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 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 …

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 8, 2024

Buffalo News Editorial Board: "Needed: Greater focus on the threat of lead paint"

The Editorial Board | March 8, 2024 A group of 39 community organizations had every right to be frustrated. Their members gathered in front of City Hall on a chilly February day to protest the continuing exposure of Buffalo’s children to toxic lead paint. Lead paint is mainly a problem …

February 27, 2024

SAVE THE DATE: Uniting on the High Road Conference

Uniting on the High Road: A Conference on Economic Justice at the Local Level will take place on June 20-22, 2024 in Buffalo, NY. Hosted by Cornell University ILR Buffalo Co-Lab and Partnership for the Public Good, with community and academic partners from across Buffalo and nationwide, the …

February 13, 2024

Demand Letter to Comply with Proactive Rental Inspections (PRI)

On February 13, 2024, we delivered a letter signed by a total of thirty-nine partners to Mayor Byron Brown and Department of Permits and Inspections Commissioner Cathy Amdur demanding that they implement the City's proactive rental inspection (PRI) law. This is the full text of that letter.

February 13, 2024

WIVB: "Community groups call on Buffalo to reduce lead poisoning among children"

Dillon Morello | February 13, 2024 Community advocates and health professionals called on Buffalo leaders Tuesday to take action to reduce lead poisoning among children. They are also asking leaders to comply with the city’s rental inspections law, prompting the city to go back and forth with …

February 13, 2024

WBFO: "Local organizations call for City of Buffalo to comply with lead inspection law"

Thomas O'Neil-White | February 13, 2024 The City of Buffalo could face legal action if it does not comply with a law it enacted four years ago. The Proactive Rental Inspections Law was passed by the Common Council and put in place, in part, to reduce childhood lead poisoning due to lead-based paint …

February 13, 2024

Buffalo News: "Groups urge Buffalo to test more units for lead paint, enforce rental inspection law"

Deidre Williams | February 13, 2024A group of 39 community organizations appealed to the City of Buffalo to inspect far more rental properties for toxic lead paint, as required by its own Proactive Rental Inspections local law. Since at least the early 1990s, Buffalo has ranked among the …

February 13, 2024

PPG & 38 Partners Call on Mayor Byron Brown to Comply with Proactive Rental Inspections (PRI) Law

Community advocates, health professionals and concerned citizens gathered today at Niagara Square to call on the Brown Administration to comply with the city’s Proactive Rental Inspections (PRI) Law enacted by the Buffalo Common Council in November 2020. You can read the full text of the …