ACTION ALERT!

For years, our members have lived with smells and odors from the Amigone’s crematory. We’re close to ensuring residents will never have to endure this again. We need the Legislators who can vote on the Amigone resolution to vote YES Thursday. We need you to help them make the right decision. If you want to help the neighborhood win, please participate in any of these activities this week.

1. CALL these people to say thank you for their support and to ask them to vote yes again Thursday, October 2^nd

2. CALL THESE PEOPLE AND ASK THEM TO VOTE YES ON THURSDAY

3. Come to the Erie County Legislature on Thursday for the next vote. The meeting is on the 4^th floor at 92 Franklin and begin promptly at 2:00.   We need to pack the house to demonstrate our power. Let us know you can make it by calling Erin or Rebecca at 852-3813.

Since Battaglia Demolition began operations a little over 10 years ago residents of Peabody St. and the surrounding neighborhood have complained to the State and City of Buffalo regarding dust and soot coming from the facility; loud noise beginning early in the morning from the bulldozers and the concrete crusher; and massive truck traffic that is routed down small residential streets.

Film by Vince Mistretta

Clean Air is seeking enthusiastic people to join our Volunteer Speakers Bureau!

Speakers Bureau Volunteers will help will help spread the message of the important work of Clean Air and encourage people to get involved.

Responsibilities

• Attend Speakers Bureau Training
• Represent Clean Air at a variety of community events.
• Maintain an understanding of the history, mission, and impact of our organization

Qualifications

• Likes talking to people
• Timely and dependable
• Possess reliable transportation
• Available to attend events during the weekday, evening, or weekends

Time Commitment

Speakers Bureau volunteers are expected to commit to a minimum of two speaking engagements per year, as opportunities are available. Speaker Bureau training will be provided.

Call Rebecca at 852-3813 or email Rebecca@cacwny.org

Koch Brothers Exposed reveals David and Charles Koch for using their billions to buy our government and increase their wealth, at the expense of everyone else.

Director Robert Greenwald believes that our system should not be sold to the highest bidder. Greenwald focuses on several news avenues the Koch brother have begun perusing, like suppressing the minimum wage, busting unions, disenfranchising voters, and environmental injustice.

To watch the trailer click here. 

“Provocative new film” Huffington Post

“Well researched” Rolling Stone

“Don’t miss this film” The Nation

WHEN: Tuesday, September 16th at 6pm

WHERE: River Rd. Volunteer Fire Hall – 39 Kaufman Ave. Tonawanda

FREE

We are pleased to host Josh Lerner, author of Making Democracy Fun at Talking Leaves Books, Monday, Sept. 8th at 7:30pm

Lerner is co-founder and executive director of the Participatory Budgeting Project in NYC. For over a decade, he has developed, researched and worked with dozens of community engagement and participatory budgeting processes in North America, Latin America and Europe. He completed a PhD in Politics at the New
School for Social Researcher and a Masters in Planning from the University of Toronto.

His articles have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, the National Civic Review, YES! Magazine, Shelterforce, the Journal of Public Deliberation, and the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management.

In Making Democracy Fun, Lerner draws on more than a decade of practical experience and extensive research, Lerner explains how participatory practices have been integrated into a variety of public programs in North and South America.

Join us for a FREE reading and book signing.

Monday, September 8th 7:30PM

Talking Leaves Books, 3158 Main St. Buffalo

Are you proud of Clean Air’s recent successes in the Tonawanda Coke campaign and the continued progress on the West Side? Concerned or frustrated with the environmental and health challenges that still threaten our community? Looking for a way to continue your involvement in keeping our community healthy and safe and our organization strong? Does any of this sound like you? Then you’ve got what it takes to apply to join Clean Air’s Board of Directors.

Members of the Clean Air Board of Directors come from many different backgrounds. We meet bimonthly, working cooperatively to help guide and shape Clean Air’s strategy, while keeping the organization stable, strong and effective. This includes planning and implementing fundraisers that help the organization continue its work. The most important skill we need in board members is a strong commitment to the health of our shared Western New York community and to Clean Air’s work and purpose. If you’re a Clean Air member, you’ve got both already. We need you!

Interested in learning more or in applying for a board position? Please get in touch with our office or fill out the application below and send to erin@cacwny.org We’ll be in touch about next steps!

Name:

Address:

Phone number:

Email:

1. Why would you like to serve as a member of Clean Air’s Board of Directors?

2. What skills can you offer to the organization as a member of the Board?

3. What skills would you like to develop during your term of service on the Board?

4. A significant part of the Board’s job is to raise funds for the organization. How can you contribute to raising funds for Clean Air?

5. Being a member of the Clean Air Board requires a time commitment – there are bimonthly board meetings, subcommittee meetings, and events. Are you willing and able to devote approximately 5 hours per month for Board service?

6. It is crucial that the Clean Air Board reflect the diversity of the communities that we serve. They Board should be inclusive in terms of age, race/ethnicity, sex, faith/religion, ability, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, social economic status, and more. Please tell us about how you would support Clean Air in reflecting the diversity of the community.

7. What questions do you have about the Board?

On Wednesday, the Buffalo News published secret tapes that caught Peace Bridge Authority President Sam Hoyt and Department of Transportation officials talking candidly about their Peace Bridge Plans.

They called residents and our members “sleeping dogs” who they were “trying not to kick” and bragged about brainwashing Olmsted Parks into supporting the plan.

Well, we know that we are NOT brainwashed and can NOT be bought off. 

It’s clear that we are being cut out of decisions that impact our lives. We don’t need more back-door deals, we need a process that includes us! Our people are sick and we need solutions that help solve the asthma crisis on Buffalo’s west side.

On Monday, we’re asking YOU to call the two councilmen who represent the neighborhood impacted by the diesel truck traffic from the Peace Bridge. We want to send a strong message that we are watching them, and that they must be transparent and include the community when dealing with the DOT and the Governor’s appointees on the Peace Bridge. We elect our representatives to speak on our behalf, not the DOT’s.

Help us amplify what you all have been saying all week by joining our call in day on Monday August 11th from 9am-4pm.

Here’s who to call:

Councilman Rivera      851-5125

Councilman  Pridgen   851-4980

And if you’re really angry;  Councilman Smith 851.5145

• Tell them who you are and that you are a constituent (or City of Buffalo Resident)

• Tell them you’re aware of how the Peace Bridge Authority (PBA) was speaking of residents – that they called us “dogs” and they were proud of “brainwashing” groups into supporting the plan

• Tell them the Common Council must demand the following:

• That the PBA should hold their meetings in the City of Buffalo, not just Canada so residents can attend

• That the Common Council must publicly denounce Sam Hoyt, Tony Masiello and Maria Lehman for their actions

• The Common Council must hold a special PUBLIC hearing on transparency and call the Peace Bridge Authority and DOT to the hearing to testify

• The Common Council must include the people most impacted by any future projects in all planning for trucking infrastructure

Back in May we submitted a proposal to present at the 3rd International Conference on Participatory Budgeting in North America: Real Money, Real Power and it was accepted!

Clean Air has been working hard over the past couple of years to implement a more democratic and participatory budgeting process in the City of Buffalo and tried to ensure that Tonawanda Coke’s fines from their violations stayed in the neighborhood and went towards community designed projects.

Our efforts to keep Tonawanda Coke’s fine money in Tonawanda and to get the City of Buffalo to adopt PB in their budgeting process have not gone unnoticed and we are so excited to share  the work we’re doing in Western New York with an international audience.

But we can’t do it without contributions from our family, friends, supporters and members! Attending this conference is important to us and our members not only because we will be presenting, but we will also get to learn from others who have implemented PB where they live and will return ready to share the skills and knowledge we need to make PB happen in our communities.

We are working hard to reach our goal through various fundraising events, but every bit helps.  If you are reading this I am asking you to please dig deep and make a contribution of upwards of $50 to help get us a step closer to making this amazing opportunity a reality and to pass this message along to your friends who also love democracy.

You can donate* online at www.cacwny.org/donate or by sending a check to Clean Air, 52 Linwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209, calling our offices 716.852.3813 or reaching out to any one of our fine delegation attending the conference: Natasha Soto, Rebecca Newberry, William Yelder, Tangia Delk and, Glenn Ratajczak.

Thank you for taking the time to read this “letter” and for your donation (in advance) towards a healthier, happier and more participatory democracy here, locally.

Video: Tangia Delk, Will Yelder and Natasha talk to Artvoice TV about PB

*please make a note that your donation is for the PB Conference. Thanks again!

July 22, 2014

Common Council to Explore Participatory Budgeting in Buffalo

New group will develop recommendations for implementing process in the Queen City

BUFFALO, NY – The Common Council voted unanimously today to establish a working group to learn more about Participatory Budgeting and develop recommendations for implementing the process in Buffalo. Participatory Budgeting is a different way to manage public money, and to engage people in government. It is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. It was first developed in Brazil in 1989 and there are now over 1,000 participatory budgets around the world used by counties, states, housing authorities, schools, universities and other public agencies. The resolution tasks a dynamic working group with learning more about the process.

“I am pleased to sponsor, along with my colleagues in the Buffalo Common Council, the establishment of a committee for the purpose of implementing a Participatory Budgeting process in the city of Buffalo, similar to what currently exists in other successful municipalities throughout the county,” said Councilmember Michael J. LoCurto.  “As evidenced by the full support of the Buffalo Common Council, participatory budgeting is an empowering tool that the City of Buffalo can utilize to engage city of Buffalo residents on how to spend public money, while simultaneously strengthening communities and deepening democracy.”

“This is a process we hope will grow, amplifying the voice and will of the people to get things accomplished that are most meaningful to their community,” said Councilmember Rasheed N.C. Wyatt.

“We are constantly looking for ways to get our residents more involved in local government and I believe participatory budgeting is a key process to getting more people involved, especially those populations that have historically have been disengaged or even prevented from participating in democracy, said Councilmember David Rivera. “Democracy is the one place where there are never too many cooks in the kitchen and I look forward to having more Buffalonians involved in local government.”

“Buffalo has an opportunity to join New York City, Chicago, Boston, and over 1,500 cities around the world in giving residents real power over real money, said Josh Lerner, Executive Director of the Participatory Budgeting Project, a non-profit organization that supports participatory budgeting across the US. “For over two years, community groups and officials in Buffalo have been laying the groundwork for participatory budgeting. With the White House now promoting participatory budgeting as a model for civic engagement, this is an ideal time for Buffalo to take public engagement to the next level.”

“I’m looking for to coming together so that we can see the outcomes we want in our neighborhood, said Tangia Delk, a city of Buffalo resident who attended the Participatory Budgeting conference in 2013. “Let’s budget together, listen to one another, and do right by this money and our community.”

The resolution is the culmination of many years of organizing and local learning about participatory budgeting. In 2012, now New York City Council President Melissa Mark-Viverito who has implemented PB in her council district visited Buffalo and spoke with the Common Council and local community groups. The city has also hosted Josh Lerner, director of the Participatory Budgeting Project. In 2013, a delegation of community leaders and organizations led by the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York traveled to Chicago to attend the Participatory Budgeting Conference. The trip was supported by Councilmember Michael J. LoCurto, David A. Rivera, and Joseph Golombek, Jr.

Clean Air: Organizing for Health and Justice is a grassroots environmental health and justice organization that works throughout the region to improve public health, the environment and our democracy.

Over the years, Clean Air’s work has grown larger and deeper. As we’ve expanded to new neighborhoods and new fights, our staff and team of volunteers has also grown. So our board has found us a beautiful, new office where we can hold community meetings, phone bank, and our staff has the space to work comfortably.

Our new location is at 52 Linwood Avenue in Buffalo.

On Monday, July 28 from 4-6pm, we are holding an Open House & Potluck. Please consider stopping by see our new office, get an update on current events, share some good food, and meet the members and supporters who help keep our campaigns running!

We managed to buy almost nothing new – and we’d like to keep it that way! We need the following items to make the office feel finished and comfortable. If you can donate any of these items please just give us a call at 716-852-3813.

Garbage cans and recycling bins

Floor and table lamps

Plates

Bowls

Fans

Area rugs

Folding tables

Suspension rods for windows

Chairs for conference room

Comfy chair or couch

Door mats

Plunger

Mop

Broom and dust pan

Clock

Cloth napkins