Scanlon on Ryan's budget finger pointing: 'It doesn't get under my skin'

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Chris Scanlon stands by his record during his 14-month tenure as acting Buffalo mayor.

As Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan grapples with a $109 million budget hole in his projected $681 million 2026-2027 city fiscal year budget, he frequently lays some of the blame at the past administrations of both Scanlon and former Mayor Byron Brown.

Ryan, in releasing his first-ever city budget on April 15, said his administration is not going to follow what has happened "for the past 20 years."

Brown, earlier this month in an exclusive interview with WBEN, discounted Ryan's claims.

And, now Scanlon is doing the same.

"I'm a big boy," Scanlon said. "I can handle what gets thrown at me. I'm not going to let it get under my skin."

In fact, now that Scanlon has returned to his South District councilman's role, he will have a voice and say in Ryan's budget.

"If you are talking about a $109 million (budget) hole, why are you adding another $80 million to the budget," Scanlon said.

Ryan and Scanlon faced off against each other in last June's Democratic Party primary for the mayor's seat. Ryan won by nearly 2,000 votes, garnering victories in six of the city's nine election districts.

The two have maintained a professional, business-like relationship.

Scanlon said he was not surprised by the political brickbats Ryan has tossed at him during budget talks.

"I stand by what we did and what we accomplished in my 14 months (as mayor)," Scanlon said.