BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) It seems there's no middle ground when it comes to asylum seekers. People have strong opinions, one way or the other.
"People either think that asylum seekers are our future, or they represent everything that is wrong with our federal government," said Albany insider Jack O'Donnell of O'Donnell and Associates. "There are not many people who are in-between."
O'Donnell said he expects the migrant issue to define some political races this fall, including the Erie County Executive race, as well as congressional and the presidential race in 2024.
Here in Erie County, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is the only county executive in Western New York not to declare a state of emergency over asylum seekers.
"Poloncarz has been very clear on his position, saying an emergency declaration would not only be illegal, but totally inappropriate. That's a very strong stand," said O'Donnell. "But it all comes down to who is voting? And what is motivating people to vote? This could be a defining issue in that race," he said.
Republican strategist Carl Calabrese told WBEN this is a great issue to land in the lap of GOP Erie County Executive candidate Chrissy Casilio.
"Poloncarz has proven in the past that he has very progressive left credentials. This issue has brought that out again. He's taking a position much different than other county executives in Western New York. It's going to be an issue. It's a legitimate issue. It's going to continue to be talked about because this problem is not going to go away anytime in the county executive cycle."
Calabrese added it's a great kickoff issue for a candidate like Casilio who doesn't have name recognition and needs something to make an impression with the public. "This is falling in her lap."
Tuesday afternoon, Poloncarz that plans are coming together for asylum seekers from New York City to come to Buffalo and Erie County.
"If an influx is handled in a positive way, with state or federal resources, O'Donnell insisted it could be seen in a positive light. "But we also heard very clearly from Congressman Nick Langworthy yesterday. If migrants land in a
small community and 500 new families need support, housing and food, it's a really big burden on a smaller community," he noted.
Poloncarz issued a statement on his position on Saturday. He has not spoken publicly about it. State democrats are also not speaking about it. WBEN reached out to every democrat member of the Western New York State Legislature delegation Monday, and we were turned down. Only Mayor Byron Brown, who is a democrat, has spoken about it.
Related
"When you don't have people commenting, it's usually because they are afraid of the issue," noted O'Donnell. "They're afraid of what to say, or how to say it, or how it's going to come across. We saw this with Mayor Eric Adams in New York City. He was removed from the Biden campaign advisory committee because he was saying the president hasn't done enough to support New York City. Adams has been clear that he wants Biden to be re-elected, but speaking out cost him that role. It really is a politically fraught position for a lot of folks."