What do Buffalos stunning election results mean to Queen City police reform movement?
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Police reform and spreading the citys new prosperity seem to be the main issues in India Waltons progressive agenda that resonated with voters. What it is, is allocating resources to the places that we know naturally reduce crime, Walton said. Police reform has often meant defunding the police, but India Walton prefers to call it re-allocation of resources. To Buffalos police union  they are essentially the same thing. The bottom line, to implement her progressive agenda, the presumptive Democratic nominee will have to work with city lawmakers. That seems to be Democrat India Waltons philosophy for fighting crime and sharing the citys new prosperity. Calls for police reform have swept through Americas big cities since the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota which has often been interpreted as defunding police. Walton prefers to call it, re-allocating resources. Mental health services, community centers, afterschool programming, things like that will cause a natural reduction in crime, added Walton. Related Content Presumptive mayor-elect India Walton discusses her campaign and Queen City plans  Buffalo Police Benevolent Association President John Evans told us, In my opinion, any reforms we have seen countrywide have been complete failures.  Defunding police, re-allocating resources  it sounds all the same to John Evans. Re-allocating means taking money from the police budget and giving it to other agencies. Evans says police reform has often led to more crime in other cities. Currently crime is off the charts in the city and I only see it getting worse, said Evans. Common Council President Darius Pridgen said, I say the people have spoken, period.  Common Council President Darius Pridgen says he is ready and willing to work with Walton if the stunning election night results hold up. But, as far as her progressive agenda, the council and the administration are co-equal branches of government. I am not afraid of any change happening that is going to bring the city to its knees, Im just not. There is a whole process that things have to go through in order for things to get done, added Pridgen. Ironically, the Common Council was set to put the finishing touches on the citys police reform program Tuesday, but city attorneys found some glitches in the councils measure, and at the last minute lawmakers sent it back to the committee to get fixed.