New York State’s Second Largest City Officially Has A New Mayor

Something that has been a long time coming in Buffalo and Western New York has finally happened, and it marks a big change for the second largest city in New York State as Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has officially submitted his resignation to the City and has left office.

After serving 5-terms as Mayor, Brown announced he was taking a new job as the President and CEO of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation, based in Batavia, New York.

Brown, who held a press conference on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, stated that his resignation was effective at 9 am on the same day. Once Brown's resignation takes effect, Christopher Scanlon, the President of the Buffalo Common Council, takes over as the Acting-Mayor. Scanlon will hold the position of acting mayor until the end of next year as a mayoral election is scheduled for November 2025.

During the press conference, Brown announced a few final acts he would undertake as mayor. Those acts included designating a few streets after important Buffalonians and renaming the basketball courts at Buffalo's Delaware Park after former Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello, an avid basketball player who drafted the Indiana Pacers in 1969.

READ MORE: Christopher Scanlon Set To Become Acting Mayor of Buffalo

Over the nearly twenty years that Brown spent in the city, he oversaw many of its highs and lows and left a legacy that will be debated for many years to come.

During his remarks, Brown gave a few reasons why he decided to step down as Buffalo mayor, chief among them being the desire to have more time with his family. He discussed that his wife Michelle and he are now raising a grand-niece and grand-nephew, and they deserve his time. Brown further mentioned how he missed many things in his son's life that he did not want to repeat.

Brown is set to start his new job at WROTBC on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. You can listen to his full remarks below.

The people of Buffalo now look to Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon for leadership and direction of the city.