Latest News

April 14, 2024

Buffalo News Editorial Board: "Buffalo's Proactive Rental Inspection program should be fully funded"

Buffalo News Editorial Board | April 14, 2024 Finding and fixing problems in aging rental units before it’s necessary to use punitive enforcement is a great idea. Making that policy a law? Even better. But laws need to be implemented and the city of Buffalo’s reluctance to fully …

April 13, 2024

Registration Open for Uniting on the High Road: A Conference on Economic Justice at the Local Level

In cities across the United States, everyday people are working to transform our democracy by strengthening their voices in local government, shaping an economy that works for all, and reimagining public safety and health. They are organizing locally to imagine and build a new future where people …

April 12, 2024

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of April 8, 2024

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 …

April 9, 2024

Buffalo News: "Buffalo's lead paint inspection program is unsustainable, commissioner say"

Deidre Williams | April 9, 2024 Three years ago when Buffalo launched a Proactive Rental Inspections program, it was the city’s latest attempt to solve a lead poisoning problem that has plagued Buffalo’s old housing stock for decades. Mayor Byron W. Brown said it would help the city …

April 5, 2024

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of April 1, 2024

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.

March 29, 2024

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of March 25, 2024

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 …

March 28, 2024

How the City Can Pay for Proactive Rental Inspections - Memo to the Council

We prepared this memo for the Buffalo Common Council to explore potential funding options for the Proactive Rental Inspection (PRI) program. It discusses modestly increasing the city's rental registry fee, using American Rescue Plan funds, and several other funding options. We sent this memo along …

March 28, 2024

Letter to Council about Commissioner's 2024 PRI Report

On March 14, 2024, Commissioner Cathy Amdur of the Dept of Permits and Inspections submitted a report to the council (download) about the status of Proactive Rental Inspections program. On March 28, PPG submitted the following letter to the council in response to the Commissioner's report. We …

March 22, 2024

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of March 18, 2024

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 …

March 15, 2024

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of March 11, 2024

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 …

March 15, 2024

Letter to Council to Support State Proposal for Affordable Housing

We sent the following letter to the Buffalo Common Council in response to the Legislation Committee's decision to ignore resolutions of support for a New York State affordable housing proposal. You can watch the video of the Council's discussion on this topic here, starting at 23:45. 

March 8, 2024

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of March 4, 2024

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 …