BUFFALO, N.Y. — After voting to end Buffalo’s school speed zone camera program, the Common Council is now considering requests to keep the cameras in place.
Common Council members say they’ve received messages from Board of Education members, school principals and people who live near the schools, all in support of the controversial program.
Council members say those messages include statistics showing the success of the program, and stories of how the speed cameras have made school zones safer.
The board voted to repeal the program two weeks ago, after many people criticized its rollout, claiming it unfairly targets people who lives in the city’s poorest areas.
“There is a large population who appreciates the effects of the speed cameras and I do believe there is a solution to not having to take those cameras down where we can enforce the speed, as well as keep children safe,” Common Council member Ulysees Wingo said.
“We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater and I agree with that 100%. I believe the cameras have been somewhat successful, but there have been problems with them that have made them problematic,” Common Council member Joseph Golombek R. said.
Mayor Byron Brown hasn’t decided yet whether to approve or veto the council’s vote to end the program.
The Common Council plans to further discuss the requests to save the program at a meeting on Tuesday.
