Russell Takes Charge

Even in the complicated world of Buffalo politics, some might say Bonnie Russell is stepping into a quagmire.

Life in the University District - for which Russell was recently elected to represent on the Buffalo Common Council - has always been a delicate balance between homeowners, renters and students.

In an interview with The Spectrum, Russell said while she recognizes the challenges facing the Heights, she is optimistic she can increase the area's quality of life.

Russell criticized Betty Jean Grant, whom she defeated in the November 2002 election, and pledged to work closely with students and UB officials to solve problems ranging from crime to absentee landlords.

"The university had been trying very hard with some initiatives and they didn't get the cooperation that they should have received (from Grant)," Russell said. "We're going to change that all around. We're going to get very involved with the students."

Russell, a small but spirited woman, discussed the relationship between students and homeowners as she sat among numerous family photographs in her City Hall office.

"(Students) have to know that they have to respect the neighborhood," she said. "You just can't be unruly. That's what ticks people off."

Although Russell has not meet with current President John Simpson, she noted that former President William Greiner was positive about working in conjunction with the Council.

Cracking down on absentee landowners is another initiative Russell pegged as important to the quality of life in the University Heights.

"We going to start taking them to court," Russell said. "We're going to form a community group, start doing protests. We're going to do whatever it takes for these landlords to be responsible for their property."

Russell said she was equally confident her office could reduce crime in the Heights. According to a recent Buffalo News article, the Heights experienced an increase in so-called "quality of life" crime while the city as a whole saw as 13.6 percent decrease in crime.

According to Russell, a poor relationship between Grant and University District police hindered efforts to reduce crime in the area.

"The police could not work with the leadership in our district," Russell said. "That was a problem. There was a lack of cooperation. We're going to be working very closely with the police department to see what we can do to help out."

Despite the recent closing of Stimulance, a Heights coffeehouse, Russell said she feels the Main Street commercial strip is holding steady, if not progressing.

She noted, however, that Bailey Avenue is struggling because it is being ignored by the recent revitalization of Main Street and has many businesses that duplicate each other.

"You can't work on one (street) and have the other one go down," Russell said. "It's going to be a very serious balancing act," said Russell of her plans to help both streets.

Russell plans to draw more homeowners out to local businesses by working with code inspectors to clean up violations and try to improve building fa?\0xA4ades.

She said she is also working to bring more "attractive" businesses to Bailey Avenue, such as a Starbucks.

An upcoming roadwork project to rebuild Main Street from Bailey Avenue to Humboldt Parkway is cause for some worry, according to Russell.

"(Businesses) are going to lose a little bit of money from people not being able to stop by," Russell said.

But the recently completed reconstruction of Hertel Avenue - which did not result in the widespread closing of businesses - provided a positive model, Russell said.

Russell first got involved in politics when she was the age of the average Heights undergraduate.

A native of West Virginia, Russell began working for the Ohio State auditor's re-election campaign in 1976 while in school at Ohio State University.

Later, she worked for the governor of Ohio and the Department of Agriculture before returning to Buffalo, the hometown of her husband, Robert T. Russell.

A mother of three, Russell initially stayed out of Buffalo politics until her husband decided to run for Buffalo City Court in 1990. She served as his campaign manager on a successful bid.

In 1999, Russell challenged Grant in her first Common Council race. Though she lost - by 326 votes - Russell said the excitement of the campaign spurred her to get back into politics.

"The bug was back," she said.

In the future, Russell plans to host community meetings throughout the year. She said she plans to set up workshops on different issues like housing and crime.

"I've got a serious task within the next four years to convince people that this district is worth bringing it back to where it was," she said.