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Sep 10

2020

Few arrested protesters being prosecuted

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Authorities are prosecuting fewer than a quarter of the 54 protesters arrested in racial justice demonstrations staged in and around Buffalo since late May. Most of the charges initially brought against protesters were for nonviolent incidents like violating a curfew, disorderly conduct and harassment in the second degree. More serious charges included arson, aggravated assault of a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon. Most who were arrested have had their charges dismissed. Here’s the breakdown:  32 protesters had their charges dismissed by a judge. 11 received adjournments in contemplation of dismissal, or ACDs. 10 are headed toward prosecution.[...]

Posted 5 years ago

Sep 4

2020

Heaney-Bellavia interview on WBEN

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Jim Heaney made his debut Thursday on David Bellavia’s talk show on NewsRadio 930WBEN. Heaney and Bellavia, in a 41 minute interview, discussed a range of topics, including the M.T. Pockets situation, Mayor Byron Brown, the city’s contract with its police union, and the Western Regional Off Track Betting Corp. The show broadcast in three segments, which are below. First segment, talking about Investigative Post, incident outside M.T. Pockets and problems with distance learning in Buffalo schools. Second segment, regarding Mayor Byron Brown, unions and police contract. Third segment, involving more on police contract and OTB.  

Posted 5 years ago

Sep 3

2020

Buffalo cop under investigation after scuffle 

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A twice-suspended Buffalo police officer is under investigation by Internal Affairs after he was caught on camera Thursday afternoon punching a man on Elmwood Avenue.  The officer, Richard Hy, was off-duty at the time and dressed in camouflage. He’s white, the man he punched was black, someone described by police and witnesses as displaying mental distress and violent behavior. The video was posted to Facebook and later deleted. The poster, Abu Pablo, wrote: “Person in military fatigues assaults mentally deranged man while I sip coffee.” Another witness told Investigative Post the video does not tell the full story.  “This wasn’t[...]

Posted 5 years ago

Sep 2

2020

North Buffalo bar closes following ugly behavior

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Racist taunts from patrons of a Hertel Avenue bar have led to its temporary closure due to violations of COVID regulations and a city employee being suspended for mooning demonstrators. Marchers demanding police reform and racial equality clashed with M.T. Pockets bar patrons Tuesday night, as the patrons hurled vile taunts and phrases, including the n-word, toward protestors.  “You’re killing my business,” Philip Alagna, the bar’s owner, shouted from the patio as tensions escalated between the bar’s patrons and protesters, who had returned to the scene of an ugly incident Friday evening.  Alagna is well known in Democratic politics and[...]

Posted 5 years ago

Sep 1

2020

Police transparency hinges on legal battle

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For more than 40 years, state law and contractual agreements concealed police personnel records from public scrutiny. Complaints lodged against officers, investigations into misconduct, disciplinary actions, settlement agreements — all these tools for evaluating an officer’s suitability for the job — were almost completely inaccessible. That changed in June, when, in response to the nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd, the New York State Legislature amended the state’s Civil Rights and Freedom of Information laws to make those records public. Buffalo’s police union is not surrendering those protections gracefully. The Buffalo Police Benevolent Association is challenging the new[...]

Posted 5 years ago

Aug 27

2020

WNY has a long road back from the coronavirus

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These are tough times, as tough times go. And they’re not going away anytime soon.  The COVID-19 pandemic remains a dual threat, to both public health and economic well being of the county, Buffalo and Western New York included.  While the coronavirus is under control locally, at least compared with much of the rest of the country, it’s going to be a fact of life for quite some time. Yes, there’s talk of a vaccine, perhaps by the end of the year. But vaccines typically take five to 10 years to develop and test before they’re safe for widespread public[...]

Posted 5 years ago

Aug 26

2020

Heaney discusses ‘Billion audit with Arbetter

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Susan Arbetter, the longtime host of The Capitol Pressroom, has moved on to Spectrum News. She’s been a good friend to Investigative Post over the years, frequently interviewing Jim Heaney on her radio program and headlining two events at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Heaney appeared Wednesday on Capital Tonight to discuss the audit released last week by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli that documented the failure of Empire State Development to oversee $2.2 billion in state investments in high-tech projects. Heaney analyzed the audit in a column Monday, concluding the report was spot on and expanding on the comptroller’s findings. You[...]

Posted 5 years ago

Aug 23

2020

Buffalo Billion audit: shock and ugh

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The audit released Friday by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli told us a lot of things we already knew or strongly suspected: the Cuomo administration failed to assess the value of high-tech projects like the Tesla plant in South Buffalo both before and after the investment of tax dollars, and largely kept the public and press in the dark in between. But the audit added a lot of detail and included some new eye-popping findings, two in particular: The Tesla project fell way short — way, way short, actually — of the state’s desired return on investment. The audit said Empire[...]

Posted 5 years ago
Investigative Post