In Skirting Responsibility for Massive Population Loss Across Erie County, Collins Falsely Claims All 25 Towns in County Have Grown, When in Reality Nearly Half Have Declined
Erie County, NY—Although Chris Collins says “we must grow as a community or we will die,”* according to 2010 Census results, under his leadership, Erie County has not grown but lost 31,225 residents over the past 10 years.
“Over the past three years, Collins has consistently said to judge his performance on whether Erie County’s population grows,” said Poloncarz Campaign Manager Jennifer Hibit. “Well, if in his words we must ‘grow or die,’ then according to the Census, under the Collins administration, Erie County is dying.”
In an effort to skirt his responsibility for the massive decline, Collins told WNED’s Mike Desmond that Erie County’s “25 towns grew. The [population] loss was confined to the city of Buffalo.”**
In reality, 11 of Erie County’s 25 towns (nearly half) including, Aurora, Cheektowaga, Colden, Collins, Concord, Eden, Evans, Holland, Marilla, Tonawanda and West Seneca saw a population loss totaling 15,422. This is in addition to the 33,267 loss suffered by the cities of Buffalo, Lackawanna and Tonawanda.
Hibit continued, “The Collins administration has been one of neglect when it comes to our urban areas, and it’s no wonder he would dismiss their massive population losses as someone else’s problem. However, to triumphantly exclaim that all ‘25 towns grew’ as a defense of his record is completely inaccurate and shows just how out-of-touch Collins is with the reality of anywhere other than Spaulding Lake.”
“Mark Poloncarz will be an inclusive leader for all of Erie County: urban, suburban and rural; not the divisive figure Collins has been, only looking out for the select few.”
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* “We must grow as a community or we will die. And on the horizon, I see growth and a bright future for our children, grandchildren and generations not yet born.” http://wwww.erie.gov/exec/?rebuild-the-economy/road-to-a-bright-future.html
**Desmond, Mike (2011-05-09). Poloncarz Announces Candidacy, Attacks Collins. WNED-AM 970 News: Retrieved from http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wned/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1800136/WNED-AM.970.NEWS/Poloncarz.Announces.Candidacy..Attacks.Collins