Kaisertown residents host 'call for action' meeting after incidents of property damage
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Over 100 Kaisertown residents attended the Kaisertown Coalition's "call for action" meeting Tuesday night following residents' concerns stemming from multiple incidents of property damage.
Quality of life issues from homelessness to property damage brought residents together. 40-year-old Leroy Scott of Buffalo is accused of over five felonies for four acts of vandalism, three of which took place on Clinton Street.
Residents, Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon, Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane, police and Buffalo Common Council members were in attendance in what Lovejoy District Council Member Bryan Bollman called the biggest turnout he has ever seen.
"If they feel that their quality of life is being impacted, I believe them," Scanlon said.
One business owner whose store was vandalized said Scott was a known suspect in September and was released on bail, allowing him to "strike again and again."
"The police knew about it in September. They knew about it in October. They knew about it in November," said Cindy Lawson of Cynthia Woltz Insurance Agency. "Nothing was being done and it wasn't until he escalated and really started hitting two and three businesses a night in the end that it finally made a difference."
"Unless it is a crime where somebody actually gets hurt, so property crimes don't fall under that," said Elizabeth Von Hahn of Kaisertown Crafts and Gifts. "The courts will let them go. I didn't like that answer because the law is not that illogical."
Keane said Scott was charged Tuesday due to him being a repeat offender.
"Whether or not it's success, I don't know," said Kevin Mason, a Kaisertown Coalition member. "It's definitely, I would say, peace of mind, because when he was arrested and let out, there was more damage done."
The question of who will pay for the damage was another question asked by residents.
"So we are looking at three different opportunities to help businesses between federal, county and city funding and Mayor Scanlon has also offered potentially some of his district resources, as well as our local district resources, to be able to help the businesses that were affected," Bollman said.
Property damage was only one of many issues discussed Tuesday night, with the others being slow police responses, absentee landlords and homelessness. Local leaders stayed behind after the meeting to answer those questions one-on-one.
Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.