Categories for Featured

May 7

2012

Byron Brown’s bridge over troubled water

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Momentum is building to do something with the Outer Harbor and just days after a group of  community activists called for developing its 120 acres into a park Mayor Byron Brown make a pitch for City Hall to play a role, perhaps a big one. The Outer Harbor is state land, controlled by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. The NFTA wants to get out of the real estate business, which has begged the question, who would assume responsibility for developing the property? Some think the task should fall to the Erie Harbor Canal Development Corp., a subsidiary of Empire State[...]

Posted 13 years ago

May 2

2012

Notes on the news

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My take on recent developments: There’s a movement afoot to redevelop the outer harbor into a park. Doing so would give Western New Yorkers a grand 120 acre playground in the summer – and a 120 acre wasteland in the winter, and a good part of the spring and fall, too. Should a good chunk of the 120 acres provide the public access to its waterfront? Absolutely. Can that be done while still accommodating development that could not only attract visitors year-round but add to the city’s tax base? Absolutely. Are the two objectives mutually exclusive? Absolutely not. Nearly everyone[...]

Posted 13 years ago

Apr 29

2012

Is Apple rotten to the core?

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The New York Times on Sunday published yet another damning investigation on the business practices of Apple. Among the key findings: Apple has exploited the tax code, both here and aboard. According to The Times: Apple’s headquarters are in Cupertino, Calif. By putting an office in Reno, just 200 miles away, to collect and invest the company’s profits, Apple sidesteps state income taxes on some of those gains. California’s corporate tax rate is 8.84 percent. Nevada’s? Zero. Setting up an office in Reno is just one of many legal methods Apple uses to reduce its worldwide tax bill by billions[...]

Posted 13 years ago

Apr 28

2012

Buffalo will have to wait

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We’re No. 51 The Federal Communications Commission voted Friday to require the four major television networks and TV stations in the 50 largest markets to report details on political advertising that will be posted in the FCC website. Buffalo-Niagara Falls turns out to be the 51st largest market, meaning stations in WNY are among 160 smaller markets that have until July 2014 to comply. The near-term objective is to promote transparency regarding the estimated $3.2 billion that is expected to be spent on TV advertising this election year. But the new rule requires disclosure of all political advertising, including air[...]

Posted 13 years ago

Apr 25

2012

Check out the fact checkers

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Lying has become rampant in public life. In politics, it’s called “spin.” In business, “public relations.” In sports, “upper body injury.” Well, not exactly, but you get the drift. The propensity of the press to produce “he said, she said” stories and otherwise give disproportionate coverage to the loudest voices in the room regardless of their credibility has helped enable this epidemic of dishonesty. Cable television and social media are also complicit. In response, a number of websites dedicated to fact checking have set up shop in recent years. Here’s a rundown on the best of them. PoliFact.com is produced[...]

Posted 13 years ago

Apr 23

2012

Investigative Post, WGRZ announce partnership

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Investigative Post is joining forces with WGRZ 2 On Your Side to form a ground-breaking partnership in the Buffalo market. WGRZ has contracted with Investigative Post to co-produce investigations, interviews and other news programming that focus on the problems confronting Buffalo and Western New York. “Investigative reporting is especially important in a troubled town like Buffalo and the partnership between Investigative Post and 2 On Your Side represents a solid one-two punch,” said Jim Heaney, editor and executive director of Investigative Post, which began operations in February. “2 On Your Side prides itself on investigative journalism and this partnership with[...]

Posted 13 years ago

Apr 23

2012

Bribery and coverup at Walmart

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Walmart’s history is punctuated with repeated allegations of predatory and anti-labor business practices. Add corruption to the list. An investigation published Sunday by The New York Times reports the retail giant engaged in systemic bribery to gain a foothold in Mexico and that corporate executives covered up the corruption when it was brought to their attention. After being informed of the corruption by a former company executive, The Times reported: Wal-Mart dispatched investigators to Mexico City, and within days they unearthed evidence of widespread bribery. They found a paper trail of hundreds of suspect payments totaling more than $24 million.[...]

Posted 13 years ago

Apr 20

2012

Agent provocateur for our times

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Julian Assange resurfaces The WikiLeaks founder, still under house arrest despite not being charged with a crime, has launched a television interview program called The World Tomorrow.  That prompted The New York Times to take another shot at Assange, while Salon’s Glenn Greenwald rose to his defense. Judge for yourself. Here is the first show, featuring an interview with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who has not spoken on camera since 2006.  Good reads Fast Company takes a look at Steve Jobs during his “wilderness years.” Jobs matured as a manager and a boss; learned how to make the most of[...]

Posted 13 years ago
Investigative Post