APRIL 30, 2008

JUDGE NOWAK, SHERIFF HOWARD, AND RESIDENTS TESTIFY AT PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING THAT COUNTY WARRANT SQUAD MAKES SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

WHYTE FOUGHT TO RESTORE THE WARRANT SQUAD IN THE COUNTY'S 2008 BUDGET; SHERIFF HOWARD, JUDGE NOWAK, AND OTHERS HERALD ITS SUCCESS IN ADDRESSING WNY'S ABANDONED HOUSING CRISIS

(Buffalo, NY) The Erie County Budget Crisis of 2005 has many lingering legacies - among them the gutting of one of WNY's most valuable tools to fight the significant problem of abandoned and blighted properties. Erie County Legislator and Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte (6th District), who represents neighborhoods throughout the city that struggle with vacant and abandoned properties, successfully fought to restore funding to the program in the 2008 County Budget.

"I want to start by giving credit to the many block club leaders and neighborhood activists who brought this issue to my attention," Whyte said. "I also want to thank my colleagues in the Legislature for supporting my effort to amend the 2008 county budget to include funding for the warrant squad. Vacancy, blight, and abandonment are one of our region's most crippling problems and now the restoration of the warrant squad, something we can all be proud of, is making a real impact on this pervasive problem."

Legislator Whyte, together with Public Safety Chairman, Timothy Wroblewski, invited Judge Henry Nowak, Sheriff Timothy Howard and various community activists, to testify regarding the effectiveness of the program at today's Public Safety Committee Meeting. All of the speakers testified strongly about the effectiveness of the County Warrant Squad ad how it has been used to address the problems of absentee landlords and vacant/blighted properties.

"The new County Warrant Squad, sponsored by Maria Whyte and funded by the Legislature, has already changed the way we address problem properties whose owners fail to appear in court," said Housing Court Judge Henry Nowak. "It appears that we will be able to resolve cases more quickly and effectively, leading to better results for our City neighborhoods."

"The success of this squad is immeasurable," said Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard. "For every person we have arrested on an outstanding housing court warrant, approximately four violators are turning themselves into the court. That speaks volumes for the efficiency of this two man squad. I congratulate Ms. Whyte for having the foresight to tackle the problems that blighted properties have on our communities and I look forward, through our collaborative efforts with the Public Safety Committee and the Erie County Legislature, to help eliminate this problem altogether."

Testimony also discussed what more needs to be done in future budgets to ensure continued success of the Warrant Squad. Comments offered by both the Judge and the Sheriff indicate that another officer, as well as administrative support staff and something that ought to be considered in upcoming budgets. The need to allocate funding for extradition was also discussed as many of the region's absentee property owners do not live in Erie County.

Legislator Whyte committed to continue her advocacy for the Warrant Squad and indicated that she will work with her partners in government to ensure it is adequately funded. "Sheriff Howard and Judge Nowak should be commended for their work. Good managements by the Sheriff and the Judge's strategic use of this important tool has had such positive results. They are doing so much with so little. Clearly more needs to be done. I am excited to work with my colleagues in government to expand the Warrant Squad in the 2009 Budget."

The Warrant Squad is currently operating with just two Sheriff's Deputies and community volunteers who provide administrative support. When Housing Court issued a warrant in the past, there was no one allocated to follow up. Because the Warrant Squad is in place, officers can not follow up on the warrant and bring individuals into court. In addition to addressing the warrants currently issued by the Judge, the officers are also attempting to tackle a back log of nearly 2,000 warrants.

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