In what may be looked at as the conflict of interest of the year, BR was told by reliable sources that Congressman Brian Higgins “has appointed” Eugenio Russi to the PBA Board of Directors. Russi is a Columbus Park resident, and supporter of the development efforts there, including a truck plaza that would take 80 + properties from the historic neighborhood. There has been no confirmation from the congressman’s office yet. [See update below.]
Russi can be seen in this
October 6th Buffalo Common Council Legislation Committee Meeting video, at around the 45-minute mark. The issue being examined here is the l
andmark status of 771 Busti. (In fairness, note that Russi is wearing sunglasses because, and he explains to the council, he’s forgotten his reading glasses.) Russi’s reads from his prepared statement that he is not in favor of landmarking the Wilkeson House. His take on the “agreement” between the PBA and the City sounds very much like that of PBA General Manager Ron Rienas. (
See this story for an attorney’s view of the alleged agreement.)
He asks the council to deny landmark status to 771 Busti, says he is speaking for other residents of the West Side, those less educated and poor. He refers to the issue of “requesting hysterical status” to the house, and calls the effort “an attempt to derail or minimize or slow down projects proposed by the authority.”
He continues, railing against what he calls a “small vocal and very well financed” group of Columbus Park residents. “I implore you to see this maneuver as what it is really is,” he states. He asks the council to “have the courage to resist the pressures put on you by this small group.”
Update– I made a mistake. Only the Governor can appoint U.S. members to
the PBA, with confirmation by the legislature. Rep. Higgins’ office sent us an
e-mail pointing this out. I’m sorry for the error. However, in the same note,
Higgins’ office did confirm the Congressman’s support for Russi:
“Mr. Russi lives in the Peace Bridge neighborhood and the
Congressman is generally supportive of his candidacy however we are not even
aware that the Governor has made such a nomination at this time.”
So, I still wonder, if and when Russi is nominated by the Governor, if it’s a good idea for our member of Congress to help put someone on
the PBA board who is so eager to trade the neighborhood for a truck plaza.- ECB