Timothy Wanamaker
Executive Director
Office of Strategic Planning

Kathleen Lynch, Esq.
Coordinator
Western NY Law Center

Senator William Stachowski
Co-Chair

Assemblymember Sam Hoyt
Co-Chair
 

CITY OF BUFFALO MAYOR’S ANTI FLIPPING TASK FORCE MISSION:

The Mayor’s Anti-Flipping Task Force (AFTF) combats the unsavory real estate practices of unethical and fraudulent property flipping that contribute to neighborhood destabilization and community disinvestment. 

The AFTF was established in response to residents’ complaints regarding property flipping of homes in distressed neighborhoods. Housing Court Liaison Michele Johnson and Building Inspector Tracy Krug observed flipping activity and began to investigate and shed light on this practice. On December 16, 2004, at the request of Assemblymember Sam Hoyt, a NYS Assembly hearing took place to address community complaints regarding the practice involving vacant properties being sold repeatedly without regard to condition or actual value.

As a result of the hearing, as well as meetings with residents and other interested parties, Mayor Masiello formally established the Anti-Flipping Task Force in May 2005, an initiative which continues to be fully supported by Buffalo’s current Mayor, Byron Brown. Assemblymember Sam Hoyt and Senator Stachowski are Co-Chairs of the effort and the Western New York Law Center, a not-for profit law firm, was chosen to lead the AFTF.

Private partners are actively involved, such as the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors, Upstate NY Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, Bar Association of Erie County, Hilbert College, Erie Community College and Buffalo State College.
 

Contact Information:

Partner Agency Links: 

Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors:
http://www.bnar.org/ 

Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors
100 Sylvan Parkway
Amherst, New York 14228
Phone: (716) 636-9000
Fax:     (716) 636-9121 

Bar Association of Erie County
www.eriebar.org 

The Bar Association of Erie County
438 Main Street, 6th Floor
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone:  (716) 852-8687
Fax:      (716) 852-7641

Better Business Bureau:
www.buffalo.bbb.org 

Better Business Bureau
741 Delaware Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone:  (716) 881-5222 or (800) 828-5000
Fax:      (716) 883-5349

ECC Workforce Development:
www.ecc.edu/academics/workforcedevel.asp 

ECC South Campus/Building 7
WorkForce Development
4041  Southwestern Boulevard
Orchard Park, NY 14127
Phone:  (716) 851-1800
Fax:      (716) 851-1808

New York State Bar Association
www.nysba.org
Real Property Law Section:
http://www.nysba.org/MSTemplate.cfm?MicrositeID=65

1 Elk Street
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 463-3200
Fax: (518) 487-5517

Upstate NY Chapter of the Appraisal Institute:
www.nyappraisers.com

728 Court Street
Utica, NY 13502
Phone:  (315) 624-0276
Fax:      (315) 624-0261