Housing / Neighborhoods Take Action
Paradoxically, Buffalo has both a crisis of abandoned housing and a severe homelessness problem. Top housing priorities should be preventing abandonment, preserving and rehabilitating existing units, and weatherizing housing to reduce energy costs and pollution simultaneously. Any new housing should be sustainable – strategically located to strengthen existing communities and ecologically friendly to reduce energy costs and pollution. As new development raises rents and property taxes in parts of the city, anti-displacement strategies become crucial in protecting vulnerable residents.
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August 11, 2026
PPG Urges Cheektowaga Town Board to Adopt Good Cause Eviction Law
On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the Cheektowaga Town Board held a public hearing as the Board considered whether it would adopt Good Cause Eviction law. This law would provide much-needed basic tenant protections against unreasonable rent hikes and unjust evictions. This is the letter we submitted to …
July 24, 2026
Investigative Post: "Housing Court council gets earful at first public hearing"
Adam Smith-Perez | July 24, 2026 A legally mandated advisory board, reconstituted after a 35-year absence, heard complaints from citizens — and one elected official — about city and court enforcement of housing codes. More than 20 people attended the first public hearing Wednesday …
April 15, 2026
BTPM: "Housing advocates present appeals in lawsuit against the city"
I’Jaz Ja’ciel | April 15, 2026 Advocates pushing for the city to enforce its Proactive Rental Inspections law are continuing their legal challenge. The City of Buffalo created the law about six years ago, which was designed to address issues in Buffalo homes like lead-based paint, …
April 12, 2026
Buffalo News: "With large tax increase looming, city leaders look to protect economically vulnerable residents"
Justin Sondel | April 12, 2026 When Mayor Sean Ryan’s planned 25% tax levy increase became public, one question came to the front of many city lawmakers’ minds: In a city with persistent and stubbornly high rates of poverty, what would be done to protect people living on the economic …
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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:
How Federal Cuts are Impacting Buffalo & WNY: a Community ConversationAugust 28, 2025, 5:30-7:30 pm
Join us for a conversation about how federal cuts are impacting our community's critical programs and services--both right now and in the years ahead. Residents and community groups are welcome to attend.
8 Ideas for a Better Buffalo-NiagaraNovember 22, 2024, 10:30 am-12 pm
Sam Magavern and UB Law Students
Each year Sam Magavern, Senior Policy Fellow at PPG, teaches a Lawyers as Change Agents class at the University at Buffalo Law School. They will be presenting their work on a wide array of policy initiatives to help make Buffalo-Niagara more equitable and sustainable. They …
