IF YOU WANT AN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION CHECK THE OURHEIGHTS.ORG WEB SITE FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REQUEST ONE. YOU DON’T NEED ANY EXCUSE FOR WHY YOU CAN’T VOTE IN PERSON, JUST THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO DURING THE CURRENT PANDEMIC HEALTH CRISIS.
University Height Collaborative General Meeting
August 11, 2020
Attendance- Mickey Vertino, Mike Cartwright, Gary Lobley, Candy Hayes, Chris Hayes, Linda Garwol, Dayna Overton-Burns, Gail Willsky, Erricka Willard, Susan Carpenter, Anne Tarantino, Anthony Rijos, Pam Landel, Jim Rozanski, Darren Cotton, Tess Morrisey, Chris Bartololei, Chief Menza, Rasheed Wyatt, Rasheid mc Duffy, Doris Corley, Mega Blahuta, Lou Petrucci, Vince Ferraccio, Oswaldo Mestre
Report from Councilman Wyatt
National Fuel is going to be replacing gas meters on Tyler Street and Angle Street this fall. They will send out post cards and letters to let everyone know they are going to be in the neighborhood and explain what is involved. In other neighborhoods they haven’t done a great job restoring lawns and gardens, and the grass seed has been weedy. The City is working with them to do a better job restoring lawns.
Report from Tess Morrisey, UB Community relations
The university has a web site for FAQ’s on housing safety in the Covid 19 pandemic. Policies dealing with on campus students, from states requiring quarantine, will quarantine on South Campus for 14 days. Students living off campus will be suggested they quarantine at home- no requirement or enforcement. On campus students have to follow policy, masks except in dorms room alone, or in office alone, masks available to people who don’t have them, most classes are remote, labs will be in person, 50% of employees working from home, no visitors in dorms or dorm rooms, stampede buss will continue to bring campus students to the community but with reduced schedule. There will be no sports and no and social gatherings less than 50 or 25% capacity. For off campus parties, they will do door hangers and ask students to be good neighbors. Up to Buffalo police to keep the parties down.
One community member noted students are already in town having parties.
Report from Oswaldo Mestre, Department of Citizens Services, City of Buffalo:
The City is very concerned about potential for community spread with students going to the corner store, local businesses. One outbreak and the City will be going backward, with businesses and schools closing again. For parties, please call 911. The city is asking the police to stop parties, issue fines and make landlords responsible if necessary.
Chief Menza- E District will have extra weekend details as in past years and will particularly monitor fraternities and sororities. They hope to get on top of problems quickly.
Inspections- the city has a database of apartments where there have been past problems, overcrowding, no smoke detectors, blocked access. The city will try to make landlords also responsible for nuisance parties.
Rashied Mc Duffie- Law department has in the past dropped nuisance party charges if UB says they are dealing with it. (It was not clear what they are going to do this year)
UB will have a conversation with students if they are violators and there are consequences if they are consistent violators. UB is not providing testing for students and for problems with students in the community it will be up to contact tracers to try to find out who is infected.
LOVE YOUR BLOCK grants have been awarded to 25 or 30 organizations for clean ups, food, masks, murals.
There will be another wave of proactive inspections. 311 is operating with personnel at home. There has been a big increase in calls. If there is a problem call 311 so it can be logged in and there is a record.
There is a webex meeting for block clubs on Friday with Community Services.
Submitted by Susan Carpenter