James
D. Griffin
The
Early Years
1978
- 1985
The general election of 1977 was held on November
8. Less than an hour after the polls closed local TV stations
announced Griffin the winner. "I'm a doubting Thomas, I
don't believe it," he said.
Griffin, the "dukes-up, Irish, Democratic independent
from the South Side" won in an astounding battle. Eve, the
endorsed Democratic candidate, received 43,240, Phelan,
Republican, 34,171, Griffin, Conservative, 57,642, Donald
L. Turchiarelli
, Liberal, 1,856, Kushra Ghandhi, Labor, 260, and Rev. Bob
Lily
, Sunshine Party, 167 votes.
Griffin was the first person to ever win a local
mayoral election on the Conservative line. His starting
salary was $35,000.
His victory celebration was held at the Peace Bridge
Exhibition Center
He refused to declare victory, after the premature primary
declaration.
At 12:37 a.m., Griffin finally addressed his anxious
followers, after Eve had conceded defeat.
"I wanted to make sure what we have to say tonight
will stick.
"We have fought the good fight...and kept the faith.
"We're going to make the city safer, cleaner and
better than any other city in the country.
"I have no doubts in my mind whatsoever that this
city can pull itself together. Buffalo
is just like it has always been - a city of good neighbors.
And we're going to make it better.
"I hope we all can work together."
He attributed the victory to "hard work from everybody.
And they were all Buffalo
people. We didn't get any help from outside Buffalo
, and we did all this with about a quarter of the money
the others spent."
On November 15, Griffin announced his transition
team which included James C. Lindner and Stan Buczkowski
, a foreman at Republic Steel.
On December 31, 1977, Mayor Makowski
fired James C. Lindner, one day before he became Griffin's streets
commissioner.
A cartoon in the Buffalo
Evening News on January 1, 1978, depicted Griffin facing the
New Year baby, with the
problems facing his administration: "snow removal,
shrinking tax base, patronage, public housing
deficit, school financing, overburden aid, temporary help, CETA,
water system, sales tax
, Hurd decision
, Police Dept., municipal unions, hotels, etc, etc, etc."
Mayor Griffin
was sworn in on January 1, 1978, and delivered his Inaugural
Address
that day.
"Today marks the beginning of a new year filled with
new hopes, dreams and resolutions for better lives for ourselves
and our families. I believe that today also signifies the
beginning of a new era in city government for the residents
of the City of Buffalo
- an administration with new hopes, dreams and with a firm commitment
to improve the quality of life for all the residents of
the City of Buffalo
"In the next four years, we are going to work to
fulfill the trust which you have placed in us. We are going
to make our neighborhoods safer and cleaner; we are going
to revitalize our economy, particularly in our downtown
areas; we are going to provide an efficient, responsive and
fiscally sound city government which cares about all the
residents of the City of Buffalo
; we are going to have an educational system which provides
a sound basis for our children; we are going to make a better
Buffalo
that we can all be proud of.
"Just as many people said that we could not win the
election, many will say that we cannot accomplish these
goals now that we are in office. But we will. We can make
a better Buffalo
if we dedicate ourselves to the same principles which helped
us win the election; namely:
"1. by listening to people's concerns and needs,
"2. by working together,
"3. by working hard, and
"4. by believing that we can make a difference and
can succeed.
"I have already begun to look forward to working
in partnership with the Common Council
..
"Most importantly, I look forward to working with
you, the individual citizens of Buffalo
, who care about your city. You have dreams, hopes and ideas
on how we can make life better in Buffalo
I ask you to share them with me. Each of you want the best
for your families and we can achieve so much if we work
together.
"One of Margie and my favorite songs is åCamelot'.
The song speaks of a place where everything is beautiful
and where anyone would want to live. It is a place of hopes
and dreams. One of the lines of the song says that åthere's
a legal limit to the snow here. The winter is forbidden
till December and exits March the second on the dot.'
"Now, I can't promise you that it will only snow
from December to March. What I am promising is that the
decisions that are made and the actions that are taken by
this administration will be dedicated to what is best for
all the residents of the City of Buffalo
Together we will make Buffalo
a place where anyone would want to come to live, to work and
raise their family. Together, we can have a Buffalo
, to quote åCamelot' again, about which it is said that...
"åIn short, there's simply not a more congenial spot,
For happ'ly ever aftering.'"
After Griffin's inaugural on January 1, 1978, well-wishers
filed by the Mayor for two hours.
Within weeks after he began his term, Griffin eliminated
a community coordinator program, which was a favorite of
many councilmen. He also wanted complete control over the
federal community block grant program. These and other episodes
began to erode the relationship between the mayor and council
early on.
A hiring freeze was imposed in March, as Griffin
attempted to juggle with the city's financial problems.
Midway through his first year in office, the infamous
"Hurd Decision
" was passed which struck down a state law that permitted
the city to collect taxes
in excess of its constitutional limit in the early 1970's. Millions
of dollars in refunds to taxpayers lay in waiting as the
city fought the decision.
In mid-July 1978 patients were moved into the newly-built
Erie County Comprehensive Health Care Center (now ECMC).
Griffin's love/hate relationship with the media began
early in his first term. When he answered a reporter's question
that was not meant for broadcast, but later was, he was
no longer available to that reporter. Female reporters were
chastised at times, and their names interchanged. Any time
anything against Buffalo
or him personally, was relayed to the public, his relationship
with that reporter usually ended.
During Griffin's first year in office he tried to
"beach the fireboat", among other changes in the Fire Department
Griffin campaigned, in 1977, against the patronage and favoritism
of Democratic Party headquarters.
"Once in office, though, the mayor hired every relative
he could, starting with his brother, Parks Commissioner
Thomas J. Griffin. He packed seasonal payrolls with residents
of South Buffalo
, his home and power base."
Maybe this was his way of getting back at the system
for passing him by in the late 1950's.
"I campaigned on very simple ideas. Everybody said,
"You've got a simple solution to everything.' Well, that's
the way life is. You can't make it complex.
"If the people in a neighborhood say they want a
stop sign, that stop sign goes up. I don't wait for surveys.
"If I think there should be more policemen on the
streets, I don't wait for FBI statistics.
"I believe in the simple way of doing things. More
than experts, we need people with common sense in government."
In January, 1979 Griffin tried to get legalized casino
gambling in downtown
Buffalo
, to no avail.
Griffin helped to bring professional baseball to
Buffalo
as he organized a group of investors to buy a minor league team
in April, 1979.
The Mayor, experiencing wage problems with the police
union, who had embarked on an unofficial work slowdown, had
his car encircled by angry officers in September, 1980.
The gruff Griffin got out of his car and exchanged words
with the officers. Regarding the slowdown: "I think that's
one of the only minuses that this administration has."
There was widespread complaints that the Mayor ordered
the more vocal unionists transferred to the least desirable
assignments. Mayor Griffin
personally denied this allegation.
In August, 1980 the Mayor was named president of
the Western New York re-election campaign for President
Carter
February, 1981: "I like this job. The Senate was
easier; you could always rationalize your vote. This has
100 times more responsibility, and you're either right or
wrong."
On February 11, 1981, Griffin gathered his supporters
in the Statler Hotel to announce his re-election bid.
"Because I believe that in the last three years we
have gone a long ways towards fulfilling these committments
( of 1977), I am here today to officially announce that
I will be a candidate for re-election as mayor of the City
of Buffalo
"
By April 19, 1981 there was no declared candidates
for that year's mayoral race, other than Griffin. Griffin
was endorsed by the Conservative and Right-to-Life parties.
He began his annual fight with the Board of Education
over funding in July, 1981. These annual battles usually ended
up in court as the Board tried to get Griffin to give them
more money.
A poll conducted from September 18 - 20, 1981, showed
51.3% of the respondents believed Griffin was doing a Good
job; 21.5% said Fair, and 14.5% Excellent. The area in which
he made the greatest impact was Waterfront Improvements,
which 22.5% of those polled chose.
Ray Herman, Courier Express political writer, in
October 1981: "The Mayor's relationships with the media
have also been uneven. The latent power of the media intimidates
most politicians, but not Griffin.
"Griffin's loyalty frequently seems to go beyond
the bounds of good political judgment. He'll endorse and
work for sure election losers."
Critics were complaining that Griffin was taking
credit for work begun in previous administrations. "There's
been a lot of so-called plans", he said.
Another plan of his, was to encourage small-scale
employers to locate in Buffalo
"The more small companies we can develop in our city, the
less we're going to have to depend on the national economy.
...You aren't going to see these big firms like Bethlehem
and Republic hiring thousands of people like they used to. The
future is in little firms."
Supposedly, the Mayor tried to run the entire city
from his second floor office. He "routinely insists on personally
approving new employees. Every councilman knows that only
Griffin - not the Department of Transportation - approves
new stop signs."
"Griffin wields power - and people and the zone committee
know he wields power," said South District Councilman James
P. Keane, a longtime Griffin supporter.
David Kelly, President of the Buffalo
Board of Education
: "Griffin is not afraid to get rid of people. There is
not a lot of loyalty. People are just afraid of losing their
jobs. In the Griffin administration, politics comes first,
good government second."
During his first four years in office, Griffin vetoed
85 Council bills, 52 of which were overridden. Previous
mayor, Stan Makowski, only vetoed 14 bills, and was overridden
two times.
"That must be some kind of record. I guess Stan was
just a friendlier guy than I am." Being overridden so many
times, did not make him very happy. In turn, he tried to
get as many Councilmen elected that would side with him.
When the inner city councilmen questioned his administration's
lack of support he said: "They don't have any initiative,
they're lazy and they're too political with their money."
Griffin faced very little competition for re-election
in 1981. After destroying the Democratic party
in 1977, they couldn't find anyone strong enough to defeat him.
Griffin was given the GOP endorsement on April, 20.
With no one to challenge Griffin, he took the Democratic
party
without their endorsement.
It was the first time since 1927, that the Republicans
didn't run a Republican as a candidate.
In the Republican primary, held on September 11,
1981, dentist Charles Battista challenged Griffin, and lost
4,741 to 2,815. In the Right-to-Life vote, Griffin defeated
laid-off factory worked Norman White, 59 to 51.
The stage was set for Liberal candidate
Alfred T. Coppola
, against the Griffin machine in November.
Griffin won an easy re-election on November 3, 1981.
With only token opposition, and backing from both major
parties and several smaller parties, he registered 48,824
Democratic votes, 18,812 Republican, 2,584 Conservative,
and 2,141 Right-to-Life. His only opponent, Liberal candidate
Alfred T. Coppola
, received 7,869 votes. Griffin's total was 72,361 votes,
90% of the vote.
The celebration began early, as the outcome was certain.
Over 500 supporters attended the party held at the Buffalo
Convention Center
Shortly after 11 p.m., he began his victory speech:
"It's Tuesday night. We're live from Buffalo
, New York
" He introduced prominent campaign supporters and members
of the Griffin team, who won their races for Common Council
"I think we've done great things for four years without
the Council. I think we'll do a better job with the Council."
When asked if he would be running again for mayor:
"It's a little too early to say. I like the job. I like
what we're doing. If things continue to go the way they
are now, I hope to be around for another four years."
Also on the ballot was a referendum to reduce the
Common Council
by three seats. It was passed and was effective January, 1984. "Beautiful. We'll get rid of a lot
of hot air in the Council and save $200,000," was Griffin's'
reaction to the vote.
In addition, it was voted that the Treasurer's office
be abandoned, and a citizen advisory committee on reapportionment
be created.
As the Buffalo
Evening News stated in an editorial on November 4, 1981: "Tuesday's
election in Buffalo
resembled Jimmy Griffin
Day."
On January 20, 1982 Griffin mentioned an interest
in the governorship, when Governor Hugh Carey
announced he would not be seeking a third term.
Griffin balked at pay hikes approved for the Niagara
Frontier Transportation Authority
on February 24, 1982, with five positions making over $50,000.
In March, 1982, Griffin explained his ideas on crime
to reporter Ray Hill: "Why should people in jail get a college
education when law-abiding people are struggling to send
their kids to school?
"If the judge says 10 years, then the S.O.B. should
serve 10 years.
"I'm monitored, and so is everybody else who is elected.
Why not the judges? They're getting good money from the
public, and nobody grabbed me or them by the neck and said
we had to run. They wanted the job and they should account
to the public, the same as the rest of us.
"I think its time we had civil rights for the elderly
lady who gets mugged and has her arm broken while she's
trying to hang onto her last five bucks.
"My dad's 77, and I worry every day that some a**hole
is going to hit him over the head and rob him. And I'm the
mayor..."
On April 21, 1982 New York Mayor Ed Koch
opened his campaign for governor of New York, with full Griffin
backing. Griffin was regarded as the number one choice for
lieutenant governor on the ticket headed by Koch. They had
been allies for several years, and occasionally had worked
on legislation together.
On May 8, 1982 Griffin announced he was going to
stay in Buffalo
"I enjoy being mayor of the city of Buffalo
and I would like to stay here. I want to continue the programs
that we have started and keep them on track. ...Most importantly,
I want to work to get the residents of our city working
again in the private sector and off the unemployment
rolls."
In June, 1982 the city was able to pay off the last
of a $19 million deficit dating back to 1976.
In early 1982 Griffin announced that he would run
for re-election in 1985.
A group of 47 police
recruits was welcomed by the Mayor on January 30, 1984. After
the talk, everyone knew who ran the Police Department. "There
are going to be very few promotions to detective or anything
for the years I have remaining.
"I'll be watching your every move no matter who the
commissioner is. I'm the commissioner's boss, and I'm your
boss. We're going to make sure that every year I'm mayor
the crime rate is decreasing.
"We don't expect excellence from you. We demand it.
If you're not going to be the best, we don't want you."
On a television show in early February: "You can
bet I'll have a hand in anything that goes on in the Police
Department and in every department in the city.
"The guy that gets all the guff is the mayor. I'm
here to take the blame. I'm here to take the criticism.
That's the way its going to be as long as I'm mayor. I think
people like that."
In November, 1984 Griffin ordered the controversial
neon sculpture åGreen Lightning
' torn down, one day after it was unveiled. He called it
"obscene - childish", and thought it was a piece of junk.
Sculptor Billy Lawless, son of former Common Council
President William Lawless, subsequently sued the city for destroying
it. The artist had received prior approval for the piece,
which was placed near the Elm-Oak corridor, from the Buffalo
Arts Commission, Urban Renewal
Agency, and the Common Council.
On November 13, 1984, the Mayor's appointments of
Michael L. Broderick as corporation counsel, and Joseph
J. Scinta as commissioner of street sanitation, were defeated
by the Council. It was Broderick's fourth defeat and Scinta's
fifth. Griffin vowed to keep submitting the names until
the Council came to its senses. "The names are going back
in. When the snow is piling up, people should call their
local councilman and say, åWhy don't you start acting like
men, instead of boys.'"
Broderick finally withdrew his name from consideration.
Griffin continued submitting Scinta's name, for a total
of 13 times. Each time, the Council rejected it.
On November 14, 1984, the Buffalo
News blasted Griffin for doing a paid commercial for Ford Motor
Company. He said he would be glad to do it for any company
he believed in.
On December 16, 1984, an Erie County poll was released
that indicated 35.3% of the people thought Griffin was doing
a fair job as mayor, 34.3%
said good and 14.3% said poor. In Buffalo
only, the percentage of those who thought he was doing a poor
job went up to 18.3%.
In December, 1984, Assemblyman Arthur Eve
and James F. Notaro, leader of the State Liberal party, created
the Coalition for a Better Buffalo
with the sole
purpose of choosing a candidate to run on the Democratic
and Liberal lines to defeat Griffin in the following year's
campaign.
On January 15, 1985 Lovejoy Councilman Norman Bakos,
an on-again off-again ally of Griffin's, announced his candidacy
for mayor.
The city was pounded by a blizzard, second only to
that of 1977, in late January, 1985. As Griffin continued
fighting with the Common Council
over making Joe Scinta Commissioner of Street Sanitation, he
was left running the snow fighting effort. The city was
shut down, there was a driving ban, and over three feet
of snow fell in three days. Governor Cuomo
declared a state of emergency for the Western New York area.
When asked by a reporter what the citizens should
do, Griffin gave one of his most famous quotes: "Stay home.
Enjoy your family. Watch Channel 7, and get a six-pack."
Griffin fought hard for the building of a baseball
stadium in the downtown
area. With War Memorial Stadium
in need of repair and over 50 years old, he wanted to bring
baseball to the heart of the city. He dealt with local and
state lawmakers who he usually avoided, in order to bring
this dream to reality.
On January 17, 1985, Council member Alfred T. Coppola
proposed a two term limit
for the mayor. He claimed it was not meant directly towards
Mayor Griffin
On January 20, 1985 Griffin formally notified the
Board of Elections that he was a candidate for re-election.
George Wessel, president of the AFL-CIO Council announced
that he would be supporting the Coalition for a Better Buffalo
in late February,
1985.
"I have one purpose in mind - to beat Jimmy Griffin
I can't support a screwball like Griffin for mayor."
Joe Crangle
, Erie County Democratic Chairman, was angered by the Coalition,
and endorsed Common Council
President George K. Arthur on March 9, 1985, before the Coalition
was able to choose a candidate.
Griffin announced his candidacy on April 29. On May
8, he received the Republican endorsement, even though two
Republican candidates were available.
On May 18, 1985 the long anticipated first leg of
the Metro Rail
system was opened. Many state, federal and local leaders turned
out for the event, as it was funded by many different agencies.
"The private sector would not have built this railroad,"
said Governor Mario Cuomo
Mayor Griffin
spoke at an indoor gathering for the rail line. "I see our majority
leader smiling. It's been a great day for Jim Pitts too.
Let's give him a hand." After the applause stopped: "I need
his vote on the (new downtown
) stadium."
By July, Bakos was out of the race and refused to
support any candidate. Twelve members of the Common Council
sided with Arthur, two with Griffin, and Bakos and two other
members remaining neutral.
During the first debate, held on August 26, 1985,
Griffin defended his snow cleaning efforts from the January
storm. "When you get 45 inches of snow, I challenge anyone
to come up with a plan that works."
The Mayor also admitted: "I do step on toes. I might
be vicious at times. If you had my job you'd do the same."
On September 10, 1985 the primary elections were
held.
As over 2,000 supporters waited for the primary results
at campaign headquarters, Griffin mingled. The GOP results
were posted early, as Griffin defeated Carol Siwek, 9,814
to 5,752. The mood was still upbeat until around 10 p.m.,
when Democratic defeat looked possible. Shortly after 11
p.m., the Democratic results were finally posted.
George K. Arthur, the endorsed candidate, defeated
Mayor Griffin
37,192 to 31,360. An additional candidate, Dr. Charles H. Carman
received 1,127 votes.
On the Conservative ballot, Griffin also won, 337
to 149 for Charles J. Flynn Jr.
Several of the Common Council
candidates that were backed by the Griffin organization also
lost their primary battles.
"I want to congratulate George Arthur for winning.
One thing we are not is poor losers. George is a good opponent.
"This is much like a re-run of 1977. Tomorrow, we
go for the general election.
"Tomorrow's another day - and we'll be out there
again tomorrow, working even harder.
"As Yogi Berra would say, it isn't over till its
over - right?"
During the campaign, a letter supporting Griffin
was mailed to prospective voters:
"Do you remember what Buffalo
was like eight years ago, before I took office?
"The city had a $19 million deficit. There was widespread
corruption
in City Hall
There was the no-show scandal. Commissioners were buying
love seats and guns for themselves with government funds.
"There was a party boss who wasn't elected by the
people making appointments and awarding contracts and running
City Hall
I was sickened by what was happening to our city, and that's
why I ran for mayor."
There was a lot of criticism thrown at Griffin for
the allegations. The late Mayor Makowski
's wife wanted a public apology, but Griffin refused, saying
his allegations were true.
On October 2, 1985 Griffin called a press conference
to criticize the Buffalo
Board of Education
for burning 28 tons of books.
"Give them away, have an auction. There are a lot
of things you can do, but you don't burn them.
"It appears the board wants to justify the spending
of its budget and can't afford to have good books lying
around being unused. They solved that problem by throwing
them out."
Reporters went to see Schools Superintendent Eugene
T. Reville after the Mayor's press conference. "We do it
every year. Why has the Mayor discovered it in October of
an election year? This is an election campaign. His tactic
is silly."
Apparently no knew that the school system burned
used books.
On October 25, 1985 a political debate between Griffin,
Arthur, and Liberal candidate
Nicholas C. Constantino was held. As Arthur trampled Constantino,
Griffin stood by watching. When his turn to speak came up
he said: "They call me vicious. What do you think of that?"
Then Arthur turned a question about political loyalty
against Griffin. And Constantino against Arthur. Arthur
claimed to be independent, but still took the Democratic
endorsement, was used against him.
Some of the topics of this election included "downtown
development vs. neighborhood development, snow removal, the
Buffalo
Police Department, the proposed downtown baseball stadium, education,
long-range planning, or lack of it."
Griffin poured his campaign funds into advertising,
spending nearly $400,000, whereas, Arthur spent less than
$200,000.
On November 1, 1985 a new campaign letter from Griffin
forces was sent out, toning down what was sent in the first
letter.
"When I first ran for mayor in 1977, the city had
a $19 million deficit, there was corruption
in city government, and no confidence in our city. I wiped out
the deficit and have run five years of surpluses. We have
run a clean government and restored confidence in our city."
In the close, three-way race, Griffin must have realized
the negative press would have been detrimental.
The general election was held on November 5, 1985.
Griffin's endorsements on the minor party lines proved to
be crucial to the final outcome. Arthur defeated Griffin
on the Democrat vs. Republican lines, 56,479 to 54,314,
but Griffin also garnered 10,032 Conservative votes and
5,505 Right-to-Life votes. Liberal candidate
Nicholas C. Constantino received 3,706 votes on the Liberal
line, and 1,035 on the Independent Better Buffalo
line.
Democratic party
leader Joe Crangle
said the election established once and for all that Jimmy Griffin
is a Republican.
Griffin stopped by Republican headquarters, in the
Buffalo
Convention Center
, midway through the evening. Republican Chairmann Victor
N. Farley
introduced him: "My understanding is that there is a man from
South Buffalo
who will be up here to say hello. George Arthur has decided
the race is over. I could have told him that months ago."
"It's been a long time since you had a Republican
who won as Mayor of the City of Buffalo
," Griffin said after jumping on the stage, clenching a
fist.
"I'm glad to carry the banner, believe me. Party
labels usually don't mean a thing to me, but if I didn't
have your endorsement, and the Conservative Party
, I wouldn't be here tonight with my wife Margie, thanking
each and every one of you.
"Have a beer, as much as you can drink, and enjoy."
After leaving the Convention Center
, he headed back to his campaign headquarters in the former
steelworkers hall on Bailey Avenue.
Addressing his congregation around midnight, Griffin
said: "We've been mayor now eight years, and I say we, not
I. Buffalo
's looking better than it has in the last 30 years.
"That's why we win, because we like each other."
When Arthur appeared on television as Griffin spoke,
the people started booing, and Griffin said: "I hope you
don't boo people. That's not our style...we're not a poor
winner.
"I want to congratulate my two opponents, George
and Nick. It was a good fight.
"This is the first time Margie has applauded me in
16 years. Right now she is kicking me, telling me to shut
up.
"We'll have the same government we've had since January
1, 1978. A lean, clean government that works with people.
If they want to work with me, I'll work with them all the
way."
Speaking to a reporter: "The voters said we had a
good administration, despite what the (Buffalo
) News thinks. The voters saw we took care of the deficit,
we made the streets safe, we built new housing
, we developed the waterfront
, we developed downtown
"
Later in November, Griffin and Robert E. Rich Jr.,
owner of the Triple AAA Buffalo
Bisons
baseball team, met with professional baseball owners and its
commissioner to try and persuade them to choose Buffalo
as a city for an expansion team. The City of Buffalo
was behind the move, along with talk show host Larry King, who
truly believed Buffalo
should have an expansion team.
