By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority received some tough criticism from some city lawmakers Tuesday. A resolution was introduced at Buffalo Common Council that called for BMHA duties to be transferred to the City's Department of Strategic Planning. The proposal also called for all seven commissioners to resign.
The resolution was debated after Mayor Masiello called for the firing of three authority commissioners in the wake of a preliminary HUD report outlining lavish spending. That report cites overspending on trips and high cell phone bills. It was also critical of how the authority handles contracts. North District Council member Joseph Golobmek says with HUD's plans to cut more funding, serious reforms are needed at the authority.
"That means that we would have to reinvent BMHA. We are not reinventing BMHA," Golombek said. "It is the same BMHA that it has been for the past 20, 40, 60 years. It is a patronage pit. It is a place where we put people so they can have jobs to carry petitions for candidates who run for public office in the City of Buffalo."
There was not enough support for the resolution. Other lawmakers criticized the Housing Authority for laying off BMHA police officers last Spring due to funding cuts.
Two of the commissioners reacted following the meeting.
BMHA Chairman Sherrill Colston and long-time commissioner Mary Rogers say they have not received HUD's preliminary report. But they defended some of the cell phone and travel expenses. Colston believes those expenses occurred in June when the commissioners were searching for an executive director. He says it is necessary for commissioners to travel.
"You get a chance to meet other people, other commissioners and see how they are running thing," Colston said. "Then, you pick the best process out of what you learn and you apply it to your own."
Colston also defended the authority's decision to cut housing police. He says they had no choice. Rogers says the Mayor's call for her, Colston and a third African American commissioner to resign is pure "racism."
"It is nothing but plain bigotry," Rogers said. When they pick on three minority commissioners, it is racism at its highest. Character assassination. That is what it is."
Rogers was elected by public housing tenants. She says she's not resigning under pressure, but noted when her term is up in July, she won't run again because of this situation. Colston -- appointed by Mayor Masiello -- says he won't resign.
"I don't agree with it because first of all I haven't done anything wrong," Colston said. "And if I resign, then that means I am admitting that I have done something wrong."
Colston says does not believe the authority is corrupt.