By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson unveiled a brand new "zero tolerance" plan Wednesday. The law enforcement action plan is designed to target quality of life crimes and violations in the city.
It will initially target three major areas -- street level drug dealing, graffiti and noise.
Part of the crack down does include the recent parking ticket blitz conducted by Buffalo police. But Mayor Brown says he categorically denies asking the police union to step up the efforts against illegally park cars in exchange for lifting a wage freeze.
"I absolutely, categorically deny that," Brown said. "We have stated all along that we want to move the control board from the active state that it is in now to a dormant state."
As for the recent discrepancies over street signs versus parking laws, Mayor Brown says the signs should take precedence. He says citizens should follow the rules on the parking signs.
Brown is also calling on the Common Council to pass a new rule that will allow for free parking on weekends in downtown Buffalo.