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March 29, 2023

Buffalo News: "Rod Watson: Civilian review of cops? Another reform may have to come first"

Rod Watson | March 29, 2023 When you get right down to it, Buffalo’s inability to get enough Common Council votes to implement meaningful civilian review of cops might have as much to do with election reform as it does with police reform. Buffalo’s police union vehemently opposes the …

March 23, 2023

Buffalo News: "Some still press for Buffalo police review board. Others vow to 'exhaust every resource to fight it'"

By Deidre Williams | March 23, 2023 Creating a civilian review board to handle complaints of police misconduct emerged as one of the bigger changes pushed for in Buffalo following the 2020 protests over policing and George Floyd's death. Among those backing the idea included the Partnership for the …

October 10, 2022

Buffalo Joins Families and Advocates Across New York to Call on Hochul to End Abusive DOCCS Package Ban

Six rallies took place across the state in response to a prison directive that overburdens families of incarcerated people. On September 27, 2022, Free the People WNY and the Partnership for the Public Good gathered with the families of incarcerated people, organizers, and advocates in …

October 6, 2022

Townhall Remembers Daniel Prude On His Birthday

Community members gathered on September 20th to remember Daniel Prude on what would have been his 44th birthday. Prude was killed by Rochester police while experiencing a mental health crisis in 2020. The Buffalo gathering was one of four across the state honoring Prude's memory and calling …

May 19, 2022

WKBW: "Community members call for executive order to halt Buffalo City budget vote"

By: Pheben Kassahun | May 19, 2022 With Saturday's events still so fresh in people's minds, some people want city leaders in Buffalo to pause plans to advance the Mayor's budget proposal. Thursday's gloomy day accurately depicts how the greater Buffalo community is feeling, as members mourn the …

May 11, 2022

WGRZ: "Buffalo neighbors criticize aspects of Mayor's proposed budget"

By: Rob Hackford | May 11, 2022 A line of Buffalo neighbors shared their criticisms of Mayor Byron Brown's proposed budget Tuesday evening, during a public hearing held by the Common Council. Four budget items garnered the most attention, the Mayor's 4% property tax and garbage fee increase, …

April 24, 2022

Buffalo News: "More than 225 Western New York cops have been suspended or fired since 2017"

By: Charlie Specht | April 24, 2022 More than 225 police officers and jail guards in Western New York have been suspended, fired or resigned while facing allegations of misconduct in the last five years. A Buffalo News investigation of more than 1,300 police records that until recently were …

April 9, 2022

WBFO: "Local criminal justice reformer calls foul on bail reform rollbacks"

Gov. Kathy Hochul is rolling back criminal justice reform laws that have been on the books since January 2020 specifically giving judges more discretion in setting bail for defendants. Reform advocates like Partnership for the Public Good Policy Agenda Director Tanvier Peart are calling foul on the …

April 8, 2022

Buffalo News: "Agreement on bail reform will give judges ability to consider danger a defendant poses"

By: Maki Becker | April 8, 2022 The debate over bail reform has been one of the most contentious elements of Gov. Kathy Hochul's first budget negotiations as the state's top leader. Amid a jump in gun violence in cities from Buffalo to New York City, she sought to retool the landmark …

March 30, 2022

WBFO: "Gramaglia laments bail reforms following car chase, shootout"

By: Thomas O'Neil-White | March 30, 2022 Following Tuesday night’s car chase, during which four people, including three police officers, were shot, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia rebuked bail reforms, saying it allows dangerous people out of jail and back out on the …

February 3, 2022

WBEN: "Lawmakers weigh-in on call for community benefits agreement in new stadium deal"

By: Tom Puckett| February 3, 2022 When a deal on a new lease for the Buffalo Bills and new stadium is finally reached and announced, it will eventually make its way to the desks of Erie County and New York State lawmakers for review and approval. Without the details being yet known, some area …