BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES NEED A PLAN AND A DESIGNATED DISTRICT FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH A COLLECTIVE AGENDA, NOT INDIVIDUALISM

Dear Black community: I’ve noticed that several black businesses, but not many, are popping up in different parts of Buffalo, but not in the Black or East Side community.

While this looks positive on the surface, and take my word for it, the business might not complete a year.

Some of these new businesses will fail before the year is over. We must designate several blocks in the black community, like Jefferson or Fillmore, and develop a black business and economic development district with art and cultural theme, Restaurants, Black Cultural Center, Book Store, Boutique Shop/s, College satellites (UB, Canisius, Buffalo State, etc.), Library, Bank/s, Art Galleries, Retail businesses, and barbershops. Many of these black businesses exist already, but they are scattered all over the city struggling to survive, with very little consumer traffic.

These businesses, if located in the district, or black businesses that relocate, will generate consumer traffic. It will also, which is very important, leave the money in the community, building a strong economic base. Having an isolated black business in a non-black community is not the thing to do, at least not currently.

We need to think collectively. Otherwise, our businesses will continue to fade away, one by one, and without notice. The Black community leadership must commit to a collective business and economic plan. Without it, ghettos will not go away.

The same applies to the Puerto Rican/Latino community. Imagine if El Museo, El Batey Dance Company, Hispanic Heritage Council, La Ultima Hora, Panorama Hispano, Buffalo Latino Village, La Cueva Restaurant, and other Latino businesses, were all located on Niagara Street.