Government Take Action
Making state and local government more democratic, efficient, and accountable will require campaign finance reform, the curtailing of independent authorities, and increased regional cooperation. It will also require close attention to issues of patronage, contracting procedures, ethics, public input, transparency, and the enforcement of existing laws and regulations.
Major reform is required to (i) reduce the tax burden on people with low incomes; (ii) increase taxes on products and activities that cause pollution in order to reflect their true social and governmental costs; (iii) reduce wasteful corporate tax subsidies; and (iv) provide greater, more equitable, and more predictable support to high-poverty cities and counties.
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January 16, 2026
Community Groups Roll Out Policy Change Agenda for 2026 Amid New Buffalo Mayoral Administration and Federal Policy Threats
For Immediate Release Buffalo, NY – On the morning of Friday, January 16th, 2026, Partnership for the Public Good (PPG) and community advocates convened to unveil the 2026 PPG Community Agenda at the Alumni & Visitor Center of Buffalo State University. This year’s agenda is shaped …
July 25, 2025
Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of July 21, 2025
By PPG Staff Each week, PPG summarizes important takeaways from the major Buffalo Common Council meetings. We also include information from council meetings related to our Community Agenda items. If you want to learn more about how the council meetings work and how you can get involved, check out …
July 18, 2025
Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of July 14, 2025
by PPG Staff Each week, PPG summarizes important takeaways from the major Buffalo Common Council meetings. We also include information about our Community Agenda items. If you want to learn more about how the council meetings work and how you can get involved, check out our guide. As a reminder, …
June 27, 2025
Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of June 23, 2025
by PPG Staff Each week, PPG summarizes important takeaways from the major Buffalo Common Council meetings. We also include information from council meetings related to our Community Agenda items. If you want to learn more about how the council meetings work and how you can get involved, check out …
Related Events View All
2026 Community Agenda Roll OutJanuary 16, 2026, 10-11:30 pm
PPG Partners
Each year, PPG leads a democratic process among its partners to determine the Community Agenda for the coming year. In the fall, PPG asks our 380+ partners to submit policy change proposals. Then, in December, the partners gather to discuss their ideas and vote for their top ten priorities.
12 Ideas for a Better BuffaloNovember 21, 2025, 10:30 am-12 pm
Sam Magavern and a team of University at Buffalo Law Students
Registration Required (see below) What can make Buffalo more equitable and sustainable? How can city government function more effectively and transparently? Sam Magavern, Senior Policy Fellow at PPG, and 12 UB Law students present on these questions:
Protecting Privacy, Data Security, and the Right to ProtestJuly 23, 2025, 12:30-2 pm
New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and LOLA (Liberation for One, Liberation for All)
In this workshop, we’ll discuss what’s at stake for both our data security and our ability to speak out in the face of growing government surveillance and overreach. We’ll start by looking at the big picture — from federal attacks under Trump that undermine our civil …
Erie County Budget 101 WorkshopJune 17, 2025, 12:30-2 pm
Erie County’s annual budget is over $2 billion. What are the major areas of spending? When is the budget proposed and adopted? How can residents advocate for priorities to be funded or cut in the 2026 budget?
