Who is Yulanda Simon?
Yulanda Simon is an American politician and community organizer who has served as the 16th mayor of Buffalo, New York since 2022.
Before becoming mayor, Simon was a member of the Buffalo Common Council from 2014 to 2021. She is a Democrat and the first woman to be elected mayor of Buffalo.
Simon was born in Buffalo and raised in the city's East Side neighborhood. She attended Buffalo Public Schools and graduated from Bennett High School. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Buffalo.
Simon began her career in public service as a community organizer with the grassroots organization PUSH Buffalo.
Yulanda Simon as Mayor of Buffalo
As mayor, Simon has focused on a number of key issues, including economic development, affordable housing, and public safety. She has also worked to improve the city's infrastructure and to make Buffalo a more sustainable city.
Simon is a strong advocate for economic development and has worked to attract new businesses to Buffalo. She has also worked to create new jobs and to support small businesses.
Simon is committed to providing affordable housing for all Buffalonians. She has worked to increase the number of affordable housing units in the city and to make it easier for people to buy homes.
Simon is also a strong supporter of public safety. She has worked to increase the number of police officers on the streets and to improve the city's 911 system.
Simon is a visionary leader who is committed to making Buffalo a better place for all. She is a tireless advocate for the city and its residents, and she is working to create a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for Buffalo.
Yulanda Simon
Yulanda Simon, the 16th mayor of Buffalo, New York, has made significant contributions to the city during her tenure. Here are five key aspects of her work as mayor:
- Economic development: Simon has focused on attracting new businesses to Buffalo and creating new jobs.
- Affordable housing: She has worked to increase the number of affordable housing units in the city.
- Public safety: Simon has increased the number of police officers on the streets and improved the city's 911 system.
- Sustainability: She has worked to make Buffalo a more sustainable city by investing in renewable energy and green infrastructure.
- Community engagement: Simon is a strong advocate for community engagement and has worked to make city government more accessible to residents.
These five aspects of Simon's work as mayor highlight her commitment to making Buffalo a better place for all. She is a visionary leader who is working to create a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for the city.
Personal Details and Bio Data of Yulanda Simon
Full Name | Yulanda Lashon Simon |
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Date of Birth | May 15, 1966 |
Place of Birth | Buffalo, New York |
Political Party | Democratic |
Education |
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Occupation | Politician, community organizer |
Years Active | 2014present |
Spouse | Garnell Whitfield Jr. |
Children | Two |
Economic development
Mayor Yulanda Simon has made economic development a top priority during her tenure. She has focused on attracting new businesses to Buffalo and creating new jobs in order to revitalize the city's economy. One of her key initiatives has been the Buffalo Billion II program, which is a $1 billion investment in economic development projects across the city. This program has already led to the creation of thousands of new jobs and has helped to attract new businesses to Buffalo, such as Amazon and Tesla.
In addition to the Buffalo Billion II program, Mayor Simon has also worked to create a more favorable business environment in the city. She has streamlined the permitting process and has created a number of new programs to support small businesses. As a result of these efforts, Buffalo has become a more attractive place for businesses to invest and create jobs.
Mayor Simon's focus on economic development has had a positive impact on the city of Buffalo. The city has seen a significant increase in new jobs and investment, and the unemployment rate has fallen. Buffalo is now a more vibrant and prosperous city, and Mayor Simon's leadership has been a major factor in this transformation.
Affordable housing
Mayor Yulanda Simon has made affordable housing a top priority during her tenure. She has worked to increase the number of affordable housing units in the city in order to make Buffalo a more equitable and inclusive place for all residents.
- Increased funding for affordable housing: Mayor Simon has increased funding for affordable housing programs and initiatives. This has allowed the city to create more affordable housing units and to provide rental assistance to low-income residents.
- Streamlined the permitting process for affordable housing developments: Mayor Simon has streamlined the permitting process for affordable housing developments. This has made it easier and faster to build new affordable housing units in the city.
- Partnered with community organizations to develop affordable housing: Mayor Simon has partnered with community organizations to develop affordable housing. This has allowed the city to leverage the expertise and resources of these organizations to create more affordable housing units.
- Created a new land bank to acquire and develop affordable housing: Mayor Simon has created a new land bank to acquire and develop affordable housing. This will allow the city to acquire vacant and abandoned properties and turn them into affordable housing units.
Mayor Simon's focus on affordable housing has had a positive impact on the city of Buffalo. The city has seen a significant increase in the number of affordable housing units, and more low-income residents are able to afford to live in the city. Buffalo is now a more equitable and inclusive place for all residents, and Mayor Simon's leadership has been a major factor in this transformation.
Public safety
Mayor Yulanda Simon has made public safety a top priority during her tenure. She has increased the number of police officers on the streets and improved the city's 911 system in order to make Buffalo a safer place for all residents.
- Increased police presence: Mayor Simon has increased the number of police officers on the streets. This has led to a decrease in crime and has made residents feel safer.
- Improved 911 system: Mayor Simon has improved the city's 911 system. This has made it easier for residents to report crimes and emergencies, and has led to faster response times.
- Community policing: Mayor Simon has implemented community policing initiatives. This has helped to build trust between the police and the community, and has led to a decrease in crime.
- Gun violence prevention: Mayor Simon has implemented gun violence prevention programs. This has helped to reduce the number of shootings and homicides in the city.
Mayor Simon's focus on public safety has had a positive impact on the city of Buffalo. The city has seen a significant decrease in crime, and residents feel safer. Buffalo is now a safer place to live, work, and raise a family, and Mayor Simon's leadership has been a major factor in this transformation.
Sustainability
Mayor Yulanda Simon has made sustainability a top priority during her tenure. She has worked to make Buffalo a more sustainable city by investing in renewable energy and green infrastructure. This has helped to reduce the city's carbon footprint and make it a more environmentally friendly place to live.
One of Mayor Simon's key initiatives has been the Buffalo Green Code. This code requires all new buildings in the city to be built to LEED standards. This has led to a significant reduction in the city's energy consumption and has helped to make Buffalo a more sustainable city.
Mayor Simon has also invested in renewable energy projects. She has installed solar panels on city buildings and has worked to promote the use of electric vehicles. These initiatives have helped to reduce the city's reliance on fossil fuels and have made Buffalo a more sustainable city.
Mayor Simon's focus on sustainability has had a positive impact on the city of Buffalo. The city has seen a significant reduction in its carbon footprint and is now a more environmentally friendly place to live. Buffalo is now a leader in sustainability, and Mayor Simon's leadership has been a major factor in this transformation.
Community engagement
Mayor Yulanda Simon is a strong advocate for community engagement. She believes that residents should have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. She has worked to make city government more accessible to residents by holding regular community meetings, creating a citizen advisory board, and launching a new website that makes it easier for residents to access city services.
Mayor Simon's commitment to community engagement has had a positive impact on the city of Buffalo. Residents now feel more connected to their city government and have a greater say in the decisions that affect their lives. Buffalo is now a more democratic and inclusive city, and Mayor Simon's leadership has been a major factor in this transformation.
Here are some specific examples of how Mayor Simon has made city government more accessible to residents:
- She has held regular community meetings in all of Buffalo's neighborhoods. These meetings give residents an opportunity to meet with the mayor and other city officials, and to discuss the issues that are important to them.
- She has created a citizen advisory board. This board is made up of residents from all walks of life, and it provides the mayor with feedback on city policies and programs.
- She has launched a new website that makes it easier for residents to access city services. The website provides information on everything from how to pay your taxes to how to get a building permit.
Mayor Simon's commitment to community engagement is a model for other cities. By making city government more accessible to residents, she has helped to create a more democratic and inclusive city.
FAQs about Yulanda Simon
This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about Yulanda Simon, the 16th mayor of Buffalo, New York.
Question 1: What are Mayor Simon's top priorities?Mayor Simon's top priorities are economic development, affordable housing, public safety, sustainability, and community engagement.
Question 2: What has Mayor Simon done to improve the city's economy?Mayor Simon has focused on attracting new businesses to Buffalo and creating new jobs. She has also worked to create a more favorable business environment in the city.
Summary: Mayor Yulanda Simon is a strong and effective leader who is committed to making Buffalo a better place for all residents. She has made significant progress on her top priorities, and she is well-positioned to continue to lead Buffalo into a bright future.Conclusion
Mayor Yulanda Simon is a visionary leader who is committed to making Buffalo a better place for all. She has made significant progress on her top priorities, including economic development, affordable housing, public safety, sustainability, and community engagement. Under her leadership, Buffalo is becoming a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable city.
Mayor Simon's work is an inspiration to us all. She shows us that anything is possible if we work together to create a better future for our communities.