September 30, 1996
Buffalo Mayor Anthony M. Masiello is pressing his case for an increased federal presence in America's cities, but he isn't talking about any of the usual programs that are being discussed these days.
Mayor Masiello wants the Army National Guard to expand on its mission of nation building abroad to embrace neighborhood building at home. Specifically, Mayor Masiello wants Guard units to assist in demolishing derelict buildings in older cities like Buffalo.
"Back in 1993, the 152nd Engineer Battalion stationed here in Buffalo boarded military transports and headed off to Guatemala where they spent several months engaged in nation building," Mayor Masiello said. "They built roads and bridges and schools throughout the country. What they did will have a far-reaching impact on that country and its people for generations. The Guard and all Americans can be proud of what they accomplished. But there is an emerging crisis in our neighborhoods here at home. Buffalo lost about 10 percent of its population in the 80s and subsequently, we have a lot of derelict and abandoned houses. Derelict structures are used as crack houses and drug distribution points. Abandoned buildings are targets of arson and vandalism and the scene of violent crimes. Good citizens keep up their properties that are abutted by these pockets of urban cancer. Something has to be done."
Mayor Masiello said his administration has doubled the budget set aside for demolitions in Buffalo and tripled the number of structures it has taken down, but the City still loses ground. Buffalo's housing stock was built for a population of a half-million people; the population now is about 325,000. Masiello's goal is to down-size this stock accordingly and rid the City of its derelict buildings. Buffalo has constructed 300 new homes since Masiello took office but the Mayor feels the potential impact of new construction has been blunted by the presence of blighted properties.
Guard has Demonstrated Its Value to Community
According to the Mayor, the National Guard currently has two programs that can be used to assist in the demolition effort. One is a civic action mission which allows Guard units to work with city officials to identify, prepare and demolish buildings, but this can take time to implement. The other, which can be implemented more expeditiously, is part of the Guard's drug demand reduction mission and allows units to tear down houses suspected of harboring drug trafficking operations.
"Earlier this summer," the Mayor explained, we had a great photo opportunity to show what can happen when we all work together. Sheriff's deputies had made three arrests in a house. The cases were prosecuted successfully by the U.S. Attorney's office. Federal marshals seized the property as part of their asset forfeiture program. The bank which held a small mortgage relinquished its interest in the property. Buffalo crews prepared the house for demolition and the National Guard tore down the house.
"We all played a part and we all reaped the benefit of at least one more drug house removed from the neighborhood. If we did it once, working together, why can't we do it a hundred times?" In an effort like this, benefits accrue to the Guard as well.
When those bulldozers were knocking down that house, a lot of kids came to watch," Masiello said. They talked to the troops. They talked to the officers. They saw young people like themselves operating heavy machinery and they were interested. What better recruiting tool can there be for talented, energetic kids than putting new skills to work in their own neighborhoods?" During a trip to Washington this summer, Mayor Masiello and his staff urged retired Army General Barry McCaffrey, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, to cheerlead" for the idea of a neighborhood building" mission for the Guard. In response, McCaffrey will be traveling to Buffalo in November for further discussions.
We are doing all we can to help ourselves, but our resources are limited and are problems are not," Mayor Masiello said. We send our troops around the world to alleviate suffering and poverty and hunger. Why can't we send them around the block?"
The United States Conference of Mayors
J. Thomas Cochran, Executive Director
1620 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
Telephone (202) 293-7330, FAX (202) 293-2352