2014 has been an exciting year at Clean Air!

We’ve witnessed the sentencing of Tonawanda Coke and won a full investigation after the plant’s explosion, we’ve won a commitment from the state to invest millions of dollars in pollution reducing technology at the Peace Bridge Plaza,  we hosted a very successful Just Transitions Conference to plan our fight for workers and our tax dollars in case our coal plant retires,  won a Common Council resolution to explore Participatory Budgeting in Buffalo and kicked off the City’s PB committee, joined residents in Seneca Babcock fighting for their quality of life, we’ve presented at the 3rd International Conference on Participatory Budgeting in Oakland California, won a historic victory on Amigone Crematory – ending over 20 years of human ash that polluted a neighborhood, we’ve hosted social and economic  justice leaders like Les Leopold, Brent Bucknum, Josh Lerner, Claire Miller, Sean Sweeney and Jean Pogge…

and don’t forget… we’ve moved into a bigger office and grown our staff!

Below are a few of our staff’s favorite moments. What was yours?

Erin: My favorite moment was sitting with the staff and membership at our retreat at Stella Niagara singing along as Bill led us. I loved learning about the songs of resistance, making noise with people I love, and regenerating ourselves for the fights to come!

Natasha: My favorite moment of 2014 was in Oakland California for the 3rd International Conference on Participatory Budgeting in North America. As an organization we have been researching, advocating for and promoting PB as a means to allocate public dollars in the Tonawanda Coke case and in the City of Buffalo. We attended the 2nd International Conference in Chicago with Heart of the City Neighborhoods, Hispanics United, Councilman Rivera’s office and members before trying the process out in Tonawanda. So for the third conference we thought we would apply to present on the work we’ve been doing organizationally- and our proposals were accepted!
We prepped for months, for many of our members it was the first time they would be presenting on a panel in general, let alone for an international audience. Anyway, 3 of our members were presenting on the first day of the conference, almost back to back, on two different panels, so of course Rebecca and I attended both sessions. I was taking pictures on my phone and on our camera, smiling from ear to ear- I was so proud of our members and our organization. In between our member’s presentations I received an email from Ms. Lehman from the NYS Thruway Dept. where she informed me that the Public Bridge Authority just passed a resolution to invest approximately $3 Million on green infrastructure to act as buffers between the Peace Bridge Plaza and the residents- something we have been pushing the PBA to do for years.  Yes, I think that was my favorite moment of 2014.

Rebecca: My favorite moment from this year was working with the technical team to review and comment the DuPont Yerkes air permit. We aim to get technology in the plant to improve the safety and health  of  workers and residents who live near the facility. Our group read and reviewed 100’s of documents, met weekly to problem solve and try to identify ways the company could monitor more accurately, and find ways the facility could reduce , emissions. After we set our comments into DEC we held a press conference outside the plant, and were joined by allies in Labor, the City of Tonawanda Mayor’s Office, and from the Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health. Being able to comment on something like an air permit took a lot of patience and it was a learning curve for all of us. Our demands have now been sent on to EPA – and I am excited to see what next year will bring.

Rachel: My favorite moment was the vote at the Erie County Legislature that kept Amigone Crematory from opening again in our members’ backyards! The anticipation as each legislator cast their vote and the collective shift in energy as we all realized that the motion had passed was such a special experience. It reminded me that real people can make change happen! If you missed  it, check out our video of the vote here.

Les is the co-founder and director of The Labor Institute and serves a strategic consultant to the Blue Green Alliance.

Author of How to Make a Million Dollars and Hour: Why Financial Elites Get Away with Siphoning Off America’s Wealth and many other books.

Les will lead a discussion about the ways which Wall St. has revolutionized the economy and how it impacts the shop floor, the community and the environment.

This event is sponsored by the Western New York Labor Federation, Clean Air: Organizing for Health and Justice,  The Coalition for Economic Justice, and the Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

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