“Through rain, through snow, OCCUPY BUFFALO” could be heard all though out downtown Buffalo on November 16. Members of the Fight for a Fair Economy (FFE) Coalition gathered at the Heating Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) office for a concert and march called Fuel the 99 Percent:The Great Disconnect.



FFE gave out coffee and gave wool caps to the participants in the line and informed them that while the HEAP grants were cut this year, National Fuel CEO David Smith made 7.2 million last year alone. “With big cuts to HEAP this year, it’s outrageous that we’re giving millionaires a $5 billion tax cut.” said Brenda Miller, a leader of PUSH Buffalo.



By 10 am, the line to get inside of the HEAP office was over a quarter-mile long. Hundreds gathered in hopes that they wouldn’t be turned away for additional funds to assist in either getting their services turned back on in time for the winter months or money to help pay their monthly bill.



The all-day event included performances from many local artists, a march to the National Fuel headquarters, a march through the lobby of Bank of America and concluded at the site of Occupy Buffalo in Lafayette Square.



occupy_buffalo_fa5.jpg



“The state revenue that we will lose from the Millionaire’s Tax that is set to expire this year should be used to invest in our communities,” says Kay McClamb, an 1199 activist for over 30 years. “We have an obligation to make sure residents in Buffalo have access to high quality healthcare in our communities. New York State has the money to keep our long-term care facilities open, and on December, if these cuts go through we will be taking that money and giving it to the wealthiest 1% in the state. That ain’t right! Together we need to send a message to Albany that we need to use that money to improve Medicaid reimbursement for distressed nursing homes.



The Fight for a Fair Economy Coalition was send 100 people to Albany the next day, November 17, to deliver thousands of postcards and petitions calling for millionaires to pay their fair.



Fight for a Fair Economy Coalition is a partnership between 1199SEIU, PUSH Buffalo, Occupy Buffalo, Citizen Action, NYSUT, Coalition for Economic Justice, VOICE Buffalo and numerous other community, faith and labor organizations.