Buffalo Common Council President Darius Pridgen is voicing his frustration with the recent Buffalo Bills rookie tour.
The rookies were taken to Niagara Falls, Canalside and the New Era store during their annual tour Tuesday.
Pridgen stated the following on his Facebook page:
FUMING! Just watched on the news that the new Buffalo Bills were brought into the city, YES brought into the city that they represent, for a tour. The news talked about how they were taken to Canalside and other areas to get to know Buffalo. All of the players interviewed were African American, but NO STOP in the African American Heritage Corridor, NO STOP on the Eastside to food establishments, businesses, houses of worship - NOPE. Back in the day when our highest paid players connected to the inner city, the inner city benefited. No shade, but Canalside is not the sum and total of Buffalo. Don't just take these new players to what shines, take them to the history of what we are made of. #fuming #Buffalobills#Africanamericanheritage
Wednesday afternoon Pridgen announced via Facebook that the Buffalo Bills called him to discuss his concerns over the tour. According to the Council President a Bills representative told him that the team will work with him to "incorporate other areas in next year's tour."
The Council President also reiterated that this is an issue that goes well beyond the Buffalo Bills Rookie Tour. He would like conventions and tours of Buffalo to include all parts of the city, saying, "There's more to Buffalo than the water."
