By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – As a transition continues to take place at City Hall under the new Brown administration, Mayor Byron Brown brings his own touch to the outer lobby of his office. WBFO'S Eileen Buckley explains.
For years, when you entered the Mayor's second floor City Hall office, a security guard was stationed at a desk to the left side of the lobby. But since Brown took over, the guard has been moved to the right to make room for a large tropical fish tank. One of the Mayor's hobbies is now a new fixture in his outer office area.
"Maintaining fish has been my hobby since I was about 13 years old," Brown said.
On Friday, the tank was stocked with a variety of tropical fish. But Brown promises nothing too dangerous is swimming inside.
"There will be no piranha in the fish tank."
Brown has stated that this new administration plans to hold city leaders accountable for their work, but we wanted to know if the fish will need to comply with those rules.
"The fish will hold us accountable to make sure they get fed on a daily basis."
And for those who "feed" on political gossip, the tank was provided by one of Brown's transition team members whom he selected to represent labor. Paul Brown is president of the Buffalo Building and Construction Trades Council. But he is also a local businessman who operates The Fish Place -- a local tropical fish store.
From now on visitors, guests, City Hall staffers and reporters will have something new to gaze at while waiting to meet with the Mayor.