Poverty / Income Inequality Take Action
Poverty and inequality are the worst problems afflicting Buffalo Niagara, and the primary cause of most of the others. While poverty rates in the region as a whole are roughly average, the city of Buffalo consistently ranks as one of the poorest in the nation. Any conversation about revitalization must begin with poverty, and, in particular, with concentrated, racialized poverty. Effective poverty-fighting tools include tax relief for people with low incomes, living wage policies, and protection from predatory lending and other exploitative practices.
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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 …
August 22, 2025
Buffalo Business First: A renaissance for whom?
"The economic activity of the last 15 years has done little to ease the region's deep-rooted poverty. By some measures things have gotten worse. A flurry of economic activity has brought some of the shine back to Buffalo after decades in the doldrums. But what does it mean for the average …
June 9, 2025
Four More Buffalo in Transition Papers Released; Series Outlines Important Policies for the Next Mayoral Administration
Buffalo will soon begin voting in the primary of a historic election to choose our first new mayor in nearly two decades. In preparation, Partnership for the Public Good is publishing four more Buffalo in Transition policy briefs. We hope that these briefs, which offer common-sense solutions for …
May 15, 2025
PPG Releases Buffalo in Transition Papers on Important Policies for a New Mayoral Administration
On May 15, PPG released the first four briefs in our Buffalo in Transition series, highlighting actionable policy solutions to build a more just, sustainable city: Putting Vacant Land to Good Use, Supporting Low Income Homeowners, Fixing Rental Housing Starts with Tenant Protections, …
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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.
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.
Cornell ILR Buffalo Co-Lab and Erie County Commission on the Status of Women to Release Study on All Women's Equal Pay DayMarch 25, 2025, 11 am-12:30 pm
Cathy Creighton, Rusty Weaver, Karen King
Buffalo History Museum will serve as venue for presentation on the symbolic day used annually to raise awareness about pay inequities; results will focus on persistent pay gap in Erie County.
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 …
