Categories for Featured

Oct 9

2014

Unfinished business for Buffalo’s Outer Harbor

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Buffalo, which has suffered over the years from a series of planning mistakes, is nearing a decision on how to develop its Outer Harbor even though the state agency managing the project hasn’t completed its homework on key legal, financial and environmental issues. These unresolved issues, particularly whether to build five-story condos, shops and restaurants near the environmentally sensitive Times Beach Nature Preserve, are at the core of a dispute that boiled over last week. Rep. Brian Higgins and Assembly Member Sean Ryan went public last Friday in their opposition to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation’s development plan for[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Oct 6

2014

Higgins, Gioia split on Outer Harbor

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Two prominent politicians have endorsed a nonprofit environmental group’s Outer Harbor development plan that significantly scales back the residential and commercial footprint proposed in the state’s version last month. Congressman Brian Higgins and Assemblyman Sean Ryan both said at a press conference Friday at Gallagher Beach that the state’s proposal does not have broad public support. “The current plan put forth by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation would not create an Outer Harbor that Buffalo and Western New York had been longing for,” Ryan said. As a result, they both backed Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper’s plan that focuses the residential[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Oct 1

2014

Schumer calls for end to Buffalo’s dust bowl

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Federal, state and local authorities are intensifying their efforts to force an embattled construction and demolition debris plant in South Buffalo to clean up its operation. Senator Chuck Schumer visited the Seneca Babcock neighborhood Wednesday  to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to send a message to Battaglia Demolition that “we will not stand by and allow this company to pollute our community without any consequences whatsoever.” The business, owned by Peter Battaglia, has been the target of neighborhood complaints about the dust, truck traffic spewing diesel fumes and health problems for a decade. Schumer called on the EPA to require[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Sep 23

2014

SolarCity deal is a rich subsidy package

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My first blush impressions of the SolarCity deal announced Tuesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo: It’s a rich package. The state is committing $750 million – $350 million to build a manufacturing plant and $400 million in potentially forgivable loans to equip it – in exchange for creating 3,000 jobs, half of which would be employed by SolarCity, the other at firms in their supply chain. That works out to $250,000 to $500,000 per job, depending on how you do the math. By comparison, the subsidy package cobbled together to lure the Yahoo! data center in Lockport five years ago involved[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Sep 18

2014

SolarCity shakedown?

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo last fall pledged $225 million to build and equip a clean energy hub along Buffalo’s waterfront. It was good enough for Silevo, a solar panel manufacturer, and Soraa, the makers of high-efficiency light bulbs. It apparently isn’t good enough for SolarCity, however, which bought Silevo in June. Cuomo has subsequently suggested it’s going to take a richer incentive package to bring SolarCity into the fold and press reports indicate at least two other states are in the hunt for the solar panel plant that is penciled in for Buffalo. Given the track record of SolarCity Chairman Elon[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Sep 17

2014

Support Investigative Post via United Way

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Western New Yorkers can now donate to Investigative Post through the United Way. The United Way of Buffalo & Erie County has approved the inclusion of Investigative Post in its Donor Choice program. That means donors can designate Investigative Post as a recipient through their employer-led United Way campaign. “The United Way is making it easier than ever for citizens to support watchdog journalism in our community,” said Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney. “A donation of as little as a dollar or two a week can help us build our newsroom and enable our growing team of reporters to tell[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Sep 11

2014

Some perspective on Pegula’s purchase of Bills

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My buddy Jerry Sullivan, reacting to the news that Terry and Kim Pegula purchased the Buffalo Bills, wrote that Tuesday was “a day for people to cry and embrace … in communal joy, relief and celebration.” Well, I was happy to hear the news, but mostly for different reasons than what Sully had in mind. Pegula’s purchase means we’ll no longer be bombarded with stories speculating whether the Bills will leave town. The hand wringing has been going on for more than a decade, speculation passing as reporting, and it’s behind us now. Which frees the press to report on[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Sep 9

2014

Investigative Post launching event series

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You’ve seen us on screens of all sizes: laptops, televisions, cell phones. Now there’s an opportunity to interact with Investigative Post face to face. Western New York’s only news organization dedicated exclusively to watchdog journalism is hosting 15 events through next June. The series, entitled “At Issue,” is geared towards providing the public with thought-provoking events focused on important issues. Events include: Investigative Post journalists discussing their work and engaging experts and audiences on the issues they cover. A film series dealing with important issues confronting journalism, held at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, and followed by an informative discussion with[...]

Posted 10 years ago
Investigative Post

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