A local lawmaker is looking to seize the possible with a new plan to combat poverty in the Queen City.
Assemblyman Sean Ryan says poverty rates in the city are disturbingly high and he's proposed the creation of a state-funded agency to help.
Ryan says the agency will connect people living in high-poverty areas of the city with new and existing job opportunities. The plan would require companies coming to Buffalo and receiving tax subsidies to use Buffalo residents living in high poverty zip codes as their first source of employees.
Ryan says Buffalo is booming but poverty is still a glaring problem. "We know that poverty in Buffalo is very real and we know that it's holding us back," said Ryan. "Buffalo's poverty rate is over 30 percent. That's double the county average, double the state average and more than double the national average."
Ryan says tackling Buffalo's high poverty rate would help improve economic growth for all of Western New York.
Stay in Touch Anywhere, Anytime with News, Weather and Video -- Download the WKBW app:
Or Sign Up for Our Newsletters -- Delivered to Your E-mail:
