Author name: Buffalo Latino Village

By Alberto O. Cappas & Solomon Joseph In the race for New York State’s 149th Assembly District, candidate Adam Bojak steps into the public spotlight with a long record of community involvement that predates his campaign. Known for his work as a tenants’ rights attorney, grassroots organizer, and advocate for working-class families, Bojak’s public service has been shaped by years of direct engagement with Buffalo’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. For more than a decade, Bojak has provided pro bono legal support to tenants facing eviction, unsafe housing conditions, or landlord neglect. His work has been especially visible in communities experiencing rising rents and displacement pressures, including Buffalo’s Lower West Side and East Side. He has represented families in housing court without charging a fee, often stepping in when residents had nowhere else to turn. Bojak has publicly warned of an “avalanche of evictions” across the region and has pushed for stronger statewide protections, including expanded tenant rights and a Homes Guarantee. Beyond housing, Bojak has been active in environmental justice and public health advocacy. As a longtime member of the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York, he has supported campaigns addressing pollution, toxic exposure, and aging water infrastructure. His environmental work includes advocating for the implementation of New York’s climate law (CLCPA), highlighting the dangers of lead contamination, and promoting green, energy-efficient housing. Bojak also emphasizes the importance of protecting union jobs as New York transitions toward clean energy. Bojak’s political identity is rooted in grassroots organizing. He has been a pioneer in helping communities navigate housing and infrastructure challenges, mobilizing volunteers, educating residents, and supporting progressive campaigns that hold meaningful value for working-class neighborhoods. Across his public statements, Bojak consistently centers working-class concerns — from labor rights and universal healthcare to anti-austerity policies and criminal justice reform. Whether residents agree with his district, Bojak has a long record of hands-on community involvement has shaped his reputation as a candidate grounded in service, advocacy, and neighborhood-level engagement. Repeatedly, he has stressed the importance of business and economic development in the district. Bojak has been meeting and working with leaders across the 149th to ensure they are included in community-policy discussions affecting their areas. Regarding the West Side, he has made it clear that this district will not be ignored. For example, he is working with Latino progressives such as Christian Parra, Eri Alvarado, Buffalo Latino Village and others to ensure that the Lower West Side has a visible and political platform to address the issues affecting the area. Don’t forget ADAM BOJAK ON NOVEMBER 3RD.  

By/Por Alberto O. Cappas (Edited/Editado by/por Solomon Joseph) Every so often, a young leader emerges whose presence signals a shift in the direction of a community. On Buffalo’s West Side, that rising voice is Alex Burgos, a bright, energetic, and deeply committed Latino public servant whose work already reflects the future many of us envision for our neighborhood. At just 27, Burgos represents a new chapter in West Side civic life. Raised in a union household — his mother a retired Buffalo Public School teacher and BTF member, his father a U.S. Army veteran and longtime Niagara Street business owner — Burgos grew up surrounded by service, discipline, and community responsibility. Today, he channels those values into meaningful action. His professional record spans state government, nonprofit administration, and public health. During the COVID-19 and MPOX emergencies, Burgos worked directly with West Side families to expand vaccine access and health education. He has advocated for Federally Qualified Health Centers, contributed to statewide health and safety regulations, and served on the Governor’s Ending the Epidemic Task Force. His work on the Cannabis Community Reinvestment Program helped deliver millions of dollars in grants for youth programs, housing, mental health services, and neighborhood revitalization — investments that directly benefit communities like ours. Yet Burgos is more than a policy professional. He is a presence — visible at toy drives, turkey giveaways, backpack distributions, summer barbecues, and youth events. He speaks openly about the historic exclusion of the West Side from political power and works to change that through grassroots engagement. Within the Buffalo Latino Village, there is a gentle but important concern: that a young leader with such promise could be absorbed by the larger political machinery, influenced by the status quo, and pulled away from the community that shaped him. This is not a criticism — it is a reflection of experience. Our hope is that Burgos remains grounded, independent, and guided by the people he serves. Burgos also brings something essential to the future of the Lower West Side: a vision for business and economic development aligned with the cultural identity of LOWEISA. His experience in state programs, grant acquisition, and community reinvestment positions him as someone who could help transform LOWEISA into a functioning model — a village where businesses thrive, residents support one another, and cultural identity becomes an engine for economic growth. From my perspective, Burgos embodies the qualities of a future Niagara District Councilman — grounded, thoughtful, and committed to the West Side’s future.