PUSH Buffalo

There are two major building projects visibly underway in downtown Buffalo. One is the Douglas Jemal rehab and rebuilding of the area's tallest building. Seneca One is starting to fill with M&T Bank's tech workers and the outside of downtown's tallest building is a new reddish-brown color. The other project is the much more visible 201 Ellicott St., which is 201 units of affordable housing.

Local advocates joined state-wide partners in a virtual rally focused on the overlapping of the environment, COVID-19, racism, and the economy.

Citing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the leadership of People United for Sustainable Housing, better known as PUSH Buffalo, announced Monday it will cancel rents in April for its low-income resident and commercial tenants.

Despite lots of talk about a renaissance in the City of Buffalo, a large number of its citizens remain poor. The latest Census Bureau report shows Buffalo's poverty rate at 30.1 percent, the third highest in the nation. Local advocates are hosting an event Saturday to help longtime residents benefit from economic growth and not get forced out by gentrification. 

PUSH Buffalo and other allies marched down Perry Street Wednesday, from the Commodore Perry low-income housing complex to the headquarters of the city’s economic development offices.

The half-mile route wasn’t random.

Marchers are demanding New York state provide more funding for public, affordable housing like the Perry Projects, and less funding for private, wealthy real estate developers who benefit from economic development boards housed at 95 Perry St.

Several dozen students and activists gathered outside City Hall in Buffalo Friday afternoon to celebrate New York State's passage of the country’s most ambitious climate legislation. They also called for even greater action to combat climate change.

Erie County is being urged to get into an energy conservation loan program, making loans to businesses and owner-occupied multiple unit housing.

The lawyer for Buffalo Police officer Elnur Karadzhaev says the evidence will show the officer defended himself and shot 32-year-old Rafael "Pito" Rivera within the law.

After years of fighting over more affordable housing, one local developer has voluntarily set aside 15 percent of his new project for below-market-rate apartments - but are they really?

Buffalo’s West Side is going through a change. With a surge of development taking place along the Niagara Street strip and the influx of higher-income residents, some longtime West Siders have been forced to find other places to live.

This report was written and produced by Khalid Terrell.

He co-founded People United for Sustainable Housing Incorporated, or PUSH Buffalo, back in 2004. Executive director Aaron Bartley says he will leave the organization next August.

Some much needed affordable housing is on the way for seniors on Buffalo's West Side.

Refugees across the region are going to continue receiving help adjusting to their new life in America. Albany is now funding resettlement agencies that faced cuts under President Trump's refugee ban. Local advocates see many benefits for the community.

People continue breathing new life into the many "irreplaceable assets" found in one older, smaller neighborhood on Buffalo's West Side.

PUSH Buffalo is among more than 40 community, labor and environmental groups joining forces on New York Renews, a new campaign urging Albany to pass ambitious climate solutions in the coming new year.