Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Wednesday is set to be the final day in office for Chris Scanlon as Mayor of Buffalo, as he makes way for incoming Mayor Sean Ryan, who will be sworn into office on Thursday.
Scanlon took the time on Tuesday to not only thank his staff and others in city government, but also highlight a number of his accomplishments in office over his 14 months as Acting Mayor.
"In October of 2024, I had the incredible honor of assuming the role of Mayor of Buffalo, the greatest professional honor that I have known. However, our city, at that time, was facing significant challenges," Scanlon noted during his final address to city residents from the Mayor's Office. "We were confronting a major year-end deficit from the prior fiscal year, a significant mid-year shortfall and a long-standing structural deficit. We were dealing with aging infrastructure and years of deferred investment that were being felt in neighborhoods across the City of Buffalo. There was a lack of accountability and transparency in this building, we were not customer friendly, and there was a lack of trust between the men and women of our police department and the public. Federal funding was at risk and difficult decisions had to be made quickly to stabilize city operations, and to protect essential services and our most vulnerable residents. These were not theoretical challenges. These were real, tangible, urgent issues that demanded immediate action."
In addition to addressing the fiscal stability of the City of Buffalo, Scanlon also highlighted a number of other actions his administration accomplished, including capital investment, housing and neighborhood initiatives, public safety and community well-being and more.
"All-in-all, we have strengthened city government," Scanlon said. "Inside of City Hall, we focused on making government work better. We strengthened city operations through tighter spending controls, vacancy management and the creation of the Office of Innovation, with the goal of delivering services more efficiently, transparently and responsibly."
As Scanlon prepares to leave the Mayor's Office and return to the Buffalo Common Council, he feels he does so knowing that Buffalo is in a stronger position than it was last October.
"The next administration will inherit a city with clearer stabilized finances, a safer city, a more accountable government, record investment at their fingertips, and tools at their disposal to continue that investment, a plan for downtown and our neighborhoods, and transparent processes to improve communication to our residents. All-in-all, a clear path forward for our city," Scanlon said.
"Serving as your mayor has been an incredible privilege. It has been an absolute honor. I am proud of the work we've accomplished together, I am grateful for the trust that you've placed in me, and very confident in Buffalo's future, as long as we continue to work together in that manner."
Scanlon admits there's one word that can best describe the last 14 months for him during his time in office: Chaotic.
"This job, this level, this floor here at City Hall - and everyone can attest to it that works here - it's constant. It's 24 hours a day, it's non stop," Scanlon analyzed. "But the fact that we arrived last October, was faced with some tremendous challenges - both internally and externally. While running a campaign - that's not your typical timeline, you usually land in an office like this and have your first 90-100 days to get up-and-running, but in the midst of that, we were running a campaign. So chaotic is the first word that comes to mind."
However, the next word that comes to mind for Scanlon to best describe his 14-month tenure is "successful".
"The work that my team has done in the last 14 months, I would put up against any 14-month stretch in the history of the city," Scanlon said. "Because of that, this city is safer, we are more sound-footing financially, we communicate better with the public, there's more streamlined processes here. And I'm eternally grateful to the men and women that have worked here, and that I've had the great pleasure of working with for the last 14 months."
When Scanlon first took office back in October 2024, one of his administration's goals was to leave no stone unturned when examining the Mayor's Office. While he feels his administration accomplished many of its goals, he wishes he had more time to turn some more stones over.
"Obviously this was not the plan. I planned on being here for a few more years, but, again, I'm extremely proud of the work that was accomplished during this 14-month span," Scanlon said. "We inherited some challenges, we chose to use them as opportunities for us to get better. I believe we've done that, and I think that we've set up the next administration for success."
As Scanlon gets ready to return to the Buffalo Common Council, representing the city's South District, he feels the experience he's gained in the Mayor's Office will prove even more valuable.
"Until you get down here and see how things were operating, you don't have that full picture. Now returning to the Council, I think that makes me a stronger public servant, stronger Councilman knowing the inside-and-outs of the operation," Scanlon said. "I think I can lend that expertise now, that experience to my colleagues on the Council and make sure that we are cooperating and working with the new administration. I've said this before I was on the Council, I've said this when I was on the Council, I've said this as mayor, that I think that partnership and collaboration is the key to our success here in Buffalo. So looking forward to collaborating with my colleagues on the Council and the new administration to continue to make sure that Buffalo reaches its full potential."
While Scanlon served as the Common Council President before taking over for Byron Brown as mayor in October 2024, he says Council members are having internal discussions about the future leadership, and he thought it could be detrimental to the city if he tried to pursue Council President.
"The question was brought up about politics, government, things like that. In case there's any lingering animosity or anything out there, I thought it was wise for me to not be in those leadership negotiations, things like that," Scanlon said. "I think the body can benefit from my experience, for sure, and I will certainly lend that support to all my colleagues, in particular the leadership. But I thought it'd be wiser to take a half a step back with regard to leadership."