Buffalo Mayor and Police Commissioner Give Update On Changes To Chippewa Street

In the last few weeks in Buffalo's central entertainment district, things have looked a little different.

Several Buffalo city departments have stepped up enforcement and patrols, along with restricting traffic and other measures to try and calm things down in and around Chippewa Street in downtown.

On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan was in a City Hall meeting with Buffalo Police Commissioner Erika Shields, Buffalo Common Council President Joel Feroleto, Buffalo Fillmore District Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski, and Chris Ring, President, Chippewa Alliance, to discuss plans for the Chippewa district.

The shootings on Chippewa are not happening at 10:01, they’re all happening in the later evening hours... You’re not seeing the violent crimes inside the bars of even in the Chippewa District happening by 21 and over people.
-Chris Ring, Owner of Rec Room

As costs to patrol Chippewa have increased over the last few weeks, city officials recognize that Buffalo's finances cannot afford to absorb thousands in police officer costs. According to city Police Commissioner Erika Shields, the Buffalo Police Department has seen patrol costs in downtown Buffalo rise from approximately $20,000 every weekend to $70,000 or more on a weekend.

Ed Nice Jackson

By all accounts, the city it taking a much more 'by the book' approach to ensure Chippewa is safe and open to the public. Not only are the patrols and street barricades going to stay, but city officials have also leaned towards not approving any permits to allow people under 21 to party in the district.

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The city's Police Department, Permit & Inspection Department, Law Department, Office of Strategic Planning, and businesses in the area have been working together to get to the root cause of the issues that cause violence and disturbances on and around Chippewa. It seems that everyone agrees it's not the people who are in the bars and clubs downtown, and people who are loitering on the streets, in private parking lots, and other spaces.

It's crowds of people loitering, it's cars loitering, it's Uber and ride shares waiting for pickups... It's large groups of people loitering on sidewalks. It's under-21-year-olds in the entertainment district late at night, not going into any bars, but hanging out. This has also spilled into illegal gatherings in privately owned parking lots, and that has been part of the problem.
-Sean Ryan, Mayor of Buffalo

While it seems the blame for the violence is being placed on people who are under-21 who enter the district, more than 20 businesses have signed a petition that says 18+ events are not the issue and that it is ultimately the lack of enforcement of current laws and rules that allow people to get out of control on the streets.

For now, there will be no permanent changes to the law or processes, as the Buffalo Common Council is on recess until Tuesday, September 1.