Investigative Post

While some strides have been made--- notably the cleanup of the Buffalo River--- more needs to be done to improve the area's water quality. "Just look at our beaches," noted Dan Telvock of the Investigative Post. He shared some of his findings during WBFO's Press Pass.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has said many times that he is committed to increasing workforce diversity, even urging businesses and residents to sign his Opportunity Pledge. So it might come as a surprise to hear that labor leaders say the mayor has a tool at his disposal that could encourage the hiring of city residents, but hasn't been using it. Investigative Post's Charlotte Keith reports.  

Though lead-based paint has not been sold for decades, the substance continues to plague many older cities, including Buffalo. According to Dan Telvock of Investigative Post, 85,500 housing units in Buffalo are considered "at risk."

Buffalo is experiencing a building boom with construction jobs in the region at their highest levels in years. But the lack of diversity in the construction unions has some asking why more hasn’t been done to ensure that people of color aren’t missing out on these opportunities. Charlotte Keith from our partners at Investigative Post reports.

State environmental officials insisted for decades that residents living on the North Tonawanda-Wheatfield border had nothing to fear from the Love Canal waste buried in a neighboring landfill. Then, last year, they declared the landfill a Superfund site, even after 80 truckloads of contaminated soil originally removed from Love Canal were hauled away. Residents, many of whom report serious illnesses, are understandably upset. Dan Telvock, with our partner Investigative Post, dug through documents and filed this report.

Attention is now focused on the level of pollution in the Buffalo's Scajaquada Creek. "It's the only one (waterway) in the entire Niagara River Watershed where it's unfit for aquatic life," said Investigative Post's Dan Telvock during WBFO's Press Pass.

While police shootings of African Americans have touched off loud and sometimes violent protests in other cities, relations in Buffalo have remained tense but calm. But panelists taking part in a downtown forum Wednesday warned that what happened in Baltimore and in Ferguson, Missouri can happen in Buffalo if wholesale social changes are not made.

A recent audit revealed how the Buffalo Urban League overbilled Erie County's Department of Social Services. Charlotte Keith, who reported on the story for Investigative Post.org, discussed the findings on WBFO's Press Pass.

An audit of the Buffalo Urban League shows that Erie County taxpayers were overcharged thousands of dollars. A top official with the Urban League is disputing the findings.

Dust, diesel fumes, noise and potholes. The residents of Peabody Street in Buffalo’s Seneca-Babcock neighborhood blame those problems on Battaglia Demolition, a nearby construction debris recycling facility. But state and local authorities have failed to uphold promises to clean up Battaglia’s operations, leaving residents frustrated. 

A writer, a professor, and a developer walk into a bar. There’s no punch line to follow because that’s actually what happened during a panel discussion on Tuesday night at Allentown Hardware. The main question – is Buffalo getting its mojo back?

Diversity hiring goals at the SolarCity plant under construction in South Buffalo have not resulted in a lot of jobs for African Americans, even though they account for nearly 40 percent of the city’s population. Charlotte Keith from our partner Investigative Post analyzed the employment data.

We're talking about RINOs in this edition of Press Pass. Investigative Post's Jim Heaney looks at the campaign contributions made by Buffalo School Board member and former gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino.

It has become more difficult in recent years for reporters to obtain timely information when applying for Freedom of Information requests. Investigative Post reporter Jim Heaney says he often hits road blocks when conducting research for stories.

As Buffalo is experiencing a Renaissance of new buildings and projects, many developers are lining up for tax breaks. But Investigative Post reporter Jim Heaney is skeptical about the how subsidies will effect Buffalo's tax base. That's in this week's Press Pass conversation with WBFO's Eileen Buckley.

As Governor Andrew Cuomo gears up for a reelection run in 2014, will he pluck Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown for his Lt. Governor running mate? In this week's Press Pass , WBFO's Eileen Buckley and Investigative Post's Jim Heaney take a look at the post-election season.

Even though the number of registered Democrats outnumbers Republicans in Erie County, fewer are heading to the polls to cast their vote.  In this week's Press Pass conversation WBFO's Eileen Buckley talks with Investigative Post reporter Jim Heaney about his story "Disappearing Democrats."

The rights of journalists have taken center stage since the revelation that the National Security Agency has been monitoring who reporters are talking to. In this week's Press Pass conversation, WBFO's Eileen Buckley speaks with Investigative Post reporter Jim Heaney about how a journalist's rights could be in jeopardy.

It's unclear if this weekend's meeting between Governor Cuomo and the Canadian Ambassador to the United States will bring a resolution to the ongoing feud involving the Peace Bridge Authority. Both parties had little to say about the talks, though they did report some progress on the matter.

Three candidates are vying for the office of Mayor of Buffalo, two Democrats and one Republican. But it appears one of the candidates may have been offered a job if he agreed to not run.

The Peace Bridge Authority is the center of a dispute between U.S. and Canadian leaders as Governor Cuomo wants the Canadian general manager to leave. WBFO's Eileen Buckley talks with Investigative Post reporter Jim Heaney who has been following the developing issue over the last couple of weeks.

With massive economic development growth expected at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, it will be key to create a proper street flow along Ellicott Street.  But a redevelopment project has hit a major delay. 

A contractor with a track record of incomplete local projects is to blame.  Man O' Trees has also failed to complete the Martin Luther King splash pad and a major reconstruction project in Niagara Falls.

The City of Buffalo has failed to collect on millions of dollars in housing court fines from property owners.

Investigative Post journalist Jim Heaney says he has learned that City Hall has failed to collect $22 million from property owners who violated housing and health codes.  Heaney traced the delinquent fines back to 2006. 

Heaney said of more than 20 property owners, one fined topped $100,000.

Investigative Post.org. is reporting that Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader Demone Smith’s campaign committee has failed to pay more than $1,800 in judgments filed by the state Board of Elections.  

WBFO and AM-970’s Eileen Buckley talks with the Investigative Post's Jim Heaney. Heaney said a week after Smith’s wife pleaded guilty to fraud charges, Smith is dealing with his own legal issues.

You can read more about his story at http://www.investigativepost.org/.

A former Buffalo News reporter has established a brand new, non-profit journalism center. 

Investigative journalist Jim Heaney   has launched Investigativepost.org.  

WBFO'S Eileen Buckley talked to Heaney as he kicks off his on-line site with an in-depth analysis of Governor  Andrew Cuomo's  $1 billion economic development plan for Western New York