The game changers: Six decisions that will shape Buffalo for years to come

kAm%96C6 2C6 D@>6 3:8 564:D:@?D =@@>:?8 – 2?5 9@H E9@D6 :DDF6D 2C6 564:565 H:== 92G6 2 =2DE:?8 :>A24E @? E96 qF772=@ }:282C2 C68:@? 7@C J62CD[ :7 ?@E 564256D[ E@ 4@>6]k^Am

kAm%96 564:D:@?D H@?VE 36 >256 :? :D@=2E:@?[ 6:E96C] (92E6G6C H2J E96JVC6 564:565[ E96 C6DF=E H:== D6?5 @FE C:AA=6D E92E H:== 27764E 3FD:?6DD6D[ C6D:56?ED 2?5 9@H E96 qF772=@ }:282C2 C68:@? :D A6C46:G65 6=D6H96C6]k^Am

kAmx? >2?J 42D6D[ E96J H@?VE 36 4962A] wF?5C65D @7 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD – D@>6 @7 :E 4@>:?8 7C@> =@42= E2IA2J6CD – 2=D@ 92?8 :? E96 32=2?46[ 56A6?5:?8 @? 9@H =@42= =6256CD 564:56 E@ AC@4665]k^Am

kAm%96 564:D:@?D 92G6 E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ 36 EC2?D7@C>2E:G6 :7 E96J A=2J @FE :? 2 H2J E92E >2I:>:K6D A@E6?E:2= 2?5 E96 AC@;64ED 2C6?VE 56C2:=65 3J 9:89 4@DED] x? D@>6 42D6D[ E96J 2=D@ 92G6 E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ 36 2 92C3:?86C 7@C H96E96C E96 C68:@? H2?ED E@ E9:?< 3:8 2?5 DA6?5 3:8[ @C H96E96C :EVD ACF56?E E@ 36 C6DA@?D:3=6 H:E9 E2IA2J6C >@?6J]k^Am

kAm%96 DE2<6D 2C6 9:89] q25 564:D:@?D 42? 92G6 2 =2DE:?8 :>A24E E92E 9@=5D E96 C68:@? 324<] x? E96 `hg_D[ =@42= =6256CD 36E E96 7FEFC6 @7 5@H?E@H? qF772=@ @? 2 A2:C @7 3:8 564:D:@?Di qF:=5:?8 E96 |6EC@ #2:= 2?5 EFC?:?8 E96 962CE @7 5@H?E@H? :?E@ 2 A656DEC:2? >2==[ 56G@:5 @7 42CD]k^Am

kAm%9@D6 564:D:@?D 5:5?VE EFC? @FE H6==i %96 e\>:=6 |6EC@ #2:= ?6G6C H2D 6IE6?565 E@ E96 DF3FC3D[ =:>:E:?8 :ED FD67F=?6DD E@ 4@>>FE6CD] p?5 A656DEC:2? >2==D – E96 C286 2>@?8 FC32? A=2??6CD 2E E96 E:>6 qF772=@ 564:565 :E ?66565 @?6 – EFC?65 @FE E@ 36 2 A2DD:?8 725 E92E BF:4<=J =@DE E96:C 2AA62= E@ 42C\=@G:?8 p>6C:42?D] qF772=@ ?@H :D DA6?5:?8 >@C6 E92? Se_ >:==:@? E@ 3C:?8 42CD 324< E@ |2:? $EC66E]k^Am

kAm$@ E96 AC6DDFC6 :D @? 7@C E96 C68:@? E@ 49@@D6 H:D6=J] t:E96C H2J[ E96 564:D:@?D H:== D92A6 E96 C68:@? 7@C J62CD E@ 4@>6]k^Am

kAmw6C6VD 2 =@@< 2E D:I 3:8 564:D:@?D 724:?8 E96 qF772=@ }:282C2 C68:@? 2?5 H92EVD 2E DE2<6 H:E9 6249 @?6]k^Am

k9bmp q:==D DE25:F>k^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8m%96 :DDF6ik^DEC@?8m %96 qF772=@ q:==DV =62D6 2E }6H tC2 u:6=5 6IA:C6D :? a_ab[ H96? E96 ~C492C5 !2C< DE25:F> H:== EFC? d_[ 2?4:6?E 3J >@56C? DE25:F> DE2?52C5D] {62D6 ?68@E:2E:@?D H:== 9:?86 962G:=J @? H96E96C E@ C6?@G2E6 }6H tC2 u:6=5 @C 3F:=5 2 ?6H DE25:F>[ A@DD:3=J 5@H?E@H?] q:==D @H?6CD z:> 2?5 %6CCJ !68F=2 92G6 4@>>:DD:@?65 2 DEF5J @? E96 :DDF6 2?5 92G6 ?@E D2:5 H9:49 @AE:@? E96J AC676C[ E9@F89 %6CCJ !68F=2 92D D2:5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^a_`h^_b^ae^E6CCJ\A68F=2\?6H\DE25:F>\7@C\3:==D\H@F=5\36\D42=65\5@H?\3F772=@\DEJ=6^Qm2 ?6H @C C6?@G2E65 7@@E32== DE25:F> H@F=5 36 QqF772=@ DEJ=6]k^2mQk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92EVD 2E DE2<6i k^DEC@?8mp 5@H?E@H? DE25:F> H@F=5 36 4@DE=J[ A@DD:3=J >@C6 E92? S` 3:==:@?[ 2?5 H@F=5 2=>@DE 46CE2:?=J 4@>>2?5 9F86 E2IA2J6C DF3D:5:6D] qFE 2 5@H?E@H? =@42E:@?[ A@DD:3=J ?@E 72C 7C@> z6Jq2?< r6?E6C[ 2=D@ 4@F=5 3C:?8 FAH2C5 @7 f_[___ 72?D :?E@ E96 4:EJ @? `_ @C D@ 82>6 52JD 6249 J62C] #6?@G2E:?8 }6H tC2 u:6=5 282:? H@F=5 4@DE >F49 =6DD :? 2 D>2== }u{ >2C<6E H96C6 :EVD 92C56C E@ D6== E96 9:89\AC:465 =FIFCJ DF:E6D 2?5 DE25:F> D62E:?8 E92E 2C6 AC@>:?6?E :? >2?J ?6H DE25:F>D]k^Am

kAm• • •k^Am

k9bmp 4@?G6?E:@? 46?E6Ck^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8m%96 :DDF6ik^DEC@?8m %96 C68:@?VD 4@?G6?E:@? 46?E6C :D c_ J62CD @=5[ @FE52E65 2?5 H:56=J C682C565 2D 36:?8 E@@ D>2== E@ 9@DE >2;@C 6G6?ED] tC:6 r@F?EJ E9:D DF>>6C 28C665 E@ DA6?5 ?62C=J Sad_[___ E@ DEF5J H96E96C E@ 3F:=5 2 4@?G6?E:@? 46?E6C 2E 2 ?6H D:E6 @C 6IA2?5 E96 6I:DE:?8 @?6] ~E96CD 92G6 H@?56C65 H96E96C E96 C68:@? D9@F=5 6G6? ECJ E@ 4@>A6E6 7@C >2;@C 6G6?ED E92E C6BF:C6 2? 6=23@C2E6 4@?G6?E:@? 46?E6C[ :?DE625 7@4FD:?8 @? 2EEC24E:?8 C68:@?2= 6G6?ED E92E C6BF:C6 2 D>2==6C 724:=:EJ 2?5 H@F=5 36 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 9@DE 2? 6G6?E :? 2 >:5D:K6 4:EJ =:<6 qF772=@]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92EVD 2E DE2<6ik^DEC@?8m }@E9:?8 =6DD E92? E96 qF772=@ }:282C2 C68:@?VD 7FEFC6 :? E96 4@?G6?E:@? 3FD:?6DD] p ?6H 46?E6C – 4@DE:?8 9F?5C65D @7 >:==:@?D – H@F=5 @A6? E96 5@@C E@ >66E:?8D 2?5 4@?G6?E:@?D E92E ?@H 5@?VE 4@?D:56C qF772=@] xE H@F=5 3C:?8 >@C6 G:D:E@CD E@ E@H?[ 96=A:?8 E@ 7:== 5@H?E@H? 9@E6=D 2?5 C6DE2FC2?ED[ H9:=6 6IA@D:?8 E9@D6 G:D:E@CD E@ @E96C =@42= 2EEC24E:@?D[ 7C@> }:282C2 u2==D E@ =@42= 2C49:E64EFC6 2?5 >FD6F>D] rC:E:4D H@?56C H96E96C qF772=@ 42? 6G6C ECF=J 4@>A6E6 H:E9 E96 =:<6D @7 {2D '682D[ }6H *@C< r:EJ @C {@D p?86=6D 2?5 BF6DE:@? H96E96C 2 ?6H 4@?G6?E:@? 46?E6C H@F=5 36 E2IA2J6C >@?6J H6== DA6?E]k^Am

kAm• • •k^Am

k9bm%6D=2i q@@> @C 3FDEk^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8m%96 :DDF6ik^DEC@?8m xEVD E:>6 7@C %6D=2 x?4] E@ 56=:G6C @? :ED AC@>:D6D E@ E96 qF772=@ }:282C2 C68:@?] %96 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6 >2<6C 92D E@ 92G6 `[ce_ H@C<6CD 2E :ED DAC2H=:?8 724E@CJ :? $@FE9 qF772=@ 3J pAC:=] x7 :E 5@6D?VE[ E96 DE2E6[ H9:49 DA6?E >@C6 E92? Shd_ >:==:@? E@ 3F:=5 2?5 6BF:A E96 A=2?E[ >FDE 564:56 H96E96C E@ :>A@D6 2 Sc`]b >:==:@? A6?2=EJ] %6D=2VD 56G6=@A>6?E @7 :ED D@=2C C@@7[ 6IA64E65 E@ 36 2 >2:? AC@5F4E :? qF772=@[ 92D 366? D=@H] xEVD @? :ED E9:C5 G6CD:@? 2?5 DE:== :D?VE 36:?8 :?DE2==65 H:56=J] %@ 7:== E96 A=2?E[ %6D=2 92D >@G65 6=64EC@?:4 4@>A@?6?E 2DD6>3=J H@C< 7@C :ED DFA6C492C86CD E@ E96 724E@CJ[ 3F:=E 2D A2CE @7 E96 qF772=@ q:==:@?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92EVD 2E DE2<6ik^DEC@?8m %96 %6D=2 724E@CJ H2D 6?G:D:@?65 3J E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? @7 v@G] p?5C6H rF@>@ 2D 2 EC2?D7@C>2E:G6 AC@;64E E92E H@F=5 4C62E6 8@@5\A2J:?8[ a`DE 46?EFCJ ;@3D :? 2 5@H?EC@556? 4:EJ[ H9:=6 DAFCC:?8 @E96C :?G6DE>6?ED :? 2 3@@>:?8 8C66? 6?6C8J :?5FDECJ] %92E 92D?VE 92AA6?65 J6E[ H:E9 %6D=2VD 6?ECJ\=6G6= AC@5F4E:@? ;@3D A2J:?8 2C@F?5 S`e 2? 9@FC] p?5 :7 E96 D@=2C C@@7 2?5 %6D=2VD D9C:G6=65 4@?G6?E:@?2= D@=2C 6?6C8J 3FD:?6DD 5@?VE E2<6 @77[ E96 5C62>D E92E E96 724E@CJ H:== 36 2 42E2=JDE 7@C E96 C68:@?VD 64@?@>J 4@F=5 4@>6 4C2D9:?8 5@H?] x>A@D:?8 2 A6?2=EJ 4@F=5 52>286 E96 DE2E6VD C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 %6D=2]k^Am

kAm• • •k^Am

k9bm$@ =@?8[ $<JH2Jnk^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8m%96 :DDF6ik^DEC@?8m ~? ?:46 52JD[ E96 6=6G2E65 9:89H2J >2<6D 4@>>FE:?8 7C@> E96 $@FE9E@H?D >F49 62D:6C] ~? D?@HJ 52JD[ E96 $<JH2J FDF2==J 4=@D6D[ 4C62E:?8 EC277:4 ;2>D E92E $@FE9E@H?6CD 5C625] ~? 2 =2C86C D42=6[ E96 $<JH2J 5:G:56D E96 4:EJ 7C@> E96 H2E6C7C@?E 2?5 4FED 2? F8=J DH2E9 E9C@F89 r2?2=D:56] ~E96C 4:E:6D 92G6 C6>@G65 6=6G2E65 9:89H2JD] %96 rF@>@ 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 2?5 #6A] qC:2? w:88:?D[ s\qF772=@[ 2C6 AFD9:?8 7@C qF772=@ E@ 5@ :E] r@DE :D 2? :DDF6i rF@>@ 6DE:>2E6D :E 4@F=5 4@DE Se__ >:==:@?j w:88:?D E9:?<D :E H@F=5 36 72C =6DD]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92EVD 2E DE2<6ik^DEC@?8m v6EE:?8 C:5 @7 E96 $<JH2J H@F=5 492?86 E96 6?E:C6 G:6H @7 5@H?E@H?[ 6DA64:2==J 2=@?8 E96 H2E6C7C@?E] xE H@F=5 7C66 FA A@E6?E:2==J G2=F23=6 =2?5 ?62C E96 H2E6C] p?5 :E H@F=5 36 2 3:8 DE6A E@H2C5 :?4C62D:?8 H2E6C7C@?E 2446DD 2?5 >2<:?8 E92E 2C62 >@C6 2AA62=:?8 E@ G:D:E] qFE E96C6 2C6 ca[___ EC:AD @G6C E96 $<JH2J @? 2? 2G6C286 52J[ 2?5 7:8FC:?8 @FE 9@H E@ C6C@FE6 E9@D6 EC2G6=6CD[ H:E9@FE EFC?:?8 E96 $@FE9E@H?D 4@>>FE6 :?E@ 2 7CFDEC2E:?8 4C2H=[ :D 2? F?2?DH6C65 BF6DE:@? 2E E9:D A@:?E[ 2?5 D@ :D E96 7F?5:?8]k^Am

kAm• • •k^Am

k9bm|6EC@ #2:= 6IE6?D:@?k^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8m%96 :DDF6ik^DEC@?8m xEVD 366? bd J62CD D:?46 E96 |6EC@ #2:= @A6?65[ CF??:?8 7C@> 5@H?E@H? qF772=@ E@ E96 &?:G6CD:EJ 2E qF772=@VD $@FE9 r2>AFD] qFE 9@A6D E@ 6IA2?5 E96 =:?6 :?E@ p>96CDE ?6G6C >2E6C:2=:K65[ >2<:?8 E96 DJDE6> =6DD C6=6G2?E 7@C DF3FC32? C:56CD 2?5 =6DD FD67F= 2D 2 E@@= E@ 86E 4@>>FE6CD E@ FD6 AF3=:4 EC2?DA@CE2E:@?] p7E6C J62CD @7 :?24E:G:EJ[ E96 ?@E:@? @7 6IA2?5:?8 E96 |6EC@ #2:= 82:?65 ?6H >@>6?EF> =2DE DAC:?8 H96? E96 DE2E6 2==@42E65 Se >:==:@? 7@C 2? 6?8:?66C:?8 DEF5J E@ 6IA2?5 E96 e]c\>:=6 C2:= =:?6 E@ E96 &?:G6CD:EJ 2E qF772=@’D }@CE9 r2>AFD]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92EVD 2E DE2<6ik^DEC@?8m tIE6?5:?8 E96 C2:= =:?6 :?E@ p>96CDE H@F=5 AFD9 :E :?E@ 2 3FDJ 4@>>6C4:2= 2?5 65F42E:@?2= 5:DEC:4E @7 E96 DF3FC3D] xE H@F=5 8:G6 DF3FC32? 4@>>FE6CD 2 >@C6 2AA62=:?8 AF3=:4 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? @AE:@? :?E@ 5@H?E@H? 2?5 >2<6 :E 62D:6C 7@C 5@H?E@H? C6D:56?ED E@ 86E E@ &q 2?5 2 >2:? DF3FC32? D9@AA:?8 5:DEC:4E] qFE :E H@F=5 36 G6CJ 6IA6?D:G6[ H:E9 D@>6 6DE:>2E6D A688:?8 E96 4@DE 2E S`]f 3:==:@?[ >2<:?8 :E 2 3:8 492==6?86 E@ 82:? 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 AC@;64E] %96 3F=< @7 E96 >@?6J 7@C 2?J 6IE6?D:@? H@F=5 92G6 E@ 4@>6 7C@> (2D9:?8E@?]k^Am

kAm• • •k^Am

k9bmqF:=5:?8 @? E96 H2E6C7C@?Ek^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8m%96 :DDF6i k^DEC@?8m%96 CF?2H2J DF446DD @7 r2?2=D:56 2?5 E96 DE625J :>AC@G6>6?E :? E96 ~FE6C w2C3@C 92G6 366? @?6 @7 E96 C68:@?VD 3:886DE DF446DD DE@C:6D[ EFC?:?8 2 =2C86=J 7@C8@EE6?[ 32CC6? DEC6E49 :?E@ 2 >28?6E 7@C E@FC:DED[ C6D:56?ED 2?5 DA:?@77 56G6=@A>6?E] r2?2=D:56 :D E96 >@C6 56G6=@A65 A@CE:@?[ H:E9 E96 tIA=@C6 U2>Aj |@C6 #2=A9 r] (:=D@? yC] r9:=5C6?’D |FD6F> ?@H @A6?[ 2 42C@FD6= 2?5 =@?8D965 F?56C 4@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 A=2?D 7@C 2 A2:C @7 D:I\DE@CJ 2?5 @?6 7:G6\DE@CJ 3F:=5:?8D :? E96 H@C<D] %96 ~FE6C w2C3@C :D =6DD 56G6=@A65[ H:E9 G2DE DEC6E496D @7 F?56G6=@A65 =2?5]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92EVD 2E DE2<6ik^DEC@?8m w@H >F49 56G6=@A>6?E :D E@@ >F49n (:== E2== 3F:=5:?8D 2E r2?2=D:56 AC@G:56 E96 D9@AA:?8[ C6DE2FC2?ED 2?5 C6D:56?ED ?66565 E@ E2<6 E96 2C62 E@ E96 ?6IE =6G6=[ @C 56DEC@J :ED 4FCC6?E 492C> 3J 7:==:?8 :? @A6? DA246n p DEF5J =2DE J62C 5@?6 7@C E96 DE2E6 286?4J @G6CD66:?8 E96 2C62 6?G:D:@?D E96 ~FE6C w2C3@C 2D 2 =2C86=J A2DD:G6 C64C62E:@? 2C62] p C6A@CE 324<65 3J 2 4@2=:E:@? @7 4:E:K6? 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 8C@FA H2?ED E96 ~FE6C w2C3@C E@ 36 EFC?65 :?E@ 2 DE2E6 A2C<] p?@E96C 8C@FA :D DEF5J:?8 H92E E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 >2DD:G6 – 2?5 G242?E – %6C>:?2= p 3F:=5:?8 :? E96 962CE @7 E96 ~FE6C w2C3@C]k^Am