Categories for Co-produced with WGRZ

Mar 23

2013

Q&A: Mayoral candidate Sergio Rodriguez

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Sergio Rodriguez isn’t daunted by the odds of running for mayor as a Republican in a city where Democrats hold a seven-to-one enrollment edge. Rodriguez, 32, is a native of the Dominican Republic. His family moved to the United States when he was 10 and grew up on Long Island. Rodriguez moved to Buffalo a decade ago after a five-year stint in the Marines. He earned an associates degree in business  from Medaille College, a bachelors degree in business management from D’Youville College and a masters degree in organizational leadership from Medaille. He ran unsuccessfully in 2007 to represent the[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Mar 22

2013

GOP job offer to Rodriguez a possible felony

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Sergio Rodriguez told me in an interview that airs Saturday morning on WGRZ’s Daybreak that unnamed higher ups in local Republican Party circles “strongly encouraged” him to drop his candidacy for mayor. He further asserts that they dangled a job as an enticement. Not so, Erie County Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy told WGRZ’s Scott Brown. In fact, he said it’s “silly” to even be discussing the allegations. Believe who you want. I wasn’t in the room and therefore can’t say for sure what transpired. I’ll say this much, however: I found Rodriguez to be a refreshing interview. He strikes me[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Mar 21

2013

GOP asked Buffalo mayoral candidate to withdraw

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Republican candidate for Buffalo mayor Sergio Rodriguez tells Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney that some in the  party “strongly encouraged” him to withdraw from the race, even offering him a possible job. See WGRZ for continuing coverage and an airing of interview highlights Saturday on Daybreak.

Posted 11 years ago

Mar 19

2013

Q&A: Stadium entrepreneur George Hasiotis

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George Hasiotis is one of Western New York’s most interesting – and plain spoken – economic thinkers. He’s been in the news of late spearheading a proposal to build a multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex on the Outer Harbor that would house the Buffalo Bills. But his economic development credentials go well beyond the stadium proposal. He’s an expert on cross-border trade issues and co-founder of the Economic Club of Canada. He’s worked as a public affairs consultant for 20 years advising clients on international business matters. Locally, he’s an owner of Antoinette’s On The Hill Inc., whose holdings include the popular Antoinette’s Sweets[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Feb 28

2013

“I don’t need to tell you …”

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Ron Rienas, general manager of the Public Bridge Authority, tells Jim Heaney of Investigative Post why he won’t talk about his salary or perks or release other payroll records or a detailed budget that spells out what the authority does with the $33 million it takes in annually.

Posted 11 years ago

Feb 27

2013

Stonewalling at the Peace Bridge

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Editor’s note: The story below provides the full details, but to get the full effect, readers should view the television version posted above and, especially, the video of the complete unedited interview with Peace Bridge General Manager Ron Rienas posted below. New York’s labyrinth of authorities are widely decried as shadow governments that shield their activities from public scrutiny. But they are a model of transparency compared to the Public Bridge Authority that operates the Peace Bridge connecting Buffalo and Fort Erie, Investigative Post has found. Authorities and other governmental bodies on both sides of the border are obligated to[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Feb 26

2013

Progress and broken promises

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Buffalo’s modest recycling rate is up, but Mayor Byron Brown has not followed up on his pledge to hire a coordinator and contract with a firm to promote recycling education.

Posted 11 years ago

Feb 26

2013

Recycling excuses

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Editor’s note: Investigative Post reported last November on Buffalo’s anemic recycling program. The story prompted a pledge by Mayor Byron Brown to take steps to bolster the recycling rate. Investigative Post follows up to see what the city has done. Coming soon: An update on recycling efforts in Buffalo public schools. Mayor Byron Brown’s administration has yet to meet its goal of doubling Buffalo’s curbside recycling rate in the year since green totes were distributed to residents. The city’s curbside recycling rate – based on what residents place in green totes – rose from 8 percent to 12.2 percent in[...]

Posted 11 years ago
Investigative Post

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