WHAT IS BLUE ECONOMY?
Over the past decade, the Buffalo waterfront has changed from desolate, poorly managed land to a desired destination. This can be attributed in part to the ecological and biological efforts by environmental organizations to improve water quality and the surrounding habitats. As water quality improves and people are returning to the waterfront for recreation and entertainment, there is a shift in the economy from heavy industry to a tourism-based economy. These sustainable practices lead to healthy waters and improved economic opportunities for our region, contributing to an emerging blue economy in Buffalo, NY.
Join us for a discussion on local economic opportunities provided by sustainable water resources and the ecological approaches for reaching these goals. The conference will further present the policies and laws that protect our waterways, and how these are enforced – or at times, difficult to enforce – and inform on how citizens can affect a healthy, water-based course of action.
WELCOMING REMARKS BY
CONGRESSMAN BRIAN HIGGINS
U.S. House of Representatives
New York 26th Congressional District
Brian Higgins is a member of the United States House of Representatives serving New York’s 26th congressional district, which includes portions of Erie and Niagara Counties.
Widely accepted as the principal architect of waterfront development in Buffalo and Western New York, Brian led the fight for a quarter-billion dollar federal relicensing settlement from the New York Power Authority that continues to finance the transformation of Buffalo's long-neglected Inner and Outer Harbor waterfront areas. In our nation’s capital, Brian is an advocate for policies important to our regional and national economies. Brian is an avowed supporter of increased funding for biomedical research – an area creating jobs throughout the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus – and remains a strong voice for robust infrastructure investment, for “nation building here at home.”
In the 116th Congress, Brian serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, where he also serves as a Member of the Subcommittees on Health, Trade, and Social Security. In addition, Brian currently serves as a member of the House Committee on the Budget. Brian is a Co-Chair of the Northern Border Caucus, from which he advocates for federal policies that recognize the unique needs of northern border communities – efforts which serve to strengthen economic and security ties with our Canadian neighbors. Brian also serves as one of four Co-Chairs of the bipartisan House Cancer Caucus, and as a Co-Chair of the Revitalizing Older Cities Caucus. Additionally, Brian is a member of the Great Lakes Task Force, the House Manufacturing Caucus, and the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition.
Brian has traveled extensively through some of the most volatile regions in the world. In so doing, he has met with world leaders to promote peace in Northern Ireland, the Middle East, South Asia and Africa, including Darfur, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Prior to his election to the House, Brian made his career serving in state and local elective office, as well as and in education. Brian served as an instructor in the History and Economics departments at SUNY Buffalo State College, where he taught a course of his own design entitled, “The Economic History of Buffalo & Western New York.” A graduate of Buffalo State College, Brian also earned an advanced degree in Public Policy and Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Brian has been awarded an honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters from Daemen College, and an honorary Doctorate degree in Laws from Medaille College.
Photo: Derek Gee, Buffalo News. June 22, 2020
PRESENTERS
ASSEMBLYMAN SEAN RYAN
New York State Assembly District 149
Sean Ryan currently represents the 149th Assembly District in New York State, which includes Buffalo, Hamburg, Lackawanna, and Blasdell, and is also currently running for the 60th Senate District of New York State, which includes Buffalo, Hamburg, Orchard Park, Tonawanda, Evans, Brant, and Grand Island. Sean currently resides in the City of Buffalo with his wife Catherine Creighton and their two daughters. Sean is a graduate of SUNY College at Fredonia and Brooklyn Law School, and is admitted to practice law in New York State.
Sean’s broad legal experience includes work for Neighborhood Legal Services, private law practice collaboration with the Learning Disabilities Association of WNY, concentrating on the rights of disabled students, and the Legal Aide Bureau of Buffalo. His legal career highlights include a record award for a victim of housing discrimination, a successful challenge to a school district’s denial of special education services to children enrolled in parochial schools, and an action to compel enforcement of Buffalo’s Living Wage Ordinance.
In 2008, Sean began working with People United for Sustainable Housing, Inc. to create a non-profit development entity called the Buffalo Neighborhood Stabilization Company, Inc. (BNSC). Sean served as the Executive Director and General Counsel of BNSC and worked to create a redevelopment plan for a section of the West Side of Buffalo. BNSC secured in excess of $3 million in funding for construction projects to turn vacant houses into affordable housing. Sean also created a land bank program to purchase and reuse vacant lots. The evidence of this work is visible throughout the Massachusetts Avenue Corridor. Sean secured a grant, “Gateway to Grant Street”, which provides $500,000 in funding to business owners along Grant Street.
Sean has served on the Board of Directors and has provided legal representation and guidance to numerous non-profit organizations including Buffalo Niagara River Keeper, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Autistic Services Inc, Coalition for Economic Justice, and the City of Buffalo’s Living Wage Commission.
AGENDA
VIRTUAL COFFEE RECEPTION
8:30 AM
Join us for a virtual cup of coffee before our program begins!
WELCOMING REMARKS
8:45 PM
Dr. James Mayrose, Provost, SUNY Buffalo State
Congressman Brian Higgins, NY 26th Congressional District
SESSION ONE: TOURISM IN THE BLUE ECONOMY
9:00 AM
Speakers:
Ed Healy, Visit Buffalo Niagara
Bill Hilts Jr, Destination Niagara USA and Niagara County Dept. of Economic Development
SESSION TWO: ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
10:00 AM
Speakers:
Dr. Kofi Fynn-Aikins, retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dr. Christopher Pennuto, Buffalo State College Great Lakes Center
Kerrie Gallo, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper
BLUE ECONOMY PROGRAM AT RIVERSIDE ACADEMY
11:00 AM
Buffalo State College and Riverside Academy are partnered to provide hands-on learning in real-life work environments to enhance water-based educational experiences for students in the Blue Economy Program. Riverside teachers and Buffalo State coordinator Cecilia Pershyn will discuss how high school students are contributing to Buffalo's blue economy.
SESSION THREE: THE LAWS THAT PROTECT OUR WATERS
11:30 AM
Speakers:
Jeremy Trudell, UB Law School
Assemblyman Sean Ryan, NYS Assembly District 149
WRAP UP DISCUSSION
12:30 PM
We will leave time at the end to address any unanswered questions.
CONFERENCE COORDINATING TEAM
CECILIA PERSHYN
Conference Administrator
Education Coordinator, Blue Economy Program
at Riverside Academy
DR. SUSAN MCCARTNEY
Special Advisor to the Provost for
Economic Development,
SUNY Buffalo State
GET IN TOUCH
