NYC Mayor's Comments Anger Buffalo Leaders

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's negative comments about Buffalo aren't sitting well with his counterpart in the upstate city.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says he's "pissed off."

Business and other elected leaders also are taking issue with what Bloomberg said during an address at a housing conference Wednesday. The comments were first broadcast on NY1.

Bloomberg was talking about New York City's shortage of classrooms and housing and said Buffalo would love to have New York City's problems. He said -- quote -- "There's an awful lot of free space in Buffalo, New York, if you want to go there. I don't think you do."

Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser says he was pointing out to developers that "it's better to build in a place with more residents than housing instead of the other way around."

Bloomberg told Assemblyman Sam Hoyt that he meant no offense. Loeser says Bloomberg called Brown and explained his comments.

A spokesman for Brown says Bloomberg apologized, but he says the Buffalo mayor still feels the remarks were a "cheap shot."

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