Latest News

April 6, 2020

Buffalo News: "Coronavirus may stop a lot of things, but not parking tickets and auto impounds"

By Robert J. McCarthy|April 6, 2020 A coalition of community groups Monday called on the City of Buffalo to suspend many traffic summons, parking tickets and vehicle impoundments "in view of current hardships" stemming from the Covid-19 crisis. But city officials say they …

April 3, 2020

Already ‘a Crisis Before the Pandemic,’ Access to Water Should Be Top Priority

While access to water is increasingly recognized as a basic human right, “access to and affordability of clean, healthy water was a national crisis before the COVID-19 pandemic, including right here in Western New York,” said Rahwa Ghirmatzion, Executive Director of PUSH Buffalo. This …

April 3, 2020

Read the Full Transcript: Press Conference on Water Access During COVID-19

This transcript is from the 4/2/2020 10am press conference urging the City of Buffalo to proactively restore water services to Buffalo residents amidst the COVID-19 crisis.  Speakers include: Rahwa Ghirmatzion (Executive Director, PUSH Buffalo), Andrea Ó Súilleabháin …

April 2, 2020

WBFO: "City, Water Board urged to restore shut off water service during pandemic"

By Michael Mroziak | April 2, 2020 Dozens of local community advocacy agencies and individuals are uniting in a call to the City of Buffalo and the city’s Water Board, urging them to restore service amidst the pandemic to those whose water has been shut off.

April 2, 2020

WBEN: "City of Buffalo asked to restore water to those without it"

By Mike Baggerman | April 2, 2020 BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – After a stroke two years ago caused a Buffalo man named “Mike” be to laid off from his job, he said his water was turned off because he could no longer make payments and had to prioritize where whatever …

April 2, 2020

Deadline to Challenge Property Tax Reassessment is Extended: April 29 (Edited 4/17/20)

Many homeowners in Buffalo have struggled this year as their home assessments have increased sharply and will likely result in July 2020 tax bills that they cannot afford. For those went through the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) process but would still like to challenge their assessment, there's …

April 1, 2020

Community Groups call on the City of Buffalo and Buffalo Water to Restore Services to Combat COVID-19 in Buffalo

Help us call on the City of Buffalo and Buffalo Water to restore services to households without water. For almost two weeks, community and legal services organizations have pressed the City to do two things: communicate more widely and effectively about how people can get …

March 28, 2020

The Washington Post: "When coronavirus hits, but the water is shut off"

By Isaac Stanley-Becker | March 28, 2020 Scores of cities have tried to prevent water deprivation from exacerbating the public-health emergency by pausing shut-offs during the pandemic. Some states have even stepped in. But getting the water turned back on can prove an arduous …

March 25, 2020

Working for the Public Good in a Time of Crisis

At Partnership for the Public Good, we have refocused our work to respond to the Coronavirus crisis and the many urgent needs it raises across health, housing, and economy. Our partners are addressing these impacts head-on, and we’re listening to their concerns and challenges to ensure …

March 25, 2020

Coalition Shares Powerful Testimony at Bail Reform Town Hall

A town hall meeting on bail reform planned for March 18 was transitioned last-minute to an online format to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Over 70 people tuned in last Wednesday evening to hear testimony about the recent changes to bail laws from attorneys, people directly impacted by bail, and …

March 23, 2020

Buffalo News: "Critics want water shut-offs reversed, but city says residents must call first"

By Deidre Williams | March 23, 2020 A 67-year-old Vietnam veteran in South Buffalo with health issues did not have running water in his home for more than a year after the Buffalo Water Authority shut it off because of nonpayment. The utility turned the man's water back on …

March 8, 2020

Buffalo News: "Rising home values: As investors cheer, low-income owners despair"

"Real estate in our city has changed drastically in the past few years, and for some homes, assessments have tripled or even quadrupled," said Sarah Wooton, a policy analyst at the Partnership for the Public Good and an organizer with the Buffalo Property Tax Coalition. "This is great news if …