Attention: Please share this open letter: OPEN LETTER TO BUFFALO’S BOARD OF EDUCATION and out our LOWER WEST SIDE COMMUNITY by Alberto O. Cappas, publisher, Buffalo Latino Village: Dear Members of the Buffalo Board of Education, I am writing to you as a concerned resident of the Lower West Side community, and as publisher of the Buffalo Latino Village, to urge you to reconsider the proposed closure of Buffalo’s School 3 (D’Youville Porter Campus School). This institution is far more than just a school building; it is a vital cultural and educational anchor for Buffalo’s Puerto Rican/Latino community and a beacon of bilingual education. School 3 serves nearly 80% Puerto Rican/Latino students and stands as one of only six bilingual schools in the city. Closing it would dismantle a critical bilingual program that nurtures language development, cultural identity, and family engagement. Such a move risks fragmenting a concentrated community and weakening the trust that families have placed in the district. The school’s location in a dense, walkable West Side neighborhood makes it accessible to many children who walk to class daily. Closing School 3 would force families to rely on buses or endure longer commutes, creating significant barriers for working parents and potentially reducing attendance. Keeping the school open aligns with Buffalo’s commitment to safe, accessible, and community-centered education. Moreover, the closure disproportionately impacts Puerto Rican/Latino families, raising serious concerns about equity and inclusion. The district must prioritize solutions that preserve cultural hubs and bilingual education opportunities, demonstrating a commitment to diversity, fairness, and inclusion. Rather than closing School 3, I urge the district to invest in targeted academic supports such as strengthening attendance initiatives, expanding bilingual teacher training, and partnering with community organizations for tutoring and enrichment. Closure signals abandonment, while renewal signals a commitment to student success. Families and advocates have expressed that the closure process felt politically influenced and rushed. Keeping School 3 open would allow time for transparent dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, fostering trust essential for long-term stability. In conclusion, while closing School 3 may offer short-term financial savings, it would cost Buffalo dearly in community trust, equity, and cultural vitality. I respectfully ask the Board to keep School 3 open and invest in its renewal as a moral commitment to the future of Buffalo’s children. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE PARENTS AND TEACHERS IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR CASE! Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Alberto O. Cappas, Publisher Buffalo Latino Village buffalolatinovillage.com latinovillage1@gmail.com 646-248-2302

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