Mayor calls for special session for land transfer deal

By Eileen Buckley

Buffalo, NY – The Mayor is using his powers to convene a special session of the Common Council.

Mayor Byron Brown is ordering Council members out of their summer recess to vote on a proposed land transfer deal between the city and Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation.

"The future of Buffalo's waterfront development, and future of downtown development is at a crossroads," said Mayor Brown.

The Mayor warns that if the agreement is not approved it could jeopardize HSBC's search for a new regional operation center downtown. HBSC's is eyeing a parcel of waterfront land that is part of the transfer deal. "As their lease expires in 2013, that this is a site that they are very interested in.If this site is not available as the bank goes through its process, we could potentially loss 4,000 jobs in downtown Buffalo," said Mayor Brown.

At a news conference at City Hall Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Brown called on lawmakers to hold a special session Wednesday, August 4th at 2 p.m.

The mayor called in some heavy hitters to make his point. Buffalo developer and republican Gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino and Erie Canal Harbor Development board member Larry Quinn also spoke to reporters.

Quinn noted that HSBC is the second largest bank in the world. He told reporters HSBC has under gone a complete transformation as a bank, and is now poise to establish their future growth will be.

"They'd like it to be in Buffalo. They are sold on our plan for the waterfront. They want to be a part of it," said Quinn.

At the heart of the disagreement between some lawmakers and the city for the land transfer deal is the repeated calls by community groups and some lawmakers for a Community Benefits Agreement and a Living Wage for future Canalside development. They said the land transfer doesn't provide a CBA.

"What's holding this up is nonsense. I was much mroe polite last week, but I am now sick of it," said Quinn.

Carl Paladino said despite his past differences with Brown he wanted to support the mayor to convince the Council to approve the land transfer to keep HSBC in downtown Buffalo and preseve jobs.

"This is not a day for fighting division or petty politics, this is a day for unity. I stand with the mayor and demand that the council act immediately to transfer this land," said Palandino.

Common Council Majority Leader Richard Fontana says he is working to convince lawmakers to approve the deal. Six votes are needed to pass the land transfer. So far Fontana only four votes. But he says he is hopeful others will have six votes at Wednesday's session.

"I hope I do. To be honest with you, I think it is a travesty if I don't,"

Delaware District lawmaker Michael LoCurto is against the land deal saying it does not provide a Community benefit agreement and living wage for Canal Side. At a recent Common Council meeting LoCurto called the land transfer agreement a "council bribery agreement."