1973 -1977
HISTORY
Stanley M. Makowski
was born in Buffalo
, New York
on April 22, 1923. He was the youngest of two children of Polish
immigrants.
He attended Sts. Peter and Paul School and graduated
from School 32. He dropped out of Hutchinson Central
High School
and served six months with the Civilian Conservation Corps.
He then went to work for a local sheet metal manufacturer.
In 1943 Makowski joined the Army and served three
years during World War II
, including an eight-month tour on Iwo Jima in the South
Pacific.
Upon returning to Buffalo
after the war, Makowski earned his high school diploma in an
accelerated veteran's class.
He gained employment at Allied Mills as a grain miller,
continuing there for 13 years.
He attended Cornell University, where he received
a certificate from the New York State School of Industrial
and Labor Relations, and night school at Millard Fillmore
College at the University of Buffalo
Makowski started his career in government in 1950
when he was named secretary to Councilman-at-Large Peter
J. Rybka.
In 1955, members of Tippie's Social & Athletic
Club
encouraged him to run for 4th Ward Supervisor of Erie County.
They sponsored fund-raising parties and campaigned for him.
Running as an independent, he won the Democratic primary,
and later the November general election.
Makowski was re-elected to the Board in 1957.
In 1959 he accepted appointment to the at-large seat
on the Common Council
, when Thaddeus J. Dulski was elected to Congress, and quit
the Board of Supervisors
In 1960 he won election for the unexpired term of
the at-large seat. He was re-elected to a full term in 1961,
and in 1965. He was Council majority leader from 1962 on.
"He acquired the image of being a gentle persuader for his
ability to bring diverse elements together."
In 1969 Makowski announced his campaign for Erie
County executive. Republican B. John Tutuska was serving
the unexpired term of the late Edward A. Rath.
During the campaign, Makowski leveled charges against
Tutuska and the county, including a 50% increase in taxes
over the last 10 years, whereas the city had only increased
taxes 7%. He claimed mismanagement at Meyer Memorial Hospital
was not fully disclosed to the public. He criticized Tutuska
for the domed stadium problems, and for not dealing directly
with Buffalo
Bills
owner Ralph A. Wilson, Jr. He was also critical of the management
pact with Dome Stadium, Inc. on the lease of the stadium.
At the general election held on November 4, 1969,
Makowski fared well in the city, defeating Tutuska, who
also received the Liberal endorsement, 74,976 to 66,737,
but outside the city he failed to garner the same strength
in numbers. He was defeated 192,971 to 158,047, with Matthew
Makowski (no relation), receiving 11,037 votes on the Conservative
ticket.
For over a month in late 1969 there were rumors of
Makowski joining the Sedita administration. It was officially
announced by Mayor Frank A. Sedita
that Makowski "is coming to work for me as my assistant" when
Sedita began his third term on January 1, 1970.
In 1972 the Common Council
created the post of deputy mayor and Makowski was the first
appointed. After receiving steadily growing responsibilities
from Mayor Sedita
, his time arrived. On February 8, 1973, Mayor Frank A.
Sedita
announced his resignation due to illness. Immediately after
receiving the Mayor's resignation, councilman Delmar Mitchell
stated:
"I hereby nominate, for appointment as Mayor of Buffalo
, to succeed the Hon. Frank A. Sedita
who has resigned, the Hon. Stanley M. Makowski
, residing at 83 Roseville Street, Buffalo
, New York
, effective as of March 5, 1973."
It was seconded by Councilman Anthony M. Masiello
Alfreda Slominski
, Republican, tried to lay the motion on the table, but
was defeated.
Makowski now had control of City Hall
, and 64 exempt, non-civil service jobs to fill, including
police
commissioner, fire commissioner, corporation counsel, parks
commissioner and personnel director. He would also appoint
a deputy mayor to relieve him of some day-to-day duties.
"I can fire a man in a quiet voice just as easily as someone
else can do it shouting."
"I don't intend to be bolted behind a desk," he stated.
"I'm not much of a speaker, but I'm a worker."
His plans included town hall meetings throughout
the city, and touring the city often to check on city services.
On Friday, February 10, 1973, the Common Council
met in a special meeting to vote on interim mayor. It was an
11 - 2 straight party vote for Makowski. George K. Arthur
had planned on entering ex-councilman and ex-City Judge
Wilbur P. Trammell
's name, but was advised by Trammell that he did not want
him to. Alfreda Slominski
tried to vote for ailing Council President Chester C. Gorski
, but finally voted no to Makowski.
Makowski addressed the council: "I look forward to
working with you as we continue to move ahead with the development
of our great city.
"Your assistance is crucial. I hope I may have it.
Without your support I cannot succeed. With it, I shall
not fail."
"These are going to be the most important decisions
of my life. It is going to determine my entire future."
Around February 17, 1973, Makowski began putting
his administration into order. He ousted black Fire Commissioner
Robert B. Howard, Jr, with 30 years experience; in turn
he hired as parks commissioner, Robert C. Penn, a 29-year
old black with no discernible credentials. In addition,
he recommended that his current secretary, and neighbor,
Florence T. Herzog be appointed deputy parks commissioner.
Police Commissioner Frank N. Felicetta announced his resignation,
effective April 15. He had made a promise to Mayor Sedita
in 1972 to resign upon the end of Sedita's term.
According to a newspaper statement regarding these
changes, Makowski "has partially damaged his own image of
pristine political independence."
In addition, Makowski named John F. Downing as his
deputy mayor.
LIFE AS A MAYOR
Mayor Makowski
delivered his Inaugural Address
before the Common Council
on March 6, 1973.
"I am very grateful for the honor and opportunity
you have extended by inviting me here today, it is my opportunity
to share with you...my former colleagues on this Common
Council
..my view of the very near future, the near future because
it extends only to December 31st.
"I have seven months to prove myself.
"At this point I ask you...and the people of
this city...to trust me on the basis of past performance
and to extend to me your cooperation to accomplish what,
in my view, needs to be done.
"In recent days, I have announced certain changes
in personnel. I am aware that some of those changes have
been received with mixed reaction. These appointments, at
this point in time, are my prerogative. I cannot, nor do
I intend to try to please everyone.
"Conventional political wisdom says that a man
in my position should not rock the boat between now and
election day. I don't agree, I am going to work for the
changes that I believe are in the best interest of this
city. I am going to do my level best to get the administrative
branch of city government organized to provide the maximum
amount of service to the people at the lowest possible cost.
I want to tell you today about the major steps I believe
must be taken in order to accomplish this.
"First: I will submit to you shortly a proposed
Charter Amendment to create a Department of Administration
and Finance which will bring together in a coordinated agency
such related functions as budgeting, labor relations, management
services, financial control of state and federal aid activities
and personnel control.
"It is within this agency that I propose to
establish the permanent internal investigations unit. It
is a shame that the need for such a unit exists...but it
does. And, as I stated a few days ago, I intend to take
steps necessary to insure that this city is never again
afflicted with 'no-shows' and 'goldbrickers.'
"Second: The major changes taking place in the
financial relationships between the cities and the federal
and state governments clearly require that we must reorganize
ourselves to cope with these changes. I will be proposing
to you two measures. First will be a request to the State
Legislature for permission to create an agency similar to
our present Urban Renewal
Agency. The new agency I will propose will perform a similar
function in the field of human resources and services. What
we might call our 'people programs.'
"Third: In keeping with the new directions for
administration of federal and state revenue sharing to assist
human services, there must be a coordinated mechanism for
using these funds. That is, there must be a staff agency
in city government to implement the programs in relation
to the Human Resources Agency just as the Department of
Community Development implements the policies and programs
of the Urban Renewal
Agency. I intend to establish a specific staff responsibility...one
person...to commence the planning and preparations immediately.
This person will join with the management study team in
its investigations.
"Fourth: Traditionally, the Department of Parks
of our city has had a divided focus. The Division of Recreation
has been concerned with the operation of programs and activities.
The Division of Parks has been responsible for the development
and maintenance of physical facilities. I will be submitting
two proposals for further reassignments. Specifically, we
will consider merging the responsibility for maintenance
of outdoor facilities...with the responsibility for cleaning
the city streets and other public areas.
"In addition, we will consider merging maintenance
of community and recreation centers...with maintenance of
all city buildings.
"Fifth: As you are well aware, city government
has become vastly more complex. Our responsibilities and
the methods by which we fulfill them have become more technical.
The result has been the growth of deep suspicion and distrust
of government by the people. Clear and open channels of
communication between the citizens and their government
must be established. I hold the accomplishments of this
goal to be the highest priority before me. Consequently,
I will propose the creation of a Citizens Bureau. This will
be a staff function under the Mayor with two specific responsibilities:
one, an Office of Community Information, which will be responsible
for gathering, preparing and distributing information to
the citizens. Second, there will be an Office of Citizens
Involvement which will be responsible for arranging the
facilities by which citizens can inform us directly of their
complaints, their needs, their suggestions. As Mayor, I
want to reduce the number of ceremonial appearances I make
throughout the city.
"To sum up, the measures I have outlined for
you today have a basic underlying philosophy: Government
exists to serve the people. Government must organize itself
to provide the best possible service at the lowest possible
cost.
"I have said that I have a vision of Buffalo
, the finest city in the world. Being the finest city in
the world is not a question of how others see us...it is...how
we see ourselves.
"This is not my city or yours, it is ours -
each of the more than 460,000 of us.
"This inaugural event is the first of its kind
since 1882 when Grover Cleveland
left the office of Mayor in mid-term to become Governor of the
State of New York. ...I seek and pray that it be remembered
not for its novelty but that it be marked in history as
the beginning of our renaissance...The day Buffalo
started to become the finest city in the world."
The next few months were busy for Mayor Makowski
as he tried to get the city in order, while campaigning at the
same time. His challengers, former City Judge Wilbur P.
Trammell
, and Detective Sgt. Joseph G. Giambra, both campaigned
on different platforms, Trammell's being the no-show jobs
in the Sanitation Department, and Giambra on law and order.
When campaigning, Makowski mainly ignored his opponents,
concentrating on the 1973 - 1974 budget he helped prepare,
which gave Buffalo
residents their first tax cut in eight years.
The primary election
was held on Monday, June 4, 1973, the first Monday primary in
Buffalo
history. The Democrats "showed an apparent tolerance for the
organized party machine" as Makowski easily defeated his
challengers only three months after taking office. Former
City Judge Wilbur P. Trammell
and Detective Sgt. Joseph G. Giambra were both unsuccessful,
as Makowski garnered approximately 25,374 votes to 11,370
for Trammell, and 6,441 for Giambra.
Giambra had emphasized that if he should lose the
primary, he would run as an independent.
Makowski, who had spent the better part of the previous
week in bed with a viral infection, showed up at Democratic
headquarters several hours after the votes started coming
in. He accepted congratulations, "always humble, not gloating
over a convincing win."
Makowski never worried about whether he was doing
things to hurt his chance at election. He was always concerned
with what was best for the city.
On September 27 he announced changes in the Fire
Department
that met with quick union opposition. He announced that similar
changes were in store for the Police Department. A 1972
management study recommended abolishing the city's 14 precincts
in favor of five patrol districts, which he considered at
the time.
Late in 1973, he also urged the immediate development
of a light rail rapid transit
system, which was later developed.
The November general election would prove to be a
fight with all four parties represented. Stewart M. Levy
was the endorsed Republican candidate, John Westra the Conservative,
Patrick W. Giagnacova the Liberal and Makowski on the Democratic
ticket.
The general election, held on November 6, 1973, was
no contest, as Makowski rolled up 77,569 votes to Republican
Stewart M. Levy
's 24,423, the largest victory margin to date, in Buffalo
history. John A. Westra, Conservative, received 2,640 votes,
Patrick W. Giagnacova, Liberal, 1,147 votes, and Ira Liebowitz,
Labor Party, 597 votes.
Addressing Democratic supporters after his election,
he extended "a hand of friendship to those who did not vote
for me." He asked listeners in the room and watching on
television to "join with me in praying for guidance."
A referendum was also on the ballot regarding the
city's spending $3 million to acquire land for a new Convention
Center
, which would be bounded by Franklin, Pearl, Court and Mohawk
Streets. The money was originally approved by the Common
Council
, until 23,000 signatures were gathered to force a citywide
vote on it. With only 33% of the eligible voters casting
ballots on it, it was defeated.
Democrats added one member to the Common Council
, leaving just one Republican on the Council.
The following day, back to work, the Mayor took a
few minutes to answer questions.
"So many people voted for me. It's a scary feeling.
"But it's nice to win after some losses." He interpreted
his huge majority as saying: "Stan, we have confidence in
government. Don't let us down."
In reference to the defeat of the Convention Center
funds:
"We have a momentum in rebuilding the downtown
area which would be slowed or even stopped by abandoning the
project."
Makowski was adamant on getting the Convention Center
built and arranged for construction with county participation.
Without the Convention Center, there would have been no
Buffalo
Hilton
Hotel and possibly many other major downtown
projects.
The Mayor's early concerns were blight, the housing
shortage, and public safety. He favored an elected Board of
Education
, which was later authorized by the voters.
Mayor Makowski
delivered his Inaugural Address
on January 1, 1974.
"An inaugural address - by tradition -
should be a cheerful, optimistic statement. I know
what created tradition. I am filled with the happiest kinds
of feelings - pride, and gratitude, and confidence. I feel
strong, not only in myself but in our City and in our people.
We are going to make it. The feeling is deep down inside
of me that Buffalo
is going to be the finest City in the world.
"I have always tried to be an agreeable person. I
have always tried to be courteous and respectful, to listen
carefully to other points of view, to look for compromises.
I still believe in that procedure. I still intend to be
that kind of person. But I have learned something else -
the word NO.
"I have learned how frightening it can be to say
NO. I have learned how sad it can be and how lonesome it
can be to say NO.
"The clear truth...has taught...that state and federal
administrations cannot be relied upon to solve our problems.
We are heading into bad times and we know it.
"It is more - and deeper - than an energy crisis
or any other of the crisis in this troubled world. We can
choose to strip off the irrelevant, the artificial, the
spoiled and soft and luxurious and over-indulged life-style
and attitudes that are choking the spirit out of us. We
can choose to find our real selves again, to learn who we
really are and what we really want for ourselves and our
kids.
"I intend to follow the path of my predecessor, Mayor
Sedita
, who, in his words, "fought and scratched and clawed' for
a fair return to the citizens of Buffalo
on their state and federal tax dollars.
"...More than 90 cents out of every tax dollar collected
in the City of Buffalo
goes to Albany and Washington.
"Buffalo
's renaissance is happening. To maintain the momentum, let
me tell you of things that are and will happen in the coming
months. Some of them may not make you happy. And some will
probably make some people very angry. I will not lie to
you - NO, I will not duck issues - No, I will not sweet-talk
you and treat you like spoiled children.
"We are building a City here and it takes tough,
grown-up people to do that.
"...Our performance to date has been significant.
Every major municipal department and operation has been
subjected to exhaustive study and analysis. ..Major structural
changes and operational reforms have been instituted in
key service departments and within a few weeks more change
will be instituted, notably in the Police Department.
"As a result of these efforts, we have already achieved
over two millions of dollars of annual programmed savings.
"Ranking with management reform as a matter of concern
to me is the blighted and deteriorating housing
circumstances in our city.
"For the long term, our goal must be the restoration
of all our neighborhoods to the proud residential areas
they once were. ...I see a growing desire, particularly
on the part of young people, to remain in or come back to
the city once again. That desire must be nourished and satisfied
because it represents the one best hope we have for the
ultimate salvation of the City.
"To find ways of meeting that demand for housing
, I have assembled a Committee on Housing Resources, an
inter-agency coordinating body charged with the task of
exploring every possible avenue of resources that can be
marshaled behind effective housing development programs.
"Earlier in this message, I expressed confidence
that Buffalo
's rebirth has truly begun. Such programs as the rebuilding
of the Central Business District, the Marine Midland Center
and the Holiday Inn project are solid evidence of new life
in our city. However, to insure that this renaissance continues,
I am convinced that we must go forward with the Convention
and Exhibition Center Project. ...I have approached the
New York State Urban Development Corporation and requested
it to join with us in building the Convention Center
"I will close this message with a comment about the
fiscal condition of our city which, in fact, is simply a
measure of our ability to meet our basic responsibilities
and to go forward with our plans for the future. We ended
fiscal 1972-1973 with a major deficit that resulted from
a fall-sort of expected revenues.
"The picture has its gloomy spots and its bright
ones, too. And there will be more of each as time goes on.
"As we go forward, there may be some arguments about
whether we are going too slow or too fast, whether we should
be climbing over some obstacles instead of walking around
them. But the one thing we cannot argue about and delay
over is our goal - that light on the other side of the forest
- Buffalo
, the finest City in the World."
On December 19, 1974, Makowski called all the area
legislators into City Hall
to present his 1975 legislative package. Included were outlines
of 10 major bills that he said could revitalize Buffalo
That was the last time they heard from him.
On January 29, 1975 Makowski was in Albany for a
meeting, but did not bother to visit any of the legislators.
"He did not hold a cocktail party or a luncheon, as protocol
would demand." The legislators felt snubbed, as if he didn't
need them. They then decided to wait for him to come to
them. In the mean time, they would not introduce any local
legislation on their own.
On May 7, 1976 Makowski told a group his feelings
on city restoration.
"Washington can spend $86 billion for mechanisms
of destruction and billions more to restore the cities and
countries of those who were our enemies in war - but we
have to beg for any Federal funds to reconstruct and restore
our beautiful old city.
"Our nation is strong militarily, but it is dying
from cancer from within."
Buffalo
residents themselves will have to do for their city what the
Federal government will not: Restore it and reconstruct
it.
In the meantime, "what we need is real determination,
not only from our city government, but from the private
sector - and it is beginning to emerge."
One of Makowski's biggest cost-saving decisions was
to keep city employees from receiving raises in 1975 - 76
and 1976 - 77.
"It cost popularity and support on the part of city
employees and union representatives. On the other hand,
the taxpayers found it refreshing...a little different than
in the past when it was easy to say yes to the employees.
"One hates to keep saying no. It hurts me inwardly.
It was a painful task. Remember, I had been a union representative
with the grain millers."
In 1976, a red brick wall was begun around the McKinley
monument in Niagara Square
, a square shape, to give Niagara Square a namesake. The
public outcry was amazing. It was called "Fort Makowski
" by the media and the citizens. When Makowski realized
the people didn't want it, he stopped construction and had
it torn down.
In the winter of 1976, a tremendous ice storm hit
the city, knocking out power, closing streets and creating
havoc throughout Western New York.
The occupancy tax
, enacted in 1976, proved to be a major downfall of his.
He enacted an $8 to $12 per year tax that was levied on
occupants of commercial and residential buildings to help
fund a $1.5 million Municipal Housing Authority deficit.
At one meeting in 1977 he had to defend it before 500 jeering
citizens. Most people complained that it wasn't so much
the tax, as what it was used for.
Early in 1977, Makowski announced his bid for re-election.
In addition, State Senator James D. Griffin
announced he was seeking the mayoral endorsement, as was Assemblyman
Arthur O. Eve
On January 28, 1977, a most disastrous blizzard struck
Buffalo
and Western New York. Snow fell, winds of 45 m.p.h. blew the
snow and temperatures of 10 degrees or less created havoc
for everyone. At least seven people died, most of them stuck
in their cars in heavy snowdrifts.
Many people spent at least a day at work, not able
to get home. Rich Stadium
, Memorial Auditorium
and City Hall
, among other places, opened their doors to travelers who
had abandoned their vehicles. Many people who were stuck
indoors were interested in watching the continuing saga
of "Roots" on television.
The Courier Express printed it's January 28 paper
the night before to be sure it was delivered. On the 29th
the weather was so bad that there was no paper. On January
30, the regular edition was printed again. The city was
paralyzed; Makowski ordered a driving ban, lifted it, then
reinstated it, causing many people to criticize his flippant
decision making.
The city just didn't have enough snow-fighting equipment
to handle a storm of this magnitude. There was looting and
thefts; out-of-town contractors offered their trucks for
city usage; the city of Toronto offered to loan its vehicles.
President Carter
declared Buffalo
a disaster area and the Army was sent in to assist with the
digging out. The Mayor ran the clean-up effort from his
2nd floor office in City Hall.
As most people know, this was the storm that gave
Buffalo
its bad reputation about winter. Over 65 inches of snow fell
in January, along with 60.7" of snow that fell in December,
creating a tremendous clean-up task for Makowski.
Hundreds of thousand of dollars in phantom contracts
and payoffs were made as contractors demanded money for
work never done. Food stamps were being sold on the streets;
5,000 gallons of gas was illegally siphoned from city pumps.
As the city slowly recovered, Makowski hired three
major contractors to administer the cleanup. Once this was
done, most of the corruption
discontinued.
"We were going around the clock. Fear just gripped
me. People and cars were stranded. That frightened me. There
I was, the chief executive, and we'd never experienced this
kind of blizzard before.
"There was nothing we could refer to to see what
was done in the past. We had to start from scratch."
In a Buffalo
Evening News poll conducted two weeks after the Blizzard of
"77, Makowski was given a "Fair" rating by 36.4% in the survey.
27.1% gave him a "Poor" grade and 26.2% a "Good" grade.
It was a county-wide survey that had included other questions.
In late January, a contender for the 1977 mayoral
race appeared. Wayne Whiteslee, self-proclaimed head the
Ku Klux Klan
in Erie County, announced plans to run on the "White Unity Party'
ticket.
On May 17, a group of city workers picketed outside
a dinner he was attending in his honor. "After years in
public office, I expect to be argued with but this was not
justified."
Mayor Makowski
could no longer take all the abuse he was receiving. On May
23, 1977 he made an announcement to the public. "I will
not be a candidate for re-election." It was a decision made
by himself and his family.
He said he was happy at the prospect of "returning
to a normal family life.
"I do not feel that I have the energy needed to assume
the challenges and responsibilities of this demanding job
for four more years.
"I'm exhausted...tired. That office is demanding
many hours. I really meant to run. I was running. I was
campaigning. But I had to bow to reality. How much can I
do? To carry on the responsibilities of this office and
campaign means going 20 hours a day.
"I expect to be a very active mayor for the next
seven months.
"I do not want to expose my family to the bitterness
which this campaign would involve.
"During very recent days my wife and children were
forced to run a gauntlet of jeering pickets to attend a
dinner in my honor. It is not very pleasant for young people
to be subjected to this treatment and to see their father
held up to public ridicule.
"It seems like I'm saying good-bye."
He allowed questions from the media, including one
asking if it was the end of his political career. "For an
elective office, yes." Greatest accomplishment: "Opening
government to the people to make decisions on the local
level." Greatest error: "I suppose it was the occupancy
tax
It created a great furor."
Council Majority Leader Anthony M. Masiello
stood up and told the Mayor: "We on the Common Council
all love you very much."
On May 24, 1977, Governor Hugh Carey
indicated that Makowski would get a post in the state Democratic
administration when he stepped down. Carey also noted that
it was possible that Makowski could get a position in President
Carter
's administration.
A Buffalo
Evening News editorial: "Mayor Makowski
has been hurt by his own nice-guy reluctance to replace weaker
members of his administration, by a pliant acceptance of
Mr. Crangle
's musical-chairs patronage excesses and, perhaps above
all, by a general inability to infuse the people of Buffalo
with a strong sense of purpose.
"Meanwhile, we stand by our recent assessment that
while Mr. Makowski has made some mistakes, "he has also
been a decent, honest mayor and on the issue of greatest
importance, keeping Buffalo
solvent, he has generally fought the good fight.'"
As of July 1, 1977, the controversial occupancy tax
law was repealed. Mayor Makowski
said: "I've been insulted, threatened and quite frankly, told
off because of this tax. But I am optimistic about what
the future holds for our community."
City Hall
observers later admitted that it was actually a minor tax, when
compared to the taxes
levied in later
years.
Makowski's tax record was one which he could have
easily ran for re-election on. The tax rate increased only
8.4% since 1972 - 1973, Frank Sedita
's last budget.
"There were times I was very happy. But there were
many more times I felt sad...felt bad. And I reached the
depths of real depression after the storm (Blizzard of
"77). That's when I was physically and emotionally overworked
and it took its toll.
"I'm a little more sensitive to criticism and to
people's needs - and being unable to meet them - than a
public official should be.
"I could have made some changes. I don't want to
be specific. I think I was too soft to fire anybody. It
was just a small group that probably should have been changed.
Many have worked very hard."
Makowski's accomplishments include the building of
the Convention Center
, even after the voters turned down the city's investment;
Downtown redevelopment; the waterfront
Building of an industrial park at William and Lewis Streets
which was started when he was majority leader of the Common
Council
The park "helped to keep some businesses here."
"These are things I worked on and helped develop.
I think I've seen Buffalo
at its lowest stages and then coming back - we've leveled off
and we're coming back."
Makowski was appointed a member of the State Industrial
Board of Appeals by Governor Carey on December 31, 1977.
The post was obtained for him by Joseph F. Crangle
, Erie County Democratic Chairman.
As Makowski packed his personal belongings on December
31, 1977, he spoke with reporters.
"It hasn't hit me yet. I don't feel any differently.
"The point I'm trying to get across, is that during
the last 22 years, I have gone through so many changes.
"I have to honestly say the full impact hasn't hit
me yet. Maybe it will hit me later when we have some friends
in to say good-bye.
"I have had four years and 9 months of constant pressure.
...Next week I will be able to say to my wife and kids,
åLet's go to Chestnut Ridge.' I will have no other
obligations, no speeches to make, no reports to give, no
irate citizens picketing my house...To have normal hours
and time for my family, that excites me."
Preparing for a possible mayoral bid in 1981, Makowski's
son Mark had this slogan: "The man for me in
å73 is still the one in å81."
Later in his last day at work, Makowski did what
he could not do for his entire term: fire someone. Buffalo
Streets Commissioner James C. Lindner was fired effective 11:59
p.m. At midnight he officially became streets commissioner
under Mayor-elect Jimmy Griffin
's administration.
Makowski said he fired Lindner for insubordination
after he had just as abruptly fired his chief streets deputy.
PERSONAL LIFE
Stanley Makowski
married Florence Ziolo on August 7, 1954. They had eight children.
The Makowski's lived at 83 Roseville Street.
On February 14, 1978 Makowski was confirmed as a
member of the State Industrial Board of Appeals. "It's a
different role for me. In the years I was mayor, a lot of
people came to me for jobs, and now I'm down here getting
one."
On Wednesday, May 16, 1979 Makowski announced that
he was a founder and president of The Association for Polish
Democrats for Erie County, and he had become active in the
Polish Action Committee of the Polish American Congress.
He said he was "developing political leadership for
the future," with the organization concentrating "in the
East Buffalo
area.
"We'll be both a political and service agency. We
hope to gain credibility, respect and support. One of our
major projects will be encouraging people to register to
vote and stimulate interest in the political field."
Regarding his chance of running for mayor in 1981:
"I am keeping the door ajar. I'm not completely excluding
myself.
"I see the problems facing Mayor Griffin
and I think: Could I do better? However, he has only been in
office a year and five months."
He never got the chance to run again. He became ill
in 1981 and spent eight weeks in the hospital with a serious
respiratory ailment. On August 5, 1981 he died of cardiac
arrest while in the hospital undergoing tests. He is buried
in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.
At the beginning of his term, Makowski faced a 15%
unemployment
rate, and the cutback of state and federal aid. He overcame
a $16 million deficit during his tenure and brought about
the redevelopment of downtown
The Convention Center
, the Erie Basin Marina
, the rapid transit
and the financial restraint he showed were his "major legacies
to the city."
Mayor Griffin
: "I've known him since we were kids. We worked in the feed
mills together. He was very religious guy and one of the
best family men I've ever known. Everybody loved the man.
He could have beaten me the last time out if he had sought
re-election.
"The city is going to miss him. He was a Buffalo
guy, a neighborhood guy and a guy you could have a few beers
with. I am going to miss him. He died too soon."
