Buffalo gives green light to red light cameras
50 intersections cited in proposal to state
Published: April 01, 2009, 12:30 am
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The Common Council on Tuesday approved legislation aimed at putting surveillance cameras at dozens of Buffalo intersections that have traffic lights.
In a 5-3 vote, the Council asked the state for permission to install surveillance devices at 50 of Buffalo’s busiest intersections in hopes of catching red-light runners.
The Assembly and the State Senate are expected to consider the proposal soon — possibly as early as today, city officials said. Mayor Byron W. Brown, a supporter of the cameras, said he is optimistic that the State Legislature will give its approval, moving forward an initiative he has pushed for three years.
Opponents are disappointed.
“The money grab is coming,” said Council Member Michael P. Kearns of the South District.
He was joined by Majority Leader Richard A. Fontana of the Lovejoy District and Niagara Council Member David A. Rivera in opposing the home rule message.
But backers insisted that the red-light cameras would serve a dual purpose.
“This is something the City of Buffalo absolutely needs from a public safety perspective, as well as a financial perspective,” said City Finance Commissioner Janet E. Penksa.
At one point, fines of up to $100 were being considered. But Penksa said the state legislation would call for $50 fines that might increase to $75 if they’re paid late. The initiative would raise $2.75 million annually for the city at a time when revenues are flat, Penksa said.
“Without any growth in any budget lines, we’re going to be very challenged to balance next year’s budget,” she said.
Referring to Penksa’s pitch for red-light cameras, Kearns later retorted, “I wish I could have counted how many times the commissioner said ‘revenue.’ ”
How the program would operate, what company would implement it and other key issues would be resolved in the coming months, supporters said. They stressed that
Council members would have one last chance to approve or reject the initiative, assuming the state authorizes the plan.
“The dialogue is not over,” Masten Council Member Demone A. Smith said. “The implementation of [red-light cameras] is not here at this time.”
But critics said that once the city places anticipated revenues in the new budget, shelving the program would be difficult.
Critics of the plan have suspicions that the city might shorten the length of yellow lights to boost revenues or target motorists who are legally moving through amber signals.
“If I find out that . . . the yellow lights are shortened, I will be the first one to say that I made a terrible mistake,” said North Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr., who sponsored the initiative with Delaware Council Member Michael J. Lo- Curto, who currently is on medical leave.
“We’re not looking to ticket people going through yellow lights,” Deputy Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda said.
In other Council action, lawmakers delayed a scheduled vote on a plan to turn a former East Side rectory into a halfway house for men coming out of prison.
Council President David A. Franczyk of the Fillmore District said new neighborhood concerns have surfaced about a plan by Cephas to transform a building behind the former Holy Apostles SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church at Clinton and Smith streets into housing for up to eight former inmates.
Franczyk said he’s hopeful that the concerns can be addressed and the Council can vote on the project soon.
bmeyer@buffnews.com
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