Mayor Byron Brown Gets Panorama Hispano News Endorsement

By: Edwin Martinez

Why endorse political candidates!

Some disagree with our process. They wonder why we decide to endorse. How dare we tell them how they should vote? Some look forward to the endorsement to see if they agree with us and to read our reasons for the endorsement.

Most just want to know what lead us to the decision, who was involved in making it and how thorough was the process?

Panorama Hispano News editorial board takes every endorsement very seriously. We commit a great deal of time to the process, we discuss the merits of each and every candidate and believe it is among the most important things we do each election.

We believe strongly that Panorama Hispano’s opinion helps and lead the community. We believe we help start discussions, spur people to take action and help move the community forward, whether you agree or disagree.

We don’t expect nor do we want every person to agree with our endorsements. The endorsements are made to create community discussions, to get people talking, to get heated debates started and to help voters make decisions based on the issues and not the commercials. An election should be much more than a popularity contest.

Why we endorse Mayor Brown

Since he was sworn in as Mayor in 2006, his administration has stabilized and grown the economy with a conservative fiscal plan focused on job creation, smart growth and responsible development. For the first time in 70 years Buffalo is experiencing  a population growth, which bolds well. He lifted the wage freeze, reduced unemployment, increased employment and hired the most diverse workforce in the City’s history. He reduced property tax rates for residents and businesses, while providing hundreds of millions of dollars for affordable housing, community centers and cultural institutions, parks, streets, sidewalks and improvements in every neighborhood, including the demolition of more than 6,400 blighted properties.

Today, more than $6.1 billion in new economic activity is creating 25,000 new jobs and transforming our economy. There has been a 33% drop in crime, and more than 15,000 illegal guns have been taken off our streets.

Buffalo’s Hispanic/Latino community has been a full participant and partner in the growth and development city under the leadership of Mayor Byron Brown.

Nationally and across the world, Buffalo has been pegged as a comeback rustbelt city, that is affordable, accessible and offers an excellent quality of life. Buffalo is a culinary, arts, educational and industrious city.

The City’s investment in education has increased by more than $61 million, contributing to higher graduation rates and increased college enrollment.

We believe the city’s strength can be measured by the progress made by Mayor Brown. There is greater equality of access to economic prosperity through programs to help minority, women-owned business enterprises grow and compete effectively. The Mayor’s Office of New Americans ensures that immigrants and refugees get the support they need, and my Opportunity Agenda has been embraced by residents, businesses, clergy, corporations and organizations representing more than 165,000 people who live, work or attend school in the City of Buffalo.

Buffalo is on the move, its not time to turn it over to an inexperienced candidate who has no management  or government experience.