City of Buffalo officials are trying to spend millions of public dollars to build a police shooting range and training facility at 379 Paderewski Drive - a project moving forward without regard for the health and safety of the people who live nearby. The site, located across the street from the Buffalo Central Terminal, is in a residential neighborhood made up of primarily Black and Brown seniors and young families. The building on the project site was once the Matt Urban Hope Center—a community center and homeless shelter.
City Hall has violated laws and regulations requiring a thorough assessment of the project’s potential impacts on the environment, public health, and the historic character of the neighborhood. The shooting range and its ventilation system would create significant noise pollution and increase the risk of lead poisoning, while is construction could expose the public to hazardous pollutants from the Central Terminal and the West Shore Railroad, which ran along the project site’s longest property line for over 50 years.
City officials have proven time and time again that they will push through unpopular proposals that have no benefit to the public. LOLA collected over 2,000 signatures in 17 days from residents across Buffalo who do not want their tax dollars wasted on this facility. Broadway-Fillmore residents collected over 100 signatures from residents in the area surrounding the site, demonstrating significant local opposition.
In response, LOLA is raising money to pay legal fees for a lawsuit against the city.
Our fundraising goal is $10,000 dollars. Funds will go towards paying a lawyer, interpreters for residents, and operating costs. The lawsuit is to support those most directly impacted by the city's carelessness — for this reason, any remaining funds will go towards mutual aid in the Broadway-Fillmore community. We thank you for your donation. Please visit LOLAbuffalo.org for more information.