Jim Heaney

Jim Heaney is editor and executive director of Investigative Post. He was an investigative reporter with The Buffalo News from 1986 to 2011 and a reporter and editor with The Orlando Sentinel from 1980-86. His coverage over the years has focused on economic development, local and state government, politics, education, housing and transportation, and he was an early practitioner of computer-assisted reporting. Heaney has won more than 20 journalism awards and was a finalist for the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting.

Jan 29

2020

My take on the Buffalo News sale

It’s rarely, if ever, a good thing when a chain buys a newspaper. And so it is with the surprise announcement today that The Buffalo News is being sold to Lee Enterprises, one of the larger newspaper chains in the country. We can expect cuts to an already depleted newsroom if Lee’s track record at its other newspapers holds true in Buffalo. But things could be worse. Lee Enterprises is regarded as a more responsible chain than most of the others that have taken over the newspaper industry, and certainly better than the cutthroat hedge funds that have bought and[...]

Posted 5 years ago

Jan 10

2020

Our local politicians are getting worse

The November local elections are behind us and the national chaos of 2020 is right around the corner. (Like winter, it can’t end soon enough.) This seems like a good time to take stock of our elected officials in Western New York. But first, allow me to hold my nose. I’ve been reporting in this town for more than 30 years, and the quality of our elected officials has never been worse. I’m not talking politicians at the town and village level, as I don’t travel much in those circles. However, it’s safe to say that with sixty-two towns and[...]

Posted 5 years ago

Dec 5

2019

Heaney talks Control Board on ‘Pressroom

Jim Heaney discusses Buffalo’s timid Control Board with David Lombardo, the new host of The Capitol Pressroom. The discussion follows a story by Investigative Post’s Geoff Kelly that documented the board’s inaction in the face of bad budgeting practices by Mayor Byron Brown and the Common Council.

Posted 5 years ago

Oct 23

2019

Heaney talks data centers on ‘Pressroom

Susan Arbetter and Jim Heaney discuss two Investigative Post stories that published this week regarding a proposal to build state-subsidized data centers in western and central New York. The interview aired on The Capitol Pressroom.

Posted 6 years ago

Sep 26

2019

Heaney talks Buffalo finances on “Pressroom”

Jim Heaney and Susan Arbetter discuss City Hall’s ongoing fiscal problems which, among other things, has resulted in the failure to buy police squad cars so the department has an adequate fleet of vehicles. Capitol Pressroom announced Thursday that Susan is leaving the program the end of Octobers. I’ve appeared on the program regularly since January 2016 – 48 times, to be precise – and have thoroughly enjoyed working with Susan. She’s knowledgable and always prepared – a real pro. I hope we have an opportunity to collaborate again in the future.

Posted 6 years ago

Sep 11

2019

Federal grand jury to investigate OTB

A federal grand jury is investigating possible corruption at the Western Regional Off Track Betting Corp. Sources told Investigative Post and the Niagara Gazette the grand jury is looking into issues previously reported by the two news organizations, including the: Provision of free health insurance to the board’s part-time board members. Awarding of vendor contracts to businesses with political ties to OTB President Henry Wojtaszek and Chairman Richard Bianchi. Possible distribution of tickets purchased by OTB to Sabres and Bills games to friends, family members and political associates of OTB executives and board members. In addition, the state comptroller has[...]

Posted 6 years ago

Jul 15

2019

Brown denies Buffalo’s fiscal woes

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown refused to talk with Investigative Post about the city’s fiscal plight for a story published last week, but he couldn’t dodge WGRZ’s Dave McKinley. The mayor’s response, included in a story that aired Monday, was a mix of arguing semantics and making misleading statements about city reserves. And, as if to underscore her lack of independence from the mayor, City Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams issued a press release intended to assure the public that all is well with city finances. This wasn’t the first time she attempted to cover for Brown during her brief tenure in office.[...]

Posted 6 years ago

Jul 10

2019

Heaney talks fiscal problems on ‘Pressroom

Geoff Kelly reported Tuesday that Buffalo has fiscal problems. Jim Heaney on Wednesday discussed the story with Susan Arbetter on The Capitol Pressroom.

Posted 6 years ago