Sep 12
2016
Jim Heaney and Susan Arbetter discuss Elon Musk’s ongoing challenges involving SolarCity and her upcoming visit to Buffalo on Tuesday for an event hosted by Investigative Post. Interview was recorded Sept. 7 and broadcast Sept. 9 on The Capitol Pressroom. Interview runs from 12:42 to 22:11.
Aug 23
2016
On WBFO’s Press Pass, Investigative Post’s Charlotte Keith talks with Jay Moran about her recent story on a Buffalo Billion program at Daemen College that is not living up to the hype. The state committed $4.5 million to create a training program in film production at the college, which is partnering with a new visual effects company. The plan was that graduates would go straight into jobs with the company but so far, very few have found full-time work.
Aug 10
2016
SolarCity posted a record net loss of $250 million for the second quarter of this year, according to financial statements filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Losses for the first half of this year stand at a staggering $533 million, putting the company on pace to lose more than $1 billion for 2016. Losses last year totaled $710 million. SolarCity’s financial woes are one of the reasons it’s in line to be taken over by Tesla, the electric car manufacturer. Noted entrepreneur Elon Musk is chairman of both companies and their largest shareholder. Tesla has its share of financial problems,[...]
Jul 14
2016
When Sonja Slother enrolled in a fledgling film production program at Daemen College, her enthusiasm was buoyed by the college’s partnership with a company committed to creating more than 100 jobs. The initiative, which was awarded $4.5 million in Buffalo Billion funding, was meant to train a workforce for the visual effects industry Gov. Andrew Cuomo said would take root in Western New York – and, specifically, for the company Daemen had partnered with, Empire Visual Effects. State and college officials touted the training program as a fast track into high-paying jobs. A graphic designer by profession, Slother had recently been[...]
Jul 5
2016
Jim Heaney and Susan Arbetter discuss Tesla’s proposed takeover of SolarCity on the June 30 edition of The Capitol Pressroom. Heaney and Arbetter also talk about Investigative Post’s upcoming event season, which kicks off Sept. 13 with an appearance by Arbetter in Buffalo. The interview runs from 22:18 to 37:02.
Jun 22
2016
Fort Schuyler Management Corp., the state-controlled development agency that is overseeing a number of major state-funded construction projects, including SolarCity, barred reporters from covering its board meeting Tuesday. Jim Heaney of Investigative Post tells Scott Levin about his experiences trying to obtain public records from Fort Schuyler. The nonprofit development corporation subsequently voted to adhere to the state Open Meetings Law and its board chairman suggested it will adhere to the Freedom of Information Laws, as well, although no vote was apparently taken. The New York Committee on Open Government had previously said it was obliged to honor the FOI[...]
Jun 3
2016
In an interview with Susan Arbetter of The Capitol Pressroom, Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney took on what he termed the “fundamental dishonesty” of politicians who continue to claim the Buffalo area economy is surging. Heaney was responding to a letter to the editor published earlier this week in The New York Times from four prominent public officials who took the newspaper to task for its coverage of the federal investigation into the Buffalo Billion program. Heaney also discussed Charlotte Keith’s recent story about continuing problems at Erie County’s Child Protective Services, Mayor Byron Brown’s pending selection as chairman of the state Democratic[...]
May 26
2016
Pre-apprentice programs that prepare minorities to enter the building trades are critical to diversifying the construction workforce, a national expert said Wednesday at an event hosted by Investigative Post. Buffalo needs a “big pot of money” for apprenticeship programs bolstered by community groups that work together to promote diversity in the construction trades, said John Goldstein, a national expert in workforce diversity in construction. “That seems like one critical piece that might be missing,” said John Goldstein, a national expert in workforce diversity. That money could come from contractors, foundations or be included in project labor agreements, he said. Download Goldstein’s[...]