Categories for Co-produced with WGRZ

Feb 4

2014

Tonawanda Coke claims disputed

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Contrary to claims by Tonawanda Coke, at least one person was hurt in an explosion that rocked the plant and nearby homes on Friday, sources have told Investigative Post. In addition, records obtained by Investigative Post revealed that Tonawanda Coke in at least one instance told emergency responders who showed up at the plant that they had not felt the explosion that had been reported by neighbors. “At this time, Tonawanda Coke says normal operations,” a first responder said in radio communication. “They did not feel anything. They’ve got somebody coming up to talk to me.” The state Department of[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Feb 1

2014

More deception at Tonawanda Coke

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An explosion and fire rocked Tonawanda Coke and an adjoining neighborhood Friday. Company officials characterized the blast as minor, but state environmental officials say otherwise. A report from iPost’s Dan Telvock and WGRZ.

Posted 11 years ago

Jan 30

2014

Recycling comes to Buffalo public housing

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The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority is finally launching a recycling program that should service all 30 of its developments by the end of this year. This decision comes almost 10 months after Investigative Post reported that the authority was ignoring a longstanding city ordinance that requires residents of multi-family residences to recycle. The authority is the city’s biggest landlord with 4,748 apartments that are home to 7,642 low-income families and senior citizens. “It is something that we looked as the responsible thing to do and we want to do the right thing,” said Modesto Candelario, the authority’s assistant executive director.[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Jan 16

2014

Distrust in the air at Peace Bridge

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State environmental officials have been mum for two months about their plans for a second round of air monitoring at the Peace Bridge after they misrepresented the flawed first round of testing. In the face of that silence, community activists and a key lawmaker who represents the neighborhood near the Peace Bridge agree that the Department of Environmental Conservation needs to take a different approach. “There’s a lot of distrust here,” said Assemblyman Sean Ryan. “We need to bridge the distrust. I think we bridge it by having more honest and open communication and less gamesmanship.” The DEC should let[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Dec 17

2013

Peace Bridge project won’t improve air quality

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State officials proclaimed in March that their plan to reconfigure roads leading to and from the American side of the Peace Bridge would improve air quality in adjoining neighborhoods where residents in one-third of the households suffer from asthma and other respiratory illnesses. “We are moving the traffic further away from the neighborhood where the residents are and where the people in the park are and believe just instinctively that that is going to improve air quality,” Sam Hoyt, regional president of Empire State Development and vice chairman of the Peace Bridge Authority, said when the project was announced. “The[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Nov 26

2013

Delaware North’s endless subsidies

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Those upset by the prospect of Delaware North Companies receiving public subsidies to move into new office space are 13 years and some $4 million too late. The company has been receiving public assistance since it moved into its present headquarters at Key Center in 2000. Sales and property tax breaks, some of which continue until its office lease expires in 2015, total an estimated $4.1 million. That’s not counting the $11.6 million low-interest line of credit Delaware North obtained from the city when it moved into its new quarters for a spell, until federal officials objected because the money[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Nov 25

2013

Subsidies aplenty for Delaware North project

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Jim Heaney of Investigative Post, in the first of a two-part series, counts the many ways Delaware North Companies and Uniland Development would reap tax savings from their proposal to build an office building at Delaware Avenue and Chippewa street. The assorted tax breaks add up to $12 million to $15 million and go well beyond what the companies are seeking from the Erie County Industrial Development Agency. Tomorrow, Investigative Post documents the millions of dollars of subsidies Delaware North has been receiving since 2000.  Check out WGRZ’s newscast at 6 p.m., along with a full story InvestigativePost.org and the[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Nov 22

2013

iPost interviews architect of jobs deal

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Jim Heaney interviews Alain Kaloyeros, who put together the clean energy project announced Thursday, and Howard Zemsky, co-chairman of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council. Some underreported details emerged from the 20-minute interview, which was conducted Thursday afternoon at WGRZ.

Posted 11 years ago
Investigative Post