Here’s UB President John Simpson stumping for his UB2020 plan to “over 600 community leaders” last September at Babeville. Looks like a healthy cross-section of our community, huh? You can read the press release from the UB News Center here.

Now, the plan is coming under criticism from United University Professions, NYSUT, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the AFL-CIO and several other labor unions, expressing grave concerns about the plan’s impact on workers, and the potential for it to radically change the public nature—not only of UB, but of the entire SUNY system.

Here’s a link to the story as reported on the University Heights Answer Lady blog, and below, as reported on Monday by Tom Campbell at WNY Labor Today:

The University At Buffalo’s A-S/2020 Bill Runs Into Trouble With
Organized Labor/Union Officials Say Present Draft Is Anti-Labor (more…)

Click here if you want to check out salary info for the NFTA. Also Roswell Park, SUNY (nearly 3000 pages worth)—lots and lots of interesting information. Thanks to our compadres at the Empire Center for New York State Policy.

Now, what’s all this about raising fares to $2?

Tonight at 6:30pm in the auditorium of the downtown library, everyone is invited to attend a public hearing on the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus—North End Projects. Among the projects planned are a 300,000 square foot Medical Office Building to be owned and operated by Ciminelli Development Company, Inc., which will lease medical office space to a variety of tenants. Also planned is a 200,000 square foot skilled nursing facility, and a “multi-modal transportation structure that can accommodate 1,200 to 1,600 cars”—not to be confused with a parking garage.

The most ballyhooed project is the 500,000-600,000 square foot Global Vascular Institute, which, according to the report sponsored by BNMC, Kaleida Health, Ciminelli Development Compan, Inc, and the University at Buffalo, will be a “first-of-its-kind, multi-dimensional medical institute focused on the full spectrum of vascular health care, and will bring together physicians, researchers and educators to address heart and vascular diseases.” The report states that the Institute will be operated by Kaleida Health and the University at Buffalo.

The plans call for the removal of six residential structures, the closure of Goodrich Street, the demolition of the Community Mental Health Facility, and would require the removal of two properties eligible for recognition by the National Register of Historic Places.

The lead agency holding tonight’s meeting is the City of Buffalo Planning Board. The report, and relevant maps can be downloaded at the links below.

DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

MAPS

The deadline for written comments regarding the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement is November 18, 2008. Written comments should be sent to:

William P. Grillo

c/o City of Buffalo Planning Board

901 City Hall

Buffalo, NY 14202