Uncategorized•
on November 23rd, 2010•
Erie Canal Harbor Commercial Slip at the foot of Pearl Street and Marine Drive , next to the Naval and Serviceman’s Park
Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Festival: Rally to Make a Great Waterfront
Sponsored by the Citizens Waterfront Project and the Canal Side Community Alliance
Visit this Facebook site for up to the minute details on music, food, etc.
Bring your family and friends down to the Waterfront, celebrate with great music and arts and food, and let the Harbor Corporation know: we can do better than their current plan for parking ramps and fake canals. Working together, we can start right now on projects that are “lighter, faster, cheaper.” We can win a community benefit agreement that ensures real community planning, green design and operations, quality jobs, and local businesses on our historic Waterfront.
Uncategorized•
on November 23rd, 2010•
In a victory for the Canal Side Community Alliance, the Harbor Corporation decided yesterday to extend the comment period and delay the vote on the Modified Plan until at least its next board meeting, November 29. The Harbor Corporation will continue to accept letters and emails to sgawlik@empire.state.ny.us.
If you haven’t already, we urge you to comment on the plan. Congressman Higgins has been a leader on waterfront issues, so you may want to call his office (852-3501) to express your views as well. And, if you can, attend the Harbor Corporation board meeting, 2pm, November 29, at 95 Perry Street.
The Modified Plan is essentially the Bass Pro plan without Bass Pro. It still includes $39 million in subsidies for private entities like Bass Pro. It includes $36.8 million for parking, even though no one seems sure what all that parking is for. ECHDC wants to start immediately on an incredibly expensive, $7.4 million one-level, underground parking structure on the Aud block. With 177 spaces, this would cost over $42,000 per space. The MGGP includes $32.5 million to build replica canals and towpaths, even though international development experts Tony Goldman and Fred Kent recently urged us, “Don’t spend millions of dollars on fake canals.” Their “lighter, quicker, cheaper” concept has been endorsed by the Buffalo News editorial board, Donn Esmonde, and many more, but the Harbor Corporation has not yet got the message.
The Canal Side Community Alliance, now 46 organizations strong, is in active talks with the ECHDC to craft a community benefit agreement with legally binding guarantees of an inclusive community process, green design, local businesses, and quality jobs. No MGGP should be approved until such an agreement is reached, so that we can be sure that the community is heard and that it actually benefits from this hugely subsidized project.
You can read the full MGGP, a sample comment letter, and PPG’s comment at the blog site of the Canal Side Community Alliance.
Uncategorized•
on November 17th, 2010•
In a victory for the Canal Side Community Alliance, the Harbor Corporation decided yesterday to extend the comment period and delay the vote on the Modified Plan until at least its next board meeting, November 29. The Harbor Corporation will continue to accept letters and emails, and will also host a daily open house where people can look at the plan and make their comments.
If you haven’t already, we urge you to comment on the plan. And send a copy of your comments to your elected leaders, such as Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Brian Higgins and Mayor Byron Brown. We also encourage you to send a letter to the editor expressing your views. And, if you can, attend the Harbor Corporation board meeting, 2pm, November 29, at 95 Perry Street.
The Modified Plan is essentially the Bass Pro plan without Bass Pro. It still includes $39 million in subsidies for private entities like Bass Pro. It includes $36.8 million for parking, even though no one seems sure what all that parking is for. ECHDC wants to start immediately on an incredibly expensive, $7.4 million one-level, underground parking structure on the Aud block. With 177 spaces, this would cost over $42,000 per space. The MGGP includes $32.5 million to build replica canals and towpaths, even though international development experts Tony Goldman and Fred Kent recently urged us, “Don’t spend millions of dollars on a fake canal.” Their “lighter, quicker, cheaper” concept has been endorsed by the Buffalo News editorial board, Donn Esmonde, and many more, but the Harbor Corporation has not yet got the message.
The Canal Side Community Alliance, now 46 organizations strong, is in active talks with the ECHDC to craft a community benefit agreement with legally binding guarantees of an inclusive community process, green design, local businesses, and quality jobs. No MGPP should be approved until such an agreement is reached, so that we can be sure that the community is heard and that it actually benefits from this hugely subsidized project.
You can read the full MGPP, a sample comment letter, and PPG’s comment at the blog site of the Canal Side Community Alliance. You can watch Mark Goldman’s Artvoice video message here. Please send a comment to:
Mr. Stephen F. Gawlik
Empire State Development Corporation
95 Perry Street
Buffalo, New York 14203
(716) 846-8200
sgawlik@empire.state.ny.us
And send a copy to:
Congressman Brian Higgins,
726 Exchange Street, Suite 601
Buffalo, NY 14210
For the addresses of other public officials, visit the League of Women Voters web site.
Uncategorized•
on November 17th, 2010•
Citizens Waterfront Project #3
Thursday, November 18 at 6:00pm at the Burchfield Penney Art Center,
Hosted by Bruce Fisher and the Center for Economic and Policy Studies at Buffalo State College.
Presentations by Tim Tielman of the Campaign for Buffalo, Buffalo State College adjunct History professor Mark Goldman, and Sam Magavern from the Canalside Community Alliance.
Focus: Will Buffalo gain more from fixing our infrastructure, fostering arts and festivals, and creating play-space, or should public funds subsidize retail stores and restaurants?
The discussion will include a presentation on measuring claims of economic benefit, and counting up costs.
Uncategorized•
on November 9th, 2010•
Tuesday, November 16th
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
237 Main Street, Suite 1200
Should judges receive campaign contributions from lawyers who appear before them? Join attorneys John Lipsitz, Jim Magavern, and Judge Eugene Fahey to consider possible reforms to reduce the role of money in the selection of judges.
To reserve a seat, email megan@ppgbuffalo.org by November 12.