"Whose Grant? Not Black Businesses Grant!"

Please tell me know when or if Braymiller Market gets that half million dollars, I am sorry, $562,557.57 grant (not a loan), they are asking for. That store is privately owned, just like Grant's Variety Shoppe and other struggling, pandemic-affected businesses, especially on the Eastside of Buffalo. The money is supposedly left over from the federal pandemic grant awarded to the City of Buffalo. Excuse me, how is money left over when the Eastside still looks as if it has been bombed and no minority businesses east of East Ferry and Jefferson Avenue received any grant monies from the city even though they applied for loans and grants.

So, if my Councilmember Rasheed NC Wyatt or the Councilmember where my store is located, ( Mitch Nowakowski ) votes to approve this free gift to a private business, I am putting my business hand out, too.

There are too many long-time businesses who have paid taxes for decades and who have applied for a low interest loan, never mind a 'don't pay back' free grant, and never received a dime from the city of Buffalo! Stores on the Eastside of Buffalo, especially those Eastside stores not located in the Jefferson Ave. or Broadway-Fillmore corridors are neglected and overlooked when monies are designated or allocated to help struggling or minority or women owned businesses.

When one considers the level of resources Braymiller Market has already received through tax abatement, sales taxes exemptions and other incentives allocated to it by using monies designated to help poor people and to relieve poverty and blight, one would think the elected leaders would consider the partial, 'can of worms' they are opening by assisting this particular business and not offering that same level of help to other businesses in the same financial boat.

I shall reserve my very vocal and written direct criticism of the initiative until If and when, this same opportunity to get financial support from the City of Buffalo, via an economic grant, is not offered to all businesses that qualify.

Braymiller Market is located in downtown Buffalo, on Ellicott St. However, it still can be called an Eastside business because it is east of Main St. I just wish other Eastside businesses to be given the same level of financial assistance and opportunities of inclusion if any public money is given to any private business in this city.

On a stretch of East Ferry St. between Jefferson Ave and Moselle St., there are more than a dozen, minority owned businesses that have maintained being in operation for decades: Colston Auto Repair - 40 plus years; Littleton Construction- 20 years; Bus Stop Deli, Barber Shop and Liquor Stores- over 30 years; Green Genie- 2 years, Mr. B Auto- over 30 years; Broadway Cab- 50 years; Grant's Variety Shoppe 43 years; East Ferry Laundromat over 30 years; Jeoni Restaurant - 10 years, T&A T- Shirts 15 years. These African American business owners have paid a lot of money in taxes, user fees, permits, licensing and other operational fees. It is time the City of Buffalo do right by us by considering our businesses first if any city hall money is going to be doled out! There are more Black businesses on East Ferry St. than there are on any other street in Buffalo but our current politicians are only focusing on Jefferson, Fillmore, Bailey and Broadway Avenues. Why is that and when are other businesses, just as worthy, but who chose to open in areas not on the politicians' or the City of Buffalo's selected List of Favorites be treated as fairly as we should be?

For years, homeowners in Buffalo have been told that they could not be given or sold the city- owned,vacant lot adjacent to their houses because that would be a 'gift of public funds.' Even though those homeowners have been maintaining those lots for years, the city charges them thousands of dollars when a few of the city owned lots are put out to sell. But now, as we know, the Buffalo Common Council is considering giving a $500,000.00 grant to a privately owned food market connected to a structure with income producing, rental housing units!

So, the next time you heard the cry and refrain from the community activist group, Buffalo City Action, "Whose City? Our City!", you can correctly answer, " Nope!"

“ Feeling Outraged!”

Dear Editor:

Look at what is being done to us right under our nose.

Right before our summer festivals begin.

Who authorized this ? Did the common council ? Did the mayor ? Did Olmsted ?

Who ???

Does the city own the park? If not then who?

Either way I‘m sure we tax payers are assisting in some kind of way to help maintain it.

Our neighborhood has been forgotten for many years. Now ( they ) say it’s our turn for ( them ) to ( attempt ) to make us whole again by (covering ) the 33 expressway and bring back the ( grassy ) knoll.

Now if that’s what you want us to believe then why must you take our one and only neighborhood park and destroy it ? Caging us in with stones and block us out with stones, making it look like a war zone!

This is not the way to show you want something different for us.

Please tell us where do we park for the Pine Grill Reunion ?

They already messed up Fillmore avenue with those extended sidewalks that have taken up valuable parking space.

Also, are our seniors to walk blocks to the park after finding a place to park?

Was this action done because we park on the grass ? The grass has always come back after ( 65 ) plus years of the Pine Grill Reunion, Juneteenth parade and festivities, Memorial Day, private family gatherings...

If this is (their ) reason, then please go to Home Depot buy some really good grass seeds and fertilizer and keep it moving !

How can you explain to your young child what’s the reason for the many, many stones ? How about the safety of the children playing ?

The only person that benefited from this is the person that owns the company that made all the stones !So if you are not feeling this please spread the word. Share this article with someone and share it on your facebook page.

We must do something! We must stand up or fall for everything !

I have no problem in helping to circulate a petition to undo this travesty ! Michelle Davis

A Concerned Citizen

FREE!

Green Thumb Beginner Gardening Class

Saturday, May 20, 10 am | Gerard Place, 2515 Bailey Ave, Buffalo

The event is free, space is limited. Reservations are required. To register, visit EastSideGardenWalk.com or email info@GardensBuffaloNiagara.com.

Sign Up

Deadline

Garden Walk

Saturday & Sunday, July 22 & 23 EastSideGardenWalk.com

Green Thumb Beginner Gardening Workshop

New gardeners and anyone wanting to up their gardening savvy and learn new tricks.

TheEast Side Garden Walk is proud to announce the Green Thumb Beginner Gardening Workshop! This FREE gardening class will feature Phyllis Lobbins, East Side Garden Walk participant and Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, with Sally Cunningham, an internationally celebrated writer, horticultural consultant, organic gardener, and lecturer.

Together, Phyllis and Sally will provide a workshop where you can learn about food, flowers, landscapes, and personal, community, and pollinator-friendly gardens. Discover how to transform your outdoor space and maintain the garden of your dreams.

WHAT: Green Thumb Beginner Gardening Class

WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Gerard Place, 2515 Bailey Ave, Buffalo, NY

Learn more and register at www.GardensBuffaloNiagara.com/talk East Side Garden Walk is an event produced by Gardens Buffalo Niagara (GBN) whose mission is to create more vibrant and beautiful communities by sharing our gardens. Other GBN events include Garden Walk Buffalo, Tours of Open Gardens on Thursdays and Fridays in July, The Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale, and Urban Farm Day.

PENNING OUR STORY Continued from page 2 conversation about racism in the publishing industry, more work must be done to make effective change. If the publishing industry truly wishes to serve Black authors and readers, it must be rebuilt from the ground up, not just respond to a major injustice.

Celebrating Black authors shouldn't be a once-a-year affair. There are several ways to celebrate Black Authors Day and take concrete steps to acknowledge the contributions of Black authors and cultivate a more equitable and just publishing industry: from page 2

•Need an easy place to start? Read a book by a Black author.

•Share a quote from a Black author using the hashtag: #BlackAuthorsMatter.

•Support Black-owned bookstores.

•Donate a book by a Black author to your local library or find a BetterWorldBooks Dropbox location near you.

•Create a video expressing your love and inspiration for your favorite Black author(s).

•Donate to literacy programs that serve underprivileged Black communities like The Black Literacy and Arts Collaborative (B.L.A.C).

As Black writers continue bringing their revolutionary perspectives to the literary world, let’s commit to amplifying their voices and supporting their work every day, especially on National Black Authors Day!

-Malcolm and the Amerks-

The Rochester Amerks defeated Syracuse Crunch 4-0 and tied up the playoff series at two games apiece with game five coming up on Saturday night in Syracuse. Malcolm Subban stopped all 31 shots he faced to record his first AHL shutout. Subban becomes first Amerk goalie to post a playoff shutout since Ryan Miller did it against Hamilton on May 5, 2004. This series has been very physical, reminding me of Buffalo Sabres versus Philadelphia “Broad Street Bullies” Flyer’s series of 1975. If Amerks goalie Malcolm Subban continues to give his team outstanding goaltending than the Amerks should win this series. Malcolm Subban is the younger brother of former NHL star defensemen P.K. Subban, and International Hockey player Jordan Subban.

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Calendar Of Events

THURS. MAY 4

The Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier 44th Annual Family History Dinner 6 p.m. Emerson School of Hospitality 86 West Chippewa St. Barbara Nevergold, guest speaker.

SAT. MAY 6

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARDS , Red Carpet

5 p.m., Show Begins 7 p.m., Montante Cultural Center, 2001 Main St. (CanisiusCollege), friendsforabetterbuffalo.com (See ad this page)

Buff City Awards, The Handley Room 241 Lombard Street, doors open at 5 p.m. For more info and tickets call Robert Cornelius at (716)247-1817

Free Community Birthday Celebration for Rev. Nash Durham Memorial Outreach Center, 6 p.m. at 200 East Eagle St. Guest speaker Hakim J. Lucas President and CEO of Virginia Union University, the alma mater of Rev. Nash. Light reception to follow. (See Ad This Page)

SUN. MAY 7

Nazarene Messianic Party Lectures Merriweather Library , Jefferson @ Utica on “The Historical Jesus: Early Christians Revolutionary Liberation Movement for the Oppressed.” 2:30-4;30 p.m.

TUES. MAY 9

UB Department of Music FREE Gift to the Community Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Jaman Dunn, and Gospel musicians from Buffalo’s African American church community, 7:30 P.M. Slee Hall on UB North Campus.

WED. MAY 10

Line Dance Fitness, 11 a.m. Gloria Parks Center, 3242 Main St.; Seniors 55+ Free (716)832-1010 or hustleforhealth.com

SAT. MAY 13

Volunteers Needed to Help Beautify HISTORIC BRODERICK PARK @ THE FOOT OF WEST FERRY 10 a.m. For more info email info@visionniagara.org

SUN. MAY 14

Nazarene Messianic Party Lectures Merriweather Library , Jefferson @ Utica on “The Historical Jesus: Early Christians Revolutionary Liberation Movement for the Oppressed.” 2:30-4;30 p.m.

FREE DANCE CLASSES!

Hustle for Health Line Dancing with Jazzy T 12pm at Delavan Grider Community Center 877 E Delavan Ave, EVERY MONDAY

Line Dance Class, Dorothy Collier Community Center, 118 E. Utica, BEGINNER 11a.m.-12p.m.; ADVANCED 12-1 p.m. (716)882-0602. EVERY TUESDAY

Line Dance Fitness, 11 a.m. Gloria Parks Center, 3242 Main St.; Seniors 55+ Free (716)832-1010 or hustleforhealth.com

EVERY WEDNESDAY

African Consciousness Workshop

Every Monday 4-6 p.m., Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave. “Where we learn About Our Glorious Past & Present African Family.” (716)400-8644 Bro. Shango or kmtflix@gmail.com