July 2016 – The Buffalo Chronicle

DOT to study Skyway removal in planning alternative infrastructure

July 31, 2016

BY FRANK PARLATO The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) agreed last week to spend an unspecified sum of taxpayer money on a full and formal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to examine alternatives to maintaining the Buffalo Skyway. The

Empire State Development still resisting FOIL requests in allegations against Hoyt

July 31, 2016

BY TONY FARINA The Empire State Development Agency (ESD) is the umbrella organization for New York’s two principal economic development entities, the Urban Development Corporation and the Job Development Authority. It is the governor’s chief economic development tool and the

Cambria seeks info on plea deals in Pigeon case

July 31, 2016

BY TONY FARINA Political operative and former Erie County Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon faces nine felony counts in a state prosecution involving former State Supreme Court Justice John MIchalek who has already pleaded guilty to two felony counts, including taking

Everyone had at least one brush with Pigeon

July 31, 2016

BY FRANK PARLATO A POLITICAL QUESTION The question of whether politics was a motive for New York State Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman’s prosecution of political operative and attorney G. Steven Pigeon, 55, has been debated in a few circles. Last

Now a political force, history demands much of Nevergold

July 29, 2016

BY MATT RICCHIAZZI Dr. Barbara Seals-Nevergold served as President of the Board of Education prior to the installation of Carl Paladino’s majority bloc in 2013. After sweeping election victories in May, Nevergold has retaken control of the district and has emerged

Mazurek event seen as inflection point for Democrats’ opposition faction

July 28, 2016

BY MATT RICCHIAZZI Kristy Mazurek, the high profile Assembly candidate and muckraking journalist, has announced a campaign kickoff event that observers see as critical inflection point for the opposition faction of Democrats formerly led G. Steven Pigeon and his captains.

Small, grasping for relevance, follows Coppola’s lead on environmental issues

July 26, 2016

Amber Small, the former Brown administration staffer who is challenging the widely respected former State Senator Al Coppola in the 60th district primary, is making environmental issues a cornerstone of her campaign. Coppola, who has long championed environmental issues, is credited

Clinton’s VP selection likely to deflate liberal turnout

July 23, 2016

Republicans are rejoicing following Hillary Clinton’s selection of Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, widely seen as a weak choice that will deflate turnout among key constituencies including minorities, progressives, gays, and West Coast voters. Kaine is a conservative Democrat from a red

Democratic headquarters launches a vicious attack on Kristy Mazurak

July 23, 2016

BY MATT RICCHIAZZI The headquarters faction of Erie County Democrats is planning a vicious smear campaign of Kristy Mazurak, the pioneering journalist and local reformer seeking the Democratic nomination for State Assembly. The attack is being architected by the embattled young

Senator Coppola to challenge Chris Jacobs in bid for 60th district seat

July 22, 2016

BY MATT RICCHIAZZI The retired State Senator and widely respected elder statesman of local politics, Al Coppola, has filed to seek the 60th district seat — a swing district that frequently determines control of the legislative chamber and is at the