The Goal: Government That Answers to the People
A region cannot turn around if its residents feel shut out. Low turnout, uncontested races and decisions made far from the neighborhoods they affect all feed the same cycle: people disengage, accountability fades, and the status quo wins by default. Change Buffalo PAC believes the turnaround has to be democratic, built with citizens, not done to them.
1. Open Up Elections
New York moved many town and county elections to even-numbered years starting in 2025, to line them up with higher-turnout statewide races. City offices, including Buffalo’s, were left out because changing them requires a state constitutional amendment.
- Support a constitutional amendment allowing city elections, including Buffalo’s, to move to even-numbered years when far more voters turn out.
- Lower ballot-access barriers for local races, including reasonable petition signature requirements, so more candidates can compete and voters have real choices.
- Explore ranked-choice voting for local elections. New York City adopted it in 2019 and first used it in 2021. We support giving Buffalo and other localities the option, after a public review of how it has worked.
- Nonpartisan, independent redistricting for the Common Council and county legislatures, with public maps and hearings.
2. Open Data by Default
- Publish it all. Budgets, contracts, payrolls, permits, inspections, 311 requests, IDA deals and capital projects should be online, searchable and downloadable.
- Performance dashboards for core services such as response times, permit times, road repairs and spending against budget, updated regularly.
- Contract transparency. Post every significant contract and its bids so residents can see who gets public money and why.
- Meeting transparency. Stream and archive all public meetings, with agendas and documents posted in advance.
3. Participatory Budgeting
- Let residents decide. Set aside a portion of the city’s capital budget every year for residents in each Common Council district to propose and vote on projects such as playgrounds, sidewalks, lighting and trees.
- Start with a pilot, measure the results, and expand what works.
- Extend the model to county parks and capital projects where it makes sense.
4. Neighborhood Councils
- Formally recognized neighborhood councils across Buffalo with elected members, open meetings and a defined advisory voice on zoning changes, capital projects and service priorities.
- Early notice and real input on development and infrastructure in their area, before plans are final.
- Modest support for meeting space, translation and outreach so every neighborhood can take part, not only those with the most free time.
5. Participatory Planning for Big Projects
The state’s transportation commissioner acknowledged in 2025 that major Buffalo highway projects stalled for lack of consensus. The fix is to build that consensus at the start.
- Community design charrettes at the beginning of every major project, not after decisions are made.
- Clear decision timelines so participation leads to action, not endless study.
- Publish what was heard and how it changed the plan, so residents can see that their input mattered.
How This Connects
Citizen power runs through every part of the Turnaround Agenda. See how it applies in the City of Buffalo, Erie and Niagara Counties and across the region, and in our Municipalities and Efficient Service Delivery plan.
