Categories for Featured

Jul 16

2012

Interview: Allison Duwe of Coalition for Economic Justice

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Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney interviewed Allison Duwe, Executive Director of the Coalition for Economic Justice, on the plight of the 99%, corporate subsidies, and the aversion of local politicians to progressive policies. Duwe, in the interview that aired on WGRZ’s Sunday Daybreak, said: Western New York’s economic problems stem in part to too many residents working low-wage jobs and a concentration of the poor in the City of Buffalo. Adults, rather than teenagers, hold five of six minimum wage jobs. Economic subsidies across the state total about $3 billion a year and produce meager results. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s $1 billion initiative[...]

Posted 12 years ago

Jul 8

2012

Interview: Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster

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Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney interviewed Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster on the impact of the Wallenda Walk, the numerous challenges faced by Niagara Falls, and how the standoff between state and Seneca Nation officials is costing the city money that would otherwise be helping to promote economic development. Dyster, in the interview that aired on WGRZ’s Daybreak Sunday, said: The city is studying statistics on television and web viewership of the Wallenda walk to determine where to focus marketing efforts to attract tourists and investors to Niagara Falls. Significant headway has been made to clean up corruption that has[...]

Posted 12 years ago

Jul 4

2012

Feds find aiding city is risky business

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Federal housing officials are tightening the screws on City Hall over its chronic mismanagement of anti-poverty funds. A series of critical reports and audits have documented problems dating back to the Griffin-era, but meaningful sanctions to this point have been few and far between. But the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is now moving on three fronts to force compliance from City Hall in how it spends about $18 million a year – three-quarters of it block grant aid that is the primary pool of money used to combat poverty in one of the nation’s poorest cities. HUD,[...]

Posted 12 years ago

Jul 1

2012

Interview: IDA chief Jim Allen

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Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney interviewed Jim Allen, Executive Director of the Amherst Industrial Development Agency, on the state of the regional economy and some of the controversial projects that have been subsidized of late by local IDA’s. Allen, in the interview that aired on WGRZ’s Daybreak Sunday, said: The state is much better off focusing $1 billion in aid pledged by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to promote entrepreneurship and nurture a creative class in Western New York than on trying to lure manufacturers and other large companies to the region. The regional economy is more diversified and otherwise in better[...]

Posted 12 years ago

Jun 26

2012

DataBank: WNY’s richest, poorest communities

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Think the city’s East Side is the most impoverished section of Buffalo? Think again. Poverty is even worse on the West Side. And Niagara Falls has its share, too. iPost unveils DataBank, a new weekly feature that tracks key issues by the numbers.

Posted 12 years ago

Jun 24

2012

Interview: Len Lenihan

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Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney interviewed Len Lenihan, chairman of the Erie County Democratic Committee, on a range of issues, including his plans to seek another term. Lenihan, in the interview, which aired on WGRZ’s Daybreak Sunday, said: He and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is seeking Lenihan’s removal at the behest of Mayor Byron Brown, have not spoken directly in about a year. He is unwilling to declare, one way or the other, his intentions to seek another two-year term as head of the county party. The enrollment edge enjoyed by Democrats in the Senate district represented by Republican Mark Grisanti[...]

Posted 12 years ago

Jun 21

2012

Democracy and demagoguery

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Kevin Gaughan is challenging Sean Ryan for the 149th Assembly seat. Good. I mean this as no disrespect towards Ryan. Rather, he was essentially handed the seat last year when Sam Hoyt stepped down to head up Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s economic development and political operations for Western New York. There were no party primaries for the vacant seat and Ryan cruised over a weak Republican opponent in the September special election. Sorry, but that’s not the way it’s supposed to work. Folks other than a handful of Democratic Party insiders ought to have a say in who holds elected office,[...]

Posted 12 years ago

Jun 17

2012

Interview: County Executive Mark Poloncarz

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Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney interviewed Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on a range of issues, starting with lease negotiations with the Buffalo Bills. Poloncarz in the interview, which aired on WGRZ’s Daybreak Sunday, said: Poloncarz in the interview: Said he hopes the county and Bills have a framework of an agreement in place by the start of training camp next month. Details which services he has restored since taking over as County Executive including rodent control and the county parks. Discusses the need to reach across the border to encourage Canadian companies to expand to the Western New York area.[...]

Posted 12 years ago
Investigative Post

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