economic development, affordable housing. For so long, we’ve needed an effective approach to public safety. For too long, we’ve needed to end corruption in City Hall. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get the change that we need. Don’t let a coordinated smear and fear campaign steal that away.”
“The choice in this election couldn’t be more clear,” Brown said. “It’s a choice between proven results and false, empty promises. During my tenure as mayor, we’ve been able to cut taxes by 16%. We’ve seen our property values go up in every section of the City of Buffalo. We’ve seen billions of dollars in economic development and thousands of jobs created. We’ve seen the Northland Workforce Training Center built on the east side of Buffalo training hundreds of people in advanced manufacturing so they can create opportunities for themselves and their families.”
“The media has told us you really only have two choices: Socialism or the status quo,” Carlisle said. “I hope after tonight you learned there are additional choices in this race.”
“We’ve been dealt the raw deal going back to the great society,” Miles said. “In the 1960s, 40% of the Black community owned their own businesses. 80% of our homes were two-parent homes. Nowadays it’s less than 7% that own their own businesses and 25% are two-parent homes. What happened?”
Following the debate, only Brown and Carlisle were available to interview. Hear their comments below: