Uncrowned Community Builders

Mayor Byron William Brown was born and raised in Hollis, Queens. Educated in the New York City public schools, he is a graduate of August Martin High School, and came to Buffalo as a college freshman. He is a proud graduate of the State University of New York College at Buffalo with dual bachelor's degrees in political science and journalism. After graduation, he stayed and started his career in Buffalo.

Mayor Brown took the Oath of Office as the 58th Mayor of Buffalo, New York on December 31, 2005. Elected Mayor with over 60 percent of the vote in the November 2005 General Election, Mayor Brown came into office emphasizing greater accountability and efficiency in City Hall, improving the quality of life for all city residents and a commitment to strengthening and expanding the city's economic development activities. Mayor Brown ran for an unprecedented fifth term in 2021 making him the longest serving mayor in the city's history.

Since taking office, Mayor Brown has followed those three guiding principles by launching a Zero Tolerance Law Enforcement initiative targeting quality of life crimes, along with other criminal activity in the city; implemented the management accountability CitiStat Buffalo program, which monitors city departments' service delivery activities on a weekly basis; and reconfigured the city's economic development activities by creating the Department of Economic Development, Permit and Inspection Services, a change that has provided greater coordination and cooperation in all development activities taking place in the City of Buffalo.

A surge of economic development activity has followed Mayor Brown's election, including over $3 billion in planned, ongoing or completed development projects occurring throughout the City.

During Mayor Brown's tenure, New Era Cap Company opened its international headquarters in Downtown Buffalo, Labatt USA relocated its national headquarters from Connecticut to Buffalo, British-based international developer Basher Issa has commenced an $80 million redevelopment of the famed Statler Towers, the $120 million new federal courthouse project has commenced opposite City Hall on the City's historic Niagara Square and the $275 million Inner Harbor waterfront mixed-use development project has been initiated, including a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World retail anchor that will be housed in a multi-story 100,000 sq. ft. structure evoking the 19th Century Erie Canal-era Central Wharf building.

Complementing this economic development activity is the continuing decline in crime in the Queen City. The City experienced a 7% reduction in overall crime in 2006 versus 2005 and that trend continues.

Citywide law enforcement activities have been a priority of Mayor Brown's, including the creation of the Buffalo Police Department's Mobile Response Unit (MRU), which grew out of the highly successful Operation Strike Force. Targeting a variety of criminal actions, including gang-related activity, illegal drug trafficking, graffiti vandalism and illegal weapons possession, the MRU has contributed significantly to the City's continuing reduction in crime. The Mayor's Administration is also pursuing the implementation of security surveillance cameras that will be deployed to various areas of the City in an effort to prevent and eliminate crime in City commercial and residential neighborhoods.

Prior to his election as Mayor of Buffalo, Mayor Brown served five years in the New York State Senate. Sworn in January 1, 2001, Mayor Byron Brown became the first African-American elected to the Senate outside of New York City. He also made history by becoming the first minority member of the New York State Senate to represent a majority white district.

Mayor Brown was first elected to represent the Masten District on the Buffalo City Council in 1995. While on the Council, Mayor Brown was called "bright, creative and hardworking," in a Buffalo News survey and was recognized in 1989 by Ebony Magazine as one the "30 Leaders of the Future."

Mayor Brown is married to the former Michelle Austin, and they have one son, Byron III, who is a graduate of the prestigious City Honors High School and attends Binghamton University. They make their home in historic Hamlin Park.