Latest News

April 4, 2021

Buffalo News: "With repeal of decades-old marijuana laws, police learn new rules to enforce and abide by"

By Maki Becker | April 4, 2021 Just a few hours after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act on Thursday, an email went out to every Buffalo police officer. "Legal update: Repeal of cannabis law," was the title of the memo. The legalization of adult use of …

April 2, 2021

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of March 29, 2021

By Orlando Dickson | 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 26, 2021

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of March 22, 2021

By Orlando Dickson | 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 26, 2021

Spectrum News: "Residents, Social Justice Groups Say BPD Reforms Need to Go Further"

March 26, 2021 ​Buffalonians are speaking out against what they’re calling a flawed police reform process. People across the city gave their opinions on Mayor Byron Brown’s recent recommendations to improve the Buffalo Police Department.

March 26, 2021

Buffalo News: "Buffalo's police recommendations 'barely move the needle,' critics say"

By Aaron Besecker | March 26, 2021 Mayor Byron W. Brown's draft recommendations for police reform in Buffalo released earlier this week fail to take adequate steps toward change and ignored community input, a group of activists and community groups said Friday.

March 25, 2021

One Day Left for Public Comment on Buffalo Policing Reform Recommendations

The City of Buffalo has the opportunity to be a leader in addressing police violence and justice system disparities if it dares to do so. We call on the City to continue the change process in the months ahead, despite New York State’s April 1 deadline to adopt police reforms and to advance …

March 25, 2021

WKBW: "Know your rights: Buffalo residents can negotiate their water bill payments, says Water Board Chair"

By Ashley Rowe | March 25, 2021 Buffalo residents who are financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are allowed to negotiate their Buffalo Water bill until June 30th, the Buffalo Water Board Chairman Oluwole McFoy tells 7 Eyewitness News. But that customer right is not explicitly written …

March 25, 2021

The New York Times: "Opinion: Governor Cuomo, End Long-Term Solitary Confinement"

By The Editorial Board | March 25, 2021 The State of New York stands poised to overhaul the use of solitary confinement in its prisons and jails — a practice widely recognized as inhumane, arbitrary and counterproductive. Last week, state legislators passed the HALT (Humane Alternatives …

March 25, 2021

Buffalo News: "Report urging Sheriff's Office reforms approved by Erie County Legislature"

By Sandra Tan | March 25, 2021 The Erie County Legislature adopted a report Thursday recommending numerous Erie County Sheriff's Office reforms to foster diversity and transparency, hold deputies accountable, and improve community outreach and policing. 

March 24, 2021

Buffalo Organizations Join Statewide Call to Strengthen Water and Utilities Shutoff Moratorium

Together with a statewide coalition, local organizations PPG, WNY Law Center, Center for Elder Law and Justice, PUSH Buffalo, and Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper call on the state legislature to strengthen the existing water and essential utilities shutoff moratorium. The letter below outlines nine …

March 19, 2021

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of March 15, 2021

By Orlando Dickson | 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 17, 2021

New York Focus: "Records Reveal New York’s Growing Mountain of Water Debt"

By Julia Rock | March 17, 2021 On October 25, 2019, two days before her quarterly bill was due, Marie, 54, woke up to find that no water was coming out of her faucets.  She had known she was about $800 behind on water bill payments, but hadn’t realized that her water would be shut off. …