UB Experts Available to Discuss Obama's Decision to Lift Cuba Travel Restrictions

University at Buffalo facultly members Jose Buscaglia and Henry Taylor have extensive experience living in Cuba and studying its culture and economy. They are available to discuss President Obama's decision to relax U.S. restrictions on travel to Cuba.

Jose Buscaglia, Ph.D., associate professor

Director of Caribbean Studies Program

University at Buffalo

Jfb2@buffalo.edu

"These changes won't affect most Americans. Our travel to Cuba is still heavily restricted," Buscaglia says. "Major changes in sanctions and embargoes, on trade, travel, education programs and in-country spending won't be immediate. The administration is moving in that direction, which for many of us is a very good thing, but many of the proposed changes have to be approved by Congress, so it will take time."

Buscaglia helped to develop and direct the University at Buffalo's dual-degree graduate program with the University of Havana, established in 2003. He is the author of the book "Undoing Empire, Race, and Nation in the Mulatto Caribbean"

Henry Louis Taylor, Jr., Ph.D.

Professor of Urban and Regional Planning

University at Buffalo

htaylor@buffalo.edu

Taylor is author of the new book "Inside El Barrio: A Bottom Up View of Neighborhood Life in Castro's Cuba"

"This is an extremely important step forward in developing sensible policies toward Cuba," Taylor says. "The original Bush polices were aimed at reducing remittances and other income stimuli to the Cuban economy. The only thing that was harmed, however, were the relatives of Cuban Americans."