Common Council of the city of buffalo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:

May 26, 2011 James S. Pajak, Chief of Staff
(716) 851-4047

COMMON COUNCIL ADOPTS AMENDED VERSION OF CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON

REAPPORTIONMENT REDISTRITRICTING PLAN

BUFFALO, NY— At a special session held today, Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 4:00 p.m., the City of Buffalo Common
Council, in conjunction with the recent release of the results of the 2010 United States Decennial Census, adopted an
amended version of the Citizens Advisory Commission on Reapportionment Redistricting Plan for dividing the City of
Buffalo into nine Council districts for the election of Common Council Members.

Pursuant to City of Buffalo Charter requirements, in the year following each United States Decennial Census, the
Common Council is required to empanel a Citizens Advisory Commission on Reapportionment to develop and
recommend a plan for determining the number of Council districts and for dividing the City into districts for the election
of Common Council Members, a process commonly known as “redistricting” or ”reapportionment.” The Council is
required by law to adopt a plan and forward it to the Mayor by July 30 of the year following the Decennial Census.

The Redistricting Plan, as amended an adopted today by the Council, takes into consideration shifts in the City’s
population and is focused on ensuring an equal voice in City government for all Buffalo residents.

This reapportionment process began earlier this year and included the creation of the Citizens Advisory Commission on
Reapportionment; numerous public meetings; and two public hearings on reapportionment to provide residents with an
opportunity to voice their ideas and concerns regarding the redrawing of Council district boundaries.
Fillmore District Council Member and Common Council President David A. Franczyk said “With this process I believe
that we’ve created a map that is fair, complies with the law, and as much as possible, keeps communities together. It was a
difficult process but with the assistance of the Citizens Advisory Commission on Reapportionment, the Council was able
to redraw district lines in the best interest of residents.”

Lovejoy District Council Member and Common Council Majority Leader Richard A. Fontana said “All nine Council
Members worked to amend the Citizens Advisory Commission on Reapportionment’s map in a way that kept
neighborhoods together for the vast majority of the City of Buffalo and adjusted the population numbers to coincide with
United States Census figures.”

Ellicott District Council Member Darius G. Pridgen said “I am very proud that my colleagues and I were able to work
together for what was best for the citizens of Buffalo based on the current United State Census. We tried our best to keep
communities together, respect what citizens asked us to do, and redraw lines to create a better City of Buffalo.”

The Amended Redistricting Plan adopted by the Common Council will now be forwarded to the Mayor as a prerequisite
to its transmittal to the Erie County Board of Elections.
For further information regarding the Amended Redistricting Plan adopted by the City of Buffalo Common Council,
please contact your respective District Common Council Member as shown below or the Common Council Legislative
Staff Office at 851-5105.

A copy of the Common Council’s Amended Redistricting Plan is available on the City of Buffalo website by accessing
the Reapportionment portal: http://city-buffalo.com/Home/Reapportionment
 BUFFALO COMMON COUNCIL

David A. Franczyk David A. Rivera Richard A. Fontana

Council President President Pro Tempore Majority Leader
Fillmore District Niagara District Lovejoy District
1315 City Hall 1504 City Hall 1414 City Hall
851-4138 851-5125 851-5151

Michael J. LoCurto Darius G. Pridgen Demone A. Smith

Delaware District Ellicott District Masten District
1405 City Hall 1408 City Hall 1316-A City Hall
851-5155 851-4980 851-5145

Joseph Golombek, Jr. Michael P. Kearns Bonnie E. Russell

North District South District University District
1502 City Hall 1401 City Hall 1508 City Hall
851-5116 851-5169 851-5165

Mission Statement of the Common Council

“To improve the quality of life within the City of Buffalo for its taxpayers, businesses, residents and visitors, while
transforming and rebuilding the City into a vibrant and growing homeownership, business, education and
entertainment hub within Erie County and the Western New York Region.”

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