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December 16, 2019

Buffalo News: "As fears of an undercount loom, local officials race to prepare for 2020 census"

The 2020 national census doesn’t officially kick off until March. But with the specter of past undercounts hanging over them, a coalition of local governments and nonprofit organizations are mobilizing early to “get out the count.” Some are distributing census pledge cards. Others …

December 12, 2019

WBFO: "Bail reforms celebrated by advocates, opposed by law enforcement"

Starting Jan. 1, cash bail and pre-trial detention will be eliminated for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies in New York State. That change has left local criminal justice reform advocates rejoicing and law enforcement officials crying foul.    

December 3, 2019

Buffalo News: "Bail reform advocates push back against calls for moratorium"

After law enforcement leaders held simultaneous news conferences across the state last week, calling for a moratorium on new bail laws set to go into effect Jan. 1,  Buffalo advocates for criminal justice reform countered "misconceptions" about those new laws. The new laws will end the use of …

November 18, 2019

Changes to the Buffalo In-Rem Auction: Kate Lockhart from the WNY Law Center on The Public Good Radio Show

On October 29th, PPG’s Executive Director, Andrea Ó Súilleabháin sat down with Kate Lockhart, Director of the Vacant and Abandoned Properties program at the Western New York Law Center. They discussed the Buffalo Tax Foreclosure Auction (Oct 29-31), recent changes to the …

September 23, 2019

WBFO: "Group calls for expansion of state park at Outer Harbor"

"Expand the Outer Harbor into a full State Park is the message coming from the Partnership for the Public Good and a dozen other local groups who make up the Our Harbor Coalition. The Partnership released a report Monday, detailing a full analysis of the why a state park is best for the …

September 23, 2019

Buffalo News: "'Not any old lakeshore': Report urges Outer Harbor become state park"

"A new report backed by a coalition of groups urges that the Outer Harbor be turned into a state park. The report, released today by the Partnership for the Public Good, said an analysis of the land's assets and challenges led to a conclusion that a state park would be the best way to protect the …

September 23, 2019

Report Calls for Expanded State Park on Outer Harbor

A new report calls for New York State to greatly expand its park on the Outer Harbor. “We have an amazing opportunity,” said the report’s author, Sam Magavern, from the Partnership for the Public Good.” “There’s nothing like our Outer Harbor on the Great …

September 9, 2019

Buffalo News: "Coalition wants protections from Buffalo's rising home values"

"Every neighborhood in Buffalo has increased in value, according to the city's recently completed 2020 citywide property tax revaluation of 93,000 residential and commercial properties. The city's total projected value is $17.4 billion, up 63 percent from last year's tax roll, with a projected …

September 5, 2019

WKBW Buffalo: "Sticker shock with new Buffalo property assessments"

All Buffalo neighborhoods have gone up in value - but will mean more taxes for some.  

September 1, 2019

Buffalo News: "Buffalo's tax assessments to finally catch up with booming housing values"

"The majority of Buffalo homeowners will see their property assessments spike later this month when the city completes its first large-scale reassessment since the boom in home sale prices. Housing prices have soared in neighborhoods from Allentown to Hertel. Buyers regularly face off in bidding …

August 15, 2019

Listen Now: Legacy of Lead Radio Play

Meet Diane James. She lives on the East Side with her son, DeSean. A few years ago, DeSean’s pediatrician found that his lead levels were high. Diane had their apartment inspected, and the County Health Department deemed their home unlivable. She and DeSean were forced to move. Now they live …

July 11, 2019

Hundreds of Workers Will Benefit from New Living Wage Rate: 2020 Increase will Help Workers at City of Buffalo and at Employers that Contract with the City

On July 9, 2019, the City of Buffalo Common Council voted unanimously to amend the City’s Living Wage Ordinance, as recommended by the City’s Living Wage Commission. The new law was sponsored by Councilmembers David Rivera and Joel Feroleto. Starting on July 1, 2020, the living wage …