Categories for News

Sep 5

2024

Byron Brown chosen to lead Western OTB

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Mayor Byron Brown, incoming OTB chief. Photo by Garrett Looker. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown today was selected to head the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.  Brown, 65, was one of two finalists interviewed by OTB’s governing board, which unanimously selected the mayor after five hours of closed-door interviews and deliberations. Elliott Winter, who represents Niagara County on the OTB board and served on the search committee, told reporters Brown is a good fit given his experience running a city government. “He oversees 3,000 employees with a budget of over $600 million. He’s worked in the same capacity for the last[...]

Posted 5 months ago

Sep 4

2024

Carney retiring as Buffalo’s Housing Court judge

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Judge Patrick Carney’s sign hangs outside of Housing Court. Photo by Garrett Looker. Judge Patrick Carney — Buffalo’s longest tenured Housing Court judge — will not seek reelection and plans to retire at the end of the year, Investigative Post has learned. Carney, 68, has served as a City Court Judge since 1994. He was last reelected to his third 10-year term in City Court in 2014,  and has presided over Housing Court for almost 14 years.  Eighth Judicial Administrative Judge Kevin Carter confirmed that Carney is leaving.  “Next year, I’m going to have a new Housing Court judge,” he[...]

Posted 5 months ago

Aug 29

2024

Judges have ignored housing law for 30 years

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For the past 30 years, state court officials have ignored a law mandating independent oversight of Buffalo’s oft-criticized Housing Court. After the state Legislature in 1978 passed a law establishing an advisory council to monitor the court and recommend changes, the panel met for more than a decade. But it’s been inactive since the early to mid 1990s. Since then, at least three different administrative judges in the Buffalo-based Eighth Judicial District failed to appoint members to the advisory council.  Meanwhile, criticism of the Housing Court has grown, particularly under the current judge, Patrick Carney, who has served since 2011.[...]

Posted 6 months ago

Aug 28

2024

OTB holds off hiring Wojtaszek successor — for now

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As the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.’s board nears a decision on who the agency’s next president and CEO will be, there’s plenty of speculation about the finalists for the job – one of whom is said to be Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. Our J. Dale Shoemaker discussed the latest with Michael Wooten on WKBW’s “Voices” newscast Tuesday evening. The OTB board of directors was scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss its search for a new CEO to succeed Henry Wojtaszek, but the agency canceled the meeting Tuesday morning. No explanation was given.  Several board members told Investigative Post the[...]

Posted 6 months ago

Aug 28

2024

Judge overturns firing of pepper-spraying cop

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Warning: This video contains graphic content. On March 25, 2020, Buffalo police officer Kevin Murphy pepper-sprayed and arrested Lakisha Neal. Viewer discretion is advised. A state Supreme Court judge has thrown out an arbitrator’s decision upholding the termination of a Buffalo police officer fired after dousing a woman with pepper spray amid a string of profanity. The city now must decide whether to reinstate former officer Kevin Murphy, according to a lawyer for the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association, which sued the city to overturn the firing.  Former Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood fired Murphy after he dropped a series of f-bombs[...]

Posted 6 months ago

Aug 27

2024

This Assemblyman makes a lot of money on the side

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New York State Assemblyman Michael Norris. Photo provided. Outgoing Republican state Assemblyman Michael Norris won’t be able to keep his lucrative side jobs — 10, all in Niagara County — presuming he becomes a state Supreme Court justice next year.  The assemblyman did not respond to a request for comment, but his law firm, Lockport-based Seaman Norris, confirmed that Norris will be withdrawing as a partner if elected to the bench in November. Norris, 48, a Lockport attorney and former Niagara County Republican Party chairman, has served as the 144th District state assemblyman  – representing parts of Niagara and Erie[...]

Posted 6 months ago

Aug 23

2024

OTB set to discuss search for Wojtaszek replacement

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OTB Chairman Dennis Bassett. Photo by Garrett Looker. If Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is a candidate for the top job at Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., the chairman of the organization’s board isn’t saying so.  Following the board’s monthly meeting on Thursday at Batavia Downs, Chairman Dennis Bassett said Brown is welcome to “put his name into the pot” of candidates seeking to replace outgoing CEO and President Henry Wojtaszek, who has accepted a contract buyout and is expected to leave his post before the end of the year.  OTB’s board has called a special meeting next Thursday for a[...]

Posted 6 months ago

Aug 22

2024

Beach closure blues

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Story was updated at 1:10 p.m. Last weekend was a tough one for Lake Erie beaches. First was a lifeguard shortage that kept Bennett Beach closed to swimmers last Friday. Then came the thunderstorm that chased beachgoers from Woodlawn State Park the next day.  And then, when Saturday’s rains raised E. coli bacteria levels, leading to poor water quality readings, Woodlawn was closed to swimmers on Sunday.  Both beaches were closed to swimmers on Monday, Woodlawn because of water quality and Bennett because it again didn’t have enough lifeguards.  It’s not the best way to enjoy a summer’s day at[...]

Posted 6 months ago
Investigative Post