Categories for DailyPost

Sep 23

2024

City must pay $310,000 to former employee

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The City of Buffalo’s law department last week asked the Common Council to approve a $310,000 settlement to a lawsuit filed by James Kaufmann, who worked 23 years for the police department’s information technology unit before the city eliminated his position 14 years ago. The elimination of his job was retaliation, Kaufmann claimed in his lawsuit. And the city violated state civil service law by not hiring him for another, similar post in the years that followed. According to the lawsuit, city officials said they’d “get even” with Kaufmann for testifying in a 2005 arbitration hearing that led to the[...]

Posted 6 months ago

Sep 20

2024

Report faults Erie County auditor’s record as Evans town supervisor

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A state audit of payroll practices at the Town of Evans found sloppy bookkeeping and improper payments to a former town supervisor who is now a top lieutenant of Erie County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick. Mary Hosler, deputy comptroller in charge of audits for Erie County, oversaw a blockbuster investigation of the Erie County Clerk’s office, released in February, that uncovered thousands of missing dollars and led to a deputy clerk pleading guilty to embezzling more than $320,000 in public funds. But before she took that job two years ago, Hosler paid herself $6,000 she was not entitled to while serving[...]

Posted 7 months ago

Sep 19

2024

Developer Doug Jemal, back in the news

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An advertisement featuring Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen hangs on the side of the Statler Hotel. Photo by Garrett Looker. Developer Doug Jemal is in the news this week over his company’s installation of a huge ad posted on the side of the Statler Hotel in the heart of downtown Buffalo. Jemal’s company didn’t obtain the necessary permit for the 11-story ad, featuring the likeness of Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Jemal is unapologetic, telling The Buffalo News that installing the ad was the “right thing to do.” Jemal, known for sometimes playing by his own rules, was the subject of[...]

Posted 7 months ago

Sep 19

2024

OTB may vote on Brown contract next week

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The Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. is expected to discuss — if not vote on — an employment contract for Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown at its board of directors meeting next week. Reporter J. Dale Shoemaker appeared on WCNY’s Capitol Pressroom to explain the latest. The Capitol Pressroom · Western NY OTB in period of transition The board, at a special meeting two weeks ago, offered Brown the OTB president and CEO job. He would replace Henry Wojtaszek, who has led the agency since 2016. Wojtaszek this summer announced plans to accept a $299,000 buyout and step down at the[...]

Posted 7 months ago

Sep 18

2024

Infographic: Buffalo transplants prefer Tampa area

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We reviewed eight years of IRS data and found more people moving out of Erie County each year than moving in. The spread had been declining but started getting wider from 2019 to 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting in 2020. The spread continued to grow, right up to 2021-22, the most recent year the data is available. There were 3,655 more people moving out of Erie County than moving in from 2021 to 2022, the numbers show. A closer look at 2021-22 We took a deeper dive into the 2021-22 data to get a better sense of where people[...]

Posted 7 months ago

Sep 17

2024

Help wanted: Investigative Post is hiring a managing editor

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Investigative Post is hiring a managing editor to work with Editor Jim Heaney in overseeing our award-winning coverage of Buffalo and Western New York. The ideal job candidate has an accomplished track record as both an editor and investigative reporter. They’re facile with data. Good working with reporters to develop stories. A good line editor who is not shy about rewriting copy when necessary. And has good people skills. Investigative Post is highly regarded for our high-impact reporting and considered the go-to source for accountability journalism in Western New York. We distribute our work through our website and several television[...]

Posted 7 months ago

Sep 17

2024

New York’s toothless FOI Law

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Criminal justice reporter Bruce Rushton. Photo by Garrett Looker. I’ve been a reporter for a half dozen daily and alternative news organizations, including Investigative Post, in five states since 1987. New York has been the worst one I’ve worked in when it comes to public records. In Illinois, government turns over documents because the law matters. That’s why Rahm Emanuel is ambassador to Japan instead of mayor of Chicago, where autopsy reports, unlike here, are public records. While mainstream media slept, an independent journalist 10 years ago exposed a Windy City murder by requesting the autopsy report on Laquan McDonald,[...]

Posted 7 months ago

Sep 15

2024

Arena/stadium planning done right

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They’re thinking big in Carolina. The hockey Hurricanes just unveiled an ambitious $1 billion plan to develop 80 acres into a mixed use campus. That’s on top of a $300 million renovation to its PNC Arena, which sits adjacent to the North Carolina State’s football stadium. It’s funny what you can do when you put sports facilities next to each other – located in the city proper, no less.  Buffalo News hockey writer Mike Harrington noted the lack of progress around KeyBank Center, aside from LECOM Harborcenter and a couple of hotels. Alumni Plaza has been untouched for more than[...]

Posted 7 months ago
Investigative Post