Poloncarz calls Buffalo blizzard response ’embarrassing’; Brown suggests county exec struggling under the pressure

Erie County Government Mark C. Poloncarz stated throughout a information convention Wednesday stated that the county had taken over snow elimination efforts in a big chunk of the town, from Broadway on the Cheektowaga line to the waterfront. Buffalo was the final municipality in Western New York to be beneath a driving ban, which was anticipated to proceed to no less than 9 a.m. Thursday. 

He then criticized Mayor Byron Brown and Buffalo management for his or her lack of velocity in recovering from a significant snowstorm.

“The town, sadly, is all the time the final one to open,” Poloncarz stated. “It is embarrassing, to let you know the reality.”

Poloncarz added that the county possesses the sources – akin to funds to pay contractors – to recuperate from a storm extra shortly and effectively than the town. He stated the state has 65 items of kit, and the county has 72 high-lifts and 119 dump vehicles helping the town’s cleanout effort, in an space by which Poloncarz stated the county will not be accountable. The county govt stated Ellicott, South and Lovejoy districts within the metropolis had been amongst these receiving county assist.

He famous the county has mobilized nicely to kind emergency groups crucial to answer a disaster, such because the 858-SNOW dispatch crew led by James Blackwell, the county’s director of equal employment alternative.

“I don’t consider the town has ever had an emergency operations middle open throughout this occasion or the final one” in November, Poloncarz stated. 

“I do not wish to see this anymore – I am sick of it – I am a metropolis resident myself,” Poloncarz continued. “It pains me to see the opposite 25 cities and two small cities opened at instances when the town is not. The town has its personal issues – due to the dimensions of streets and the parking points, I perceive that – however now we have extra capabilities within the metropolis, and if now we have to, working with the state, we are going to discover a strategy to get by way of these storms faster by taking up operations if want be.

“I do know the mayor’s not thrilled to listen to it, however I do not care anymore. I need it finished.”

Throughout his subsequent briefing, Brown defended the town’s response. He stated he didn’t see what Poloncarz stated and famous that he had talked to the county govt many instances through the storm and Poloncarz had by no means stated something much like his face.

Referring to Poloncarz, Brown stated, “He has by no means as soon as, straight, county govt to mayor, stated any of these items to me. So to say that in a information briefing is a little bit unusual, it’s a little bit odd. I don’t know the place that comes from.”

Brown, who’s in his seventeenth 12 months as mayor, then steered the pressure of around-the-clock storm response was attending to Poloncarz. 

“Some folks deal with that strain quite a bit otherwise,” Brown stated. “Some preserve working, some preserve making an attempt to serving to the residents of our neighborhood, and a few break down and lash out.”

Brown careworn that Buffalo bore the brunt of a storm that reached “epic and historic” proportions. He dismissed a query about whether or not he ought to resign over the town’s response. 

“I haven’t got a feud” with the county govt, Brown stated because the information convention wound down. “I am peace and love. I am calm, cool and picked up. And I do not lose my thoughts throughout a disaster.”