Buffalo's City Hall Needs a Little TLC!

By Betty Jean Grant

Betty Jean Grant

Buffalo boasts one of the most beautiful and well-designed city hall buildings in the United States. From its intricate marbled inlays reflecting European and Native American cultures to the vibrant sunburst ceiling in the common council chambers, City Hall is a testament to the city’s golden age. Once the eighth-largest city in the country and home to over 600 millionaires in 1906, Buffalo’s architectural splendor continues to inspire.

A visit to the Observatory Tower atop City Hall provides stunning views of the city. Looking east, visitors can spot another historical gem, the Buffalo Central Terminal in the Broadway/Fillmore Avenue neighborhood. These two iconic structures were not placed randomly—they share the vision of the same architect who also designed Grand Central Station in New York City.

Recently, I attended a Bangladeshi Victory Day Flag Raising Celebration in Niagara Square, just in front of City Hall. Feeling a bit hungry afterward, I ventured into the building's basement cafeteria, hoping for a salad or sandwich. To my surprise, the cafeteria was empty—no food, no beverages, nothing. Only three people were seated at a table in the large, barren room.

This situation raised an important question: “How can a public, taxpayer-supported building fail to provide its hardworking employees with access to nutritious food and beverages?” Instead, employees are left to bring food from home or rely on snacks from a concession stand on the first floor.

This initial question led to others. How can the city justify handing over more than half a million dollars—$561,000—of taxpayers’ money to a single struggling company while neglecting the basic needs of its own employees? How many small businesses in Buffalo, still reeling from the pandemic, could benefit from that funding?

During my visit, the hallways of City Hall were eerily empty. Offices had only a few occupants. Are employees sick, laid off, or working remotely?

One final question lingers: where is the City Hall Greeter, the person who once welcomed visitors and enhanced the building’s vibrant atmosphere? And when will the holiday tree and decorations be put up? Buffalo City Hall, a beacon of civic pride, should reflect the spirit of the holiday season. Tourists are still visiting, taking pictures, and marveling at our city’s history. Let’s show them the best of the “Queen on the Waterfront.”

Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa to all!