By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello says he believes the city's "darkest days" are over.
Masiello delivered his 10th State of the City address Friday afternoon. He touted many positive investments that are being made in the city including downtown housing, building restoration and construction of the Buffalo Medical Corridor.
But Masiello scolded those sitting on the sidelines with vacant downtown property.
"I'm putting the owners of the Trico Building on Ellicott Street, the Vernors Building on the 700 block and the property at the corner of Genesee and Oak on notice," Masiello said. "If you don't have strategic plans for new investment by June 1st, we will pursue all legal remedies to create them for you."
Masiello is also calling on control board chairman Thomas Baker to join him in a special session with Governor Pataki to address the root of the city's fiscal problems.
"The best way the control board can help stabilize Buffalo's finances is by joining in the fight for reform to fix our structurally deficient government once and for all," Masiello said.
Baker was in the audience for the Mayor's speech. He says under the "right circumstances," he would be willing to join the Mayor. But Baker says given the state's massive fiscal problems, he doesn't believe it would be able to offer the city much flexibility.