Byron Brown is unraveling right before our very eyes

The political self-destruction of Byron Brown gained momentum this weekend.

And continued this morning (see updates below).

First there was the mayor's refusal to respond to questions posed last week by Brian Meyer while reporting his block-buster story in which three sources told The News that police, after apprehending Leonard Stokes two years ago on suspicion of using a stolen handicapped parking permit, were ordered to release him after a highly unusual trip to the mayor's office.

Brown, when asked if the allegations were true, instead offered a no-comment.

"I will say to you I have no comment on your story."

Which a lot of people read as an admission of guilt. The mayor followed up the next day by saying the accusations are politically motivated.

"This is clearly politically motivated. The timing is very questionable."

Yeah, maybe, but are the accusations true?

Brown continued to stonewall.

"This was two years ago," Brown repeated. "What we're trying to do is get all the facts."

What's the mayor going to do, interview himself?

I had my own suspicions as to what the "fact finding" might involve - perhaps trying to smoke out the police officers who the mayor suspects of spilling the beans -- and Niagara Common Council Member David Rivera accused Brown of doing just that at a press conference Sunday.

Rivera said he's been told by a source in the department that Joel Daniels, a prominent defense attorney, has started calling officers involved in Stokes' apprehension in an effort to question them. Rivera said Daniels has represented that he's acting on behalf of the mayor. The Councilman, a retired cop himself, said the very act of having Daniels call officers amounts to "a form of intimidation."

Calls to Daniels and Peter Cutler, the mayor's spokesman, brought strenuous denials that the mayor has "retained" Daniels.

But Daniels then gave a string of curious "no comments," when asked whether he was acting in a less-formal capacity and if he had started contacting officers.

As I report in Monday's News:

  "I'm not going to comment on whether I've made inquiries," he said.

   Is he working for the mayor in a capacity short of being formally retained?

   "I can't discuss that, can't comment on that," he said.

 Cutler, meanwhile, confirmed that the administration has started "fact finding" in the   Stokes matter, but declined to comment when asked for details.

   "I'm not going to go into detail. I don't think it's relevant," Cutler said.

Daniels issued his "no comments" after I had spoken to Cutler, so I called the mayor's spokesman back for further clarification. It was the administration's opportunity to dampen the speculation that arose from Daniel's comments. Let's face it, the string of "no comments" coming from a media savvy guy like Daniels can be easily construed as meaning "something is up, but I can't tell you the details." 

Cutler failed to return the phone call. I deal with Cutler a lot and consider his failure to return the call telling.

I'm not sure what they teach politicians and their flak at Damage Control 101, but I'm pretty sure it's not to issue "no comments" that are likely to be interpreted by many in the public as a confirmation of guilt.

And I'm pretty sure that they also don't teach the pols to ensure that the negative front-page story on Sunday is followed up by another negative front-page story on Monday by either (1) hiring a lawyer to smoke out the supposed rat finks or (2) have the attorney issue a string of no comments that only fuel speculation.

Brown and company just may have done what Mickey Kearns has failed miserably at: make a contest out of the Sept. 15 Democratic primary for mayor.

Brown had been considered a lock and remains a favorite. But the string of stories revealing the administration's misdeeds and missteps -- coupled with the mayor's pattern of responses that involve one part "I didn't know," one part "no comment," and one part "all my critics are politically motivated" -- have made a bad situation worse.

What little polling I'm aware of suggests that while Brown is leading, Kearns is gaining ground. Moreover, the polls supposedly show there are a lot of undecided voters and I can't image the news of the past month is going to win Brown many converts.

There are legitimate concerns as to whether Kearns would be a good mayor - lots of people think he's been a lousy candidate - but I sense that a growing number of voters are more unhappy about what they know about Brown than are uneasy about what they don't know about Kearns.

Whether that translates into an upset on primary day remains to be seen. I still think it's unlikely. But I no longer think it's inconceivable.

Update, Tuesday, 12:10 p.m. -- Brown got emotional in exchange with reporters this morning, said, among other things, that he's though talking about the matter. Brian Meyer has this story, which includes an audio clip of the exchange. 

Update, Tuesday, 12;50 p.m. -- The Buffalo Pundit has weighed in, as well, and his post includes a video clip of the Rivera's  press conference on Sunday.

 

 

Comments

[Dan D]

just another in a long line of Buffalo politicians lacking motivation to get things done in Buffalo..which is why when I left in 2002, I never looked back.

[Warren]

Byron Brown has always been a great candidate, and he's made a lousy Mayor. Perhaps people should reconsider their positions on Kearns. The chief complaints seem to be that he's not very slick and not raising a lot of money.

Maybe that's what we need: someone who is honest, not part of the Democratic machine, and rolling in campaign money. In other words, someone who's not corrupt.

[Matt]

There seems to be a lot of wishful thinking in this blog post. Brown will be mayor of Buffalo as long as he wants to be, unless a fellow black person (or possibly a Hispanic) ejects him from his throne. People help their own kind, and with the current ethnic makeup of Buffalo, no "whitey" such as Kearns will ever have a shot at mayor if a minority is running.

[Jake M]

Joel Daniels, another fine upstanding ciizen who makes folks want to move out of Buffalo. Great Job burying yourself Byron, you have proven you really are a dumb suit.

[redsbny]

Its the Black Leaders that are failing the Black community, Not The White Leaders !!!
When Byron's son stole his car, he had an oppurnity to teach him and all the young black friends on east side that as a man ... There is consequences to your actions and You Havta obey the Law if you want to live in a civilized society... Byron Really Dropped The Ball and now they all still believe " Lie, Lie and Lie, and stick to your story !!! "
**** CARL PALADINO FOR MAYOR ****
**** CARL PALADINO FOR MAYOR ****
CARL GETS THINGS DONE !!!

[AnObserver]

@Dan - can't argue with your point, and you voting with your feet. Chances are pretty fair your decision will prove to be the absolutely right one for you. But why don't you do us the courtesy of taking the next step and unsubscribing from this blog's RSS feed and emotionally moving on? You know, STFU. Thanks.

[West Side]

I sold my house on tuesday. Now I know I made the right choice. I gave up on moving to this city, doing the right thing, beautifying a dying neighborhood, paying taxes and trying to turn the place around. I wrote my legislators and elected officials. I advocated for the area. I did everything they asked.

Instead I got taxed more, my face spit in, and witnessed more corruption than I cared to. My e-mails and letters were ignored.

Fine. I sold at the peak of my home's value. If this city wants to continue to bathe in filth and corruption re-elect Brown. He's scum and will probably be escorted out of his office in handcuffs within 2-3 years. You can count on that.

[Dan]

Paladino for MAYOR?? I nearly spit out my coffee. As if we're not corrupt enough around here.

[The magician]

I have stated before that Brown is a passive - agressive personality...which as a younger person displayed as a nice reserved man.
But his personality type was ripe for the corrupting by those sociopaths that are engaged in the world of politics...when he chose that career path.
As a government employee, I see these vipers and the political parties that put them in, in local government...and they are undisputable monsters that bait weak people to do their bidding...many times as they sit.... behind the scenes.
Brown probably never assessed them as such and got sucked in...and now has trouble he cannot handle and may legally be exposed to charges and convictions.
As for Joel Danials..whom I do know personally....his seeking information behind the scenes to protect the famous in government and politics..is legendary.. as he feels obligated to maintain the status quo of all government operations that always seems to benefit him.. even as they manifest as corrupt and provable ...thus earning label.... the Robin Hood of the syndicates!
Brown could have remained a real nice guy, if he had only rejected the Buffalo political calling..which is always a curse, unless you are a white man with long time local connections.
That is why the mayors of this town are usually white...they know how to operate and kill the bird before he sings.
The white boys have appeared to have enlisted this black mayor to appease the political correctness of the country and the black voters...but just one term and you see what they have accomplished....predictable by anyone who was embedded in the government workforce.
Obama may end up in the same manner...unless he keeps most of his team czars white and his lifestyle the same.

[Leonard Mattie]

I find it hard to believe that anybody with a functioning brain could support him.

[my2cents]

Mickey is the Democratic Machine.
-What's the mayor going to do, interview himself?

Why not thats what Kearns did on youtube - stagged a phone call with resident - just to make Mayor Brown look bad, actualy all Mickey did was sweat.
- Mickey's boys are hiding in the wings with cash - who needs to pay when you have the Bufnews Boyos pumping for you?

[Blunt Runt]

Defeating Mayor Brown at the polls may not be in the cards this time around, but I do not believe he will make it through a second term. Too many Federal investigations.

[Joe]

This is the worse mayor we ever had. He should resign and pull out of the elections to protect Buffalo's national image from further degrade.

[WhatWouldJesusDo]

I want to see 4x (in fairness to the proportion of the national population) names (who) of white people who he treated this same way, (what) and the exact example he helped them for, where, when, and why. Then, I challenge you, we're all going to find out that he favors the Blacks.

The lesson here: Blacks are more prejudiced against whites than vice versa. Google it for yourself.

In fairness (which I hope we're all trying to be), Giambra was just as corrupt.

Will Buffalo taxpayers see fairness? No, move out. I'm glad I did a couple of years ago. Our taxes support NYC, not Buffalo, and none of the politicians care.

If we want to defeat any geographic area on earth, don't send our military, send Buffalo's politicians!

[markmar]

What this city neds is a white mayor. Blacks can't run anything but their mouths.

[Bryon J McIntyre]

In response to REDSBNY Sept 7th. We dont realy have Black Leadership anymore, if one dosnt get with grassroot or a political group with a agenda and most of the time the agenda is not the community or good of the City just self intrest. Also you must be willing to steal. I have worked hard in my community as a Black Leader and get absolutelly no help simply becaus I want what is best for the community and most of all , I have a job and dont need to get a job for me or my so call people - be that as it may , I dont fit in to the cess-pool of politics even though I have and will continue to work hard tring to make thing better. at this stage it is not about Black or White Leadership, it is about leadership, so when you see somebody tring, help them Black or White

[Kenneth]

Leadership? Is that a joke? Brown, Gipson, Williams? There is no leadership with these three wise monkeys

[Kenneth]

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown dismissed the allegations as "dirty politics."

[my2cents]

Now a retired Cop(Niagara Council Member David Rivera) is trying to shield the other two COPs who planted the almost arrest story in the Bufnews.
-
If Retired Cop David Rivera wants to hide those who put out the undocumented,two year old almost arrest story - the undocumented story of someone being "picked up two years ago on suspicions of using a stolen handicapped parking permit?"
-
He's as guilty as the ones who did it. I hope they get caught and fired or at least sued.
-
(Retired COP) is backing Mickey Kearns - Gee what a coincidence - now he wants to hide the "Anonymous Tipsters" - why was he in on it too?
-
Sue the hoods off all of them.

[patsy]

Rivera is not shielding anyone, Brian Meyers is the one who knows the sources, Rivera has just had it with this buffoon brown, just like all of us with a decent education.

[Meh]

From WGRZ report Monday night, quotes from Brown, Kearns, and Rivera:

"... 2 On Your Side's Aaron Saykin asked the mayor about the allegations.

SAYKIN: Did you or did anybody from your office allow Mr. Stokes to go free that day he was picked up?

BROWN: I did nothing wrong. I'll be very clear on that.

SAYKIN: Could somebody in your office perhaps have overseen that?

BROWN: No. No one in my office would have overseen that. I have certainly have talked to Mr. Stokes personally, but I did nothing wrong. I initiated nothing with police. And these allegations come as a real surprise to me.

SAYKIN: Did anybody from your office tell anybody from the police force -- maybe not you -- tell anybody from the police force "you know what, let this guy go?"

BROWN: No one from my office would ever do that. We would always have police do what they feel is the appropriate thing to do.

SAYKIN: Why would Mr. Stokes have been let go then, and brought to the Mayor's Office, if you or somebody from your office didn't have anything to do with it?

BROWN: That would be up to whoever let him go, if he was let go. That would be up to them to discuss that...The timing is incredibly suspicious, talking about something that happened two years ago. Right now, days before an election, the motives of anybody involved with this clearly have to be questioned.

We also spoke to Councilman Kearns.

SAYKIN: Did you or anybody on your campaign or council staff have anything to do...

KEARNS: Absolutely not...

SAYKIN: ... with the release of this?

KEARNS: Absolutely not.

SAYKIN: Did you know it was coming?

KEARNS: I only knew it was coming when I was contacted by Councilman Rivera who stated that he was going to be holding a press conference. That's the first time I knew that was coming.

Rivera, a retired city police detective who endorsed Kearns, held a weekend press conference to criticize the mayor after, he says, one of the officers involved in the alleged incident complained about it to him.

SAYKIN: People may look at the timing and say how can this not have anything to do with politics?

RIVERA: We can't control the timing. These officers came forward.

SAYKIN: This happened two years ago, why would this come to light the week before the primary?

RIVERA: As I mentioned before, this just came forward by the police officers. It wasn't initiated by anybody else other than police officers.

Both Councilmen Rivera and Kearns acknowledged they had heard about this alleged incident before it was reported. Kearns said he never mentioned it because he had heard only rumors. Rivera says he learned of it only last week, and was trying to substantiate it. "

Whole report from WGRZ here:
http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=70103&catid=37

[jwjunction]

What a joke most of you are, especially the Buffalo Snooze. Think of any scandal of any political significance nationally. Then compare any of them to what has become the dwelling of the minds of a few pathetic people in Buffalo: Mayor likely involved in encouraging loans to restaurant that goes belly-up in worst recession in 80 years and Mayor allegedly involved in getting cops to go light on local basketball star. Wow, that's something that would be explosive in Buffalo, but not one person outside of WNY would give a krap. Is this all you've got? Considering that most of the comments are from people who have swastika tattoos or burn crosses for fun, it's obvious who the majority of News readers are. No need to guess who the paper is pandering to. And, by the way, anyone who says this kind of thing has not happened repeatedly in every single administration for the last 100 years is either ignorant or a flat out liar. Santayana said "those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it." I say most of the News readers never knew it in the first place or are motivated by invidious purpose to ignore it. Two wrongs don't make a right, but ignoring the context is just plain stupid.

[papawad]

Black or white,this city needs a true Republican mayor. The same holds true for Detroit and many other cities that continue to drown in their own union-led, liberal sorrow.
jwjunction, you're ignoring the real context.

[Get A Grip]

Wow, parking violation. This is all you've got to write about in the paper. Parking tickets! No need to say more. Congrats on your re-election Mayor Brown.

[Thomas]

Brown has integrity, he doesn't make promises he can't keep like Satish Mohan. He didn't fail to get building permits for his house or collect two taxpayer funded pensions like Satish Mohan. At least Brown has not ruined Buffalo the way Satish Mohan has ruined Amherst.