PUSH Buffalo - Updates

Showdown in Chicago!: Reclaiming America

29 Oct 2009 18:24:14 GMT

This past weekend 20 West Siders headed to the Showdown in Chicago, the biggest mobilization of hardworking Americans since the financial meltdown and the bailout. Organized by our partner, National People's Action, demonstrations targeted the American Bankers Association, Goldman Sachs and the Wells Fargo lobby. Thousands of people came together from all across the country to demand sensible regulation of the financial industry and an end to obscene bonuses in this time of crisis. PUSH leaders and staff joined members of other affiliate organizations to play key rolls in keeping the actions safe and fun as a van load came up early to receive 'marshal' training to keep discipline tight. For more pics, check out our Flickr Page! PUSH wholeheartedly supports the goals of increased financial regulation, modernization of the Community Reinvestment Act and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, and holding big banks accountable for their actions with taxpayer dollars!

Showdown in Chicago!

19 Oct 2009 18:21:24 GMT

This upcoming weekend, PUSH leaders and staff are headed to the Showdown in Chicago! We will join our friends at National People's Action and thousands of people from across the country to participate in a series of demonstrations targeted at financial institutions which caused the economic crisis and received billions of dollars while everyday people are struggling to make ends meet. We invite you to spread the word and to join us in Chicago if you're able. Enough is enough!

We're Planning Our Park!

15 Oct 2009 0:23:08 GMT

On Wednesday October 14th, PUSH, architect Kevin Connors and 100 neighborhood residents teamed up at the Butler Mitchell Boys and Girls Club to make a plan for the City park behind the building. We broke into small groups to popcorn ideas, write them down and vote on the ones everyone liked best. Some of the more popular ideas for the park were: having a swimming pool, more lights and security, and making a soccer/football field where people can play among countless other great suggestions. The ideas generated will now be taken back to our architect, Kevin Connors, who will then incorporate them into a draft of the park plan which will then be available for public comment. We are determined to make this park a place where people want to go instead of a place they're afraid to go! The park renovation is part of PUSH's Healthy Neighborhood Concept Plan, strategically targeting houses, lots and greenspace in the Mass. Ave corridor for rehabilitation. PUSH believes deeply in the community planning process and that people know what they need where they live. With real input from real people who live near the park, we can make this place a centerpiece of the neighborhood for years to come! We would like to thank everyone who came and helped out, especially our facilitators, the Boys and Girls Club Staff, and of course, all the neighborhood residents!

YouthBuilders get Trained!

14 Oct 2009 19:10:53 GMT

PUSH and WNY Americorps recently teamed up to bring the YouthBuild program to the West Side of Buffalo. YouthBuild lets young people between the ages of 16-25 to get on the job construction training, get their GED, and a chance to earn money for college, all while receiving a bi-weekly stipend. The YouthBuilders are currently undergoing construction training at the Buffalo Public Schools Adult Education Center and will start working on a PUSH project, 10 Winter St. , on October 20th. PUSH is excited to have local youth rebuilding their own neighborhood while greatly improving their job prospects. We look forward to continuing this partnership with WNY Americorps and can't wait to see all the great work the crew does!

GOV. PATERSON SIGNS GREEN JOBS-GREEN NEW YORK ACT

13 Oct 2009 22:38:49 GMT

After a year of hard work, dedication, and mobilization of hundreds of PUSH members and tireless effort by the staff, Governor Paterson signed the Green Jobs/Green Homes bill in Syracuse today. It's a huge victory for PUSH (whose own Eric Walker helped draft the bill) and an even bigger victory for New York State which is now poised to become the national leader in green jobs training. Check out the Buffalo News Article! Please check out the official Working Families Party Press Release: ADVOCATES CHEER AS GOVERNOR SIGNS GREEN JOBS-GREEN NEW YORK ACT GROUNDBREAKING LEGISLATION CHAMPIONED BY WFP SET TO MAKE NEW YORK A NATIONAL LEADER IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY NEW YORK – The Working Families Party and a broad coalition of environmentalists, labor and business leaders, workforce development experts and community organizations cheered today as Governor Paterson signed the landmark Green Jobs-Green New York Act. The Act, championed by the Working Families Party, will create the most ambitious residential energy efficiency program in the country, providing efficiency upgrades to an estimated one million homes and businesses over the next five years while creating more than 14,000 new jobs. “New York is on the way to becoming a global green leader,” said Dan Cantor, Working Families Party Executive Director. “Using today’s technology, this program will save millions of homeowners on their utility bills, reduce New York’s carbon footprint, and create thousands of badly needed jobs.” The bill’s key innovation is a revolving capital fund, which would use private investment to cover the upfront costs of energy efficiency improvements for homeowners and businesses. The fund would be repaid through the resulting energy savings. The bill also provides $112 million in funding from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to administer the fund, leverage private capital to pay for the retrofits, and setup green job training programs across the state. The Center for Working Families first proposed the creation of a mass-scale home energy efficiency program in a report co-authored with the Center for American Progress. Emmaia Gelman, Policy Director for the Center for Working Families said: “New York might become the first state to unlock the full potential of home energy efficiency with a program brings green technology to people of all incomes.” The report can be downloaded here: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/05/pdf/ghgjny_v10.pdf The Working Families Party built an unprecedented statewide coalition of businesses, labor unions, community groups, and environmentalists to help lobby the Green Jobs bill. The coalition cheered the bill’s passage: Richard Kornbluth, President of the Board of Directors of the Building Performance Contractors’ Association of New York State, said: “This initiative creates an opportunity for New York’s Home Performance Contractors to take their businesses to an entirely new level. We see significant growth in job creation for our industry during the next five years as this program unfolds. This is good news for homeowners, for workers, for the economic health of New York State, and for the climate.” Eric Walker, organizing director of the Buffalo-based PUSH community organization said: “The need for the bill is obvious in a place like Buffalo. Community groups are the heart of connecting people to retrofits and jobs laid out in the program. For us, going green is not just a lifestyle, it's about survival.” Myles Lennon of the New York State Laborers Union said: "Green Jobs-Green New York lays the foundation for an inclusive green economy that creates long term career paths and family sustaining wages for green collar workers. Thanks to the state's leadership, we can continue to work with communities to ensure that green jobs are good jobs." Richard Schrader, New York Legislative Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council said: “Energy efficiency makes environmental and economic sense. New York’s biggest carbon footprint comes from energy use in its buildings – but this program will help change that. We are showing the world we can create jobs, lower energy bills, and cut global warming pollution all at the same time.”

Dear Governor Paterson, Sign the Green Jobs Bill in Buffalo!

7 Oct 2009 21:32:57 GMT

Today a carload of PUSH members and staff headed to Albany to talk with Governor Paterson and convince him that he needs to sign the Green Jobs, Green NY Act of 2009 in Buffalo because we need to stay warm in the winter and have jobs in our backyards! We're able to share this picture right now and we'll have a full story on how the trip went tomorrow!

PUSH Wins Big Victory! Green Jobs Green NY Act 2k9 Passes!

6 Oct 2009 16:26:23 GMT

September was a big month for PUSH Buffalo and folks on the West Side as we won a huge victory when the New York State Senate passed our legislation, the Green Jobs, Green NY Act 2009 by 52-8. We collected over 1,000 pledge cards to let our politicians know that we need to stay warm in the winter and have jobs in our back yards! The legislation calls for over 1 million units to be weatherized over 5 years, for 5 billion dollars of private investment, and for over 120,000 jobs to be created by and around that work! PUSH would like to thank each and every person who signed a pledge card. When we dropped off a stack of 1,000 of them, we let our politicians know that we’re serious about getting our homes weatherized and getting green jobs where we live. Thanks to that type of pressure state-wide, the bill passed by a lot! Now we need to make sure that Buffalo is FIRST in line to get this work done. We know we need it here as we’re still the third poorest city in the country and the 4th most expensive city to heat in the winter. So please come on out to out next member meeting, October 17th at 3p.m. to help us plan some next steps!

Buffalo Done TOOK Manhattan

22 Sep 2009 20:26:58 GMT

Howdy friends, This past Saturday over 300 Buffa-lovers came together with PUSH and rocked out in a Times Square penthouse celebrating Buffalo culture. Thousands of wings, hundreds of slices of pizza, and kegs upon kegs of beer were consumed. All pretty good indicators of a pretty great party! Thanks to your generous support we were able to raise over $10,000 and managed to have a great time while we did it! Hopefully you all got something out of it too, whether you caught up with an old friend, met someone new, or scored a cool raffle prize. PUSH would like to thank everyone who volunteered, our sponsors, our hardworking board and staff and all the folks that showed up to make the evening a night to remember!

Tickets Will Be Available at the Door!

19 Sep 2009 19:46:02 GMT

Howdy folks, We've gotten a few emails and calls regarding the availability of tickets to our NYC party. Not to worry! We have enough to go around at the door. Just bring your guest and $25 and you should be all set. We are no longer doing pre-registered attendees, so just come on down to 330 W. 42nd Street, 33rd Floor and enjoy the fun!

Bocce's, La Nova, Labatts and Thousands of Wings--The Only Answer for Last Monday Night

16 Sep 2009 20:15:06 GMT

Hello Friends - If you're looking for a route out of the doldrums that are afflicting all Bills fans right now, look no further. There are still tickets available for Saturday night's "Buffalo Takes Manhattan" party, a benefit for PUSH's neighborhood revitalization efforts on the West Side. See www.pushbuffalo.org to register for the party! NEW ADDITIONS TO THE MENU Bocce's pizza is a new addition to the menu, joining La Nova pizza and wings from McFaddens, Bonnie's and Atomic. We've also received a donation of KC Brewster's Birch Beer, a Buffalo-made pop. And of course we'll have Labatts and Flying Bison. THE VENUE A Times Square penthouse decorated with pictures of Buffalo heroes past and present and a photo exhibit on Buffalo neighborhoods and industrial sites by Lesley Horowitz and Whitney Crispell. World famous DJs and Buffalo natives Rabbi Darkside, Kevlar and LoPro playing danceable jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop and Buffalo classics. Around midnight this turns into a full-fledged dance party. TAKE HOME YOUR OWN LITTLE PIECE OF BUFFALO A package of Bills-Jets tickets. An autographed Andre Reed jersey and other memorabilia from the Bills and Sabres. Gift certificates to more than fifteen Buffalo restaurants and museums. Photos and posters of city landmarks. Collections of poetry by Buffalo poets including Robert Creeley. Ani DiFranco tickets for the NYC Town Hall show. ABOUT PUSH Your $25, which includes food and the first drink, goes to helping PUSH rebuild the West Side one house at a time. PUSH does not wait for any politician or bureaucracy to save our city. We're leading the way to building a vibrant, diverse and beautiful neighborhood that is home to people from all over the world. See you at the party!! BUFFALO TAKES MANHATTAN III Saturday, September 19th, 8 PM 330 W. 42nd Street, 33rd Floor Sponsors include SEIU 1199, the NYC Buffalo Bills Backers, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and M & T Bank For tickets, see www.pushbuffalo.org. Note that there are no physical tickets. You will be placed on the registered list and admitted at the door.

PUSH Mural!

8 Sep 2009 17:38:39 GMT

It's no secret we love art here at PUSH, so when we heard that some folks we knew were interested in doing a graffiti mural with us, we jumped at the chance. We thought about a location and luckily, some friendly neighbors at the corner of 15th and West. Utica offered up their garage. This past Sunday, our two writers teamed up and worked all day to produce a stunning mural The dragon represents, strength, truth, and power while the text reads "PUSH Forward." The finished wall looks great and we hope to do more murals in the future. Thanks again to our writers, Whitney who coordinated the project, and everyone who came out to see the work in action. If you live in the West Side and have a blank canvass that you'd like covered in a great-looking mural, get in touch with us and let us know!

Grant St. Neighborhood Center Re-Opens w/ Art of Hip-hop & Youth Talent Show!

1 Sep 2009 17:49:35 GMT

This past Saturday, August 29th, PUSH was lucky enough to attend the grand re-opening of the Grant St. Neighborhood Center with a special youth talent show in conjunction with the Art of Hip-Hop. We saw some great singers, MCs, and other performers show their stuff with some help from Edreys on the mic and Tone X behind the turntables. There were also snacks, games, and and a great atmosphere in general. PUSH believes the re-opening of the Grant St. Neighborhood Center is extremely significant for the West Side as it provides structured activities for neighborhood youth as well as eventually host a variety of other communally beneficial programs. The center will eventually become a functional library as well which is great news! PUSH would like to thank the two folks that coordinate the Neighborhood Center, Briana & Janice, for all of their hard work in hosting a really successful event. PUSH wants to remind everyone that the center is open Monday-Friday from 3p.m.-7p.m. and that you should stop on by!

PUSH Board, Staff and Tenant BBQ

31 Aug 2009 19:04:36 GMT

PUSH board, staff and tenants braved the persistently threatening rain this past Sunday to gather around our 19th St. Garden and enjoy some fine foodstuffs and the chance to mix and mingle with each other. Highlights of the food included a Spanish chicken and rice dish from our tenant Dashmily, Burmese "Hush Puppies" brought by board member Myo Thant, and delicious brownies baked by staffer Whitney Yax. A big thanks to Tamar for doing all the shopping and prep for the PUSH grilling materials! As PUSH grows, we believe in the necessity of maintaining close ties with the various facets of the organization. With us, people come first and what better way to remind everyone of that lesson than some tasty out-door grilling and hanging out on a lazy Sunday afternoon.?

Empire State Housing Alliance Rally in NYC!

27 Aug 2009 16:29:28 GMT

On Wednesday, August 19th, PUSH leaders and staff hopped on bus at 4:30 in the morning to head down to New York City to attend a rally in support of a piece of legislation called the Housing Investment Fund. If passed, the fund will create a dedicated revenue stream for affordable housing statewide. We are seeking seed money for 2010-11 to the tune of $500 million. Over 200 people attended the rally including NY State Assemblymember Vito Lopez. PUSH would like to thank ESHA Coordinator Joan Roby-Davidson for all of her hard work in putting the rally together. We will certainly keep everyone posted as to the progress of the bill.

Art of Hip-hop/ Re-opening of Grant St. Neighborhood Center!

17 Aug 2009 19:35:51 GMT

ART OF HIP HOP YOUTH TALENT SHOWCASE AT THE GRANT STREET NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER -- THE PLACE TO BE ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 29th FROM 1-5p.m. The old library at 271 Grant St will be reopened as a community center on August 29th, in partnership with the Art of Hip Hop festival. Tone, from DeepThinka Records, will be DJing the party as we hold a talent show with performances from youth throughout the neighborhood. There will be singing, step performances, dancing, and artwork on display. We will also be holding a raffle, have tabling for different organizations, FOOD, and also a booksale. Please come and join, because it will be an awesome time! Oh, and did we mention it's FREE!?!?

Buffalo Takes Manhattan Round 3!

17 Aug 2009 19:02:04 GMT

Helloooooo Buffalovers! Buffalo Takes Manhattan, the annual celebration of Buffalo culture in NYC, is fast approaching. On Saturday, September 19th, we'll be bringing Buffalo cuisine and spirit to Times Square. This year we'll also be honoring several Buffalonians of note. If past years are any indication, we expect hundreds of Buffalo lovers of all ages to attend the celebration. To buy your tickets, just click on the banner at the top of the page! Buffalo Takes Manhattan III SEIU 1199 Penthouse 330 W. 42nd Street, 33rd Floor New York, NY 8 PM To make a Buffalo-themed donation for our auction or to help out with the party, please email info@pushbuffalo.org. A big thanks goes out to our sponsors, M&T Bank, HSBC Bank, and the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise. Looking forward to seeing everybody for the third annual party! -The PUSH Team

New Staff & Training with CVH!

30 Jul 2009 20:35:20 GMT

PUSH would like to formally welcome our 3 new staff members, Lonnie Barlow, Angel Ramirez, and Whitney Yax onto the PUSH team. All three are lifelong Buffalonians and are excited to get down to work here on Buffalo's West Side. Lonnie and Angel have joined our organizing team while Whitney is our public education and greenspace coordinator. PUSH would also like to welcome our two new programming coordinators for the community space downstairs, Briana Roy and Janice Li. We can't wait to see what they come up with for downstairs! Even though Angel and Lonnie just came on board, PUSH shipped them plus Sara and Sergio down to Community Voices Heard last week for some intensive organizer training. They jumped immediately into the fray and helped CVH mobilize leaders and members for two actions during the week. The PUSH team also got schooled in various organizing arts & sciences from the CVH staff and is ready to apply what they learned right here, right now, on the West Side of Buffalo A huge thank you to all the good folks at Community Voices Heard for spending their valuable time with PUSH!

Got any tools for PUSH?

28 Jul 2009 21:33:40 GMT

Coming up this fall, PUSH will be opening a tool lending library! We are partnering with Buffalo ReUse to bring you a West Side location of the Buffalo Tool BARn at 456 Massachusetts, in the storefront below our housing co-op. Members join the Tool BARn for a small annual fee and are then able to borrow any tool from our collection at no charge, just like a library. We want our members to be able to borrow everything from hammers and rakes to lawnmowers and table saws, like other tool lending libraries across the country. Check out the West Philly Tool Library to get an idea of what we have in store! Do you have tools in good condition that collect dust in your basement? Tools that would get better use if you shared them with your neighbors? Make a tool donation and help get our Tool BARn started today! There are two great ways to make your tax-deductible tool donation: •Bring your tool donations to 271 Grant Street during business hours •Schedule a pick-up from your house with Whitney, by calling 716-884-0356 or emailing whitneyyax@gmail.com Here is our wish list, for inspiration, but please don’t hesitate to donate any tool in good condition: Electric/cordless drill Reciprocating saw Circular saw Table saw Miter saw Jigsaw Tile saw Orbital palm sander Hacksaw Caulking guns Putty knives Framing hammer Torpedo level Pry bar Framing square 30’ tape measure Utility knife Speed square Air compressor Finish nailer Framing nailer Pliers Screwdrivers Crescent wrench Sledge hammers Trowels Floats Extension cords Ladders Wheelbarrow Garden hoe Post-hole digger Lawnmower Even if you don’t have spare tools, you can help our efforts by letting your friends, family, and neighbors know about PUSH and encouraging them to donate tools. Email a friend!

Made You Sweat Like You Didn't Know You Wanted To

27 Jul 2009 22:00:14 GMT

On Friday, July 17th The Movement 4: Sweatbox Edition at Ujima Theater definitely made over the 150 people who turned out sweat like they didn't know they wanted to! Party people were on hand all night to drink Flying Bison beer and listen to the sweet sounds of Fudgy Chewy, DJ Lopro and DJ Cutler, as well as the Springville All Stars Marching Band & Zoe Viola. Folks also got to check out some Krumpers vs. Bboys action on the main stage! All proceeds went to benefit the Partnership for the Public Good, Buffalo's own regional think-tank. We can't wait to see you at the next one!

PUSH Wins Commitments from the Fed!

17 Jul 2009 18:04:20 GMT

On Thursday, July 16th, PUSH Buffalo along with our national partner NTIC/National People's Action hosted members of the Federal Reserve in a community forum to support Community Reinvestment Act reform and the expansion of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and to respond to the foreclosure crisis. The meeting was held at Trinity Episcopal Church on Delaware Avenue. A panel of local housing expert spoke to the effect of the foreclosure crisis on Buffalo while testimony was given from neighborhood residents and PUSH leaders Ron Andrews and Eddie Egriu on how they have been personally affected by the foreclosure crisis and the subsequent need for lending reform, job creation, and bank regulation. The meeting was a huge success as PUSH & NPA won solid commitments from the Federal Reserve to: 1. Conduct regular meetings with the NY Fed 2. Expound on our demands of comprehensive CRA & HMDA reform and CRA investment as a means of employment generation and receive a written response from the Fed in 90 days regarding next steps. 3. A commitment from the NY Fed to assist PUSH in convening a meeting with local bankers and other decision makers in the Buffalo area to determine a strategy around job creation in our back yards! Buffalo was the second stop in an 8 city tour the Fed in on. The Fed agreed to this tour because of pressure put on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke when NPA took 600 leaders from all across the country to his house to demand accountability for the foreclosure crisis. PUSH would like to thank everyone who helped, attended, spoke, and all of our panelists: Kevin Connor: Co-Director, Public Accountability Initiative, Kathleen Lynch: Supervising Attorney, Western NY Law Center, Anthony Armstrong: Program Officer, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Bill O'Connell: Executive Director,Western NY Homeless Alliance, Beverly Moore: Housing Counselor, Buffalo Urban League, John Anderson: Buffalo Director, Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, Amanda Pascal: Syracuse United Neighbors, Joan Roby-Davidson: Coordinator, Empire State Housing Alliance, Micaela Shapiro-Shellaby: Community Organizer, Coalition for Economic Justice. A very special thanks to Syracuse United Neighbors for busing in twenty people to the event, go SUN!

Movement #4: The Sweatbox

6 Jul 2009 23:32:09 GMT

On Friday, July 17th at Ujima Theater on Elmwood, join us for a late night party with performers ranging from a prodigy jazz vocalist to Krumpers to diverse dance music to make you move until the sun comes up. $10 gets you access to see Krumpers vs. The B-Boys, Zoe Viola, Fudgychewy, Springville All Stars Marching Band, and DJ Cutler and DJ Lopro. Ujima is located at 545 Elmwood-Otherwise known as the Theater Loft. Show kicks off at 9:30pm and goes on as long as the DJ's keep the tunes pumping and we keep the dance floor alive. The Movement 4 Making you sweat like you didnt know you wanted to

The Fed is Coming to Buffalo!

26 Jun 2009 20:10:56 GMT

One of PUSH's national partners, NTIC/National People's Action , is helping to bring the Federal Reserve to Buffalo on July 16th, 6p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church on Delaware Ave. With millions of regular people caught in the grip of foreclosures, ballooning mortgages and predatory loans the Fed is traveling to cities hard-hit by the economic crisis to hear about the urgent need of reform and we need YOU to be at the Buffalo meeting! The conversation will bring local organizations like the Partnership for the Public Good and Western New York Law Center along with on the ground testimony from neighborhood residents who deal with the effects of the crisis on a day-day basis. More importantly there will be a Question & Answer session to give everyone a chance to ask questions of the Fed members and panel. We need access to credit, banks that invest in our communities, and green jobs that pay us a living wage! Real People have Real Power! So come on out and let the people from the Fed know what we need in our neighborhoods and that real economic recovery begins with us!

Co-op BBQ!

23 Jun 2009 15:24:47 GMT

This past Sunday PUSH co-op members gathered at the parking lot of 456 Massachusetts to eat and hang out. We celebrated a birthday, ate a TON of food, and enjoyed the nice weather. Rumor has it Ms. Augustine Gilchrist was spied playing hopscotch with Tamar's kids, but I suppose you'll have to investigate our Flickr page... Be on the lookout for more PUSH BBQs in the near future. We have a grill and we're not afraid to use it!

Great Lakes Summit 1 Week Away!

12 Jun 2009 15:40:37 GMT

The Great Lakes Metros and the New Opportunity Summit is just one week away. The Summit is for practitioners–including community leaders, representatives of foundations and NGOs, local officials, urban advocates, agency heads and their deputies–in Great Lakes urban communities who seek to use the stimulus bill and future federal support to promote sustainable and equitable cities. PUSH is especially excited, in lieu of our Green Jobs, Green Housing Campaign that the director of Sustainable South Bronx, Miquela Crayor will be speaking at the summit. Sustainable South Bronx is an incredibly innovative organization in the field of green job creating and environmental hazard abatement. PUSH is also happy to see reps from the Save the American Dream Campaign, the Cleveland East Side Organizing Project, the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, the the Partnership for the Public Good and the Coalition for Economic Justice on the slate as well. Please see the summit blog at http://greatlakesmetros.wordpress.com/ for registration and agenda information. From Sarah @ GLUE Here's what we hope to achieve at Buffalo State College on June 18th and 19th: Maximizing the Community Impact of the Stimulus in Great Lakes Cities: The summit will feature state and Federal officials who administer stimulus funds as well as community-based leaders doing cutting-edge work in green infrastructure, community revitalization and economic development. The summit will provide an ideal space for dialogue between stimulus funding agencies and community organizations looking to ensure that the money builds on the region's assets and promotes sustainable economic growth. Advancing Innovative Policy Approaches to Problems Facing All Great Lakes Cities Summit participants like former Rochester Mayor William Johnson and former Indianapolis Mayor William Hudnut will provide real-world insight on implementing policy objectives like regional planning and metro governance. Miquela Craytor, Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx, will talk about the possibilities of creating green jobs that are pathways out of poverty. And advocates from organizations around the region, like the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, Coalition for Economic Justice, Neighborhood Progress, Inc., and Center for Working Families will share their innovate grassroots work, which must better inform policy development. Building an Organized Constituency for Great Lakes Resurgence The Great Lakes Urban Exchange (GLUE) and the Northeast-Midwest Institute, co-conveners of the Summit along with Buffalo State College and the Partnership for the Public Good, are building a movement of social entrepreneurs, community leaders and public officials for a Renaissance in Great Lakes metro regions. Our cities face unique challenges--vacant housing, sprawl without growth, manufacturing decline--which require targeted and strategic policy responses. Our unrivaled assets, including renewable energy resources, a concentration of research universities, historic architecture, and the Great Lakes themselves, demand development strategies that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. The Summit will help to build our movement for change. Articulating a Vision For too long, the cities of the Great Lakes region have been behind the curve on accessing necessary support from their states and the Federal government. To reverse that trend, those striving daily to make these cities healthy and successful must influence policy discussions. If policy makers in DC don’t hear from Cleveland, Buffalo, and Detroit, they’ll continue to make decisions that don’t help us. Having Fun in the Sun on the Shores of Lake Erie What could be better than spending two days in June in one of the nation's best-planned and architecturally rich cities with fellow leaders of the Great Lakes Metros movement? Thursday night features a dinner with keynote on Metropolitan Action from Jennifer Bradley from the Brookings Institution. After the panel sessions on Friday, we'll tour neighborhood and waterfront development efforts on Buffalo's West Side. Again, for registration and more information, see the Summit blog at http://greatlakesmetros.wordpress.com/ We look forward to seeing you next week!

Housing Investment Fund One Step Closer to Reality

10 Jun 2009 21:33:15 GMT

The Empire State Housing Alliance, one of our statewide networks raising awareness about New York’s affordable housing crisis, had a huge victory this week. New York State Senator Pedro Espada introduced legislation (S5727) to create a statewide fund that would bring close to $200 million in new funds for affordable housing every year till the sun stops shining. Where does the money come from? The bulk of it would come from state real estate transfer taxes and excess revenue from the Mortgage Insurance Fund. Without getting too fancy, real estate transfer taxes are just what they sound like, a tax that gets charged by the state government when you transfer title of a property. The Mortgage Insurance Fund is a lot trickier to explain. There’s this state agency that provides mortgage insurance and they use the money they collect to make other investments to make more money. What ever money they make after they cover the books goes into the state’s general fund. Why give it to them when we could use it to build more housing that’s worth living in, puts people to work, and changes the face of our neighborhood, right? This has been nearly 3 years in the making. In September 2006, PUSH went to Albany with groups from across New York to think through one of the biggest problems facing the state – hard working families all over just cant find quality affordable places to live! The groups came together out of frustration with the way state programming was set up - making it hard for little groups like PUSH to get funds, or not having enough funds to provide housing for the poorest folks in the state who needed it the most. So with the help of Mary Brooks and the Center for Community Change, we spent the next two years figuring out how it should work so housing funds could work for us. Now that we’ve got a real piece of legislation in the mix, it’s time to make sure it happens! Call your state senator and send them a letter through our friends at Habitat for Humanity in NYC to let them you want more affordable housing NOW.

PUSH Helps Give Away Flowers and Veggies!

5 Jun 2009 0:07:29 GMT

On Friday morning, PUSH members & staff along with Senator Bill Stachowski gave away over 300 plants to neighborhood residents! PUSH would like to thank the Senator and everyone else who came out and made the day a big success. Some went to the gardener's at PUSH's Refugee & Community Garden at 92 19th St. You should come down and check it out, the plots look great and we have some extra flowers if anyone wants 'em. PUSH is excited to continue the realization of our community developed Healthy Neighborhood Concept Plan and looks forward to a summer filled with fresh vegetables for everyone on the block!

Great Lakes Summit 2 Weeks Away!

4 Jun 2009 20:36:45 GMT

The Great Lakes Metros and the New Opportunity Summit is just two weeks away. The Summit is for practitioners–including community leaders, representatives of foundations and NGOs, local officials, urban advocates, agency heads and their deputies–in Great Lakes urban communities who seek to use the stimulus bill and future federal support to promote sustainable and equitable cities. PUSH is especially excited, in lieu of our Green Jobs, Green Housing Campaign that the director of Sustainable South Bronx, Miquela Crayor will be speaking at the summit. Sustainable South Bronx is an incredibly innovative organization in the field of green job creating and environmental hazard abatement. PUSH is also happy to see reps from the Save the American Dream Campaign, the Cleveland East Side Organizing Project, the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, the the Partnership for the Public Good and the Coalition for Economic Justice on the slate as well. Please see the summit blog at http://greatlakesmetros.wordpress.com/ for registration and agenda information. From Sarah @ GLUE Here's what we hope to achieve at Buffalo State College on June 18th and 19th: Maximizing the Community Impact of the Stimulus in Great Lakes Cities: The summit will feature state and Federal officials who administer stimulus funds as well as community-based leaders doing cutting-edge work in green infrastructure, community revitalization and economic development. The summit will provide an ideal space for dialogue between stimulus funding agencies and community organizations looking to ensure that the money builds on the region's assets and promotes sustainable economic growth. Advancing Innovative Policy Approaches to Problems Facing All Great Lakes Cities Summit participants like former Rochester Mayor William Johnson and former Indianapolis Mayor William Hudnut will provide real-world insight on implementing policy objectives like regional planning and metro governance. Miquela Craytor, Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx, will talk about the possibilities of creating green jobs that are pathways out of poverty. And advocates from organizations around the region, like the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, Coalition for Economic Justice, Neighborhood Progress, Inc., and Center for Working Families will share their innovate grassroots work, which must better inform policy development. Building an Organized Constituency for Great Lakes Resurgence The Great Lakes Urban Exchange (GLUE) and the Northeast-Midwest Institute, co-conveners of the Summit along with Buffalo State College and the Partnership for the Public Good, are building a movement of social entrepreneurs, community leaders and public officials for a Renaissance in Great Lakes metro regions. Our cities face unique challenges--vacant housing, sprawl without growth, manufacturing decline--which require targeted and strategic policy responses. Our unrivaled assets, including renewable energy resources, a concentration of research universities, historic architecture, and the Great Lakes themselves, demand development strategies that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. The Summit will help to build our movement for change. Articulating a Vision For too long, the cities of the Great Lakes region have been behind the curve on accessing necessary support from their states and the Federal government. To reverse that trend, those striving daily to make these cities healthy and successful must influence policy discussions. If policy makers in DC don’t hear from Cleveland, Buffalo, and Detroit, they’ll continue to make decisions that don’t help us. Having Fun in the Sun on the Shores of Lake Erie What could be better than spending two days in June in one of the nation's best-planned and architecturally rich cities with fellow leaders of the Great Lakes Metros movement? Thursday night features a dinner with keynote on Metropolitan Action from Jennifer Bradley from the Brookings Institution. After the panel sessions on Friday, we'll tour neighborhood and waterfront development efforts on Buffalo's West Side. Again, for registration and more information, see the Summit blog at http://greatlakesmetros.wordpress.com/ We look forward to seeing you in a few weeks!

Green Jobs, Green Housing Town Hall Meeting

1 Jun 2009 21:26:00 GMT

On Thursday May 28th PUSH members, staff and community residents gathered together at the old library on Grant St. to participate in a “town hall” style meeting to get local elected officials and their representatives to commit to our Green Jobs, Green Housing Platform. Over 130 people crowded into the library to let our elected officials know that we shouldn’t have to pay through the nose to stay warm and that we need lower utility bills and green, living wage jobs in our neighborhoods! Several PUSH members told their stories about how hard it is to pay off utility bills when they are so high and how the lack of weatherized homes in the neighborhood makes it almost impossible to find a place where utility bills are reasonable. Real people know what it’s like to have to make tough choices like whether to pay your utility bill or your rent. David "Saint" Rodriguez, a PUSH member said, “I’m trying to do better for my family, for the neighborhood, but it’s hard when there are no jobs out there that I can support myself on.” Rodriguez continued, “So I am asking everyone here to push with me! Green Jobs and Housing!” We even got the perspective of a landlord, Terry Richards, who would love the opportunity to weatherize her properties so that her tenants aren’t stuck paying huge utility bills. She noted, to applause, that when people’s energy bills are low, they are able to pay their rent on time! There were six elected officials and representatives in attendance at the meeting including: Councilmember David Rivera, State Senator Bill Stachowski, as well as representatives from Sen. Antoine Thompson, Mayor Byron Brown, County Executive Chris Collins, and County Legislator Maria Whyte. All of the officials and their reps except County Executive Collins were able pledge their support for the platform, which means we’re gonna make big changes because we knocked and got some doors open for us! All of the elected officials and reps did agree to meet with us in the future. In case you forgot what we’re demanding, take a look at our platform and remember– for us, going green isn’t just a lifestyle, it’s about survival! PUSH Green Jobs, Green Housing Platform: 1. Public sector leaders and private utility companies should work to ensure that 1000 units are weatherized in 2009, thereby reducing utility costs and carbon emissions. 2. Create a "green jobs fund" to strengthen pathways to employment in the energy efficiency industry. 3. Pass legislation that would dramatically increase neighborhood access to residential retrofits. 4. A commitment to "greening" all local projects supported by Federal stimulus money so that people see development where they live and are able to connect to jobs they need to support their families. People know what they need where they live and what we need are more and better jobs and lower utility bills! P.S. Check out pictures from the meeting on our lovely flickr page

PUSH Lauches 19th St. Refugee & Community Garden

26 May 2009 15:31:53 GMT

On Saturday, May 23rd at 10 AM at 92 19th Street, PUSH Buffalo celebrated the advent of Buffalo’s first and only community garden geared toward refugee families by hosting a ‘Gardener’s Breakfast”. Participating gardeners were on hand to kick-off what PUSH hopes will a be a replicable model of sustainable food production and community building. The 19th Street Refugee & Community Garden grew out of PUSH’s community-developed Healthy Neighborhood Concept Plan, a holistic strategy to combat vacant housing and lots as well as other deteriorating neighborhood conditions. The plan challenges residents to work together to improve their neighborhoods. Twelve families will share raised beds, including eight families who are refugees to Buffalo from Burma and Somalia. The garden will transform a once vacant lot on 19th Street into a vibrant hub of activity. “I am excited about a chance to work in the garden,” said Zaw Win, a West Side Resident. “I look forward to getting to know my neighbors better and growing my own food will help keep some of my costs down.” The Healthy Neighborhood Concept Plan also includes rain gardens, park upgrades, and street art in a calculated mixture of improving neighborhood functionality as well as beautification. The gardeners' breakfast was served by PUSH members and staff and all in attendance were able to see the hard work of the past year come to fruition. In addition to providing fresh, healthy food and the opportunity to meet potential friends, the garden will enable refugees to put down some “roots” in the community where they live, a key aspect of stabilizing neighborhoods.

PUSH Goes to Speak Race and Reconciliation Conference; See Angela Davis!

20 May 2009 17:41:31 GMT

On Tuesday, PUSH members and staff attended Buffalo's 6th Annual Race and Reconciliation Conference. With this year's conference title of,“Poverty and Racism: Providing the Tools Needed to Address Consequences and Implement Solutions," PUSH was in a good position to offer some examples of the anti-poverty work we've been up to in the past year.PUSH members and staff also got a chance to meet renowned activist, author, and professor Angela Davis. PUSH welcomes any and all attempts to address the deadly serious issue of poverty and Buffalo and we look forward to participating in next year's conference.

Americorps & PUSH Tackle West Side Cleanup

18 May 2009 18:54:03 GMT

This past Friday, nearly 50 Americorps servicemembers as well as PUSH members and staff gathered at the MAP garden to participate in an all-day cleanup/work project on PUSH's vacant lots and properties. Fences were stained, lots were mowed, and garden beds were completed as the volunteers worked diligently throughout the day. At two-thirty, everyone gathered together in the parking lot of the Butler-Mitchell Boys and Girls Club to BBQ some well earned food and to eat and hang out with neighborhood residents. PUSH would like to extend a huge thank you to WNY Americorps, MAP, and all the people who made the day possible.

Open Mic!

6 May 2009 20:19:05 GMT

On Thursday, April 16th, PUSH hosted an open mic at the Butler-Mitchell Boys and Girls Club on Massachusetts Avenue. About 20 neighborhood young people showed up and, with backing music from Ismail and Tom, songs were sung, poetry was spoken, and there was even a brief stand-up routine. We would like to extend a big 'thank you' to Amanda and the rest of the staff at the Boys and Girls Club for providing the space and the snacks! PUSH looks forward to the next open mic, Monday May 18th at the Butler-Mitchell Boys and Girls Club and hopes to see you there!

Annual Meeting Eats Sandwich of Power!

20 Apr 2009 21:48:27 GMT

This past weekend over 70 community members turned out to PUSH's annual meeting to elect a new slate of board members and to catch up on some of the details as to how PUSH works and what the organizing team has been up to. We also introduced the "Sandwich of Power." Dreamed up by an over-caffeinated yet highly creative Eric Walker, the sandwich is a metaphorical representation of PUSH's myriad of obligations ranging from the national level to the internal. We used the sandwich to talk about how all of our works fits together, even if the connections may not be apparent on the surface; just like a delicious sandwich! We also talked about our successful Green Jobs, Green Housing Campaign Action on Thursday, several trips to D.C. made by members and staff and also our strategic plan. Big thanks to the PUSH board for all of their hard work in getting ready for the meeting as well as everyone who volunteered. We'll see you again soon!

Green Jobs, Green Housing Campaign Blasts Off!

16 Apr 2009 20:47:39 GMT

This past Thursday community residents gathered together with PUSH to launch our Green Jobs, Green Housing Campaign. Over 50 people gathered outside of soon-to-be-rehabbed by PUSH, 398 Massachusetts ( a future PUSH rehab ) while two PUSH members told their stories of the necessity of green jobs and housing; Maxine Murphy, longtime PUSH boardmember and Roberto Sanchez, PUSH crew member. Afterward, in a bit of street theater 'money' was blown out a second floor window of 398 Mass. to represent the high cost of heating our homes during the long and cold Buffalo winters. We want to let politicians and decisions-makers know that real economic recovery begins with us and that for us, especially when we get our heating bills in the winter, going green isn't a lifestyle it's about survival! Here is the PUSH Green Jobs, Green Housing Platform: GJGH Campaign Platform 1. Public sector leaders and private utility companies should work to ensure that 1000 units are weatherized in 2009, thereby reducing utility costs and carbon emissions. 2. Create a "green jobs fund" to strengthen pathways to employment in the energy efficiency industry. 3. Pass legislation that would dramatically increase neighborhood access to residential retrofits. 4. A commitment to "greening" all local projects supported by Federal stimulus money so that people see development where they live and are able to connect to jobs they need to support their families. We want our utility bills to go down, to see development in our backyards and connect real people to real jobs in our neighborhoods. Remember, real people have real power!

Movement Moves It @ Soundlab!

13 Apr 2009 16:47:15 GMT

This past Saturday night the party was at Soundlab as Buffalonians moved it at the Movement, a traveling dance party benefiting the Partnership for the Public Good , a regional progressive think-tank. We had a huge crowd come out to enjoy the sounds of the evening presented by Buffalo's premier hip-hop and electro artists. Big thanks to Flying Bison for the Rusty Chain as well as Soundlab for the space. A big thank you to everyone who came, performed, donated or did some promo work. It was another big success in the Movement line of dance parties and we will get at you as soon as we have the info on the next one!

We're working the phones for our Campaign Launch!

9 Apr 2009 18:31:02 GMT

As you can see, even Ray Jr. has gotten in on the turnout action. We've been hitting the phones hard this week in order to get the good folks of Buffalo out to a couple events we have coming up: First, our Green Jobs, Green Housing Campaign Launch. It's going to be on April 16th at the corner of Massachusetts and Lawrence Avenue around 2p.m. Second, our ANNUAL MEETING in on Saturday, April 18th at 3p.m. at 271 Grant St. (the old library) We want to see YOU there! If you'd like to help get the word out about these events, please give us a call at our office at 716-884-0356. We'd love to hear from you and more importantly, we want to SEE you!

PUSHing People Power Film Series Rocks

3 Apr 2009 15:49:28 GMT

This past Thursday, we had our monthly film screening in the PUSH office. The film this month was, "This is What Democracy Looks Like," a film shot by over 100 different people as they took to the streets in Seattle to protest the WTO and to attempt to stop its delegates from convening. It's a great film about the power of collective action and we were really happy to play it for a full house! We had a very productive and interesting discussion afterward, facilitated by UB Professors Carl Nightingale and Ruth Goldman who have continuously donated their time, treasure, and expertise to make this film series happen. We'd love to see everyone there next time, May 7th at 5:30p.m. @ 271 Grant St., to see the film "Everything's Cool" - a documentary at the forefront of the Global Warming Fight. Be there!

PUSH and VOICE Team Up to Fight for WIC

29 Mar 2009 18:26:38 GMT

On Friday, March 27th, members of PUSH and VOICE came together for two direct action protests calling on County Executive Collins to reconsider his decision to eliminate WIC, a vital program that provides baby formula and other nutritious foods to pregnant women and infants. The program is fully funded by the Federal government. The elimination or downsizing of WIC would have widespread public health impacts and would undoubtedly increase health-care costs as a result of malnutrition and emergency room visits. PUSH and VOICE visited Collins' office and made our voices heard throughout the Rath Building on Friday. Please check out the Buffalo News article on the protest.

PUSH Rocks NPA 2009!

24 Mar 2009 21:03:53 GMT

This weekend, 9 PUSH members and leaders participated in this year's National People's Action, a gathering of 24 National Training and Information Center affiliated community groups across the country who are dedicated to making change in their neighborhoods just like PUSH! On early Saturday morning we departed from the PUSH office with prayer from Rev. Cruz and some clutch driving from Sara and Harrison. We met tons of great people from groups like Syracuse United Neighbors, Great Old Lower East Side, and the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative and we participated heavily in all of the actions and events which were going on. The way the weekend was structured allowed for very little down time, so we were always in a workshop, traveling to an action, or grabbing a quick bite to eat. From storming the lobby of Wells-Fargo to conducting a legislative briefing on the Community Regeneration Sustainability & Innovation Act, PUSH was right in the middle of it! One our leaders, Ron Andrews, even spoke in front of 600 people at one of the actions and told his story about his own personal struggle to keep his home. Great job Ron! PUSH would like to thank the staff of NTIC & NPA, all of the wonderful people we met and everyone who made the trip possible. We are SO excited to bring the energy, tactics, and information present at NPA back to Buffalo!

Healthy Neighborhood Planning Meeting!

20 Mar 2009 15:49:50 GMT

On March 18th, PUSH staff, members, and neighborhood residents gathered together at the Butler-Mitchell Boys and Girls club at 370 Massachusetts Avenue for a Healthy Neighborhood Planning Meeting. Co-facilitated by architects Kevin Connors and Charlie Gordon, the session dealt with PUSH's plans for the 11 vacant lots we recently purchased. As we did a small group breakout, there was an outpouring of ideas for various uses of the lots. Suggestions included: community gardens, tree farms, sculpture gardens, playgrounds, soccer fields, walkways, and rain gardens. In addition, we asked neighborhood residents to determine what we like about the neighborhood, what we'd like to see change, and what one aspect of the neighborhood would we like to take action on immediately. Each small group voted on the action step they most wanted to take and this information, along with preferences for usage of the vacant lots, will cycle back into the planning process to make sure neighborhood residents get what they want! PUSH firmly believes that community planning is an integral part of any kind of neighborhood development. After all, people know what they need where they live, so they are the ones best suited to decide what the land around them should be used for and what shape some action steps around that land might take. PUSH would like to thank everyone who came out to the event with a special thanks to: Amanda, Kevin, Charlie, Matt, Jesse, Sarah, Will, and the PUSH organizing team and volunteers. Great job folks! We will certainly keep everyone posted on the progress of the planning process as there will be more opportunities for community input.

Americorps and PUSH Clean Up 10 Winter St.!

11 Mar 2009 18:45:57 GMT

On Thursday March 5th, volunteers from the Americorps VISTA program and PUSH Buffalo members and staff gathered together to clean out 10 Winter St., a vacant home that PUSH recently acquired. We started working at 9:30 in the morning and didn't get done until 2 or so even though we had over 15 people (!) as there was an incredible amount of refuse packed into the single family home. PUSH's plans for 10 winter include the possibility of turning it into an Americorps Service House so Americorps could live in the neighborhood where they work although no final plans have been hammered out for the house, other than getting it in into livable shape. Please feel free to check out all the great pictures of the day, courtesy of Andy from Americorps VISTA! We'd like to thank everyone who came out and helped, especially the VISTA members. We couldn't have done it without you!

PUSH Member Speaks out for Fair Share Tax Reform

6 Mar 2009 15:56:54 GMT

On Thursday March 5th, a crew of PUSH members and staff went to support Fair Share Tax Reform at a rally at True Bethel Baptist Church. There were a ton of folks there from a broad spectrum of community organizations as well as some politicos. Among the several people who spoke was PUSH Board Co-Chair Jen Mecozzi. Jen spoke about the difficulties of balancing taking care of her two children while working as a line cook for ten dollars an hour and how that difficulty would be compounded under the current budget proposal from Governor Paterson. Jen then brought it home and made a strong appeal for Fair Share Tax Reform, where those can just pay a little more in order to make sure we have our basic needs met. Check out the Buffalo News Story on the Fair Share Rally! Support Fair Share Tax Reform!

Rally for Fair Share Tax Reform!

2 Mar 2009 18:21:07 GMT

This Thursday March 5th, join PUSH and other community groups as we gather together at True Bethel Church at 4p.m. to speak out against the dangerous budget proposals on the table right now in Albany as devastating budget cuts threaten our jobs, communities and our families! PUSH believes that everyone deserves a decent place to live and a job they can pay their bills on. Do you? Please check out the Fair Share Reform website for more detailed information!

New T-Shirts!

26 Feb 2009 17:48:12 GMT

PUSH is rocking new tees with our new logo. At only $10, they're a steal, so come by the office and get 'em while they last! We have 2XL, XL, L, M, S, and Youth L. Something for everyone!

PUSH Rocks Boston!

23 Feb 2009 22:00:23 GMT

Last week PUSH staffers Aaron and Harrison traveled to Boston with several other Buffalo based organizations to visit other community organizers and community development corporations as part of a 'best practices' trip sponsored by the Community Health Foundation. We met with and spoke to a number of groups including: Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation, the Dudley St. Neighborhood Initiative, City Life/Vida Urbana, and Lawrence Community Works . PUSH would like to thank everyone we met with for their time and hospitality! We learned a lot, spoke with some incredibly bright and dedicated people and hope to put some of what we learned to good use in the very near future.

CEJ Brings UE Chicago Workers to Buffalo!

13 Feb 2009 18:43:05 GMT

This past Thursday, the Coalition for Economic Justice, our local Jobs with Justice affiliate brought Ron Bender, a UE worker, and Abe Mwaura, a UE staffer who were involved in the UE occupation-strike at Chicago's Republic Windows to speak about their experiences during the occupation. The event was a huge success as many people crowded into Lafayette Presbyterian Church to hear their story and participate in a discussion. PUSH was excited to be there and witness the power of regular hardworking people coming together. Real People, Real Power! Below is a brief outline of what occurred in Chicago at the height of the holiday season. (Photo Credit: Huff Post) From UE "In December 2008, 260 UE workers at Chicago's Republic Windows occupied their plant for six days, a sit-in strike launched in response to the closing of their plant with only 3 days notice. Jobs with Justice coalitions along with other community, faith and labor activists from across the country mobilized in support of these workers, helping them win a settlement from bailout beneficiary Bank of America and Republic owners including severance pay and compensation for unpaid earnings. Continued action of these unionized workers led to a plan to reopen the plant with new ownership, California-based Serious Windows. As the economic crisis deepens, millions of people face jobs loss and foreclosures. Jobs with Justice and other groups are celebrating the successful resistance at Republic and launching the broader campaign for an economic recovery that puts Main Street before Wall Street, restores workers’ right to organize, ensures health care for all, creates good green jobs and holds bailed out banks accountable to the people."

LittleSis.Org

10 Feb 2009 15:43:17 GMT

We're all about building power here at PUSH, that's no secret. People power, neighborhood power- we want to make sure we can move decision-makers if we have to. Sometimes asking politely just does not get the job done. That's why we'd like to a give a shout-out to our friends Kevin and Matthew who have constructed an amazing website called LittleSis. LittleSis functions as "an involuntary facebook for powerful people." It documents the various manifestations of their relationships including political giving and lobbying. Here are Kevin and Matthew on why LittleSis exists: "It's easier than ever to spot the symptoms of corruption and cronyism in our political process. Ordinary Americans have never felt more shut out from all levels of government, more excluded from economic gains, and more powerless to remedy the problems facing their communities and the world. Meanwhile, the powerful networks of individuals who've enjoyed unprecedented influence, wealth, and access while steering our country towards its present crisis continue to elude responsibility in the public spotlight. We all know that the need for fundamental change is urgent. Americans everywhere are pushing back against a broken system that bankrupts and disempowers them. But to effectively push back, we have to study and document the social networks that have our democracy in a stranglehold. We have to expose the individuals and institutions that abuse their power to enrich themselves and their cronies. And we have to make common cause and share this information freely. LittleSis is an invitation for fed up citizens to do just that. " So, please, go check out LittleSis!

PPG Announces Community Agenda

6 Feb 2009 17:43:48 GMT

Today, the Partnership for the Public Good (a coalition of Buffalo-based progressive organizations and a regional 'think and do' tank) announced its 2009 Community Agenda at a press event at the Merriweather Library on the East Side of Buffalo. There were many PUSH allies in attendance including the Coalition for Economic Justice as well as the Homeless Alliance of Western NY as well as various county and city legislators. The agenda of the press event including outlining the main themes of the 2009 Agenda which were: People, Place, and Governance. With goals like restoring progressivity and fairness in income taxes and encouraging 'block by block' revitalization,' PUSH believes in the strong necessity of PPG's Community Agenda. We were glad to see several legislators commit to the Agenda and PUSH is eager to follow up with those commitments to make sure real concrete change happens in our neighborhoods. Stay tuned and we'll keep you posted as progress is made on the shirts.

5 Year Strategic Plan Presented at PUSH Member Meeting

4 Feb 2009 19:00:44 GMT

This past Saturday, the PUSH Board of Directors presented our 5 year strategic plan, outlining what we want the West Side of Buffalo to look like in the near future. First, PUSH members, staff, and volunteers participated in a city-planning game organized by board member Jesse Meeder where they were challenged with designing the most efficient city possible. Members then visited 'booths' constructed by the PUSH Board to represent different aspects of the strategic plan such as fundraising, communications, vision, and housing development. During each presentation, members were asked to give feedback and suggestions on how to improve the various aspects of the 5 year plan. Each booth also had great visuals along with written information and sign-up sheets for any enterprising member or volunteer who desired to help out. We would really like to recognize the Board for all the outstanding work they did in putting the Strategic Plan together and breaking it down and making it accessible and fun.

PUSH is Fighting to Help 'Save the American Dream'!

2 Feb 2009 22:32:06 GMT

You all might have heard that there's a financial crisis going on in the country: millions of unemployed, millions in foreclosure, billions being spent left and right to keep the economy afloat. Sounds terrible, right? Unfortunately, Wall St. didn't get the memo. The big investment banks that got the country in this mess are using bailout money to give away BILLIONS IN BONUSES to corporate fat cats! This week we found out $18.4 billion is going to be handed out . Well, when we heard about that we were mad as all get out—That's OUR money! To make sure that we let banks and the treasury department know we're mad as hell, our friends at the National level, the National Training and Information Center (NTIC) , started the Save the American Dream campaign (StAD). So, what's the campaign about? - Addressing the foreclosure crisis: suspend all foreclosures until bailout money can be directed to homeowners for help, not to CEOs for big paychecks! - CRA 2.0: expanding the Community Reinvestment Act to address housing and lending discrimination. You might remember PUSH joined NTIC and groups across the country last year to get Big Bank execs to donate their bonuses to help keep families facing foreclosure in their homes. And with hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money on the line, we want to make sure that not a drop goes to pay the jerks who got us in this mess in the first place! Right now we're doing research on who the biggest bad guys are here in Buffalo. When we find out, we'll have to let them know that we want them to fly right or get kicked off the plane! If you want to know more about the campaign and how you can help, give us a call! (Photo credit to NTIC)

PUSH has a Flickr Site!

26 Jan 2009 21:02:45 GMT

Howdy folks, Quick update: PUSH has its very own Flickr Site! This is eventually going to be the one-stop-shop for all PUSH pictures. Please bear with us as our Flickr site fills up. There is a monthly limit on the amount of pictures we are able to put up, so it may take a few months before we get the entirety of PUSH's picture library up there. Check out what we have so far!

ReUse and PUSH Team Up on MLK Day!

21 Jan 2009 15:44:27 GMT

On a very cold and blustery MLK Day over 40 volunteers descended on Buffalo's West Side to help Buffalo ReUse and PUSH board up 6 homes that PUSH has recently acquired. The ReUse team arrived early; setting up a board-cutting station and more importantly, a hot chocolate station. To board up the homes we used amazing peace murals painted by children from all 32 Buffalo Public Schools for a project coordinated by Buffalo ReUse. The 6 properties are now safely boarded up and are much improved by the fantastic murals now present on the windows and doors. Check out Caesandra from Buffalo ReUse and Harrison from PUSH in this great video from WNYmedia! (and a big thank you to Caesandra for the lovely pics on our site!)

PUSHing People Power! a monthly film series by PUSH Buffalo

8 Jan 2009 23:11:29 GMT

If you got yourself a case of cabin fever and need to get out of the house well, you're in luck because PUSH's monthly film series is up and running. It kicks off next week with a film about Martin Sostre, a homegrown Buffalonian activist and it's called "Frame Up: The Imprisonment of Martin Sostre." The showing is going down on Thursday, January 15th at 5:30p.m. right here at 271 Grant St. After next week, the films will be shown exclusively on the first Thursday of every month. There will be food, beverages,a discussion afterward, and best of all, everything is free! So come on up to the PUSH office next Thursday to check out a great film and hang out in some great company. Here is the complete list of films we will be showing: February 5th Passin' It On March 5th Eyes on the Prize April 2nd This is What Democracy Looks Like May 7th Everything's Cool June 4th Mapantsula July 2nd Salt of the Earth August 6th Harlan County USA September 3rd Hip Hop Beyond the Beats and Rhyme October 1st Black and Gold November 5th Bringing Down a Dictator December 3rd Palante, Siempre Palante

Looking Back on 2008: A PUSH Retrospective

5 Jan 2009 15:55:29 GMT

We know it because we did it, PUSH had an incredible year in 2008. As 2009 leaps out of the starting gate, we'd like to take a minute to step back and admire our handiwork over the past 12 months. Some of the highlights include: 7. On January twelfth the culmination of PUSH's yearlong "MBBA" Campaign resulted in a new state-wide 'block by block' initiative for Buffalo. Currently, over 2 million dollars has been awarded to the fund. 6. On February 7th, PUSH members assembled at Waterfront Elementary School to take part in the public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant program. We took over the meeting as city officials were clearly not expecting the level of public involvement we brought to the table. Props to the PUSH Players for putting on an excellent skit. 5. Citizen Citations! On March 6th, we kicked off our Citizen Citation Initiative where PUSH folks and community members posted 'Housing Violation' tickets on city-owned abandoned properties all across the West Side. 4. Perfectly in time with the beginning of Spring, PUSH unveiled our second rehab, 129 Chenango. With its cathedral ceiling, bamboo floors, and below market rate rent, 129 Chenango is a preeminent example of how to build decent and affordable housing on Buffalo's West Side. 3. In the beginning of May, Buffalo's alternative newsweekly Artvoice came out with an excellent piece of investigative journalism on City Hall's gross misappropriation of HUD money. This article helped echo our call for the necessity of our Anti-Poverty Platform. 2. PUSH's second NYC Party, 'Bringing Buffalo Back' was a huge success! Over 350 Buffalonian expats, lovers, and transplants attended. With food from places like La Nova and McFadden's, music from the Honorable DJ Capps, DJ Lopro, and Rabbi Darkside, as well as beverages from Flying Bison & Labatts, party-goers had a spectacular time. We're all eagerly anticipating the next one! 1. And then, on October 8th, we won our biggest victory to date: MAYOR BROWN COMMITS TO PUSH ANTI-POVERTY PLATFORM. 500 rehabs over 5 years plus 50% local hiring & 90 day check-ins with the Mayor's office. The culmination of PUSH's yearlong Jobs and Housing Campaign proved that real people have real power and that we know what we need where we live. As this is only a sample-sized bite of the many things we've been up to in the past year what we can accomplish in 2009 is only limited by the scope of our imaginations and our willingness to do the work and get our hands dirty. Whether it's making phone calls, knocking on doors, or just showing up to a mailing. PUSH needs YOU for 2009 if we're going to win our Green Jobs, Green Housing Campaign. We're looking forward to seeing YOU in 2009. -PUSH Buffalo

PUSH Goes to D.C. to Realize the Promise

5 Dec 2008 20:02:15 GMT

This past Thursday, 10 PUSH members traveled to the Hilton Hotel in our nation's capital to participate in Center for Community Change and the Gamaliel Foundation's "Realizing the Promise" community forum with over 2,000 community organizers and leaders. With a focus on healthcare and immigration reform, the voice of the people was heard loud and clear as a palpable energy soared across the hotel ballroom. Meant as a follow-up to the Community Values forum held in Iowa during the heart of the campaign season, "Realizing the Promise" was aimed to hold the new President-Elect Obama accountable for promises made to hardworking families across the nation. Notable speakers included, heads of various community organizations nationwide, several congresspersons as well as Melody Barnes and Valerie Jarrett, members of the Obama-Biden transition team. PUSH was excited to take part in such a powerful national event and looks forward to working with local, state, and federal partners to make real concrete changes in the lives of hardworking people.

Free Screening of PUSH Documentary!

24 Nov 2008 17:40:21 GMT

PUSH has its very own documentary courtesy of Ruth Goldman and Squeaky Wheel! From Squeaky Wheel's press release: "PUSHing People Power: Rebuilding Buffalo's West Side by Ruth Goldman is a story about ordinary citizens working together to create and sustain an urban community that values equitable housing, jobs and lifestyles." What: PUSHing People Power When: Sunday, November 30th, 3 pm Where: Market Arcade Film & Arts Center , 639 Main Street Cost: FREE! Did we mention that it's free? Come on down!

What does a former organizer in the Whitehouse mean to PUSH?

17 Nov 2008 18:11:15 GMT

PUSH members and staff gathered together this Saturday to reflect on the outcome of the Presidential election and brainstorm what it means to have a former community organizer in the Whitehouse. Different ideas and opinions were bounced around, but the consensus was that the work of improving our neighborhoods doesn't stop now; if anything it only intensifies. If we have a window of opportunity, we have to make sure that window stays wide open so we keep seeing real concrete improvements in people's lives! Speaking of windows, we are starting to rev up our Green Jobs, Green Housing Campaign, so keep on the lookout for future updates! We want to make sure the idea of sustainability includes and benefits our neighborhoods from the onset and not leaving them behind in a cloud of green dust. Remember: People know what they need where they live!

PUSH Plants with Re-Tree WNY!

10 Nov 2008 20:49:08 GMT

This past Saturday 15 or so PUSH members joined a coalition of the willing on Buffalo's West Side as part of a city-wide effort to plant over 1,000 new trees. The effort was organized by Re-Tree Western New York and various groups including PUSH, provided the people power. Thanks to the amount of people that showed up, we were able to plant 140 trees, about 30 more than folks thought we'd be able to. Big ups to everyone who came out and got their hands dirty!

PUSH Starts Cleanup of 397 & 398 Massachusetts

6 Nov 2008 15:45:52 GMT

Last week, PUSH began cleaning out its two newly acquired properties, 397 and 398 Massachusetts. There was a lot to do especially as 398 Mass. hadn't been used in over 30 years. It was at one time a wallpaper store and many of its supplies still faithfully lined the shelves of the store. With PUSH staffers and volunteers working hard, we got most of what we needed cleared out. Notable finds included an appointment book from the 1930s, various old political lawn signs and peculiar novels with fun titles, including, "The Microbe Hunters." There was also a sewing machine, chairs, and a 15 foot white pine bar. In other words, a lot of stuff! PUSH is thrilled to take the first step in the rehabilitation process of these two important properties on the West Side. House by house, with hard work by real people, we're making PUSH's presence felt. This is what change actually is- real concrete improvements in people's lives!

Help With PUSH's Community Garden!

28 Oct 2008 20:25:41 GMT

On Saturday, November 8th at 10a.m. we'll be hosting a volunteer day at the site of our soon to be community garden at 92 19th St. Please come ready to get your hands dirty as we want to transform this vacant lot into a functional, beautiful community garden. We'll have some coffee and morning type snacks there to ward off the chills. We're also going to be planting 5 Trees as part of ReTree WNY! We really need some folks to help, 15 of your of you to be precise. So please let us know by emailing us,harrison@pushbuffalo.org, or giving us a call at 716-884-0356 if you plan on attending!

PUSH Rallies & Celebrates; Kicks Off Green Jobs, Green Housing Campaign!

14 Oct 2008 16:52:21 GMT

This past Wednesday, October 8th, PUSH held a rally at Lafayette Square in downtown Buffalo to celebrate our victory as well as kick off our newest endeavor; our Green Jobs, Green Housing campaign. This was fresh off the heels of our press conference with Mayor Brown during which he announced his commitment to our Anti-Poverty Platform, a victory that was a year in the making. The 200 people who showed up on that rain-soaked Wednesday wanted to remind Wall Street and our political leaders that this economy isn't working for regular people and that it's time corporate fat cats stopped getting a free ride on the backs of hardworking families. We made the call loud and clear for REAL investment in REAL PEOPLE and that to us, green jobs and housing means things like better insulation of our homes, more efficient furnaces and the ability to get local jobs to local people so they do not have to drive an hour to work every morning. To see for yourself, check out the Artvoice Video documenting the rally . A special thanks to David Torke & Victoria Ciostek for the great pictures. We encourage everyone who came to the Rally to come celebrate our campaign victory with us at our monthly member meeting which is this Saturday, October 18th at 3p.m. at 271 Grant St. Hope to see you there!

VICTORY!: Mayor Brown commits to PUSH's Anti-Poverty Platform!

14 Oct 2008 15:32:38 GMT

The morning of October 8th, our year of hard work finally paid off in a big way when Mayor Byron Brown committed to our Anti-Poverty Platform! Specifically, he committed to 500 rehabs of city-owned abandoned properties in 5 years and to 50% local hiring for those jobs the rehab and demolition work will create! In addition, Mayor Brown donated 397 * 398 Massachusetts for us to rehabilitate. Check out the Buffalo News coverage of the press conference. Also, please check out video footage of the press conference video footage of the press conference courtesy of WNYmedia. This victory belongs to every PUSH member, staff, volunteer and the regular people in the City of Buffalo. This is a living breathing example of how regular people are the policymakers that we need and how real people, have real power.

Green Jobs, Green Housing!

5 Sep 2008 23:39:01 GMT

Green is the color that makes the world go round. We've heard that saying for years. Now, we have a chance to make the Green Economy work for everyone - especially for hard working across cities like Buffalo. We all know what it's like to pay to heat our homes in the Buffalo winter; it's outrageous! No one should still be paying off last winter's gas bill this year. We know we need good jobs for real people here and the not everybody should need a Phd to get one! On September 3rd, our lead organizer, Eric went out to Albany to facilitate a conversation with other groups psyched about how the fund could have a serious economic, health, and environmental impact for working class neighborhoods. The Fund could create 30,000 jobs over the next five years that won't disappear! Groups from around the state came together to talk about how to shape the Green Revolution to met OUR needs: creating jobs that pay livable wages, making the homes we live in more energy efficient so we don't pay through the nose for the high price of utilities, making the places we live in safer and healthier, and helping reduce the impact of global warming on the planet. How can we do all that? The Center for Working Families has a proposal to green New York's housing in the next 5 years. With a Residential Retrofit Fund, the goal is to make 1 million homes in the state more energy efficient and train a workforce at home to do the work. Sound a little like the PUSH Housing Platform? We've been working directly with the policy folks at the Center to write in how the fund would benefit REAL PEOPLE. There's a lot of talk about green jobs these days, but not a lot of talk about making sure there's opportunity for the folks who need them most. We work for you. We listen. PUSH hears you loud and clear and we're gonna make some noise!

PUSH's Citizen Citations are Working!

4 Sep 2008 19:56:42 GMT

During a check-in this morning on all of our "violation" signs that we had posted a few months back, we discovered something amazing- Fifteen of the cited, City-owned abandoned properties had been demolished and 13 of those properties had orange "violation" signs on them, marking them as properties we determined to be beyond repair. Now, we here at PUSH do not condone demolition as a standalone strategy (because it won't work) but it is an integral piece of our Anti-Poverty Platform;, to get the City to knock down the worst of the worst, 20 on the West Side, 100 City-wide. With the pressure we've put on with the violation signs, it looks like folks down at City Hall that people know what they need where they live and that to ignore OUR solutions is disrespect!

PUSH Doesn't Do It Alone

27 Aug 2008 20:32:46 GMT

Thankfully, no non-profit is an island and here at PUSH, we're surrounded by dynamic and exciting organizations who share our commitment to social justice. Below is a list and some links to the organizations we do coalition work with: Partnership for the Public Good The PPG is a regional think-and-do tank. It produces high-quality research on economic justice and sustainable development issues affecting Western New York. PPG believes that Buffalo's future lies in developing its people, reforming institutions to make them more responsive to everyday Buffalonians and building on our beautiful assets, such as our historic neighborhoods and waterfront. National Training and Information Center The NTIC is a national coalition doing anti-poverty organizing in cities across the country. NTIC sponsors the annual National Peoples Action in Washington D.C. The Empire State Housing Alliance is a coalition of New York housing groups advocating for a Housing Trust Fund that would help to rebuild our neighborhoods. Center for Community Change The CCC is our technical assistance provider and a national network of anti-poverty and economic justice groups. VOICE Buffalo/THRUWAY ALLIANCE The New York Thruway Alliance (NYTA) is an alliance of four congregation-based organizations throughout the upstate region. Member organizations are based in Albany (ARISE), Syracuse (ACTS), Buffalo (Voice-Buffalo) and Niagara County (NOAH), and are dedicated to a broad upstate revitalization agenda, especially reviving impoverished neighborhoods in struggling upstate metro regions. BUFFALO APOLLO ALLIANCE The Buffalo Apollo Alliance is a coalition of business, labor, environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution that benefits all of Buffalo and Erie County. GREEN JOBS, GREEN HOMES NY The Green Jobs/Green Homes NY campaign is creating New York State policy to combat climate change, save people on energy costs, make housing more affordable and shape a “green economy” with jobs for those who most need them. Our platform calls for an ambitious state program to perform energy efficiency retrofits on one million homes in five years – leading the way for other states.

Wake Up and Smell It Buffalo, Community Control of Resources!

30 Jul 2008 20:28:33 GMT

On Tuesday, July 29th, the Common Council’s Community Development Committee hosted a public hearing for residents could express their thoughts on how best to spend what may very well be the last round of Restore New York funds from the state - a pot that could total $50 million for Buffalo. (Check out the Buffalo News article on the hearing as well as the Artvoice article) The house was packed and the demands from the public at the hearing were nearly unanimous: that people want community control of resources and a more thoughtful, strategic, and committed way of dealing with Buffalo's abandoned housing crisis. Hopefully this will serve as the wake-up call the administration needs and we'll soon see strategic rehabilitation & demolition, local hiring, and weatherization assistance in our neighborhoods soon. In other words, real economic development. PUSH would like to acknowledge some of our major partners in the housing struggle, LISC, the foundation community, and other city-wide groups who have worked with us, but most importantly, we want to acknowledge the people who live in the neighborhoods of Buffalo because without them, none of this would be happening. A year's worth of work is beginning to pay off as people realize they have a seat at the table. Keep it up folks, it's working!

Bringing Buffalo Back a Huge Success!

29 Jul 2008 19:20:38 GMT

This past Saturday, PUSH Buffalo once again returned to Manhattan's Times Square for the second annual celebration of Buffalo culture in NYC. This year's event drew together Buffalo lovers for a night of the Queen City's finest food and drink. Over 350 Buffalo lovers attended, shattering the attendance record from last year and leaving us with great expectations for NYC in 2009. With food from places like La Nova and McFadden's, music from the Honorable DJ Capps, DJ Lopro, and Rabbi Darkside, as well as beverages from Flying Bison & Labatts, party-goers were guaranteed a good time. PUSH would like to thank everyone who came and helped out, especially Lesley Horowitz of the Office of Language and Beauty, Matt Kabel of the NYC Buffalo Bills Backers, and Roy Manno of Franz-Manno Insurance Corp. for their tireless and invaluable assistance. Please check out pictures of the party, courtesy of Lesley, if you missed all the action! We hope to see everyone again next year!

SECOND ANNUAL PUSH BUFFALO PARTY IN NYC!

15 Jun 2008 18:22:09 GMT

"BRINGING BUFFALO BACK" PUSH'S Second Annual Party in NYC to Benefit Buffalo's Neighborhoods Join us tonight as PUSH Buffalo returns to Manhattan's Times Square on Saturday July 26th for the second annual celebration of Buffalo culture in NYC. This year's event will draw together Buffalo lovers for a night of the Queen City's finest food and drink. Tickets are no longer available online. We will be selling tickets at the door. We hope to see you soon! SATURDAY, JULY 26TH AT 8 PM 330 W. 42ND STREET DJ LOPRO AND FRIENDS, THE HONORABLE DJ CAPS & RABBI DARKSIDE TICKETS $25 We hope to see you in July!

We Can't, Won't and Don't Stop: PUSH's Jobs and Housing Campaign Rolls Along

7 Jul 2008 18:01:15 GMT

Our campaign is picking up some serious steam in the summer months! As all of you know, people know what they need where they live, and what the people have been saying is that Byron Brown's 5 in 5 plan isn't enough. We need a comprehensive approach; we need our Anti-Poverty Platform adopted. Even folks like Catherine Schweitzer of the Baird Foundation are getting in the on the mix as she recently stated, "There's no plan," in referring to the city. “Their strategy is a demolition-only strategy. There’s no sense of what should be saved.” PUSH's own E.D. Aaron, noting how Brown has repeatedly refused to meet with PUSH, stated the Mayor's administration suffers from "clinical paranoia" as far as dealing with groups like PUSH who are the vanguard of the fight against the housing crisis. Check out these two Buffalo News Articles and video which showcase Buffalo's abandoned housing crisis and point out the flaws in Byron's 5 in 5 plan: Neglected homes and vacant lots leave Buffalo residents angry and Buffalo wants to tear down its abandoned homes Also, check out this video called Tear them down, an additional spot courtesy of the Buffalo News. PUSH would like to extend special thanks to the residents of Pooley Place and our organizer Alayna for fighting tooth and nail to bring these issues to the attention of the City and the media. As we bring our campaign into the summer months and step on the gas pedal and rev the engine, PUSH just wants to remind you that real people have real power and that when anyone says they care about our city and means it, they put people first. So let's keep on, keepin' on and get our Anti-Poverty Platform adopted in City Hall because our neighborhoods won't wait!

PUSH Staffer Facilitates Immigrant and Refugee Forum

25 Jun 2008 19:55:07 GMT

The Partnership for the Public Good recently hosted a forum on Immigrant and Refugee integration in Western New York. PUSH Organizer Eric Walker moderated a panel consisting of: Michael Carr of Erie County Department of Social Services, Pam Kefi of the International Institute of Buffalo, Patricia Rector of the Central NY Labor-Religion Coalition, Rick Su of UB Law School, and Myo Thant of the Burmese Community Association. The panel discussed various issues pertaining to the immigrant and refugee community including labor, the upstate economy, and how to get such new communities rooted in the WNY region. PUSH is glad to be part of the community discussion as to how best serve and incorporate Western New York's newest arrivals.

PUSH Featured in

18 Jun 2008 16:40:51 GMT

PUSH was recently featured in an Inside USA production, 'Buffalo Blues,' which contains an examination of the troubled Buffalo economy despite claims by Mayor Brown that Buffalo is in the midst of a "boom." PUSH staffers Aaron Bartley and Kristin Rose both appear in the video. PUSH ally and friend, The Coalition for Economic Justice, is also featured extensively in the video. ---------------------------------------- Please check it out and let us know what you think!

PUSH to City: Our Neighborhoods Won't Wait!

11 Jun 2008 15:21:06 GMT

This past Tuesday, 50 PUSH members and supporters gathered at 288 Hudson, a City-owned abandoned property, to let the Mayor and City of Buffalo know that Buffalo's turnaround starts with its people. With our anti-poverty platform front and center, we said loud and clear that when we care about our city we put people first and to ignore our solutions is disrespect. The action highlighted the plight of Amanda Mulrain and Steven Connors, two local residents who have been attempting to purchase the property at 288 Hudson over the course of two months and have been continuously frustrated by the lack of cooperation from the City. At the action, Amanda and Steven were able to tell their story against a spectacular visual of PUSH members holding green rehab "violation" signs in a wall in front of 288 Hudson. PUSH member Jennifer Mecozzi also spoke, letting the City know the planks of our platform and reminding the city in light of the revelations of its mismanagement of HUD money, "taking money meant for low income neighborhoods and putting it into luxury housing is basically stealing from us." A recent Atrvoice article revealed $6 Million of CDBG funds meant for struggling communities went right into downtown loft construction. In addition, the PUSH Players performed a skit titled "CitizenStat" in an effort to highlight the Mayor's infatuation with big ticket pie in the sky development over direct neighborhood investment. Our jobs and housing campaign is focused on turning city owned abandoned property into decent housing and jobs for the neighborhood. $4.5 Billion of phony downtown development and the Mayor's misleading math doesn't help people struggling to make ends meet. PUSH would like to thank everyone who came out in support of the action and wants to let the City know that REAL PEOPLE have REAL POWER.

PUSH Packs the House

27 May 2008 3:04:03 GMT

PUSH held one of its largest member meetings ever last Saturday. Longstanding PUSH activists were joined by other residents attending their first meeting. Excitement about the "violation" campaign, which features hundreds of highly visible orange and green "tickets" on derelict city-owned property, probably explains the big turnout. PUSH members made plans for a direct action (details forthcoming) on June 10th and did a comprehensive power analysis of City Hall, with the help of our expert trainer Tammy Greaton from the Center for Community Change.

PUSH Welcomes New Board Members

22 May 2008 19:05:54 GMT

This past Wednesday evening, PUSH welcomed six new board members into the mix: Paul, Jennifer, Evan, Tamara, Jesse, and Mohammed. PUSH is pumped to have six more talented community members on board and looks forward to their integral participation in PUSH's mission on Buffalo's West Side.

PUSH joins forces with the New York State Thruway Alliance

20 May 2008 16:21:13 GMT

Early this morning, 5 PUSH members left for Albany with VOICE Buffalo and NOAH Niagara. Once in Albany, PUSH, VOICE, and NOAH, will be meeting up with the rest of the New York State Thruway Alliance. One highlight of the conferences is the Legislative Breakfast scheduled for Wednesday morning. At the breakfast, NYTA members will present to Assemblymembers on unemployment, health care, and our youth. The NYTA mission is to create a citizen-led movement for renewing the economic prospects of Upstate New York. Founding member groups are ARISE – Albany, ACTS –Syracuse, INTERFAITH ACTION – Rochester, VOICE Buffalo, and NOAH Niagara. In 2007, the NYTA conducted a listening campaign in the spring, an issues assembly in the summer, and public actions on a joint issue campaign in the fall. Tremendous energy and high hopes have attended this unprecedented effort to link the power of congregations and community groups across upstate for a long-term effort to revitalize our economy.

Artvoice Exposes Buffalo's Gross Misuse of HUD Money

9 May 2008 16:49:23 GMT

This past Thursday, Buffalo's very own alt-newsweekly Artvoice came out with an expose on the City's gross misappropriation of HUD dollars. Link to the original. (illustration on the right by Emil Novak, Artvoice) The article makes the case that the City has laundered funds to pay the salaries of city employees, paid for expensive developments and apartment complexes, and generally spent the funds in a "scatter-shot" manner with incredibly little development designed to benefit low-income people. Flying in the face of one of LBJ's "War Against Poverty" programs, Buffalo has steadfastly refused to allocate its HUD money in a responsible and just way. Perhaps not surprisingly, the City has not only ignored the ostensible purpose of Community Development Block Grants, it has also refused to understand that we know what we need where we live. The article makes it clear that public input on the City's use of HUD funds is completely ignored. Even as PUSH crashed the CDBG public hearing on Feb. 7th with 25 or so members, the City continued to ignore our calls for specific, achievable, and numeric goals for rehabilitation, weatherization, demolition, and deconstruction. Buffalo needs to recognize that people are policy-makers and implement our suggestions and solutions. This just goes to show the how critical the need is for PUSH's Anti-Poverty Platform to be adopted by City officials as it provides specific, achievable goals and is designed to aid Buffalo's population of low-income people.

Water is a Right!

30 Apr 2008 14:40:09 GMT

Tuesday afternoon at 4pm, 9 PUSH members and staff headed down to City Hall to attend a public hearing on the contract renewal of American Water Systems. PUSH was determined to make it clear that the people of Buffalo have the right to water at reasonable rates without predatory fees. We wanted to let the Buffalo Water Board know we will no longer stand for punitive rates and loopholes which allow American Water Systems to profit on the backs of some of the poorest people in the country. PUSH calls on Buffalo's Common Council to not renew the American Water Systems contract for another two years, to put pressure on the Water Board to reform their rules and regulations so homeowners are not buried by excessive fees, and to investigate the feasibility of a fully public water utility.

Buffalo News Features Dolores Powell: PUSH Member

28 Apr 2008 22:27:00 GMT

It's always nice to see a PUSH member getting it done. Big ups to Dolores! Straight from the Buff News (the original is here): West Side mother is a one-woman restoration movement Lauded for restoring house, aiding area By Deidre Williams, Photo by Charles Lewis/Buffalo News Updated: 04/28/08 9:44 AM Delores Powell had wanted to purchase the run-down, vacant house next to her Massachusetts Avenue home, but it’s so far gone that it has to be demolished. Across the street, a mammoth hole remains where a dilapidated, abandoned house once stood. Next to that sits a big, beat-up, worn-out old home with the windows busted out. Once grand and dignified, it hasn’t been lived in or taken care of for years. This is not the environment the single mother envisioned for her family when she moved to the West Side neighborhood four years ago. When Powell, a Jamaican immigrant, purchased the house — her first — she didn’t know it was barely habitable and in such disrepair. Despite the setbacks and complications, Powell — who first visited Buffalo in 2002 — has worked hard to call this community and this house home for herself and her four children, who live at home and attend Buffalo Public Schools. “I knew I would move here. I knew I wanted to make this city home,” said Powell, who often works double shifts as a certified nurse’s assistant at a local nursing home. Before the family could move in, though, Powell had to remove graffiti, build scaffolding and paint the exterior and interior. Then she had to put up drywall, bust out walls and refinish all the interior woodwork. “She literally learned trade skills, and that’s pretty rare,” said Aaron Bartley, director of PUSH — People United for Sustainable Housing — a grass-roots group working to rebuild the West Side. Whatever extra money she had, she used to renovate the house. No government money. No loans. No grants. Just sweat equity. Still, the problems just kept coming. Raw sewage backed up in her basement four times. The family went through two winters huddled in one room with a propane heater. “She’s the perfect example of a single mother doing everything right,” said County Legislator Maria Whyte, who honored Powell last month in a Legislature session recognizing Women’s History Month. “She’s working her tail off, doing double shifts and just trying to get the pieces together so her kids can have a better life than she did,” Whyte said. The properties around her are struggling, too. Neglected vacant lots provide unsafe playing conditions for children, harbor illegal activities, attract garbage and lower the values of nearby homes, critics say. The house next to Powell’s and another across the street are on PUSH’s list of the 20 worst West Side homes in terms of the level of deterioration and danger, Bartley said. “She’s surrounded by neglect. She’s surrounded by issues of abandonment and vacant property,” he added. So are other residents of Massachusetts Avenue, some of whom are working with the West Side Community Collaborative. The coalition of neighborhood organizations has been trying to rid the streets of crime and slumlords since it was formed in December 2000, by using a strategy that includes alert police work, tough court actions and grass-roots efforts to board up abandoned houses and paint occupied homes. Money is also needed to fund the efforts. The state created a $3 million residential rehabilitation program, called Block by Block, in which nonprofits and city government can apply for the competitive grant, said Richard Tobe, the city’s development, permits and inspections chief. The money can be used for rehabilitation work costing as much as $45,000 per unit, none of it for demolitions. The city already has applied, and so have some nonprofits, Tobe said, adding he does not know when the entities will hear back on a decision. Powell, meanwhile, finds time to beautify the neighborhood by mowing not only her lawn but also the lawns of vacant properties. She plants flowers, constantly removes graffiti and cleans up litter. dswilliams@buffnews.com

PUSH Annual Meeting!

21 Apr 2008 20:34:09 GMT

PUSH rocked its second annual meeting this past Saturday @ 271 Grant St. With 75 people in attendance, food, great music courtesy of Ismail and Tom, and of course, PUSH members, the meeting-turned-party was a huge success. PUSH would like to thank everyone who came, cooked, cleaned and otherwise helped out. We couldn't have done it without you. During the course of the meeting, PUSH's accomplishments for 2007 were reviewed. We have them for you right here: -Launching our Anti-Poverty Housing Campaign -Helping to Create the "Block by Block Program & acquiring 3 million dollars for the city -Helping to launch the new advocacy and policy initiative, Partnership for the Public Good -Completing the 129 Chenango St. Project -Training our members and leaders, including sending them to Iowa to attend a presidential forum -Completing our new website, thanks to the wonderful people at the Office of Language and Beauty We're happy we've done so much, but we're not content. PUSH is intent on continuing to build our member base and expand our allies throughout the spring and summer. We need more voices in the PUSH choir because there is power in numbers and people are policymakers. We're hitting the streets, getting out into the neighborhood and determined to let the powers-that-be know that poverty is not an option and we will not be silenced!

Who Made 129 Chenango Happen?

15 Apr 2008 16:36:21 GMT

129 Chenango was donated in early 2007 by the estate of Ann McQuestions, to help PUSH fulfill the mission to decrease the rate of housing abandonment by reclaiming empty houses and redeveloping them for occupancy of low-income residents. The future tenants of 129 Chenango will participate in a savings program that will assist them to become first-time home owners. In order to help educate on what it means to own your own home, PUSH uses the Housing Cooperative model which entails sharing responsibilities of maintenance and 'ownership' of the house. To help the tenants save, PUSH will put $75 each month into an escrow account. The tenants will be participating in The First Home Club, which will quadruple their savings up to $7,500 if it is used towards a down payment on a home. Architect, Kevin Connors of eco_logic STUDIO, was hired to design the plans for the new apartments. His and PUSH's goal was to make 129 Chenango as energy efficient and green as fiscally possible. Luckily, we had donors who would help us in this initial extra cost. [Thank you Monica Angle and Sam Magavern!] Now our future tenants will save additional monies due to the energy efficiency of the house. To help fulfill PUSH's commitment to the reduction of poverty in and the redevelopment of the West Side, the PUSH crew was hired locally, many of them young people. They came with varying levels of experience and skill and had constant on the job training. Our Construction Manager, Eddie Egriu, shared his vast skills and experiences to help them complete the job. They all worked tremendously hard and without them, there would be no 129 Chenango. Many individuals and organizations have volunteered and helped our crew. The Plumbers & Steamfitters Local #22 and Cement Masons Local #111 came and used 129 Chenango as a training site for their apprentices. Ferguson Enterprises has donated much of the plumbing supplies. We thank all for their help and assistance in helping rebuild the West Side.

PUSH Staff Power-Up

15 Apr 2008 16:03:10 GMT

Now bigger isn't necessarily better, but PUSH is more than happy to announce we just added two folks to our staff; Alayna- our new Community Organizer, and Kristin- our new Housing Development Specialist. Alayna recently moved back to the West Side of Buffalo from NYC and is pumped to use her legal background to work for social justice. Kristin has been doing great work as PUSH's accountant for several months and is excited to assume the role of housing development specialist as PUSH expands. So, we got some more folks on staff now and that means, come this summer, PUSH is gonna be busy like you've never seen. Get ready for action!

New York State has the Greatest Disparity of Wealth in the Nation- PUSH has a solution!

10 Apr 2008 20:41:52 GMT

As many of you folks know, PUSH has a solid Anti-Poverty Platform which calls for specific, numeric, and achievable goals in housing rehabilitation and demolition as well as mandating the jobs created by that work go to people who live in the neighborhood. We're actually meeting with Deputy Mayor Donna Brown on April 17th to see if she'll come on board with us regarding the platform. Just to review: specific achievable goals, local jobs for local people, and weatherization, all as a means taking the bull of poverty by the horns because, poverty is not an option. Makes sense, right? Well, we think so, but as you can see below, NYS is not on the path of enlightenment (thanks www.politicswny.com): "WIDEST GAP BETWEEN NY RICH AND POOR New York has the dubious distinction of having the widest income gap between the rich and the poor of all 50 states, according to a new report released by the Fiscal Policy Institute in conjunction with a national study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute. Over the past two decades, the gap between rich and poor in New York State has continued to widen. In the late 1980s, families in the top 20 percent made almost seven times as much as those in the bottom 20 percent. By the mid 2000s, the top earners made almost nine times as much. Only four states have had greater increases in top-to-bottom income inequality than New York since the late 1980s. "There's no mystery to how this happened," commented Trudi Renwick, Fiscal Policy Institute senior economist.. "Wages at the high end of the spectrum have exploded, while at the low end they've grown only slightly." Renwick noted that this trend was more dramatic in New York than in the rest of the country. Through two full cycles of expansion and recession in the economy, from the late 1980s through the mid 2000s, the rich in New York got significantly richer, while poor families saw only minimal increases in their standard of living. Measured in 2005 dollars, the average income of the richest 20 percent of New Yorkers increased from $110,000 to $148,000 - an increase of 35 percent - while the average income of the bottom fifth went just from $16,200 to $17,100." Okay, so you may be asking how this relates to what PUSH does. Well, one thing that's been in the NEWS recently is how Congress is attempting to deal with the ongoing housing crisis. One method being proposed is to increase Community Development Block Grant money. Now, you may be thinking, "CDBG, where have I heard that before?" Well, CDBG funds are pots of federal money which cities get to (ostensibly) funnel into poor neighborhoods. In February, PUSH rallied the membership to a public hearing on Buffalo's proposed use of CDBG funds. As CDBG funds stand to increase, we have to pump of the volume and make some noise with our Anti-Poverty Platform. CDBG money belongs to low-income people and low-income neighborhoods, and with our member-driven and developed platform, we have a way to make sure it gets there and is used properly.

Say Word... We did it again!: 129 Chenango Hits the Ground Running

7 Apr 2008 23:43:15 GMT

This past Saturday, PUSH publicly unveiled the latest addition to our ever-growing housing family: the 129 Chenango Cooperative. While there are some obligatory finishing touches that still need to be done, PUSH decided to debut its new co-op right along with Buffalo's first spate of decent weather in about five months. With a list of attributes including: 2 two-bedroom apartments, 1 one bedroom, radiant heat, bamboo flooring, a cathedral ceiling, green-friendly carpet, and custom counter-tops, the applications to live at 129 Chenango are starting to pile up. We'd like to thank everyone who helped us get this project up and running, but most of all we'd like to give a shout-out to the PUSH crew and our project manager Eddie Egriu. Without their tireless efforts, 129 Chenango would be little better than a pile of rubble, bringing quality and affordable housing to the hood. People have a right to a decent place to live and a job they can pay their bills on. We will keep making sure that people have both.

Busy Weekend at PUSH

30 Mar 2008 23:21:53 GMT

PUSH members and volunteers were busy this weekend, working to meet our self-imposed April 5th deadline for finishing the 129 Chenango project and expanding our "violation" sign campaign. Volunteers from the Bona Responds community service day did outstanding work at Chenango, finishing exterior painting work, installing kitchen cabinets and staining our trim. On the campaign front, PUSH members turned out to help post 25 additional violation signs, citing the city for neglecting its own holdings in the neighborhood.

Citizen Citation Sign Expansion

26 Mar 2008 15:00:55 GMT

Saturday, March 22- PUSH members gathered at 129 Chenango St. to create more rehabilitation and demolition tickets to post on City-owned abandoned properties on the West Side. PUSH is intent on holding City Hall accountable for the vacant and abandoned properties it has control over. The new tickets will be posted on Saturday, March 29th as part of PUSH's ongoing effort to demonstrate the necessity of a comprehensive plan with specific, numeric, achievable goals. PUSH is happy to suggest such a plan in the form of our Anti-Poverty Platform, which calls for specific numbers of demolitions and rehabs while requiring that the jobs created by the work go to people in the neighborhood.

New PUSH Shirts!

21 Mar 2008 16:20:42 GMT

Check out the new threads! Retailing out of 271 Grant St. for only $10, so get em while they last. Big ups to our big-time models who generously donated their time for the photo-shoot. If you NEED a shirt, stop on by 271 Grant St. Monday through Friday and we will hook you up. Thanks to Rachel Gottorff, our amazing designer, for the new shirt, which features a photo collage of PUSH community actions and West Side street scenes.

Rep. Brian Higgins Meets with PUSH

19 Mar 2008 21:15:09 GMT

Rep. Brian Higgins paid a visit to the PUSH office and 129 Chenango today in an effort to learn more about who PUSH is and what we do. After PUSH members helped explain PUSH's message and mission, Rep. Higgins answered questions we had regarding several different topics, particularly his bill currently in the House, HR 3498 the Neighborhood Reclamation and Revitalization Program Act, which would support demolition of vacant and abandoned properties. PUSH members were on hand to explain the necessity of concentrated, strategic rehabilitation in our neighborhoods occurring in concert with strategic demolition, and the necessity of adding job creation to the equation so the cycle of joblessness and housing degradation grinds to a halt. PUSH members stressed the example of our Anti-Poverty Platform, which calls for 100 rehabs citywide and 400 weatherized homes this year as well as having 50% of the jobs created by the rehab work to go to people in the community. Rep. Higgins then toured 129 Chenango where he met the PUSH crew and listened to several testimonials from the workers about the benefits of being on the crew and the necessity for financial means so they can continue working and not end up back on the street. PUSH is grateful for Rep. Higgins' time and looks forward to a prosperous working relationship in the near future.

Citizens' Citation!

10 Mar 2008 17:09:34 GMT

Please Note: Thanks to David Torke of http://fixbuffalo.blogspot.com for the photo. 3/06/08- PUSH members gathered at the corner of Normal and Massachusetts Avenue on the West Side at 1p.m. to issue the City of Buffalo housing tickets to hold it accountable for the thousands of abandoned properties it owns city-wide. Calling for adoption of PUSH's Housing Platform, which calls for specific achievable goals of the rehabilitation and demolition of city properties each year, as well as for that work to go to local people in the neighborhood, PUSH members posted giant tickets, orange for houses to be demolished, green for rehabs, on city-owned properties within a mile radius of the Normal and Massachusetts corner. The tickets charge Buffalo and Mayor Byron Brown with neglecting neighborhoods and failing to tackle the problem of abandoned housing in any meaningful way. Several PUSH members gave testimonials at the action to highlight the very real consequences of the city's inaction on its abandoned properties. PUSH will continue to post tickets on city-owned abandoned houses as a means of letting the people of the West Side know who to hold accountable.

They Heard Us!

29 Feb 2008 18:55:21 GMT

2/15/08- On Feb. 7th, 27 PUSH members assembled at Waterfront Elementary School to take part in the public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant program. The attendance of 27 PUSH members was unexpected as we made up about 75% of the audience. PUSH signed up to speak and we put on a skit which sent up the Control Board and Brown Administration, complete with truth serum and a giant copy of PUSH's anti-poverty platform. The skit pointed out the city's lack of addressing poverty in a comprehensive, target way, while pointing the way towards the PUSH Anti-Poverty Platform as an example of specific, numeric, achievable goals. After the skit, several PUSH members gave testimonials containing personal anecdotes and reflections on conditions on the West Side. They called for the city to use the HUD money in an effective, comprehensive way to combat poverty and stimulate job growth on the West Side. All in all, a definite success.

1/19/08 Member Meeting

29 Feb 2008 18:53:58 GMT

We recently conducted our monthly member meeting where many of the organization goals for PUSH are hammered out into recognizable forms. Saturday's meeting was no different as we saw high turnout despite the bad weather, and lots of great ideas for future actions around our Anti-Poverty Platform and Campaign. Speaking of actions, Feb. 7th we are planning one for the Community Develop Block Grant Public Hearing at the Buffalo ___________ at ______ o'clock. Come ready to let your voice be heard!

Block by Block!

27 Dec 2007 6:42:51 GMT

This Thursday, New York State announced a new housing program for Buffalo which PUSH helped to create: $3 million will be allocated for the Buffalo "Block by Block" housing reinvestment initiative. This is the culmination of PUSH’s year-long "MBBA" campaign regarding 1,499 houses that the State left abandoned across Buffalo. Under pressure from PUSH and others, the State recently transferred houses to the city for demolition and/or rehab. Governor Spitzer’s housing team was attentive to concerns expressed by PUSH members and other leaders like Sam Hoyt, Maria Whyte and Brian Higgins about the need for focused, strategic investment in our neighborhoods, and the result is the Block by Block program. PUSH is excited about the opportunity the Block by Block program presents to non-profits, who will be able to apply for grants for revitalizing their respective neighborhoods across Buffalo.

Burma Vigil Review

27 Dec 2007 6:39:29 GMT

PUSH recently co-sponsored a peace vigil with the Burmese Community Association and the WNY Peace Center. About 50 people were in attendance to show solidarity with those struggling for democracy in Burma against the oppressive and violent regime of the the military junta. The struggle continues.

PUSH Project: 129 Chenango Street

27 Dec 2007 6:36:25 GMT

Recently at 129 Chenango, we got our concrete floors poured with a little elbow grease from the local. With the underfloor tube heating increasing energy efficiency, and a nice finish worked onto the concrete, the completed floor is a giant step forward on our way to have the house done by the end of February. We'd also like to welcome Lorenzo and Lenny to our construction crew. PUSH is set to have an interest meeting to explain the application process and what the expectations would be for potential residents of the new co-op. The meetings will be at the PUSH office at 271 Grant St. Feb. 8th & 11th.