May 11, 2023 Legislative Session

[00:00:02]

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO ORDER.

THIS IS MEETING NUMBER TEN OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.

MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL?

[ ROLL CALL]

IF YOU ARE ABLE, PLEASE RISE FOR THE INVOCATION THAT WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR MALCZEWSKI.

LORD, PLEASE GUIDE US IN THIS MEETING.

HELP US COME UP WITH EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES THAT ENABLE US TO MOVE FORWARD AS A TEAM.

HELP US TO GENERATE GOOD PLANS THAT ARE PRACTICAL, SUSTAINABLE AND EASILY IMPLEMENTED.

GUIDE US TOWARDS THE BEST WAY TO TAKE ACTION TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS.

HELP US COME UP WITH EXCELLENT SOLUTIONS AND LEAD THIS MEETING IN SPITE.

AMEN. AMEN.

PLEASE REMAIN STANDING IF YOU ARE ABLE, FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN.

ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

THERE ARE NONE.

MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, MR.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]

SECOND. IT'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM MEETINGS NUMBER EIGHT AND NINE MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED.

OKAY. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY THE MEETING MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE ARE NONE.

MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE AND CONTINUED ON TO PAGE THREE.

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED CARRY UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOT BEFORE THE BODY.

LEGISLATOR? MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE SPONSORSHIP.

SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO MAKE THAT ALL MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE AMENDED.

MR. GILMOUR MOVED TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED AT THIS TIME.

I INVITE MY COLLEAGUE, LEGISLATOR GILMOUR TO THE DAIS, AND I ALSO INVITE OUR ANNUAL GUESTS, MR. AND MRS. MALCZEWSKI AND OUR GOOD FRIEND JACK.

THIS HAS BECOME NOW AN ANNUAL TRADITION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP FAMILY FOR OUR HONORABLE BODY TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE APRAXIA AWARENESS DAY.

HI, JACK.

LEGISLATOR DO YOU WANT TO JOIN ME IN READING THE RESOLUTION? LEAVE IT TO YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, FAMILY FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

WHEREAS MAY 14TH MARCH CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH DAY DURING WHICH AWARENESS WILL BE RAISED THROUGHOUT ERIE COUNTY ABOUT CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH, AN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING SPEECH DISORDER THAT AFFECTS ONE IN EVERY 1 IN 1000 CHILDREN.

AND. WHEREAS, THE MONTH OF MAY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED APRAXIA AWARENESS MONTH WHICH CORRESPONDS WITH MAY AS BETTER HEARING AND SPEECH MONTH SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND HEARING ASSOCIATION.

AND. WHEREAS, APRAXIA AWARENESS DAY AIMS TO UNITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS' CHILDREN WITH CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH, THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON MAY 14TH TO BE AN UNSTOPPABLE UNITED FORCE ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA OF SPEECH.

AND. WHEREAS, DURING APRAXIA AWARENESS DAY, WORKPLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY WEAR BLUE TO CELEBRATE CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA OF SPEECH.

AND. WHEREAS, CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH APRAXIA GENERALLY HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF LANGUAGE AND KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY.

DESPITE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY LEARNING OR CARRYING OUT THE COMPLEX MOVEMENTS THAT UNDERLINE SPEECH.

AND. WHEREAS, FOR PARENTS WHO THINK THEIR CHILD MAY HAVE CAS, THERE IS HELP THROUGHOUT CONSULTING A SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST WHO CAN HELP DIAGNOSE.

AND PROVIDE INTENSIVE AND APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION FOR CAS AS WELL AS OTHER SPEECH LANGUAGE LEARNING,

[00:05:10]

AND. WHEREAS, WITHOUT APPROPRIATE SPEECH THERAPY INTERVENTION, CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA WILL HAVE DIMINISHED COMMUNICATION SKILLS BUT ARE ALSO PLACED AT HIGH RISK FOR SECONDARY IMPACTS IN READING, WRITING, SPELLING AND OTHER SCHOOL RELATED SKILLS.

AND, WHEREAS, MORE CONVERSATIONS WE START ABOUT APRAXIA, THE GREATER THE OPPORTUNITIES EXCUSE ME, THE GREATER THE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND PROMOTE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY.

AND. WHEREAS, PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH IN ERIE COUNTY IS ESSENTIAL FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH CHILDHOOD APRAXIA, APRAXIA OF SPEECH, AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SUPPORT THEM TO BE THE BEST ADVOCATE FOR NEEDED SERVICES FOR CHILDREN LEARNING TO USE THEIR OWN VOICE.

AND WHEREAS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GENERATE GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS OF CAS AND ERIE COUNTY AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PHYSICIANS, EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS, POLICY MAKERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AND, WHEREAS, OUR CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA OF SPEECH ARE OUR HEROES AND HEROINES SHOWING US THE ENDLESS SUPPLY OF STRENGTH THAT THEY HAVE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH HAPPINESS AND JOY.

AND. WHEREAS, OUR HIGHEST RESPECT GOES TO THESE CHILDREN AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES, FOR THEIR EFFORT, DETERMINATION AND RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF SUCH OBSTACLES. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS HONORABLE BODY RECOGNIZES THE APRAXIA AWARENESS DAY AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO SELFISHLY ACT TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND OTHERS TO BECOME ACTIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ROLE MODELS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED. THAT MAY 14TH, 2023 IS APRAXIA AWARENESS DAY AND CITIZENS OF ERIE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO WORK WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE RECOGNIZES COURTNEY MALCZWESKI AND HER FAMILY AS STRONG ADVOCATES FOR APRAXIA AWARENESS FOR HER COMMITMENT TO BUILDING EDUCATION AROUND THIS DISORDER AND FOR HER EFFORT, DETERMINATION AND RESILIENCE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL THAT.

LIVE WITH APRAXIA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MALCZEWSKI FAMILY.

WE LOVE HAVING YOU.

PLEASE GREET THE CROWD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK.

THAT'S A LOT TO READ. WE APPRECIATE IT.

JEFF, IS EVERYTHING IN HERE? I DON'T KNOW. HE WILL OVERCOME THIS.

IT'S SOMETHING HE WILL ALWAYS HAVE, BUT HE IS LEARNING STRATEGIES AND WAYS TO COMMUNICATE.

HE'S STRONGER THAN ANY OF US.

WE HAVE TWO OLDER BOYS, HIS OLDER BROTHERS, AND THEY'RE ROCK STARS WITH HIM.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.

SO THANK YOU.

I THINK I'M MORE EMOTIONAL THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

CAN YOU SAY HI? HI.

SAY THANK YOU. TELL EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE SPREADING AWARENESS IS THE BIGGEST THING.

SO AMEN.

SHOULD WE GIVE COURTNEY A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY? ROUND OF APPLAUSE. IT GETS EASIER.

IT DOES. THANK YOU GUYS FOR JOINING US AS ALWAYS.

AND THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

BY JACK.

BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION.

I APPRECIATE JACK AND HIS RESILIENCE AND HIS EXAMPLE.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

IF YOU'RE IN THE PAPER COPY.

WE ARE NOW ON PAGE THREE.

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

[00:10:03]

COMMITTEE REPORTS REPORT NUMBER SIX FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

SECOND. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON, HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER SIX FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR JOHNSON.

THANK YOU AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR, FOR THE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

IT'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY COMMITTEE CHAIR JOHNSON.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS INTRO 10-1 REGARDING THE REALLOCATION OF RENEWED PLAN FUNDING FROM LEGISLATIVE

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY THE MINORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

INTRO TEN DASH TWO IS REFERRED TO THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

INTRO TEN DASH THREE FROM LEGISLATOR TODARO REGARDING SUPPORTING KYRA'S LAW IN NEW YORK STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATOR GILMOUR? MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE.

[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO DISCHARGE A COMMUNICATION FOR E! DASH NINE MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR, AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THERE'S NO QUESTION ON THE DISCHARGE.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK ON THE QUESTIONS FOR THE MOTION? OKAY. OKAY.

THE ITEM IS DISCHARGED.

OKAY. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

LEGISLATOR GILMOUR MOVED TO AMEND COMMUNICATION 4E-9 WITH WHAT'S BEEN PASSED OUT.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT ON THE ITEM MADE BY LEGISLATOR.

GILMOUR HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS GOING TO DO IS PROVIDE A STUDY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST METHOD OF GETTING THE CURRENT SEWAGE DOWN TRANSIT ROAD FROM A PLANNED EXPANSION AT A NORTH OF NORTH BRANCH AT THE PEANUT LINE.

THERE'S CURRENTLY A PLAN TO EXPAND THE EASTERN HILLS MALL TO INCLUDE A RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT, IF NOT THE LARGEST INVESTMENT OF PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN NEW YORK COUNTY HISTORY AS FAR AS PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT SEWER CAPACITY TO GO DOWN TRANSIT ROAD.

SO THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE SHOULD PUT A PARALLEL LINE DOWN A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE OR UTILIZE A DIFFERENT ACCESS POINT DOWN HARRIS HILL.

SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY IS GOING TO FIND OUT WHICH ONE IS GOING TO BE THE MOST ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE IN THE LONG TERM BENEFIT OVER THE NEXT 40 YEARS.

SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT DATING BACK TO THE 1940S, WHEN THE HARRIS HILL NEIGHBORHOOD WAS PUT IN.

THOSE WERE ALL PUT ON SEPTIC.

AND THERE IS A SERIOUS CONCERN BY THE TOWN OF CLARENCE THAT AN EPA CONSENT ORDER WILL MANDATE SEWERS IN THAT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THIS THIS STUDY WILL ALSO TAKE THAT INTO IMPACT ON WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THAT POTENTIAL EPA CONSENT ORDER.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE I WOULD GO THERE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU, SIR. I'M THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS AMENDED.

MR. GILMOUR MOVED TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 4-9 AS AMENDED.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

SECOND. SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

THE ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

NEXT DISCHARGE. MR. GILMOUR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION SIX DASH TEN FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO DISCHARGE.

THE ITEM MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR IS CONSECUTIVE BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MR. GILMOUR. MOVE TO AMEND COMMUNICATION 6E-10 WITH WHAT'S BEEN PASSED OUT.

SECOND. OKAY, SO THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO AMEND THE ITEM WITH WHAT'S BEEN PASSED OUT BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR AND THE SECOND BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

[00:15:01]

MR. GILMOUR MOVED TO APPROVE COMMUNICATIONS 6E-10 AS AMENDED.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS AMENDED MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR, AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

ALL IN FAVOR? HI.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES.

[ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO INCLUDE AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND I RECOGNIZE LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

OH, SORRY.

THE ITEM, MR. CLERK. OKAY.

SO DO WE HAVE TO CALL THE VOTE ON THE ITEM AS IT IS PRESENTED, OR CAN WE INTRODUCE ANOTHER SUSPENSION? WELL, I'D LIKE TO DO THIS ONE FIRST AND THEN DO OURS.

YEAH. OKAY.

I'D LIKE TO.

I JUST WANT TO REFER TO DEFER TO COUNSEL AS TO SUSPENSIONS BEFORE US.

DO WE HAVE TO? BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH.

WELL, ONE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN PRESENTED.

THERE'S ANOTHER SUSPENSION THAT COMPLEMENTS IT.

DO WE HAVE TO HANDLE THE FIRST SUSPENSION? YES. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. YEAH.

AND THEN THE SECOND. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE AN ITEM BEFORE US.

THE MOTION. YEAH.

LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A MEETING? CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY LEGISLATOR GREENE.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO ON THE QUESTION.

LEGISLATOR GREENE? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

HAS ANYBODY WHO'S TURNED DOWN A TELEVISION OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS? THE COVERT GROUP, WHICH IS A LOCAL DEVELOPER, HAS HAD A WHISTLEBLOWER WHO HAD AUDIO RECORDED A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVEL MANAGEMENT REFERENCING SOME TREMENDOUSLY OVERT, ILLEGAL OR I BELIEVE WHAT ARE LEGAL BUT CERTAINLY UNETHICAL PRACTICES TARGETED TOWARDS DEVELOPING LANDS OUTSIDE AND AWAY FROM DELIBERATELY AWAY FROM BLACK COMMUNITIES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY UNACCEPTABLE.

I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS, EVERYBODY IN SOCIETY FOR THE MOST PART WOULD AGREE THAT THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THIS IS A GROUP WHO IS CURRENTLY HEADED BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DOES HAVE APPOINTMENTS ON PROMINENT BOARDS LOCALLY.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE BOARDS TO SUSPEND THAT INDIVIDUAL ON THE RECORDINGS THAT REFERENCES THESE POLICIES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED AT THE DIRECTION OF UPPER MANAGEMENT.

AND WITH THAT SAID, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE AS A WE AS A BODY NEED TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE.

THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

IT WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF CONSEQUENCES DIRECTED TOWARDS THE HEAD OF THAT ORGANIZATION THAT THAT IS PROMOTING THOSE TYPE OF POLICIES. SO IT'S WITH THAT IN MIND THAT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR APPROVAL ON THIS TO RECOMMEND THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HEADS THIS ORGANIZATION AT LEAST BE SUSPENDED FROM THOSE BOARDS AND ENCOURAGE THOSE BOARDS TO ACT ON THOSE SUSPENSIONS UNTIL THE CURRENT LAWSUIT THAT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST THE GROUP IS CONCLUDED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. I'LL BE HEARD ON THE QUESTION OF THIS ITEM.

UM, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE FOR BRINGING ATTENTION, SPECIFICALLY MINE TO THIS TOPIC.

I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, MR. CLERK, BETWEEN THE BREAK, TO LISTEN TO THE RECORDINGS.

AND IT IS DISTURBING, TO SAY THE ABSOLUTE LEAST, I'M AT A LOSS OF WORDS CONSIDERING THAT WE ARE HEADING JUST TWO DAYS AWAY FROM THE MEMORIAL OF THE MASS SHOOTING THAT WAS A RACIALLY TARGETED MASS SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED A YEAR AGO HERE IN ERIE COUNTY.

I COMMEND MY COLLEAGUES FOR SPEAKING OUT AND DRAWING ATTENTION TO RACISM, RACIST CONVERSATION AND ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE ATTACHED TO IT.

MY CONCERN WITH THIS PARTICULAR SUSPENSION, MR. CLERK, IS THE FACT THAT IT IS EXTREMELY SPECIFIC TO AN ISOLATED INSTANCE HERE IN ERIE COUNTY.

AND I THINK THAT RACISM, I THINK THAT DISCRIMINATION, SPECIFICALLY TO HOUSING AND I THINK THAT WHITE SUPREMACY.

I THINK THAT WHITE MALES HAVING MEETINGS THAT DISCUSS PEOPLE OF COLOR OR USE CODED LANGUAGE AGAINST PEOPLE OF

[00:20:07]

AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE THIS HONORABLE BODY TO DO IS TO NOT SOLELY FOCUS ON ONE ISSUE.

AS WE KNOW, WE COULD HAVE A RACIST OR RACIST PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN RACIST DIALOG SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO US AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT.

WE NEED TO CALL THIS OUT BIGGER THAN JUST WHAT IS GOING ON.

POSSIBLY ON THIS CALL OR IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS TYPE OF LANGUAGE AND THIS TYPE OF RHETORIC HAS HARMED OUR COUNTRY, DESTROYED OUR COUNTRY, DESTROYED FAMILIES, AND QUITE FRANKLY, PROHIBITED THE UPWARD MOBILITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND SO IT IS MUCH BIGGER THAN THE CLOVER GROUP.

IT IS MUCH MORE DESTRUCTIVE THAN THE MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP THAT WERE ON THE CALL LAUGHING ABOUT BEING NON-INCLUSIVE AND USING CODED LANGUAGE TO DISCUSS BEING NOT INCLUSIVE OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PRACTICES WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS PLAGUED OUR COUNTRY SINCE ITS BEGINNING, AND WHAT I'M CALLING ON IS FOR THE MEMBERS OF THIS HONORABLE BODY TO CALL OUT THIS GROUP TO TAKE ACTION, BUT TO ALSO CALL OUT RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION AND PEOPLE WHO MAKE LIGHT OF IT ON A LARGER SCALE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

SO I KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY CAUCUS HAS A RESOLUTION THAT SPEAKS MUCH WIDER TO THE ISSUE.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE MAJORITY CAUCUS VERSION.

AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE TO DO THE SAME.

SO I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THE SUSPENSION.

THANK YOU, MR. CLERK, ON THE QUESTION.

ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE SUSPENSION.

CAN WE AMEND THAT TO.

NO, NO. WE HAVE OUR OWN VOTING ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE SUSPENSION.

THANK YOU. EXPLAIN MY VOTE AS I STAND.

EXPLAIN THING. THAT WAS MESSED UP.

I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BIGGER THAN THE CLOVER GROUP.

BUT THIS IS A GROUP WHO HAS RELIED ON PUBLIC SUPPORT AS FAR AS PILOT PROGRAMS TO GET THEIR CURRENT PROJECTS OFF THE GROUND.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THE MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE HARD AND SHARP.

I THINK I'VE SOFTENED IT A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE WITH USING THE TERM SUSPENSION VERSUS CALLING FOR AN OUTRIGHT DISMISSAL FROM THE BOARD.

BUT IN THE END, I THINK WE NEED TO SHOW THAT THERE IS TEETH BY THIS BODY THAT THESE TYPE OF PRACTICES IN THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY ARE COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

AND THEREFORE, I'M GOING TO REQUEST THE SUPPORT SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES.

AND SHOULD THE GROUP CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO SO WITH THE PROPER ETHICS THAT WE REQUEST, AND THAT GOES BEYOND JUST THEM.

BUT EVERYBODY WHO COMES FOR, YOU KNOW, PILOT PROGRAMS, THAT THEIR EXPECTATION IS TO TREAT EVERYBODY FAIRLY.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU, MADAM. YES, YES.

YES OR NO? EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I APPRECIATE THE ZEAL AND THE PASSION THAT LEGISLATOR GREENE IS SPEAKING ABOUT WITH THIS PARTICULAR GROUP.

AND I THINK THAT THE COMPLEMENTARY RESOLUTION OR SUSPENSION, SUSPENDED RESOLUTION THAT THE MAJORITY CAUCUS SHOWED THE MINORITY CAUCUS AND ASKED FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON, DOES THAT IT SPECIFICALLY ASKS OR DEMANDS AND CALLS OUT THE GROUP TO MAKE A STAND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY AND DEFINITELY ASKS THEM TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THOSE HATEFUL IDEOLOGIES DO NOT REFLECT THEIR PRACTICES AS THEY DO BUSINESS IN THE HOUSING MARKET NATIONALLY.

AND IT ALSO CALLS ON THE CLOVER GROUP TO TERMINATE ANY PERSONS THAT THEY KNOW ENGAGED IN THE PHONE CALL THAT WAS RECORDED AND PUT OUT BY THE MEDIA.

SO WHAT WE HAVE ALSO DONE IN OUR VERSION OF THE RESOLUTION IS WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE RACIST, TARGETED

[00:25:07]

AND I JUST PERSONALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS VERSION OF THE TOPIC GOES FAR ENOUGH.

I THINK IT'S VERY PERSONALIZED.

I THINK IT CENTRALIZES IT AROUND ONE SPECIFIC GROUP.

AND WE KNOW THAT THAT GROUP IS A GROUP OF MANY GROUPS THAT IS CONSISTENTLY MARGINALIZING AFRICAN AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. AND AND IF WE PASS ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK ABOUT RACISM, IF IT IS ABSENT LANGUAGE THAT FOCUSES ON 514, I CANNOT BE IN SUPPORT OF IT.

SO I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS VERSION AND I WILL BE VOTING YES ON THE MAJORITY CAUCUS'S VERSION.

THAT DOES NOT JUST SILO THIS INCIDENT TO ONE SPECIFIC GROUP, BUT IT DEFINITELY HIGHLIGHTS THAT IT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAS PLAGUED OUR COUNTRY. IT HAS TAKEN OUR NEIGHBORS FROM US IN THE LAST YEAR, AND IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO STOP BEYOND THE CLOVER GROUP.

MY VOTE IS NO, MR. CLERK.

YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE THAT THE ONE ASPECT IS THAT IN THIS CHAMBER WE HEARD LAST YEAR A SURPRISE BY FELLOW LEGISLATORS GOING WITH THE IDEA OF BAD APPLE VERSUS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.

TWO OF OUR LEGISLATORS HAD SAID SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITH REGARD TO THE COURTS THAT IT'S NOT A PROBLEM OF SYSTEMIC BIAS IN THE COURTS.

IT'S A COUPLE OF BAD ACTORS.

AND THIS THE REASON WHY I'M VOTING AGAINST THIS AND VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE OTHER ONE IS THAT IT GIVES SORT OF LICENSE TO THIS BAD ACTOR KIND OF THING INSTEAD OF A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM. WHAT'S IN PEOPLE'S IS IMPLICIT BIAS.

WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK WHAT'S IN THEIR HEARTS, YOU AREN'T LEGISLATING WHAT'S IN PEOPLE'S HEARTS, BUT YOU'RE LEGISLATING THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE TAPE RECORDINGS, IT'S THE CONSEQUENCES.

LAST YEAR, THIS COMPANY SETTLED A LAWSUIT FOR QUITE A BIT FOR VIOLATIONS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.

AND THAT'S APPROPRIATE THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE ACTS OF THAT COMPANY.

IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT THE EMPLOYER BE THE PARTICULAR HEAD OF THE COMPANY.

ACCORDING TO THE BUFFALO NEWS, THERE WERE NO TAPES WITH HIM SUGGESTING ANY RACISM PERSONALLY.

BUT HE HAS TO GO BEYOND THAT AND ROOT OUT THE BIAS IN THIS THING AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT A CULTURE OF THAT.

AND THAT'S ON HIM TO CAUSE THAT AND TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND THEY DID THAT BY SETTLING THAT LAWSUIT.

AND ALSO THERE SHOULD BE DOING IT NOW OF DOING WHAT OUR CHAIRWOMAN SUGGESTED OF GETTING RID OF THOSE PEOPLE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WE TALK ABOUT LIKE, HOW DO YOU CHANGE? THERE'S ALL KINDS OF STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT YOU CAN'T CHANGE, STOP SOMEONE FROM BEING A RACIST JUST BY EDUCATION, JUST BY THAT KIND OF TRAINING.

YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE CLOSE ASSOCIATION, LIKE WORKING WITH SOMEBODY, GOING TO SCHOOL WITH SOMEONE, HAVING A PARTNER WITH SOMEONE, LIVING WITH SOMEONE.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO TERRIBLE IN HOUSING TO HAVE THIS, BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE LIVE IN THEIR BIASES, BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVER HAVE THAT CLOSE CONTACT.

SO I DO SUPPORT THE HEART OF THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, LIABILITY ON EMPLOYERS FOR THE CREATING A CULTURE THAT PROMOTES THE CONSEQUENCES OF SYSTEMIC RACISM.

BUT I DON'T SUPPORT JUST MINIMIZING THE PROBLEM BY SAYING A FEW BAD ACTORS.

WE HAVE TO EMBRACE THE WHOLE THING, WHICH IS WHAT I AM THANKFUL TO OUR CHAIR FOR HAVING DONE HERE.

YOUR VOTE IS NO ON THIS ONE.

OKAY. OKAY, SO THE ITEM FAILS.

MR. GILMOUR? HAD ONE SUSPENSION FOR APPROVAL.

A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES AT CLOVER GROUP.

MR. CLERK? MOVE TO APPROVE. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR, AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

YES. I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE.

COULD YOU GO ALONG WITH THIS? THE [INAUDIBLE] SPONSORED RESOLUTION, BECAUSE IT'S HIT SOME HIGH POINTS.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CLOVER COMPANY, THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE HEADMAN.

AND WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE AS AGGRESSIVELY AS WE SHOULD.

BUT I WILL VOTE FOR THIS.

THANK YOU. YES, MY VOTE IS YES.

YES, YES.

YOU SWAY MY VOTE.

I'M GOING TO BE A YES ON THIS.

I THINK WE'RE ON A PRECIPICE OF A 514 AND THE MASS MURDER MASS SHOOTING THAT TOOK PLACE THAT TIME.

[00:30:05]

IT'S THE INSTITUTE OF IT'S THE INSTITUTIONS THAT DO, YOU KNOW, NO PROPER GUN REFORM LAWS, A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT ADDS UP TO THIS.

AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT FROM A A WIDER LENS THAN JUST SILENCE.

WHEN WE ADDRESS IT FROM THE WIDER LENS, WE CAN CAPTURE IT, YOU KNOW, BOTTLE IT AND CONTAIN IT AND CONTROL IT BETTER THAT WAY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE JUST SILO OUR ITEM, WE SILO THAT SITUATION FOR ANOTHER TIME.

AND THIS IS WHERE YOU GET THE BAD APPLES, AS WE'VE SEEN SINCE 5/14, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COPYCAT CRIMES.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT SILOING ISSUE DOES.

WE DON'T ADDRESS IT BIGGER.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING TOPIC CONSISTENTLY THAT WE SHOULD BE, THIS SHOULD BE MORE TABLE TALK, TALK AT HOME AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO FOR THIS BECAUSE WE INTRODUCED A ROBUST RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE GROUP TO FIRE THOSE EMPLOYEES, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO I'M GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] . THE COUNSEL'S TEXTING.

YES. YEAH. YEAH.

I'D LIKE TO SAY GOODBYE. 11 TO 0.

OKAY, SO THE RESOLUTION IS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND APPROVED COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

TEN E-5 AS INDICATED COMMUNICATION TEN E-8 AND COMMUNICATION TEN E-9 AS INDICATED, WE ARE NOW ON COMMUNICATION TEN E DASH TEN FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REGARDING ON CALL GENERAL CIVIL ENGINEERING AND LAND SURVEY SERVICES RFP.

MR. GILMOUR MOVE FOR A MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

I'M SORRY. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.

COMMUNICATION 10E-11 INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 10E-19 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNICATION TEN DASH ONE AND COMMUNICATION 10D-E AS INDICATED, IF YOU'RE ON THE PAPER COPY PAGE SIX OF YOUR AGENDA

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

THE NEXT SCHEDULED SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE IS THURSDAY, MAY 25TH.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS. LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

YES. SO WE'RE ON THE PRECIPICE OF 5/14 THIS WEEKEND.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY SURROUNDED AROUND THAT.

BUT ONE PARTICULAR ONE THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT IS THE INAUGURAL BUFFALO BLACK CAUCUS.

IT'S A CAUCUS, WHETHER IT BE WORKSHOPS AND ROUND TABLES SURROUNDED TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY TO ADVANCE PAST THIS AND TO, YOU KNOW, TO HELP SO THAT SOME OF THE TOPICS AND DISCUSSIONS WILL BE HOME OWNERSHIP.

CIVICS 101 WAS BEATEN.

GUN VIOLENCE. FOOD JUSTICE.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

MENTHOL VEDHI ACTIVISM VERSUS ORGANIZING.

NAVIGATE VICTIMS. THE VICTIMS ASSOCIATE THE VICTIMS PROGRAM WHERE IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF A CRIME, YOU CAN GET SOME HELP.

GRANT WRITING EMERGING TECHNOLOGY FUNDING SOURCES AND GROWING YOUR FIREWALL.

SEEING GREENE WANT TO PROVIDE ALL THESE THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY TO TO THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS INVITE EVERYBODY OUT OVER TO KINESISK HOUSE TO THE MONTANA DAY CENTER SATURDAY FROM 8 TO 3, AND THERE'LL BE A LITANY OF WORKSHOPS AND THINGS, SWAG AND EVERYTHING LIKE THIS AND INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME ON OUT AND TAKE PART IN THE THINGS STOPPING SEIHO GOING TO STAY FOR FIVE TEN MINUTES, YOU KNOW, BE GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, SEE THAT WE'RE ALL MOVING TOGETHER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

LEGISLATOR. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE FLOOR? OKAY. PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF BELLA PEPIN.

I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. LEGISLATOR ANY OTHERS LEGISLATOR MILLS THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I LOOKED AT YOUR MEMORY OF JOAN K BOWSER, WHO SERVED AS THIS BODY FOR 25 YEARS AS A LEGISLATOR,

[00:35:05]

BUT SHE'S A FIRST CLASS LADY AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS HER.

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY FOR ALL OF OUR LOSS.

THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR.

LEGISLATOR MALCZEWSKI.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF LEONARD GLAESSNER.

HE WAS A 51 YEAR MEMBER OF THE MARILLA FIRE COMPANY.

I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

ANY OTHERS.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ON TO BE WITH THE LORD.

AMEN. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SECOND. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO ADJOURN MADE BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.