THIS WAS WHAT WAS ON THE PAGE LAST FALL:

Dear Members and Supporters:

We ask you to sign our petition to 'Preserve historically-designated Columbus Park-Prospect Hill Community'. It is time to hold our elected officials accountable. They have been silent about our crisis far too long!

We need 1,000 signatures and we're half-way there!
PLEASE, SIGN THE PETITION NOW!!!

Here's why:

• The Buffalo Common Council is being pressured to vote on a flawed and incomplete expansion project without completing the review process.
• We haven’t been informed when the project will be put on the Common Council calendar for a vote.
• Critical comments that describe in detail the deficiencies, violations and flawed EIS process have never been posted on the PBA website… Information is being intentionally withheld from the public AND THAT’S WRONG.

WE HAVE RIGHTS!
It is imperative to tell Mayor Brown and the Common Council that we are opposed to the City voting on an incomplete EIS that even the City of Buffalo Strategic Planning Department says is wrought with violations and deficiencies. We are opposed to Mayor Brown endorsing this project or the Common Council voting on:

• selling our roads
• granting permits
• granting right-of-way access to Busti, Niagara, Porter or any residential street
• relinquishing any control over the eminent domain process
• legislating any actions that would allow the PBA to move forward with an incomplete and deficient project

WITHHOLD VOTING
We are asking the Mayor and the Common Council to STOP the PBA from irrevocably destroying our community and to NOT ratify the PBA expansion project.

The preferred expansion alternative cannot be built without the Mayor of Buffalo and the Common Council's abandonment of public resources they hold in trust for the benefit of the public. 
 
These resources currently serve a unique neighborhood where various ethnic groups and income levels are served by the common municipal treasures — Lake Erie, Niagara River, Historic Landmarks, streets and neigborhoods, and Historic Park Land.

The preferred expansion will wipe out one of the most ethnically and income diverse neighborhoods along the northern half of Columbus Parkway and re-segregate the community along race and income strata.

We have documented legal proof that the PBA’s expansion plan is not in compliance with or is in violation of: 

• The State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)
• The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• The NY State Department of Environmental Protection (DEC)
• The Department of Transportation Act

No One Has the Authority to Operate Above the Law!

These imposed requirements not only fall on the Public Bridge Authority but also on the agencies whose discretion must be exercised and in agreement to grant permits, approvals and funding: the Federal Highway Administration, The New York State Department of Transportation and the City of Buffalo.

Why Does the PBA Have Eminent Domain Rights and Desire to be a Super Entity?

The PBA believes it can insulate itself as a 'super entity' in the guise of "international compact entity" and ignore the laws of New York, The United States, Ontario and the Canadian government.

Therefore, we have every right to ask our political leadership, the Mayor and the Common Council to respect and uphold state and federal law.
   
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The City of Buffalo and The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) have outlined multiple violations and deficiencies. The Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy, Landmark Society, The Sierra Club, The Waterfront Coalition, The New Millennium Group (NMG), West Side Community Collaborative (WSCC) the West Side Community Services board of directors, numerous block clubs, businesses, private attorneys and concerned citizens have submitted written comments characterizing the DEIS and preferred expansion project as flawed, incomplete, and failing to meet standards required by law.

WHY IS THIS CRITICAL INFORMATION BEING WITHHELD FROM THE PUBLIC?

On January 23, 2008 Buffalo was awarded a very high profile distinction: it was named a community with one of the Seven most endanged historic sites in the Empire State by the Preservation League of New York State.
 
The award seeks to protect the same intact, architecturally significant historic neighborhood of Columbus Park-Prospect Hill that the Public Bridge Authority (PBA) seeks to take by eminent domain in the spring of 2008!

The Preservation League of New York State, the EPA and the National Trust (NTHP) have sent a very powerful message about this community that cannot be ignored.
 
It is time for Mayor Brown and Common Council Members to listen to the people who have elected them to serve!

Thank you. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Kathy Mecca, President
Niagara Gateway Columbus Park Association
A community of good people living in the shadow of the Peace Bridge