LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring PUSH Buffalo for its outstanding service
to the community

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor PUSH
Buffalo for its outstanding service to the community; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 2005, PUSH Buffalo is a local membership-based
community organization fighting to make affordable housing a reality on
Buffalo's West Side; and
WHEREAS, PUSH Buffalo was established with the goal of creating strong
neighborhoods with quality affordable housing, decreasing the rate of
housing abandonment by reclaiming empty houses from neglectful public
and private owners and redeveloping them for occupancy by low-income
residents, and developing neighborhood leaders capable of gaining commu-
nity control over the development process and planning for the future of
the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, The mission of PUSH Buffalo is to mobilize residents to
create neighborhoods with quality, affordable housing, expand local
hiring opportunities, and advance economic justice in Buffalo; and
WHEREAS, PUSH Buffalo stands behind six core values which include:
Member Involvement, Inclusiveness, Ownership, Results-Oriented, Rele-
vance, and Justice; and
WHEREAS, PUSH Buffalo has set high goals for itself; in the near
future these goals include: building a more democratic, action-oriented
organization that addresses poor housing conditions and the lack of
living wage jobs in our neighborhoods; increasing property ownership of
low-income residents through the PUSH's Mutual Housing Association;
decreasing the rate of housing abandonment by reclaiming properties from
neglectful public and private owners and redeveloping them for occupan-
cy; leading direct action campaigns against corporations and government
agencies whose practices contribute to the high poverty rate in their
community; and creating a replicable model of grassroots neighborhood
organizing and redevelopment that can be deployed in other low-income
communities throughout the Rust Belt; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor PUSH Buffalo for its outstanding service to the community; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Aaron Bartley, Executive Director and Co-founder, PUSH
Buffalo.