Erie County Council now with a 5-2 Democratic majority were able to give more money to the DEI Commission

A move that according to Chief Administrative Officer of the Commission, Gary Lee, said is much needed.

"We can develop homeownership as well as apprenticeships, training programs and healthcare initiatives, we are going to be able to go to phase two and partner with different entities within the community and get the money out to business owners that really could use this extra investment," Lee said.

Erie County Council Chairman Terry Scutella has had questions of the Commission in the past but now believes they are on the right track.

"I saw the plans of what they are going to do, if they did not get this money they were done on June 30th and that just is not right for this community," Scutella said.

But even though Council voted to send the money out, the Davis administration said it is not going out.

"The County Executive right now is not comfortable with another million going to that organization, we have not been able to see that leveraging aspect where they go out and seek other funding from other organizations to partner with and really compound that dollar, we did not see that as was requested so the County Executive really has no plans to certify that ordinance," Chris Carroll, Erie County Public Information Officer, said.

A problem that continues in Erie is homelessness and finding solutions for fixing it, Council passed an ordinance for what Erie County Care Management (ECCM) is calling the homeless project but Carroll was skeptical about funding that as well.

"They deified their own solicitor, Mr. Talarico, who advised them that voting for these would be operating outside of their abilities and we completely agree with him on that so these funds will not be certified and there will be no funds flowing to these organizations but we welcome Council to come back and work with the administration and develop a real plan for homelessness," Carroll said.