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REDISCOVERING A CITY VOICE: THE LATINO POETIC ART MURAL OF ALLEN / MEDICAL CAMPUS STATION

REDISCOVERING A CITY VOICE: THE LATINO POETIC ART MURAL OF ALLEN / MEDICAL CAMPUS STATION By Alberto O. Cappas (From research via social media links, Buffalo Latino Village, and AI) BUFFALO — A treasured piece of Buffalo’s civic and cultural history — the Latino Poetic Art Mural that once graced the Allen / Medical Campus (Allen Street) NFTA metro station — is again drawing attention from artists, poets, and community members who remember its vivid presence and now ask where it resides. Installed in 1982, the mural uniquely combined visual art and poetry in a public-transportation setting. The work consisted of panels made from colored enamel fused to copper tile, each bearing short poetic vignettes written by three local Latino poets: Olga Karman, Alberto O. Cappas, and Juan A. Gonzalez. The panels were fabricated by Buffalo artisans Donna and Bill Ioviero of Garden of Earthly Delights / Clear Light Studios. Of the three poets whose words formed the heart of the mural, Juan A. Gonzalez and Olga Karman have since passed away, making the preservation and recovery of this work all the more urgent. Today, Alberto O. Cappas remains the sole surviving poet associated with the original installation. For decades, the mural served as a landmark for commuters and residents alike, offering one of the earliest and most visible acknowledgements of Buffalo’s Latino community within a civic space. The poetry reflected themes of identity, culture, and lived experience, giving everyday riders an encounter with language rooted in the city’s diverse voices. During construction and redevelopment connected to the UB Medical Campus expansion, the mural was removed. According to artists and community members, the removal occurred without public notice to the poets, and by the early 2010s the panels could not be located. Their current whereabouts remain unknown, prompting renewed concern and calls for accountability. “This mural was more than decoration — it was a cultural record and a public affirmation of Latino presence in Buffalo,” community advocates note. “With two of the poets no longer with us, recovering the mural is also about honoring their legacy.” Why this matters: Cultural legacy: The mural represents an early milestone in Latino representation within Buffalo’s public art and transportation systems. Historic preservation: Its disappearance raises broader questions about how community-based art is protected during redevelopment. Honoring the poets: With Juan A. Gonzalez and Olga Karman deceased, the mural stands as a rare public archive of their voices. Call to action: Artists, historians, transit officials, and community members are encouraged to assist in locating documentation or the physical panels of the Latino Poetic Art Mural. Anyone with photographs, records, or knowledge of the mural’s removal, storage, or transfer is urged to come forward so that this important work — and the voices of its poets — may be properly preserved or restored. Media contact: Alberto O. Cappas Poet and contributor to the original mural Contact information: latinovillage1@gmail.com, 646-248-2302 ___________________ Background (brief) Common reference: Latino Poetic Art Mural Location: Allen / Medical Campus (Allen Street) NFTA Metro Rail Station, Buffalo, NY Installation: 1982 Poets: Olga Karman (deceased), Juan A. Gonzalez (deceased), Alberto O. Cappas Fabrication: Donna and Bill Ioviero, Garden of Earthly Delights / Clear Light Studios Materials: Colored enamel fused to copper tile Status: Removed during UB Medical Campus–related construction; current location unknown

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WHERE TO TURN TO FOR ICE ASSISTANCE Resource, Contacts, & Community Action Preparation

Prepared by Buffalo Latino Village Buffalo has an active ICE field office and detention facility that affect local immigrants, including Latinos, though Puerto Ricans as U.S. citizens are sometimes wrongly targeted or harassed in broader enforcement sweeps, and the same with other American Latinos. Recent operations and community responses show impacts on West Side, Elmwood, and other diverse neighborhoods where many Latino families live, work, and own small businesses. Local ICE presence in Buffalo: ICE’s Buffalo Field Office is located at 250 Delaware Avenue and oversees enforcement for Western, Central, and Northern New York, which includes Buffalo’s Latino neighborhoods. Detained individuals are commonly taken to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, an ICE–Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) site used for arrests from Buffalo and the region. Recent raids and Latino communities: In November 2025, ICE and other federal agents arrested four undocumented workers from Mexico and Guatemala at a restaurant on Elmwood Avenue; local advocates and Assemblymember Jon Rivera condemned the operation as an attack on a diverse, immigrant-heavy corridor. Reports indicate that during this period ICE went beyond a single business, setting up checkpoints, visiting Latino businesses, and entering nearby communities, raising fear among Latino workers and families regardless of status. West Side and neighborhood impact: Buffalo’s West Side, long home to immigrants and refugees, has seen visible ICE activity, including agents knocking on doors and parking on residential blocks, which has alarmed residents in mixed-status families and diverse communities. Local elected officials have publicly criticized these operations, describing ICE as “out of control” and warning that policy is being “weaponized” against people who pose no public safety threat, a concern directly relevant to law‑abiding Latino and Puerto Rican residents. BUT THEY HAVE NOT GONE FAR ENOGHT! Puerto Ricans, citizenship, and ICE: Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens by birth, and national Latino organizations such as the Puerto Rican Bar Association have condemned ICE for incidents where Puerto Rican families were illegally detained alongside immigrants, underscoring the risk of racial profiling when Latinos are broadly targeted. These statements argue that aggressive enforcement campaigns framed as “cleansing” undocumented populations can sweep up Puerto Ricans and other Latino citizens, deepening fear and confusion in communities like Buffalo’s where mixed-status households are common. Courts, detention, and legal risks: Advocacy groups have documented that ICE arrests people in and around immigration courts in New York, including at the Buffalo Immigration Court, which can deter Latino immigrants from appearing for hearings or seeking help. For those detained after Buffalo-area arrests, families often must navigate bond posting and communication through the Batavia facility, making access to legal counsel and support especially critical for Latino and mixed-status families. Latino focused groups Buffalo Latino Village: Community newspaper and advocacy hub connecting Puerto Rican/Latino residents to resources, events, and activism; contact via email at latinovillage1@gmail.com or website for publishing, arts, and local news support. El Batey Puerto Rican Center: Cultural center focused on Puerto Rican music, bomba, heritage, and events; reach Beatriz Flores at 716-348-0156 or elbateyprcenter@gmail.com for community gatherings and assistance. Hispanic Heritage Council: Promotes Puerto Rican and Latino heritage through education, dance, and history programs; contact leaders like Casimiro Rodriguez at 716-912-3489 or cdr3455@gmail.com. Los Tainos Senior Citizens Center: Serves Puerto Rican seniors with social services, activities, and support; listed as a key resource for older adults in the community.buffalolatinovillage+1 Broader Latino organizations Hispanos Unidos de Buffalo (HUB): Provides housing, mental health, substance use treatment, domestic violence support, food distribution, and rapid re-housing for Latino families; bilingual staff available, affiliate of Acacia Network. Hispanics United of Buffalo: Offers integrated social services, health programs, and community empowerment for Hispanic/Latino residents. Latino Housing Development Corporation: Assists with affordable housing and development needs for Latino families in Buffalo. Hispanic Women’s League: Supports Latina women through advocacy, education, and social services. Latino Veterans Association of WNY – Aids Puerto Rican/Latino veterans; contact Jose C. Pizarro at 716-207-7883. No longer in operation, but founder is a reliable source and can direct people to the right source of assistance or help. Amor and Heritage: Focuses on Puerto Rican dance, heritage, and cultural preservation; reach MarCe Zerrate at 716-241-1510. Direct Immigration-focused legal services: Journey’s End Refugee Services Immigration Legal Services: Provides free immigration representation (citizenship, green cards, family reunification, asylum, work permits, TPS, DACA, and removal defense) with a Buffalo office at 2495 Main Street; services are aimed at low‑income immigrants across Western New York and often include community education sessions where Spanish interpretation can be requested. Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo/Immigration: Offers free immigration help for low‑income people, including naturalization, green card applications, family petitions, and advice when immigration status intersects with criminal cases or family court, which is important for Latino immigrants dealing with both ICE and local courts. Catholic Charities of Buffalo/Immigration and Refugee Assistance: Provides low‑cost help with USCIS forms (adjustment of status, family‑based petitions, work authorization, naturalization) plus non‑legal services such as ESL, employment, and social services, which can support newly arrived or long‑time Latino immigrants. General civil legal aid with immigration awareness ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project: Delivers free civil legal services (family law, housing, consumer issues, and some immigration matters) to low‑income residents; this can be vital for Latino immigrants experiencing landlord disputes, divorce, custody, or domestic violence tied to immigration stress. Neighborhood Legal Services: A public‑interest law firm offering free legal aid in areas such as housing, disability, and public benefits; they can advise immigrants and mixed‑status Latino families on rights around evictions, benefits eligibility, and related civil issues. How Latino immigrants can use these resources Call intake lines or walk‑in hours (where available) to schedule a consultation and specifically ask for Spanish‑speaking staff or interpreters; many of these programs either have bilingual staff or access to interpretation. When contacting any of these offices, bring or have ready all documents related to immigration status, prior filings, court notices, and any ICE paperwork, which helps attorneys quickly evaluate options for Latino clients facing removal, family separation, or status questions. COMMUNITY ACTION Communities can protect immigrants from ICE by organizing rapid response networks, educating people about their rights, and building strong support systems that

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A NOTE FROM THE TWILIGHT ZONE

Column, Community, Community News / Buffalo Latino Village

Book Review: “Back to the Twilight Zone: A Puerto Rican Colony in Buffalo, NY” A NOTE FROM THE TWILIGHT ZONE By Steve Peraza, Ph.D. I write to you as an Afro-Latino in Buffalo, NY, seeking light in the twilight zone of my life. I found a glimmer of hope in the poetry of Alberto Cappas, author of Back to the Twilight Zone, a poetry book that has changed my outlook on the city and the path I’m on… Mr. Alberto O. Cappas is a poet, writer, journalist, and public servant, whose major contribution, as I see it, is writing and publishing meaningful verses, while creating platforms for other writers like me, who believe their life’s work, too, is in the literary arts. Cappas is from New York City like me, a transplant who put down roots in the City of Good Neighbors. His roots have blossomed into works of art like his newsletter, “The Buffalo Latino Village,” and his book, “Back to the Twilight Zone”, which I review below. In my tumultuous journey of self-discovery, “Back to the Twilight Zone” has gifted me great peace of mind. To begin, I identify with a verse Cappas wrote in “Construction I”: “God is the artist. / The universe is the canvas” and, further, that “[I am] the painting on exhibit.” In these words, I find hope, because the god of my understanding has encouraged me to rebuild myself, even after my demons convinced me to explode, scattering my billion bits in the Buffalo wind. In Buffalo, I have had good neighbors – when I wasn’t hungry. As of late, however, I have been peckish from poverty, and my neighbors have changed. They’re still good people, but they’re not the ones claiming to do good. I began my journey on the peaks of progressivism, but I’ve fallen deeply, right into a valley where the people, who look like me, seek scraps from city troughs. At pantries and food giveaways, I have made friends, but I’ve seen few of the ‘good neighbors’ I once knew as colleagues. In the classrooms and offices where I worked, folks remain well fed on food and ego. In his poem “Ruse,” Cappas noted that Buffalo’s good neighbors are often “enticing a desire to acquire a piece of the cake without looking back at the misfortune.” I know too well what he means. The “City of Good Neighbors” trope can, in fact, be a ruse: “In this city the progressive movement is on vacation making love to their promotion.” This may not be true of all “good neighbors,” but it is true for many. (I was one of them!) The “good neighbors” don’t show up where the poor get fed Lest one think this is a book of critique, allow me to conclude with verses of hope. “Back to the Twilight Zone” is not a punch to the eye – it’s more like ice to reduce the swelling. “Si Se Puede” is one of those poems I read to treat bumps and bruises. “You are no advanced spirit,” Cappas wrote, “only a terrified body with a mind refusing to release the comfort zone.” As if he heard the questions that followed – the doubts I have about my capacity to persist – Cappas wrote: “You are an unbelievable work in progress in danger of misinterpretation.” Do not misinterpret me: Back to the Twilight Zone gives me joy, hope, and inspiration. For me, “hope” is like a woman I love; she is the craft of writing; and she feeds my soul. In “Don’t Be Afraid to Undress Her,” Cappas encourages me to “[a]llow [my] mind to make love to the beautiful body.” I yearn to inspire with my own writing – hopefully the same way Cappas has inspired me – “Igniting the mind, bringing light to the words.” If you are in search of light and hope in a dark world, “Back the Twilight Zone” is for you. Thank you, Alberto, for all that you do. https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/edit?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=B0CPFNTB3Y

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