Sam Hoyt's abrupt resignation left a gaping hole in local progressive politics that Attorney/Activist Sean Ryan is looking to fill. Looks to me, like he will be a great successor to Sam.
- Sean has spent his career to this point in delivering legal services to those who cannot afford it. He has worked in a homeless prevention program, represented victims of housing discrimination, fought for a more equitable food stamp delivery system, and most recently worked for PUSH Buffalo to establish an affordable housing program aimed at rebuilding a neighborhood in the West Side of Buffalo.
- Sean's work with PUSH was centered around building sustainable housing that utilizes the latest in green building techniques including the use of highly insulated shells, on demand hot water and high efficiency furnaces. He developed the concept for PUSH's "Net Zero House" that is powered by renewable energy and will not use more energy than it produces in a year. The house is powered by solar thermal for domestic hot water, PV Panels for electric and a cutting edge geo-thermal heating system using a trench cut into a vacant lot to create domestic heat. This house is groundbreaking in terms using the most cutting edge technology to demonstrate that you can retro fit a vacant City house into a highly efficient energy producing house that can be used as a model for other vacant homes through out the city. He realizes that the government must continue to play in important role to establish the use of residential renewal energy until it becomes more affordable and accepted by the general population.
- Sean's work reclaiming/rebuilding old housing stock in Buffalo is a great way to help stabilize the blight affecting the City, create jobs and provide affordable housing for people - Vacant lot will be able to heat home
- Sean is on the Board of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper and has pushed the Buffalo Sewer Authority to tackle the problem of combined sewer systems and the resulting discharge of untreated human waste directly into the Niagara River.
- Sean has been an advocate for living wage legislation in Buffalo and active in Coalition for Economic Justice, a group that advocates for a living wage, rights at work, accountable economic development and health care for all.
Progressives are offering exciting candidates this year; Pam Cahill for City Council, Diane Wray for City Court Judge (more on Diane coming soon) and now, possibly Sean Ryan for NYS Assembly.
