Latest News

January 10, 2018

Community Groups to Unveil their Policy Agenda for 2018

This year’s public roll-out of the Community Agenda will take place on Friday, January 12th at 2pm, at the Frank E. Merriweather Library Auditorium, 1324 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo.

December 21, 2017

Thoughts on Recent Police News, Policy Brief on Body Cameras, and Fact Sheet on Buffalo Police

Recent events have underscored the importance of making changes to the laws, policies, and practices that govern policing in Buffalo. In recent years, PPG has published extensive research on policing and made numerous recommendations for reforms based on best practices from other cities. This week, …

December 18, 2017

PPG Partners Vote on 2018 Community Agenda

Partnership for the Public Good welcomed 52 partners and 62 total community members to the first floor community room of the Market Arcade on December 15th, 2017. Their task? Vote on 21 different pitches to settle 2018’s “Community Agenda,” an amalgamation of policy planks that …

November 21, 2017

City Council to Create Community Advisory Body for Police Oversight

The Advisory Body will be made up of City Residents and will advise The Common Council on improving community & police relations.

November 14, 2017

PPG, Open Buffalo, and Drug Policy Alliance Publish New Policy Brief, "Advancing Racial Equity and Public Health: Smarter Marijuana Laws in Western New York"

The brief analyzes the last five years of data on arrests for low-level marijuana possession within the City of Buffalo and across Erie County, obtained from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. It explores the consistent racial disparities in arrests from 2012-2016, the …

November 14, 2017

"Racial disparity found in local marijuana arrests, study says" Published by the Buffalo News

"Authored by the Partnership for the Public Good, a local think tank, the study is intended to boost efforts at reforming New York's marijuana laws. Reform advocates say the costs of marijuana prohibition far outweigh the benefits, especially given the national movement toward legalization."

November 12, 2017

Buffalo News: "Disparities in marijuana arrests bring call for legalization"

"Partnership for the Public Good, Open Buffalo and the Drug Policy Alliance are hosting a community conversation on the impacts of unequal marijuana prohibition Monday at 6 p.m. at 2421 Main St."

October 18, 2017

People Power: Joining Forces to Address Gentrification in Buffalo

“Gentrification is a profit-driven race and class remake of urban, working class communities of color that have suffered from a history of disinvestment and abandonment,” said Dawn Philips, Executive Director of Right to the City Alliance at the Anti-Gentrification Summit convened in …

September 27, 2017

Police release some data in response to complaints about checkpoints

For Pridgen, the problem is when checkpoints are used unfairly. He said he would like to see the city adopt an idea submitted by the Partnership for the Public Good to use "fix-it tickets" that don't impose a penalty if the problem is rectified, instead of tickets that come with automatic fines.

September 27, 2017

Read Our New Policy Brief: "Better Policing for the City of Buffalo"

Our latest policy brief, "Better Policing for the City of Buffalo: Toward Community, Transparency, and Justice," recommends that the Buffalo Police Department expand its community policing efforts through culture change and incentives, a diversified police force, increased training, improved …

September 26, 2017

Police Oversight Committee hears calls for officer arrests, end of Strike Force and more

During the meeting, the group Partnership for the Public Good briefly presented its proposal for police reforms. They include regular performance reviews, required hours participating in community policing, more recruitment from diverse communities and additional de-escalation training.

August 9, 2017

Community Police Officers Hold Meetings

Do you know your Community Police Officers? Each district in Buffalo has two officers whose job it is to get to know the community, and every month they hold public meetings where you can voice your concern, ideas, or just get to know them! Hope to see you there!