Friday's fight at the Walden Galleria has Erie County Legislator Tim Meyers more than concerned.
Meyers, who legislative district covers much of Cheektowaga including the Walden Galleria, said he wants to convene a town hall meeting that will focus not only on Friday's fight but, going forward, if more security measures are needed.
The meeting has not yet been scheduled but Meyers said he wants representatives from the Walden Galleria's management and security teams there as well as law enforcement officials, elected officials, mall tenants, security experts and even the general public.
"There's a great picture that needs to be looked at," Meyers said.
In Friday's fight, three women were stabbed and two were arrested.
Besides its own security, the Walden Galleria has heavy patrols from the Cheektowaga Police Department.
"Officers have and will continue to patrol the concourse of the mall during peak times," said Capt. Jeffrey Schmidt of the Cheektowaga Police Department.
The bi-level, 1.6 million square foot mall that opened in 1989 is the region's last remaining enclosed shopping center and that, in itself, makes it a target and destination for youth to hang out.
The mall has 200 stores and restaurants and attracts more than 20 million shoppers and visitors annually.
The number of incidents that require police or security assistance is limited, Meyers said.
But, security is a key issue, the legislator said.
"Because of all that, this (security) is a conversation that needs to be had," Meyers said.