🌱 Starbucks Employees On Strike + Mother Of Dead Son Sues City

Welcome back, Buffalo! I'm here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Here goes...

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 77 Low: 63.

Here are the top three stories today in Buffalo:

1. The Genesee Street Starbucks is the fourth Buffalo area location to go on strike this month. The employees say the company doesn't appreciate their work and, further, that it has committed a list of unfair labor practices, like understaffing and overworking employees. Shift supervisor Lexi Rizzo said, "We have dedicated baristas who are getting their transfers denied because of our 'union status.' This is union busting and this is unacceptable." The employees will be on strike for three days starting Friday, Jul. 29 until Sunday, Jul. 31. (WKBW 7 News Buffalo)
2. The mother of a boy killed in an accident while walking home from a Buffalo school is suing the district and the city. Chanel Everhart, the mother of Marcell Yanders, had notified the school that her son could not safely walk home by himself due to a disability. Everhart and her attorneys assert that the school should have been providing transportation for Marcell to and from school in accordance with his individualized education program. The lawsuit also outlines things like crosswalks, crossing guards, and stoplights that could have kept the boy alive. (Buffalo News, Subscription)
3. US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a roundtable discussion with WNY leaders in Buffalo on Friday. The conversation focused on the implementation of infrastructure funding secured in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The IIJA includes $2.6 billion in federal funding for water infrastructure and replacing the 360,000 lead service pipes across New York State. Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas and Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist joined Gillibrand in her appearances. (Chautauqua Today)

Today in Buffalo:

• Garden Walk Buffalo At Central Library (All Day)
• HSBC STEAM Challenge Workshop At the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum (10:00 AM)
• Buffalo Irish Festival At The Outer Harbor (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• It can be tricky navigating outdoor activities in this heat, but it's still important to spend some time outdoors and in the fresh air. Check out this calendar of outdoor activities in the Western New York area that will keep you busy through Aug. 14. (Buffalo News, Subscription)
• “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” has officially come to Delaware Park! You can check out the show on any night except Monday until Aug. 21. (WIVB.com - News 4)
• Have you seen every mural in Buffalo? On a cool or overcast day, you can treat yourself to taking a walk or tour of the murals around the city and learn more about the artists who did them. (Visit Buffalo Niagara via Instagram)

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you back in your inbox Monday morning with a new update!

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Bryant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.