Articles for Garrett Looker

Oct 19

2023

Interview: New leadership at Buffalo teachers union

For the past four decades, the Buffalo Teachers Federation had the same leadership, the same voice and the same direction. Then, in June, long-time BTF President Phil Rumore retired. In his place is Rich Nigro, who, three months into his first two-year term, is making this prediction: He won’t be staying as long as his predecessor. “There is not a next 42 years,” said Nigro. “I’m not looking at 30 years. I’m not looking at 20 years. Ten years would be pushing it,” the 50-year-old union leader said. The president’s office at the Buffalo Teachers Federation is noticeably different than[...]

Posted 6 months ago

Oct 16

2023

Money running out to help Buffalo students catch up

Programs that help Buffalo students catch up academically after the pandemic are headed for a “financial cliff” because federal aid is winding down. At stake are more than 300 positions for everything from teaching and after-school programming to school security to mental health counseling. Buffalo Public Schools will face cuts about a year from now, when the remainder of $290 million in Covid-19 relief funding through the American Rescue Plan ends. “The financial cliff, it’s coming for all of us,” said James Barnes, the district’s chief financial officer. “The funding is going away. That amount of money cannot be absorbed[...]

Posted 6 months ago

Sep 21

2023

Podcast: Chasing a phantom city employee

Jill Repman — formerly known as Jill Parisi — has been paid more than a half million dollars since being accused of tampering with the fire department payroll in 2016. The allegation against her was never resolved and she’s worked at a private-sector job while continuing to collect a check from the city. Investigative Post’s Geoff Kelly sat down with host Garrett Looker to discuss his weeks-long search for Repman, or at least answers from anyone who would be willing to talk. Watch via YouTube or listen as a podcast.

Posted 7 months ago

Sep 19

2023

County libraries seek $150 million for renovations

Public libraries in Erie County are asking for nearly $150 million in renovations — more than half of that for the downtown Central Library. A physical assessment conducted by the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library system identified a wide range of needs, including roof repairs, asbestos abatement and enhanced security involving 26 of the system’s 37 library locations. “A lot of it is just trying to get the buildings in good shape,” said John Spears, director of the library system. “It has been a long process to get all of the Buffalo libraries to where they are now.” Spears[...]

Posted 7 months ago

Sep 18

2023

Good news for city trees

After years of cutting down more trees than it planted, Buffalo is set to receive a federal grant with the potential to reverse years of deforestation and bring tree-lined streets back to the city’s East Side. “I see good things,” said Paul Maurer, chairman of Re-Tree WNY. “This is big, in terms of the impact … I hope we can make a really good dent, because as I drive or walk the streets, especially the city of Buffalo, we see a lot of need out there.” Buffalo was awarded $8 million from the federal Inflation Reduction Act fund, based on[...]

Posted 7 months ago

Sep 12

2023

Many ways to fund a library in Buffalo

Inglewood, California, Mayor James Butts Jr. has a suggestion for Buffalonians interested in a new public library: use the Bills’ community benefits agreement. Butts would know. The community benefits agreement between his city and the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team – which originated as the Buffalo Braves – included $6 million for improvements to Inglewood’s public libraries. “We asked for it specifically,” Butts said. Slashed budgets from nearly 20 years ago – in what’s known as the Red-Green Budget – “decimated” the Buffalo and Erie County Library system. Sixteen library branches were closed. As a result, several neighborhoods on the[...]

Posted 8 months ago

Aug 22

2023

Making the case for a library in a book desert

Concern over a book desert in the Broadway-Fillmore district has prompted a push for a new library branch in the neighborhood. The Central Terminal Neighborhood Association has two possible sites in mind: the vacant Plewacki American Legion Post building at 385 Paderewski Drive, or the Central Terminal at 495 Paderewski Drive. “A lot of residents feel we were robbed when the library was closed,” said Chris Hawley, the neighborhood association’s president. “At the moment, it seems like there is an opportunity for a library to be established.” The association is reviving its push for a library branch following an Investigative[...]

Posted 8 months ago

Aug 6

2023

Podcast: “Book deserts” signal disinvestment

Investigative Post’s I’Jaz Ja’ciel and Garrett Looker have reported on the state of literacy and access to books throughout Buffalo. Literacy experts say parts of the city’s East Side are “book deserts.” In this latest episode of Investigative Post’s Reporter’s Notebook, Looker and Ja’ciel talk about their months-long analysis of library data and book access. Watch via YouTube or listen as a podcast.

Posted 9 months ago

Articles for Garrett Looker

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