Latest News

November 3, 2020

Concerns on the Proposed SAS Data Center and Bringing Predictive Policing to Buffalo

Last week, the City of Buffalo announced a proposed 3-year contract with SAS Institute to create a data analytics center and “use predictive modeling to determine best practices,” with “police training and practices” as the first use of the technology. We urge the Buffalo …

November 2, 2020

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of November 2, 2020

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.

October 30, 2020

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of October 26, 2020

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.

October 28, 2020

Buffalo News: "Column: The odds for real police reform? Don’t bet the house on it"

By Rod Watson | Oct 28, 2020 Under the Taylor Law and Triborough Amendment, police don’t get any contractual increases once the contract ends, but they do continue to get the longevity increases that were written into the old pact. In Buffalo’s case, Evans …

October 27, 2020

WKBW: "Questions linger over multi-million dollar Buffalo police data analytics proposal"

By Madison Carter | October 27, 2020  A multi-million dollar funding request has landed with Buffalo’s common council. The police department is seeking to enter into a contract with SAS Data Management systems to analyze the newly announced police reforms out of Mayor …

October 26, 2020

Invest in Community Safety and Health, Not More Weapons, Say Buffalo Residents and Community Groups

On Friday, October 23, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, together with Common Council President Darius Pridgen, announced three new initiatives under their Buffalo police reform agenda—tasers, a lasso-type restraining device called BolaWrap, and a data analytics center. This announcement

October 18, 2020

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of October 19th, 2020

Welcome to PPG’s weekly Buffalo Common Council update! Each week, PPG summarizes important takeaways from the major Buffalo Common Council meetings. We’ll also include information from meetings related to our Community Agenda items.

October 11, 2020

Buffalo Common Council Meeting Update: Week of Sunday, October 12, 2020

Each week, PPG summarizes important takeaways from the major Buffalo Common Council meetings. PPG will also include information from meetings related to our Community Agenda items.

October 5, 2020

Learning from National and Local Precedents for Participatory Budgeting

The city budget process in Buffalo has historically seemed opaque to many residents. Community involvement in city finances is often limited to casting their votes for council and mayoral candidates. But there are many ways to increase resident engagement in local government, including the budget …

September 25, 2020

2019 Arrest Data in Buffalo

This dataset offers some of the demographics and disparities of arrests in the City of Buffalo, based on arrest data reported by the Buffalo Police Department to New York State.

September 21, 2020

Ten Days Left to Complete the 2020 Census

There are ten days left to complete the Census at 2020census.gov. Happening once every ten years, the Census determines the demographics, funding and resources, and political representation for where you live. Do you want well-funded libraries, Head Start and free school lunches for kids in …

September 18, 2020

2020 Census: Tell us why you count!

Communities that don’t get fully counted in the 2020 Census will miss out for the next ten years. The Census counts. So do you. We're sharing a 2020 Census chalkboard on social media to spread the word that everybody counts. Tell us why you count, and why you've completed the …