Just some great examples of how the BNMC is spurring growth in the area.

We decided to show some great examples of how the BNMC is really spurring growth. ECC should really be on top of this and take advantage of it. Students want to be in a walkable, dense area with access to everything. We want to have a campus that can provide internship possibilities, networking and ultimately jobs. ECC needs to realize that the BNMC is our future and putting a heath and science building in Amherst does exactly the opposite of what we want.

Today the global vascular building was featured in Buffalorising because it is almost complete. This building will provide many jobs that ECC can provide education for. Great stuff!
http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/09/construction-watch-global-vascular-institute.html

Today another project was featured - this is housing related. This building has been rehabbed and was a spin off of all the jobs and growing housing demand that the BNMC is providing!
http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/09/1040-delaware-avenue-nears-completion-benefits-from-medical-campus-growth.html

Today on WBFO there was an article about the completion of St. Vincents Health and Science Charter School. This is a high school that felt that they needed to relocate from Tonawanda to the BNMC area in order to take advantage of the location and opportunities to link students to the industry. Additionally, they rehabbed a beautiful, vacant building that was abandoned by ECC!
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1848948/WBFO.News/.Health.Sciences.Charter.School.opens.in.new.building

August ECC Updates!

August was a quiet month.. sorta..
Bernice had a five question interview in Artvoice which can be viewed here: http://artvoice.com/issues/v10n27/five_questions

On the 31st of August, Greg, Bernice and Jim went to the ECC Board meeting where Greg had the opportunity to speak for two minutes. It was great to see that Darius Pridgen and Joel Giambra showed up! The meeting went so well, the board is now twisted into a pretzel as they try to decide how to fund this unwanted Amherst project.
The link is here: http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/09/ecc-north-campus-cxpansion-dead-or-dying.html

To recap - If you want to sign our petition, here is the link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/595/026/589/

Again, we thank you all for your support. We are working very hard to get ECC to link the students to the jobs, internships and networking potential that the BNMC holds. Here are some photos of the action.

Is ECC in Trouble???

This article was published on Wednesday.... looks like they are having some trouble over there with their accreditation.

http://bit.ly/qhYGms

Artvoice Coverage!!

Yes, Geoff Kelly asked us five questions for an artvoice article. Please read!

http://artvoice.com/issues/v10n27/five_questions

Sign our Petition!

Here is the link to the petition. We have growing support from the public, especially after todays buffalo news article!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/595/026/589/

Business First Article!

This article was published on Wednesday after Bernice went to speak to the ECC Board of Trustees meeting. The meeting went just as we thought it would. No one seemed to care and the BOT declined any comments or discuss about the issue. It really seems like they are making these important, regional decisions on their own, despite the public opposition!


http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2011/06/29/radle-pushes-for-ecc-downtown-growth.html

You have your foot in your mouth, Patricia Krzesinski.

Today this article appeared in the Buffalo News - http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/from-our-readers/another-voice/article474406.ece

Talking about putting your foot in your mouth! One day ECC is promising a compromise, the next they want to close the downtown city campus.A huge thank you goes out to Patricia Krzesinski for making the ECC Board of Trustees look out of touch and shortsighted!

Sign our petition!!!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/595/026/589/

ECC should look to the city - Buffalo News

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/buffalo-news-editorials/article453917.ece

Giambra wants to sue ECC - new video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FcJeYQ8-Ks

We Made Tee Shirts!

If you are interested in sporting one, we would be happy to get one made up for you. DOWNTOWN OR BUST!

Rochester gets it.

The City of Rochester is now looking into finding a downtown location for their community college! That is great news! (see link)

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110611/NEWS01/106110344/MCC-looking-3-possible-sites-downtown-campus?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Adam Zygus features our issue in this Sunday's Buffalo News

Here's the link: http://blogs.buffalonews.com/adam-zyglis/2011/06/june-11-2011.html

The issue of ECC consolidation comes to the forefront.

The ECC version of Pandora's Box is being opened. Lawmakers raise issue over whether the three campus system of Erie Community College should be consolidated to two. In a previous post, State Senator Mark Grisanti and State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt formally backed the idea of bringing ECC Health Science Downtown. An a new article, the Buffalo News asks political leaders for their opinion on  the issue.

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/erie-county/article451235.ece

Grisanti and Hoyt are in! Bring it Downtown!

New York State Senator Mark Grisanti and Assemblyman Sam Hoyt have sent a letter to ECC President Jack Quinn to shift construction of the proposed Health Science Building North Campus to City Campus. Their move, powerful on  the part of the Western New York delegation, shows the desire to place the Health Science industry at one location.


The two men feel that maintaining three campuses is insustainable, and that "research presented in the DGEIS [Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement] suggests that the costs of maintaining three separate campuses far outweigh the benefits."


The article ends, "We strongly urge you and your board to reconsider your plans to build a major new building on the north campus but rather consider building it between your downtown campus and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus."


With a growing state delegation wanting to bring ECC's Health Science programs Downtown, hope is around the corner.


Link:
http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/06/grisanti-and-quinn-time-for-ecc-to-consider-consolidation.html

Hot Off the Press: Rocco Termini looks at AM&A's for ECC

In a recent editorial by Donn Esmonde of the Buffalo News, the issue of bringing ECC construction to Downtown makes a return. It was provoked by a meeting with Developer Rocco Termini who at a recent meeting at Sea Bar unveiled his plans for the AM&A's building. Pointing at a plan featuring a renovated AM&A's building, Termini says, “This is what we should do.” When Rocco Termini says it, you know what he says equate to results. 


As Donn Esmonde explains, the benefits of moving the proposed ECC Health Science Building to Downtown Buffalo will "reverse sprawl" and add to the ever growing Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.


Check it out!
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/columns/donn-esmonde/article450298.ece

DOWNTOWN OR BUST!!! Meeting notes from June 7, 2011!

Today we had a meeting with Jack Quinn and the City Council!
It went very very well, we are very happy. Joel Giambra spoke against building in Amherst, several council members questioned Jack and the ECC Board of Trustees and we really had a lot of insightful comments. The ending comment was an older gentleman who explained that young people want to be downtown and stated it over and over again! We really think people left knowing how we felt! Most importantly - our comments, preparation and research really paid off because Jack Quinn was very surprised! It was great to feel as if we were doing the right thing for the region. Building the health and science building downtown really makes perfect sense and it is great to see so many people thinking the same thing.

We made headlines with the Buffalo News - http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article447227.ece

And here is a picture we took outside of city hall!

slimeballs!

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article425068.ece

ECC's corruption is constantly seen in the news... this is just sad.

This is what Quinn has to say.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/buffalo-news-editorials/article418652.ece

A great picture as to why ECC should be downtown, in our regional transportation hub!

Look how far you can get in 33 minutes from the downtown campus???? 

This is because of the regional transportation availability that the downtown area provides!

The Buffalo Common Council Passed the ECC Downtown Resolution!

YES!

Buffalorising posted the details on the approval of the ECC Downtown resolution. It is great to see the leadership of the city recognizing what is best for the region. Thank you to Joe Golombek for writing the resolution as well as the many council members who approved it!

Great news!
http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/04/common-council-items-of-interest-18.html

Sam Hoyt Letter

Today we received a letter in support of ECC being downtown from SAM HOYT! Yes!
AND today we are meeting with common council members Darius Pridgen and Joe Golombek. Will update with the meeting details later today.

Thanks everyone for your support.
If you have yet to sign this petition - DO IT. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/595/026/589/

Buffalorising Article! Invest in ECC's Downtown Campus.

Great! People are now seeing what we are all about. We have had some great comments and there is a lot of support out there for ECC downtown. Thanks everyone!

http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/04/group-formed-to-advocate-for-erie-community-colleges-city-campus.html

Artvoice Blog Article - ECC Downtown Campus Resolution Drafted by Councilmen Golombek

Yes!

Artvoice link!

Potential Properties for Downtown ECC

Its pretty clear that there is an abundance of surface parking (aka shovel ready) sites available at the Downtown Campus.

WOW - New Health Sciences Charter School in Downtown Buffalo!

A new health sciences charter school has been announced for the beautiful, historic and vacant EB green building on Ellicott! Its important to note that they are moving from tonawanda to downtown to be closer to the BNMC which will provide internships and other learning opportunities for their students. This is also an amazing example of adaptive reuse. Excellent!

This proves that educators and the City of Buffalo can understand the economic and educational benefits of being located within a world class medical campus. Why doesn't ECC get it?

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/buffalo/article390837.ece

PETITION! Please sign and send to your friends/parents/relatives etc!

So, the idea of a petition came from a random ECC student via our email today. ECC kids are smart, petitions are an easy way to figure out how the public feels.

Please sign this and pass it along! Thanks.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/595/026/589/

Renderings from not so long ago... what happened?

A sudden change of heart or a change in political agenda?

ECC Mission Statement

We took this directly from ECC's Website which you can read here: ECC Web

ECC’s own mission statement says the college “strives toward a future where education is accessible and convenient to all.” Yet the North Campus is conveniently accessible to only people who drive cars. It is an hour’s trek by public transit from downtown Buffalo, and in Buffalo 31.4% of all households have no access to an automobile.

Placing this investment in Amherst would be unfair to thousands of young people striving to get ahead in life.

ECC will become a national and regional model for the community college of the 21st century. ECC wants to be known as the most student-friendly and accessible college and the place where success begins. ECC will be an inspirational choice where students of all levels of ability attend because it is the best match to their lifestyle and a respected institution among employers within higher education and throughout the region.
The new science and medical building deserves to be downtown in a world class, 21st century medical campus. Explain to us how building this in Amherst is inspirational?

Downtown or Bust

Young Citizens for ECC has officially been formed. 
We have formed to push for more inspiring, innovative progress at ECC. We are tired of saying "What are they thinking?" and want to encourage our leaders to have the courage to stand up for what is right for ECC and  Western New York.


If you haven't heard, Chris Collins and Jack Quinn have proposed a new Health and Science building at the North Campus in Amherst. While we appreciate this investment, we believe that this building belongs downtown, the doorstep of the world class Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

There are multiple reasons that our Downtown Campus deserves a facility like this, far to many to list.
The major reasons why we want this innovative facility are:
1. This innovative addition to downtown will assist in the growth and overall success of the regional medical campus which will have long term educational and economic benefits for the entire Western New York region.
2. Having this facility within arms reach of such world class research will open unlimited opportunities for the students of ECC to learn and grow.
3. The downtown campus is a regional transportation hub and with 32% of Buffalo's population being without a car, having fast, reliable transportation access in a must.
4. Access is key - The Downtown Campus has access to 28,000 parking spots, 1 metro rail, approximately 32 bus lines, 3 major interstate highways and is located in the center of the region.
5. The Downtown campus has been neglected and deserves the investment.
6. Amherst is already a traffic nightmare with 23,400 cars/day on Main Street - why would they want more? Downtown will gladly accept it.

We really could go on and on here about why the Downtown Campus needs this investment. We really just think that putting a health and science building within a major, world class medical campus just makes perfect sense.

Luckily, with the new budget crisis, there is a funding gap and the project is at a temporary halt. This gives us the opportunity to bring this issue to the attention of our regional leaders and demand an inspiring, 21st century plan for Erie Community College.

Here is the link to our new facebook group -Young Citizens for ECC Facebook Group
We also have an email set up for any questions - youngcitizensforecc@gmail.com

Thank you for your support.