Categories for Events

May 26

2016

Building a diverse pipeline for the trades

Published by Dan Telvock

Pre-apprentice programs that prepare minorities to enter the building trades are critical to diversifying the construction workforce, a national expert said Wednesday at an event hosted by Investigative Post. Buffalo needs a “big pot of money” for apprenticeship programs bolstered by community groups that work together to promote diversity in the construction trades, said John Goldstein, a national expert in workforce diversity in construction. “That seems like one critical piece that might be missing,” said John Goldstein, a national expert in workforce diversity. That money could come from contractors, foundations or be included in project labor agreements, he said. Download Goldstein’s[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Mar 21

2016

Higgins interview at iPost luncheon

Published by Investigative Post staff

U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins discussed a range of local, national and international issues in an interview March 9 with Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney. In perhaps his most noteworthy comment, Higgins gave poor to middling grades to local leadership for what he said is its aversion to risk taking.

Posted 10 years ago

Feb 16

2016

Event explores how to make democracy work

Published by Jonny Moran

Improving the quality of local politics and increasing civic engagement were the topics of debate on Feb. 10 as Investigative Post hosted a panel discussion as part of its “At Issue” event series. The panel agreed that Buffalo has abysmal voter engagement, but differed as to who or what is to blame. Voter turnout in last year’s general election was only 26 percent in Erie County. Meanwhile, seven of the nine incumbents on the Common Council and five of 11 members of the county Legislature, ran unopposed last year. Why the apathy? Democratic Party Chairman Jeremy Zellner cited several reasons, including the[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Jan 14

2016

Buffalo’s ailing inner-city

Published by Jonny Moran

Buffalo is not immune to the social problems that have produced conflict in Ferguson, Baltimore and other urban centers, two prominent African American leaders said Wednesday at a luncheon hosted by Investigative Post. “Can there be a Ferguson or a Baltimore in Buffalo? Absolutely,” said Rev. Darius Pridgen, pastor of True Bethel Baptist Church and president of the Buffalo Common Council. Dr. Henry L. Taylor, a professor and founding director of the Center for Urban Studies at the University at Buffalo, called for the creation of a development fund for the East Side whose participants would include government, business, nonprofits[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Dec 2

2015

Buffalo’s incomplete, inequitable rebound

Published by Jonny Moran

Has Buffalo really gotten its mojo back? That was the question posed by Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney during a panel discussion Tuesday at Allen Street Hardware attended by an overflow crowd of 80 people. The panelists were Newell Nussbaumer, editorial director of Buffalo Rising, Rocco Termini, president of Signature Development, and Henry Taylor, professor and founding director of the Center for Urban Studies at the University at Buffalo. They did agree that the Queen City has made strides, but most of its work still lies ahead, and not everybody is sharing in the recovery. Much of the night’s discussion[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Dec 2

2015

WBFO report on iPost event

Published by Jim Heaney

Avery Schneider of our partners at WBFO reports on Investigative Post’s panel discussion Tuesday that posed the question: “Is Buffalo really getting its mojo back?” Panelists included Henry L. Taylor of the University at Buffalo, developer Rocco Termini and Buffalo Rising Editorial Director Newell Nussbaumer. The panelists agreed that Buffalo has recovered to a degree, but that much work remains, especially on the city’s East Side.

Posted 10 years ago

Nov 4

2015

Buffalo superintendent outlines reform agenda

Published by Jonny Moran

Buffalo Superintendent Kriner Cash said Wednesday he intends to be “very aggressive” pursuing reforms in Buffalo schools and indicated he’s prepared to place underperforming schools in receivership if he can’t bargain contract changes with the Buffalo Teachers Federation. Cash, on the job since the end of August, made the remarks during an interview with Jim Heaney during a luncheon at Osteria 166 sponsored by Investigative Post. Cash opened his remarks by both praising the city and saying he has found it parochial and resistant to change. He went on to outline an extensive, potentially exhausting agenda that he said needs[...]

Posted 10 years ago

Oct 23

2015

Event will examine the Buffalo Billion

Published by Investigative Post staff

Investigative Post’s new event season kicks off Monday with a “warts and all” presentation that assesses the Buffalo Billion program. Jim Heaney and Charlotte Keith have broken a number of unsettling stories about the program. Enough to persuade U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara to launch a federal investigation into the awarding of contracts and for members of the city’s African-American community to demand more diversity in the hiring of construction workers at the SolarCity plant at Riverbend. “Governor Cuomo would like everyone to believe the Buffalo Billion is, to use his words, ‘a phenomenal success,’ ” said Heaney, editor of Investigative[...]

Posted 10 years ago