Faith in Action Week Concludes

We make New Years resolutions for many different reasons. Some of us need the structure of goals to keep us on track, while some of us set our sights high to give ourselves something to work towards. At the core of most new years resolutions, however, is the principle that we can do better. It's the idea that we are better, and that if we set our hearts to it, we can be better than we have been in years past.

It has been in that spirit that faith leaders from across Buffalo took their struggle for justice to City Hall this week, encouraging Common Council members to sign a New Years resolution pledge to remain committed to a Community Benefits Agreement in 2011. In an exciting 5-day period, over 20 faith leaders and congregation members visited with members of the Common Council, engaging them in discussion on the continued need for a CBA to be a foundation for the Canal Side development project.

In March of 2010, the Buffalo Common Council passed a unanimous resolution to withhold transfer of city-owned land at Canal Side to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation until the ECHDC negotiated a Community Benefits Agreement with the Canal Side Community Alliance. They stood up for Buffalo and Erie County residents, and with a 9-0 vote they made a bold statement that development in Buffalo does not have follow the same tired and failed process. They said that we can and must do better this time.

Since then, we've seen the movement for community engagement in creating a waterfront we can all be proud of grow continue to unfold. We've been able to have a few initial meetings with ECHDC leaders, we've delivered over 1,000 postcards in support of a CBA, and our Canal Side Community Alliance has grown to over 50 members and with a strong list of terms and demands. We've also seen a movement for community involvement in the design process around concepts of "lighter, quicker, and cheaper" grow into a strong force. Together, we've won an amended Modified General Project Plan which has shifted the focus to public infrastructure development and created 3 sub-committees led by community members to study historical, cultural, and environmental concerns.

While the ECHDC remains reluctant to negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement, we know that the Buffalo Common Council is going to need to remain strong in 2011. Some Councilmembers were willing to sign the New Years resolution pledge. However, most echoed the sentiment of new Councilmember Darius Pridgen, who said that we, the community, are going to need to continue making the case for a CBA in order to keep the pressure on them to uphold their 2010 resolution.

It is in this spirit that the Faith in Action week was a great success. We've demonstrated that our commitment to a CBA in 2011 remains strong. Like all New Year's resolutions, however, the easy part is often in making them. The challenging part is then doing the work necessary to fulfill them. Yet within that challenge lies excitement, joy, and empowerment. So here's to the road ahead, and to remaining more committed than ever to winning a Community Benefits Agreement in 2011!

Day 4: Faith in Action Week

The visits continued this Thursday as a total of 8 people made visits to councilmembers. Rev. Dan Schifeling of the Church of the Nativity went with Rev. Faith McCausland from Kenilworth United Church of Christ, Ruth Snyder, co-pastor at Church of the Nativity, and four congregants of Church of the Nativity. And later in the day, Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein of Temple Sinai made the rounds at City Hall.

The first group of 7 talked with Ellicott Councilmember Darius Pridgen, Delaware's Michael LoCurto, and Masten's Demone Smith. Like the previous day, Darius Pridgen maintained that re was supportive of the CBA. Michael LoCurto, a strong proponent of the CBA, said that he would remain committed to the CBA. And Demone Smith stated that he was in favor of it.

Rabbi Lazarus-Klein visited with David Rivera, who had signed the pledge the previous day and who showed clear support for the CBA. All councilmembers who were not in received letters from both parties.

Day 3: Faith in Action Week

First pledge signed today by Niagara District Councilmember David Rivera! This afternoon Father Jose Claudio, Lourdes Claudio, and Jose Rodriguez of el Nuevo Camino UCC along with Rev. Bruce McKay of Pilgrim St. Lukes UCC were able to meet with him and secure his New Years Resolution to support a Community Benefits Agreement. They had a great conversation with Mr. Rivera, who has been a supporter of a CBA since the beginning, and it is great to know that he pledged to continue that support in 2011.

The group were also able to meet with South District's Mickey Kearns and Lovejoy's Rich Fontana, who, although supportive, remained reluctant to sign a pledge of support. While Fontana said that living wages and low-income housing were issues that caused friction, Bruce McKay and others were able to remind him that the CBA is really about quality jobs and mixed income housing. Quality jobs have several components, and due to the large tax-payer stake in the project and the incentives that are created by public investment, the public has a right to put conditions on that investment to ensure benefit for all.

Before their visit, Reverend Merle Showers from Niagara Frontier City Ministries had also been to City Hall. He was able to meet with Councilmember Darius Pridgen of the Ellicott District. While Pridgen was aware of issues surrounding the fight for a Community Benefits Agreement, and generally supportive, he was unwilling to sign a pledge. He maintained that community leaders would need to stay strong to make the case for why the Council should not compromise on a CBA. Rev. Showers described the huge sums of money that tax payers had provided to benefit anyone who set up a business there, as well as advantages of the location as reasons why they would owe us a great deal. Rev. Merle Showers also spoke of the importance of a Living Wage, to which Councilmember Pridgen responded with strong support.

Day 2: Faith in Action Week

Tomorrow promises to be a great day, as we have a full slate of visits from faith leaders lined up! Reverend Merle Showers from Niagara Frontier City Ministries, Reverend Mark Blue from Second Baptist Church in Lackawanna, and Reverend Bruce Mckay from Pilgrim-St. Lukes will all be visiting members of the Buffalo Common Council on Wednesday. We will share the updates at the end of the day tomorrow.

Faith in Action Week Kicks Off!

Community Leaders Visit Elected Officials to Lift Up Community Benefits Resolutions for 2011

Today marks the beginning of an exciting week, as faith leaders from all over Buffalo will be walking the corridors of City Hall each day to meet with members of the Common Council. They are seeking New Year's resolutions from Common Council members in the form of a pledge to support a Community Benefits Agreement for Canal Side. A CBA would ensure shared benefits for all as a result of our waterfront development.

Through their sustained collective effort, a persistent voice from the community will be resonating throughout City Hall this week.

Early in the day today, Sister Sharon Goodremote of the Buffalo Catholic Diocese delivered letters to all 9 Common Council representatives, and had a chance to speak with South District's Mickey Kearns. At this time, he was non-committal to signing a pledge. He did, however, stress the importance of community concerns being addressed in moving forward with the project.

In the afternoon, Father Patrick Gallivan and members of his congregation from the Holy Cross Church met with Rich Fontana (Lovejoy), Mickey Kearns (South), and Joe Golombek (North), leaving letters with the remaining councilmembers.

While each expressed support for a CBA, all three refused to commit to signing a pledge. It is encouraging to hear their support, but frankly, we need more than that. That is why another group of faith leaders will be back to visit them tomorrow. And Wednesday, and Thursday, and Friday! Stay tuned.

Collins Runs Government FOR Business

Let’s be clear, Erie County Executive Chris Collins’s recent attempt to pressure the County Legislature to rescind job standards on projects financed by the Erie County Industrial Land Development Corporation (ILDC) will negatively impact our local economy and our workforce if approved.

When it comes to quality job requirements like prevailing rate, County Executive Chris Collins simply does not have his facts straight. According to a Business First article, the tax-exemptions given by the ILDC create savings of 50% or more on development projects. That same article cites Collins claiming that “prevailing wage costs will dwarf savings”. He must not be aware of the fact that extensive research shows prevailing wages only minimally increasing project costs if AT ALL. In other words, savings from exemptions dwarf prevailing wage costs.

One would also hesitate to use the word “cost” in association with prevailing wages. A prevailing wage standard creates a skilled workforce through apprenticeship training programs which offer opportunities to women and minorities. It ensures a workforce that is 20% more productive than lower-wage workers, while creating more local employment opportunities.

Construction companies that are not required to pay prevailing wages often bring in workers from out of state to work on local projects, paying lower wages and leaving local people without access to jobs. And these low-wage conditions are dangerous, reporting significantly higher numbers of injuries and fatalities in comparison to sites with prevailing rate standards.

Erie County needs jobs that protect workers, strengthen local communities, sustain healthy families and take the burden off of the taxpayer. The county legislature should stand up for Western New York workers and communities by maintaining quality job standards.