Media! Media! Media! Lots of Support For Expanding ECC City Campus Instead of Amherst!

We have had a TON of pretty great press this week about the ECC expansion. We are very thankful for everyone's support on this issue - we had over 40 people attend the meeting on Tuesday and several news outlets. Your attendance on Tuesday was so important - without it, we would not have seen so many media hits on this issue. The only ones that did not attend the City Council meeting were the decision makers - Mark Poloncarz and The ECC Staff. 

We have reached out to Mark Poloncarz several times for a meeting but he continues to not respond. We will keep you all updated if and when a meeting is scheduled. 

If you want to reach out to personally let Mark Poloncarz know where you stand on  this issue - do it.  We are encouraging everyone to write emails, letters and make phone calls in support of expanding the ECC City Campus. Email: countyexecutive@erie.gov. 

Check out the media hits here:


http://news.wbfo.org/post/critics-blast-ecc-north-expansion

http://artvoice.com/issues/v12n29/news_briefs/ecc_north_lawsuit

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130718/CITYANDREGION/130719118/1010

http://www.buffalonews.com/Article/20130718/CITYANDREGION/130719153

http://buffalorising.com/2013/07/joel-giambra-promises-a-lawsuit-to-halt-ecc-science-building-in-amherst/

Some of our favorite quotes:

• " Councilmember Darius Pridgen says instead of serving the community,  ECC is acting like an Ivy League institution.  " - WBFO News
• "College should be a no-brainer. It should not be an uphill battle for them to go and get a two-year degree.” - Bernice Radle - Buffalo Rising
• “There will be a lawsuit,” said Joel Giambra. 

WE NEED YOU ON TUESDAY - 716 - @ 1PM.

On Tuesday, July 16th at 1pm - WE NEED YOU.

There is a VERY important community input meeting where we need supporters to stand up and speak in favor of supporting a stronger downtown campus. We need all hands on deck for this. 

If you cannot attend - we are urging you to write a letter and send it to your common council members, Governor Cuomo and ECC. Any questions - Email us at youngcitizensforecc@gmail.com 
Buffalo Contact Info: http://preservationready.org/Resources/BuffaloCommonCouncil

Quick ECC Talking Points:

1. With 47% of ECC Students coming from Buffalo, the City Campus should be the only place where a new building gets built. 
2. Currently the City Campus only serves 25% of the entire campus, which is not enough! 
3. Space isn't an issue - the County purchased several vacant lots downtown for the expansion of ECC City back in the 2000's. 
4. The proposed $30 Million dollar STEM building has 8 or 10 programs that are NOT STEM related. This is a disquise for ECC to get the building they want put in Amherst. 
5. Our smart growth legislation sign in 2011 says that continued support for Sprawl is not allow. THIS IS SPRAWL.
6. This is segregation by design. The City Campus will now have "workforce development and GED" programs while North Campus in Amherst has the degrees that will move towards a 4 year degree. 
7. A trip to North Campus from Buffalo's West Side requires 2 buses and takes one hour each way. With over 30% of the City of Buffalo without an automobile, ECC should be expanding downtown - where we have over 30 bus lines that feed into downtown!

Here is the common council agenda http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/files/1_2_1/CommitteeMeetings/Meetings2013/CD2013-0716.pdf

You can read the study report that EASILY justifies the need for downtown development over Amherst here: http://www2.erie.gov/environment/sites/www2.erie.gov.environment/files/uploads/24%20May%202013%20ECC%20Program%20Needs%20Analysis%20and%20Space%20Utilization%20Assessment.pdf

Here are some older articles for you: 
http://buffalorising.com/2011/06/young-citizens-to-ecc-downtown-or-bust/
http://berniceradle.com/2012/01/20/young-citizens-for-ecc-addresses-cuomo-on-ecc-north-expansion/

Bernice, Greg and Jim meet with Council Member Pridgen and Former County Ex. Joel Giambra about ECC. 

ECC to Study Feasibility of New Building!

Great news!
ECC has been required to hire a consultant to determine where the best location for the new building is. This is a great step forward for Buffalo because hopefully this will open the eyes of the College and County as to what young people need/want. The City Campus needs to be at the center of their operations due to it's accessibility to mass transit, employment options and the networking and internship opportunities. 

We are thankful for Erie County who is requiring the study as part of accessing the funding that was provided for the new building. 

You can read the article here.  and we included the text below. 

Erie County and its two-year community college hired a consultant to determine where to build a new academic building.

A contract for JMZ Architects and Planners of Glens Falls was approved recently by the Erie Community College board of trustees and the Erie County Legislature. The contract is for $171,200, while the college and county have each set aside $100,000 for the study.

ECC’s push for a $30 million building at the Amherst campus drew criticism earlier this year from groups that want the college to build in the city, not the suburbs.

The consultant’s 10-step study, which will include financial and educational analyses and community input, will help determine a clear-cut plan for the new building, saidMichael Farrell, an ECC spokesman.

JMZ’s timeline for the report is six months. The firm will meet with a committee of county, college and community members throughout the process, said William Reuter, ECC chief administrator and financial officer.

College President Jack Quinn said in March that a new academic building at the North Campus in Amherst is key to boosting enrollment. He said students who would attend classes at that campus are instead choosing Niagara County Community College, and he blamed ECC’s infrastructure.