Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon says ARPA fund dispute is “cleared up”

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Acting mayor of Buffalo Chris Scanlon sat down with WIVB News 4’s Kelsey Anderson Thursday to discuss last week’s ARPA fund dispute and what could be coming to Allentown.

Buffalo received over $331 million in federal funds for COVID-19 relief and Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams claimed in a letter that not all of the funds were allocated by a Dec. 31 deadline. Scanlon disputed this and said the last $2.55 million in funds were approved for allocation over a week ahead of time.

Now, Scanlon says the dispute seems to be ironed out.

“To see the letter was a little frustrating, but I think it could’ve been cleared up with a phone call,” he said. “Our commissioner of administration and finance was at the council’s caucus yesterday, explained everything and I think that the council was satisfied with those answers.”

A public forum by the Common Council will be held to talk about the issue in the near future, Scanlon said.

A fire that broke out at an Allentown bar in early January caused over $2 million in damage. Mulligan’s Brick Bar had to be demolished as a result. The Old Pink burned down right next door less than a year prior and Scanlon is assuring citizens that the empty land will not turn into a parking lot.

“We’ve heard from some people who want to do something on that block,” Scanlon said. “I’d like to see some buildings erected there whether they are mixed-use, whatever it might be, but something that contributes to that community but also reflects the historic nature of that community.”

See the full segment in the video player above.

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Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

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