By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – A local organization is demanding housing reforms to help clean up City neighborhoods. Members of the People United for Sustainable Housing, known as PUSH, appeared before the Common Council Community Development Committee Wednesday.
A small group of residents, mostly from the West Side, appeared at City Hall Wednesday to voice their concerns about abandoned properties, landlord absenteeism and vacant lots.
"It means people don't care and they should. It is our home. Clean up your home."
"I don't think it is fair for the residents of the West Side."
"Instead of spending money to build new homes, they could use the money to fix up the old homes."
PUSH is calling on lawmakers to change the City's foreclosure policy. Aaron Bartley says too many out-of-town scam artists have taken advantage of Buffalo's lower housing prices leaving behind abandon and dilapidated properties.
"Each block in our neighborhood has an empty property that is the direct result of negligence on the part of a company called JDR and the city which signed this deal," Bartley said. "Every time there is a empty home on the block, it affects the entire block, and makes it unlivable."
Executive Director of Strategic Planning Timothy Wanamaker says the city is faced with a huge amount of vacant housing with few resources. He says right now they are taking a "block by block" approach.
"I wish we could do it today. It would save my job from being as difficult as it is. That it is not how it works," Wannamaker said. "But you can help us to focus on it, and work to save those neighborhoods that are on the brink of going into that direction and help pull them back to be more sustainable."
But Wanamaker says they are listening to the residents concerns, and need to partner with the community, as they seek private resources to help clean up the mess.
PUSH is also asking the city to expand the Homesteading Program to allow low- income residents to buy homes for $1 with the promise to keep up the property.
Some Council members say they are trying to reform a 30-year housing process that won't happen overnight.