Last weeks report No Return On Our Investment by the NY IDA coalition has recieved positive press from a number of news outlets recently.
The Wall Street Journal covered it, and the Buffalo News' Matt Glynn wrote an article in the business section of the News about the findings of the report.
It's great to hear that folks are concerned that our State is spending more and more on IDAs while job creation is diminishing, and that IDA reform makes sense now more than ever.
An article in WNY Labor Today quoted CEJ director Allison Duwe, saying "These public authorities simply haven't created the jobs, let alone good jobs for local people, and they've shown complete disregard for transparency and public opinion by spinning off new agencies to skirt reform efforts." The full article at WNYlabortoday.net can be found here.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
New Report Highlights Failure of Economic Development Agencies
A report released today from the statewide NY IDA Coalition finds that New York State’s main economic development tool, Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs), are spending spiraling amounts of tax dollars each year while failing to create jobs and hiding from public scrutiny.
No Return on Our Investment: the Failure of New York’s Industrial Development Agencies identifies emerging and troublesome economic development issues and uses concrete examples of IDA-subsidized projects and workers, residents and small business owners throughout the state to highlight the flaws of the state’s 115 IDAs. The report also proposes common sense reforms for IDAs that would ensure economic development dollars are reinvested in our communities to boost opportunity, rebuild prosperity, and set New York on a course to long-term economic recovery and sustainable growth.
No Return on Our Investment was produced by New York Jobs with Justice and Urban Agenda, with assistance from the Coalition for Economic Justice.
**The NY IDA Coalition is a broad coalition of public policy experts, government watchdogs, labor unions, community and religious organizations, and concerned small business owners, workers and taxpayers. The statewide coalition is anchored by New York Jobs with Justice and the Coalition for Economic Justice.
No Return on Our Investment: the Failure of New York’s Industrial Development Agencies identifies emerging and troublesome economic development issues and uses concrete examples of IDA-subsidized projects and workers, residents and small business owners throughout the state to highlight the flaws of the state’s 115 IDAs. The report also proposes common sense reforms for IDAs that would ensure economic development dollars are reinvested in our communities to boost opportunity, rebuild prosperity, and set New York on a course to long-term economic recovery and sustainable growth.
No Return on Our Investment was produced by New York Jobs with Justice and Urban Agenda, with assistance from the Coalition for Economic Justice.
**The NY IDA Coalition is a broad coalition of public policy experts, government watchdogs, labor unions, community and religious organizations, and concerned small business owners, workers and taxpayers. The statewide coalition is anchored by New York Jobs with Justice and the Coalition for Economic Justice.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
CEJ and Friends Strike Again!
Once again, our Strike for Justice fundraiser proved to be a great success, as friends and supporters of CEJ took part in the revelry of a late-summer night's bowling.
Before we say more, we'd like to take a quick time-out to say thanks to all those who attended and who sponsored teams, as well as the staff at Kenmore Lanes for being great hosts. If you missed it, we apologize if we didn't properly inform you as to how awesome it was going to be! Lucky for you, it is an annual event, so you can come next year!
There is something oddly humbling about wearing bowling shoes. Maybe it's the result of lack of comfort combined with the uniformity of attire which brings about that feeling... or it could just be the fact that most of us are terrible bowlers! Either way, it helps you to not really care about that gutter ball you just threw. At CEJ events, though, we appreciate that, which is why the worst bowler took home an awesome prize - a gift certificate to Rustbelt Books and an autographed high-gloss photo of Bill's running back Fred Jackson.
Of course, there were many things to "compete" for, and the best bowler and best team also took home prizes, as well as best "team morale", which went to the team with the best combination of team name and costume. The Springville All-Star Marching band clearly won the team morale award, showing up in full performance outfit with instruments in tow, playing them as they bowled. No small feat, considering one of those instruments was a giant sousaphone!
During the course of the event, a friend and I got to talking about an interesting subject. It was 10 years ago that Robert Putnam wrote the famous book Bowling Alone about the decline in social capital - the wealth of our connections with each other - in the US. He detailed how we Americans belong to fewer organizations, sign fewer petitions, know our neighbors less, and meet with friends less often than say, our parents and grandparents used to. Instead of bowling in leagues and large groups, we bowl alone. In a city like Buffalo, with a rich bowling and social history, that is pretty obvious.
I guess it would be pretty cheesy to say that Strike for Justice, in combination with all of our work at CEJ, is our way of reversing that trend.
...Either way, I just did. Enjoy!
CEJ would also like to thank all the businesses who donated prizes: El Buen Amigo, Flying Bison, Swan's Martial Arts Academy, Betty's, Chef's, the Lexington Co-op, the Bills, Bisons, and Sabres, and Rustbelt Books. Hopefully we're not forgetting any!
Before we say more, we'd like to take a quick time-out to say thanks to all those who attended and who sponsored teams, as well as the staff at Kenmore Lanes for being great hosts. If you missed it, we apologize if we didn't properly inform you as to how awesome it was going to be! Lucky for you, it is an annual event, so you can come next year!
There is something oddly humbling about wearing bowling shoes. Maybe it's the result of lack of comfort combined with the uniformity of attire which brings about that feeling... or it could just be the fact that most of us are terrible bowlers! Either way, it helps you to not really care about that gutter ball you just threw. At CEJ events, though, we appreciate that, which is why the worst bowler took home an awesome prize - a gift certificate to Rustbelt Books and an autographed high-gloss photo of Bill's running back Fred Jackson.
Of course, there were many things to "compete" for, and the best bowler and best team also took home prizes, as well as best "team morale", which went to the team with the best combination of team name and costume. The Springville All-Star Marching band clearly won the team morale award, showing up in full performance outfit with instruments in tow, playing them as they bowled. No small feat, considering one of those instruments was a giant sousaphone!
During the course of the event, a friend and I got to talking about an interesting subject. It was 10 years ago that Robert Putnam wrote the famous book Bowling Alone about the decline in social capital - the wealth of our connections with each other - in the US. He detailed how we Americans belong to fewer organizations, sign fewer petitions, know our neighbors less, and meet with friends less often than say, our parents and grandparents used to. Instead of bowling in leagues and large groups, we bowl alone. In a city like Buffalo, with a rich bowling and social history, that is pretty obvious.
I guess it would be pretty cheesy to say that Strike for Justice, in combination with all of our work at CEJ, is our way of reversing that trend.
...Either way, I just did. Enjoy!
CEJ would also like to thank all the businesses who donated prizes: El Buen Amigo, Flying Bison, Swan's Martial Arts Academy, Betty's, Chef's, the Lexington Co-op, the Bills, Bisons, and Sabres, and Rustbelt Books. Hopefully we're not forgetting any!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Community Benefits NOT Council Bribery
Mayor Brown, along with Larry Quinn and Jordan Levy of the Canal Harbor Corporation is trying to strong-arm Buffalo Common Council members into approving the transfer of 13 acres of city land considered critical to the Bass-Pro anchored waterfront development project.
The Mayor and Harbor Corporation officials struck a deal regarding the land transfer that they now want the Common Council to approve. The deal was brokered behind closed doors and with no council or community input.
The bait being offered - $1 million to each Councilmember for district improvements.
A quick review of the deal reveals it for the sham it is –
The Mayor and Harbor Corporation officials struck a deal regarding the land transfer that they now want the Common Council to approve. The deal was brokered behind closed doors and with no council or community input.
The bait being offered - $1 million to each Councilmember for district improvements.
A quick review of the deal reveals it for the sham it is –
- The Councilmembers will have little input into how money gets invested in their district.
- Nothing in the deal the Mayor and the Corporation want approved is enforceable or binding.
In March of this year, the Common Council voted unanimously to condition their land transfer on the successful negotiation of a Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) with the 40-plus member Canal Side Community Alliance.
Please call your Common Council Member today to tell him/her to stand by his/her decision requiring a Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) for the Canal Side project.
It is vital that the Council know their constituents are behind them on this issue, which will have a huge impact on our region far into the future.
The Common Council could act this coming Tuesday, July 27 at 1pm to call a special session and vote on the land transfer.
ACT NOW – Tell your Councilperson to support long-term benefits for the Community (Phone Numbers for the Council Listed Below).
- No Special Session. No Land Transfer without community input and until a binding and enforceable agreement is negotiated.
- The Harbor Corporation just initiated talks with the Canal Side Alliance. Demand that the Harbor Corporation stay at the table to negotiate a CBA.
- Congressman Higgins just gave Bass Pro a 2-week ultimatum. The whole project is suddenly in doubt. You can’t transfer the land if you don’t know what it is going to be used for.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT –
Faith Leaders Speak Out in Support of CBA:
Monday, July 26th
11am
In Front of City Hall
___________________________
Common Council Committee Meeting
Tuesday, July 27th
1pm
Council Chambers – 13th Floor of City Hall
For more information contact Micaela Shapiro-Shellaby at 892-5877
Buffalo Common Council Contact Information:
Rich Fontana – 851-5151
Joseph Golombeck – 851-5116
David Franczyk – 851-4138
Michael Kearns – 851- 5169
Demone Smith – 851-5145
Bonnie Russell – 851-5165
Curtis Haynes – 851-4980
Michael LoCurto – 851-5155
David Rivera – 851-5125
If you don’t know who represents your district on the Council, please refer to the chart on the website below:
http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/Home/Leadership/CommonCouncil
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Re-imaging Waterfront Development
"Waterfronts around the world are undergoing major transformations. While shifts in industry have left some rusty and dilapidated, many others are being reimagined as thriving public spaces the whole community can enjoy.
PPS’s waterfront program is geared specifically toward working with communities adjacent to waterfronts to develop a new vision for the future. By looking at a waterfront as a series of destinations rather than as a linear space, these places can fit in well with the surrounding communities."
This is a quote from the website of Project for Public Spaces. It is a very good place to stimulate thought about the amazing potential of waterfront development, which is very important for us all to keep in mind as we move forward with our own waterfront development.
Another good place to look is at the city of Pittsburg's riverfront development. In 1999 a group of community leaders organized a task force to create a development plan for their riverfront - and
the city listened to them! The result, A Vision Plan for Pittsburgh’s Riverfronts was the winner of the 2002 AIA Honor Award in Urban Planning and Design and the 2002 Merit Award in Planning from the International Downtown Association. The project has been a huge success that has improved the quality of life for Pittsburg's residents and generated billions of dollars for the local economy.
PPS’s waterfront program is geared specifically toward working with communities adjacent to waterfronts to develop a new vision for the future. By looking at a waterfront as a series of destinations rather than as a linear space, these places can fit in well with the surrounding communities."
This is a quote from the website of Project for Public Spaces. It is a very good place to stimulate thought about the amazing potential of waterfront development, which is very important for us all to keep in mind as we move forward with our own waterfront development.
Another good place to look is at the city of Pittsburg's riverfront development. In 1999 a group of community leaders organized a task force to create a development plan for their riverfront - and
the city listened to them! The result, A Vision Plan for Pittsburgh’s Riverfronts was the winner of the 2002 AIA Honor Award in Urban Planning and Design and the 2002 Merit Award in Planning from the International Downtown Association. The project has been a huge success that has improved the quality of life for Pittsburg's residents and generated billions of dollars for the local economy.
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