By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo police, fire and other city union members filled Common Council chambers to capacity Thursday afternoon urging lawmakers not to make cutbacks in public safety.
In the midst of city budget hearings, rank-and-file police and firefighters showed up at City Hall, holding signs with strong messages aimed at Mayor Masiello. The signs read "less cops equal more crime," "save our city" and "no police layoffs." Others brought their young children. Martha Meegan, whose husband is a police officer, held a baby girl before lawmakers, as an example of police and fire families.
"In a flash of a gunshot, or a car speeding down the street, this child will not have her father or mother," Meegan said. "You don't cut police protection -- end of story. If you have to cut some where start at the top of the police department where the big salaries."
Buffalo Police Benevolent Association President Robert Meegan says the city must stop 88 job cuts in order to protect officers and citizens.
"The way to re-engineer city government is not to dismantle police, fire or public safety," he said. "That is the number one, and should be the number one priority of city government."
The PBA is calling on the council to reconsider the cuts in the mayor's proposed budget.
Council President James Pitts, impressed with the show of support by police, firefighters and their families, referred to the session as a rally. He told the crowd the "city is at war" in this fiscal crisis.
Pitts received two standing ovations as he called it an "extraordinary" time for Buffalo.