A Seat at the Table

The Coalition for Economic Justice and our allies recognize the importance and significance of the Canal Side Project to plans to revitalize our city, and revision an historic site. A Community Benefits Agreement is an innovative economic development tool that when applied to the Canal Side Project will only improve the final product. Our Coalition remains as hopeful as ever, and views the Common Council resolution as a unique opportunity to give community voices a seat at the table as plans move forward. Community Benefits Agreements have been negotiated across the nation with benefit to both communities and developers, CEJ and our allies at PUSH Buffalo, Partnership for the Public Good, and the Buffalo Urban League, and across Western New York look forward to forging an agreement which benefits our community and realizes the potential for economic growth the Canal Side Project promises our city.

Community Benefits Agreements have acted to mitigate for community interests in development projects from coast to coast since the close of the 20th Century. The use of CBA's provides a new model for community input in public development projects, rather than delaying projects or driving costs up, these agreements have acted as conduits for a two-way exchange between Capital and Community. As the Coalition for Economic Justice and our allies prepare to enter negotiations with the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC), it has been integral to examine the victories and success communities across the nation have had in protecting their taxpayers' investments.

NON-STARTER? Last week in comments to the Buffalo News, a representative of the ECHDC described the proposed Community Benefits Agreement's living wage provision as a "non-starter," indicating that retailers would never pay the higher wage rate. However, in the ECHDC's Generic Environmental Impact Study, creating living wage jobs is listed among the goals the organization has set for the Canal Side Development. Furthermore, in the past decade, communities in California have secured living wage provisions for five major development projects, most notably the Staples Center CBA in 2001, the Noho Commons CBA in 2001, Marlton Square CBA in 2003, Hollywood and Vine CBA in 2004 and the CIM Project CBA in 2003. It would seem that when massive subsidies are involved, paying a living wage isn't necessarily a red flag for developers or tenant businesses.

Furthermore, it is important to recognize that Community Benefits Agreements are not a West Coast phenomenon. Closer to home, The Connecticut Center for a New Economy negotiated the Yale-New Haven Hospital CBA in 2006. The CBA incorporated funding for housing, economic development, job training, and youth development programs. Likewise, the agreement held strong environmental standards and local hiring provisions. Finally, CEJ has looked into the Hill District CBA in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh's Community Benefits Agreement sets an important precedent for former manufacturing centers scattered throughout the Rustbelt. Hill District proves that CBA's are viable economic tools for boom towns and cities working towards recovery alike, with Pittsburgh's economic conditions providing a valuable comparison to Buffalo, NY. Pittsburgh's CBA provided tangible goods to the community in the form of community control of the project, local hiring standards, affordable shopping centers, and a multi-purpose public space for that community.

The history of Community Benefits Agreements in the 21st century has not been one of obstructionism, but rather a story of progress, compromise, and a redress of grievances. Municipalities and their constituents throughout the nation no longer believe massive corporate subsidies should be given without strings attached. CBA's are creating a new way of doing business in which the public has a voice in deciding how their tax dollars are spent.

The question we should be asking, "Why should Buffalo settle for less than our neighbors?" Before we trade away our region's greatest natural resource, shouldn't we ensure that the people of Western New York are getting their money's worth? In the nation's 3rd-poorest urban center, it seems Buffalonians need to be especially mindful of the way in which our limited development monies are utilized...We need to make sure that ECHDC, and the Canal Side Project works for us.

With the common council's courageous action, CEJ and our allies have been promised a seat at the table as plans move forward with Canal Side. We look forward to working alongside our community allies in negotiating an agreement that both the ECHDC and the people of Western New York can live with, and everyone can work with...


The Coalition for Economic Justice would like to thank the Partnership for Working Families for their diligent research on Community Benefits Agreements.

Responding to the Poverty Research Forum

Last Friday, The Homeless Alliance of WNY, Partnership for the Public Good, the University at Buffalo Civic Engagement and Public Policy research initiative, and the Western New York Service Learning Coalition sponsored a Buffalo Poverty Research Workshop.

Findings from Friday's Forum reinforce the necessity for CEJ's work in Buffalo. A look at the precarious position occupied by WNY's workers highlights the need for CEJ's campaigns focused on Living Wages and accountable economic development. As we delve into friday's findings, we'll see just how important a CBA (Community Benefits Agreement) can be in addressing the need for GOOD JOBS in our city.

The workshop featured presentations from prominent local scholars, including presentations from:

• Dr. Kathryn Foster, Regional Institute of Buffalo, University at Buffalo
• Dr. Wende Mix, Geography, Buffalo State
• Dr. Samina Raja, Urban and Regional Planning, University at Buffalo
• Dr. Erin Robinson, Sociology, Canisius College
• Dr. Henry Taylor, Center for Urban Studies, University at Buffalo

Findings presented at Friday's forum present both challenges facing WNY as well as possible solutions for a more secure future...

Dr. Foster of the Regional Institute, highlighting findings found in Regional Institute's February 2010 Policy Brief; "Playing an Insecure Hand: Low-Wage Workers in the New Economy," presented on the new landscape in WNY for job-seekers, and what can be done to alleviate such strains on workers...

Between 2004 and 2008,

• WNY saw a 17% increase in low-wage jobs (0-$30,000)
• WNY saw a 6% increase in high-paying jobs ($70,000+)
• WNY saw a 10% decline in middle-wage occupations. ($30,000-$70,000)

As manufacturing jobs have left western New York, the region has seen an obvious decline inrelative wealth, in 1969 Buffalo ranked 31st in average wage per job at $41,629, almost forty years later in 2008, Buffalo has dropped to 155 in average wage per job at $39,214. In 2009, 46% of all jobs in Western New York earned less than 30,000 per year...

As a result of the limited opportunities available to WNY workers, more families have taken to working multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. Buffalo has seen a rise in the number of households with multiple workers- up to 60%. While employement levels in Western New York mirror national averages, it is the level of under-employment which most threatens today's workers.

___________________________________________________________

Dr. Wende Mix, a geography professor at Buffalo State College presented his findings on "The Geography of Urban Poverty." Dr. Mix's analysis of Poverty in Western New York have presented some interesting statistics on the economic landscape here in Buffalo, and how Buffalo measures up across the nation.

Described as the 3rd Poorest Metropolitan Area in the United States, Dr. Mix presents a different look at Buffalo as it compares with other Urban areas:

• 50% of Metro Areas in the United States have the same, or greater proportion of families below the federal poverty line.
• 10% of Buffalo Families currently live below the federal poverty line.
• 69% of all Families in Western New York living below the federal poverty line are Female Householder with no husband present. (31% of all Female Householder, no husband families live below the poverty line.)
• Less than 10% of urban areas have the same or greater proportion of Hispanic/Latino persons living under the poverty line.
• Buffalo, NY has African-Americans living below the poverty level than 55% of US Urban Areas.

What does this mean? Buffalo, NY has similar poverty levels as those reported across the nation. However, African Americans, Hispanic/Latino, and Single-mother households are being hit the hardest!!! What can Buffalo do to address these issues?_________________________________________________________

Looking at the landscape for WNY's future, What can we do to address these issues?

The Regional Institute of Buffalo has suggested government-mandated Living Wage policies as a proven method for lifitng people out of poverty. The Coalition for Economic Justice has supported Living Wages since our founding, and have won Living Wage resolutions at the City, County, and School Board levels over the past decade.

Furthermore, The Institute recommends other pro-work policies such as subsidies for healthcare, childcare, utilities and trasportation. Sliding scales for eligibility must be introduced as poverty-level indicators are often out of touch with reality, and families earning $1 over threshholds have negative incentives to continue working.

These recommendations are timely, as CEJ fights for full-compliance of a Living Wage resolution supported by the Buffalo School Board to extend coverage to over 1,000 workers. Furthermore, childcare subsidies have recently come under attack, with CEJ, VOICE-Buffalo, and numerous community organizations and leaders pushing for the County Executive to extend benefits to nearly 1,500 families whose income, while barely over the poverty-line, disqualifies them for assistance.

After looking at both the recommendations of the Regional Institute, as well as, Dr. Mix's geographical breakdown of WNY it seems now, more than ever, we need a Community Benefits Agreement to ensure the Canalside Project brings the types of jobs we need for Western New York!

The Canalside development, as is, would bring another 1400 Low-wage jobs to WNY, with an average annual salary of $22,000- WNY doesn't need more low-wage jobs!!!!

Our CBA would:

• mandate living wages for all businesses with more than 20 employees
• mandate minority hiring (a necessity in a region with African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos hit harder than other demographics)
• include affordable housing- Canalside's wage-laborers must be able to afford to live where they work
• Local Independent Business Development- 75% of commercial space must be reserved for local businesses, with special consideration for women and minority-owned businesses (also a necessity with single-mother households hit especially hard in WNY)

There are challenging issues facing the workers of Western New York. Friday's forum was an opportunity for those around the region to share insights on the future of our city. With WNY inundated with an ever-growing class of low-wage laborers, and losses in middle-income positions it seems the Coalition for Economic Justice's fight for Living Wages, and a Community Benefits Agreement for our Waterfront are more pressing than ever in shaping the vision for our economic future.