GEORGE: Western New York’s Political Landscape: Federal, State Leaders Shape Regional Debate

By: Tom George

     Governor Kathy Hochul hosted a roundtable with law enforcement and elected officials to announce the “Local Cops Local Crimes Act” which prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from partnering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for civil immigration enforcement. Hochul made the announcement surrounded by more than a dozen District Attorneys, county sheriffs, police chiefs and county executives from across the state.

     The Act would not prevent police from working with ICE or other federal law enforcement to apprehend dangerous criminals.

     The proposal also establishes a right to sue federal officials for constitutional violations, allowing individuals to bring state-level civil actions against federal officers who violations New Yorkers’ U.S. constitutional rights—consistent with the same legal standards that already exist for state and local officers under federal civil rights law.

     The Governor stated, “I don’t want local police being forced to do the job of ICE. We also want to ban ICE from sensitive locations so people don’t have to worry about schools, daycare centers, hospitals, courtrooms, and places of educations.”

     Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, “the goal of the Local Cops Local Crimes Act is a common sense way to ensure that our local law enforcement personnel and resources are reserved for use in our communities, policing them according to the law and not subjugated to federal overreach such as we are seeing across the country with ICE. . . The Act provides protections and remedies for residents whose constitutional rights are violated by federal officers.”

     Elected Officials Around WNY

Western New York is primarily represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Tim Kennedy, Nick Langworthy and Claudia Tenney.

     Congressman Kennedy’s district includes portions of Erie and Niagara Counties, including the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

     Congressman Langworthy’s district includes significant portions of the Erie County Southtowns including the City of Lackawanna, Eastern and rural areas of Erie County.

     Congresswoman Tenney’s district includes towns and villages in the northeastern corner of Erie County including Alden, Clarence and Newstead, and most of Niagara County including the City of Lockport and Towns of Lewiston and Wheatfield.

     Niagara County does not have an elected county executive position. The county operates under a legislative system while the Niagara County Legislature is led by an elected chairman. The administrative functions are managed by a County Manager. Michael Hill represents the 15th District in Niagara County comprising of Hartland, Royalton, and sections of the Town of Lockport. The Niagara County Legislature elected Hill as their Chairman.

     Congressman Kennedy held a press conference calling for the complete withdrawal of ICE from WNY and the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Congressman Kennedy supported the Buffalo Police Department for their role in protecting the peaceful protestors in our community.

     Congresswoman Tenney has recently focused on securing borders, energy independence, pro-life advocacy, and election integrity. The congresswoman cosponsored a bill restricting Olympic participation to events corresponding with an athlete's biological sex.

     Congressman Langworthy introduced legislation aimed at protecting consumer health while restoring common sense to dietary supplement regulation. The congressman stated, “New York is notorious for baseless overregulation that burdens small business without making anyone safer or improving public health. . . .”

Western New York’s Political Landscape: Federal, State Leaders Shape Regional Debate