Video: City Poverty Problem Discussed in West Wing Meeting

Mayor Byron Brown today returned to Buffalo from Washington, D.C., after meeting with members of the city’s federal legislative delegation, Obama Administration representatives and other federal agency staff regarding the City of Buffalo’s 2009-10 federal agenda and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“As with our federal funding efforts in previous years, my Administration’s 2009-10 federal agenda is focused and well-defined,” said Mayor Brown.  “This agenda reflects my determination to continue to improve the city’s overall economy and quality of life by accessing critically important federal aid and stimulus funds for projects throughout the City of Buffalo.  We have made excellent progress at both the federal and state levels of government, and I intend to continue that positive momentum in acquiring additional funding for the city.”

Accompanied by First Deputy Mayor Steve Casey, Economic Development Commissioner Reilly and Government Affairs Manager Michael Marcy, the Mayor participated in several meetings over the course of his two-day trip to discuss the city’s federal agenda, including a technology-based automated Traffic and Crime Reporting System (TraCs program), which will update criminal reporting system throughout the city. In addition, the city’s agenda includes a new City of Buffalo employment training center, which will connect city residents with jobs within the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and a proposed Clean Energy Business Incubator on the Buffalo River.

The city’s request also includes social service programs like an expanded Summer Reading Literacy Challenge for at risk youth and a offender re-entry program, both of which are designed to address poverty-related issues in Buffalo.

In a meeting with the White House Deputy Director of Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs David Agnew in the West Wing of the White House, Mayor Brown discussed the city’s current and future economic development plans and the important impact that stimulus projects would have on the city. As a result of the Mayor’s meeting, the White House is considering a process that would showcase the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on cities across the nation, including the City of Buffalo.

The issue of poverty in Buffalo was also discussed with Agnew, and was a main topic of conversation at meetings with Congressman Chris Lee, Congressman Brian Higgins, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Congressman Chaka Fattah, Chairman of the Congressional Urban Caucus. Mayor Brown also met with Congressman Steve Israel, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, to discuss various energy projects that could be funded by stimulus funds and other federal projects.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adXu2_gu36w[/youtube]