Tonawanda · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Tonawanda public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2027 Tentative Town Budget and Tax Levy
The town's draft 2027 budget — including special districts and the assessment roll — is now the Preliminary Budget and will face a public hearing on November 5. This determines what residents pay in town taxes next year.
Transition of Automated License Plate Readers to Axon
Residents raised concerns during public comment regarding data security, immigration searches, and oversight of the town's ALPR camera systems.
Neighborhood Crime and Property Security
Residents voiced serious concerns about neighborhood safety, citing recurring car break-ins, recent home intrusions, and an armed robbery. Town officials discussed local law enforcement efforts, youth accountability challenges under state laws, and crime prevention measures.
Sanitary Sewer Lining and Infrastructure Upgrades
A local resident spoke out about severe sewage backups flooding his basement during heavy rainstorms, urging the town to prioritize stormwater and sewer system repairs.
Proposed Data Center Moratorium
Residents strongly supported a one-year town moratorium on data centers, raising concerns about excessive water use, noise pollution, and electrical grid strain from large-scale facilities.
Proposed Data Center Development and Town Moratorium
Residents and environmental advocates raised concerns about noise, heavy water and power demands, and potential pollution from a proposed massive data center at the former Tonawanda Coke site. Officials noted that environmental reviews with state agencies are ongoing.
Redevelopment and Cleanup of Former Tonawanda Coke Site
Developers presented plans for a massive 500,000-square-foot artificial intelligence data center at the former Tonawanda Coke site on River Road, alongside ongoing state-supervised environmental cleanup. Community advocates raised concerns about the massive energy consumption of the data center and urged careful alignment with waterfront development goals.