Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Buffalo lawmakers Tuesday took action to put the brakes on the controversial school speed zone camera program that has been active in the vicinity of schools within city limits.
The Buffalo Common Council voted Tuesday to rescind the city's school zone speed camera program 6 to 3.
The matter goes to Byron Mayor Brown, whose veto could be overridden by the council.
Common Council member Rasheed Wyatt introduced the resolution, saying, "I'm extremely excited not just for me and my colleagues, but for the residents who have been suffering through a pandemic, who have been getting tickets, fees and fines, being confused and misinformed." "This is a great day for the city of Buffalo," says Wyatt.
"The fact that it's been happening and it's happened over the past several months where we've been working with the administration to put other measures in place to make the system work better. Informing drivers, and that, and it never This was the right measure, especially for the third poorest city in the nation. We have to start looking to legislate in a smarter manner."
Wyatt suggests non-punitive measures as a replacement for the camera program.
"Speed humps in school zones work, we want to see digital devices to show you how fast you're going, beacons that let you when you're entering a zone, and the times," says Wyatt, who adds those are in effect 24/7, as opposed to select hours.
Councilmember Ulysses Wingo opposes the resolution and thinks the action was rushed.
"In an attempt to please a certain group of people asking us to neglect the safety of children by rescinding the law we passed, by rushing to pass an ordinance that was going to go through a wait period anyway, was not prudent," says Wingo. He says the council failed the city's residents. "We've not given the proper time and diligence to an issue this as important as this."
Council session
Posted by Buffalo Common Council on Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Wingo believes the city can achieve both goals of keeping school students safe while, at the same time, not burdening residents with increased fines.
"We can do both. We can have photo capturing devices as well as speed humps and street marking," explains Wingo. "Why not have the folks breaking the law face the punitive measures, the folks who chronically and incessantly, despite receiving tickets. pay for the speed humps, the programs that this particular initiative is going to fund. I'm just at a loss because I don't understand the rush, especially if it doesn't go into effect until September."
Wingo says there is 91 percent compliance in school zones right now. "That's significant, it's working. We have a saying don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. We're burning the house down. It's not good governance, and it's not good legislation," says Wingo.
Wingo is more than hopeful Mayor Brown vetoes it. "I think it's necessary for him to hold it and/or veto it so the Common Council has to act like a Common Council and come together on something important as the safety of our children," says Wingo.
Wyatt says Brown will have to make a decision, and if he vetoes the resolution, there are enough votes for an override.
Mayor Brown's office Tuesday issues a brief statement, saying, "The Mayor will review this item when it's presented to him by the Clerk."
