Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lgbtq Safety Allentown topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Allentown council member disputes claim neighborhood is "over‑policed" during safety item
Summary
Council and police officials debated a community letter calling for fewer proactive police contacts in LGBTQ areas; council member Mitch Nowakowski and Buffalo Police Department officials said many Allentown residents and businesses want continued proactive policing to address theft, break‑ins and late‑night disorder.
Council member Mitch Nowakowski told the Committee on Police Oversight on Oct. 8 that a letter urging reduced police presence in LGBTQ areas does not reflect the views of his Allentown constituents.
The letter, filed as Item 1 on the committee agenda, “is in complete contradiction to me representing the people of Allentown,” Nowakowski said, adding that residents and storefront owners in Allentown report “larcenies, break ins, storefronts, a plethora of issues every single day,” and that constituents ask him to work with B District police on quality‑of‑life matters at all hours.
Why it matters: The item asked whether the committee should pursue measures to “make [the] LGBTQ community safer” without more policing. Nowakowski and other speakers framed the question as a balance between concerns about discriminatory policing in some public spaces and neighborhood requests for proactive patrols to deter property crime.
Nowakowski said he lives two blocks from Allentown and hears residents’ late‑night requests for police help at “9, 10, 11, midnight, 2AM, 3AM.” He said he does not hear from his constituents that Allen Street businesses feel “over‑policed.”
The Buffalo Police Department’s representative agreed with Nowakowski’s description, saying community members want “to feel safe” and “community policing where police officers engage the community.” The BPD speaker said the department has met with LGBTQ community members who reported discrimination in some parks but that the department’s broader contacts show residents seeking proactive policing after recent killings in the neighborhood.
Committee action and next steps: Committee members asked staff to confirm who authored the letter and whether the group would appear at a future meeting. A motion to close discussion was made and seconded; the committee then moved to table the item for later consideration.
What wasn’t decided: The committee did not adopt any new policy at the meeting. Committee members said they want verified contact information from the letter’s authors and community representation before deciding whether to advance any change in policing strategy for Allentown.
Speakers quoted in this article are identified in the meeting minutes and included in the speaker list below.
