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.

Sep 21

2015

New York’s sleeping watchdogs

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara took on the role of investigating the Buffalo Billion after none of the watchdogs in state government would. I did a story last December that detailed the questionable circumstances surrounding the awarding of development contracts to LPCiminelli and McGuire Development and the lack of transparency involving the Buffalo Billion program. I made inquiries in January with the offices of both Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to ask if either of them intended to follow up. I found no takers. Bharara’s office, meanwhile, took note and began issuing subpoenas over the summer, as detailed Friday[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Sep 20

2015

Heaney: Probe should focus on Kaloyeros

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s investigation into contracts awarded under the Buffalo Billion program can’t help but scrutinize the actions of Alain Kaloyeros, who is quarterbacking the program, Jim Heaney has told Maryalice Demler of WGRZ. Heaney also said the investigation has statewide implications because Kaloyeros has emerged as Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s point man on major economic development projects in Rochester and Utica. Heaney said Kaloyeros has operated in a non-transparent manner in Albany for years, exported that approach to Buffalo and will likely do likewise elsewhere upstate unless challenged.

Posted 10 years ago

Sep 20

2015

Heaney talks ‘pay to play’ with WBEN

Dave Debo of WBEN News Radio, 930 AM quizzed Jim Heaney of Investigative Post on Sunday regarding the federal probe of the Buffalo Billion program, pay to play and related issues, including Carl Paladino’s continuing practice of making campaign contributions to Democrats in a position to award his companies tax breaks and leases. Besides Paladino, the 19 minute conversation touches on an eclectic group, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, nanotech guru Alain Kaloyeros and, for some reason, Karl Marx.

Posted 10 years ago

Sep 18

2015

Feds probing Buffalo Billion contracts

(Updated Saturday at 3:05 p.m.) This is big. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who has tackled corruption in state government, is investigating the awarding of contracts under the Buffalo Billion program, The New York Post reports. “It’s a comprehensive look at the bidding process,” said one source, who also told The Post that several companies have been issued subpoenas. Meanwhile, The New York Daily News is reporting that the feds have subpoened records of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute, headed by Alain Kaloyeros, who is managing the Buffalo Billion program. The Daily News also reported SUNY has hired a criminal defense lawyer to represent[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Sep 17

2015

Heaney talks SolarCity on Capitol Pressroom

The state’s investment of $750 million to build and equip a solar panel manufacturing plant for SolarCity is a high-risk, high-reward proposition, Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney told Susan Arbetter of The Capitol Pressroom on Thursday. Heaney noted the company’s sagging financial fortunes and continuing concerns in the investment community over SolarCity’s long-term prospects. He noted a recent story in an investment trade journal that concluded the plant is shaping up as a “white elephant.” Heaney also pointed out that SolarCity is on track to post record losses this year; the company finished the first half of this year $303 million[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Sep 10

2015

Help wanted: Reporter to cover iPost events

Investigative Post is seeking a free-lance correspondent who can cover our event series that kicks off later this month. Work involves a handful of assignments a month. We’re looking for someone with a journalism background who can write, use social media and shoot and edit video and still photos. (In short, a backpack journalist.) Note: This is not an invitation to apply for a full-time reporting position. Send cover letter, resume and three work samples by Sept. 18 to Jim Heaney, editor of Investigative Post, at jheaney@investigativepost.org.

Posted 10 years ago

Aug 31

2015

Heaney talks ‘Billion with Capitol Pressroom

Susan Arbetter of Capitol Pressroom interviewed Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney on Monday regarding transparency and the Buffalo Billion. The 9 minute, 19 second interview runs from 13:10 to 22:29. The Capitol Pressroom broadcasts on National Public Radio affiliates as well as non-profit community stations across New York State and is produced in association with WCNY, which is based in Syracuse.

Posted 10 years ago

Aug 20

2015

Heaney talks SolarCity with WBEN

Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney fields questions from WBEN News Radio regarding SolarCity and plans to open a large solar panel manufacturing plant at Riverbend in South Buffalo. Heaney discussed SolarCity’s mounting financial losses and described the project as “high risk, high reward.”

Posted 10 years ago