THE PEOPLE’S MACHINE

An organization founded by Christian Parra, a young and energetic Latino from the Bronx, who is now living in Buffalo, NY, and working with the PUSH agency.

 The “People’s Machine” is a multi-ethnic group composed of individuals, independent of their affiliations, who have gotten tired of politicos making promises they have not kept – improving our communities!

They say that one must be part of the “old boys’ network” to be heard. Well, we must stop that!

The People’s Machine is focused on real community service, it works to support and elect people that understand and support the Machine’s agenda. The organization is well represented, their membership included Puerto Ricans/Latinos, African, Asian, white, and others who are committed to “positive community change” – to endorse and support candidates that believe in our people’s plan; they must respect and support our needs, and we will hold them accountable.

It has been a long wait, for united and organized community voices, especially those most affected by political policies that are not reflective of their needs and concerns. The “Machine” is saying in effect, “if you say you represent, we better see the goods! We are holding you to real representation. We are here to do our part, help change the narrative, a narrative usually controlled by the politicos.”

I’ve been around a long time, me, Lucy Velez, an elder in my community, always advocating for the west side community for over forty (40) years, the couple of years living near the Peace Bridge, which severely compromised my heath and breathing, as well as an accident at a church, which added complications to my recovery. I know about public policy representation! I lived it and continue to live it.

Our local political parties are not addressing our needs, and their slip is showing. You have disenfranchised our voices, and you tried to dilute our vote, in the past and present, by unfair reapportionment lines, cutting and dividing our communities. That politico machine has stifled our people. But that must change!

The “People’s Machine” will make the change happen. This is how we are working to change the narrative: We will interview, endorse, and support candidates seeking city, state, and national office. The candidates must commit and pledge to support the People’s Machine’s “Community Plan for improvement and representation.

We are an independent machine, we are not, in any shape or form, affiliated with any agency or organization. We are a people’s association, with members from all walks of life, ethnicity, and religion orientation. We are inclusive, not exclusive.

We are solely driven by people community power and need. Just like the Sun, we are the new source of energy, fully sustainable and equity driven to be a part of the changes we need to see! For too long, our communities have been left-out of the “Buffalo Renaissance.”

We know our community have a few “sellouts”, but we are awake, able to see what’s going on, whose getting goodies without accountability. That shall change.

We are tired of “pay to play”, we are tired of “it’s not what you know, but who you know.”  We are fighting for our communities’ survival.

Join us! Contact me at sistervelez@gmail.com.