One Sunset story keeps getting stranger

It may be, as one City Hall insider suggested to me Thursday, that Mayor Byron Brown and his inner circle really want to get to the bottom of what went wrong with the One Sunset deal. But from outward appearances, Brown and Company could be construed as circling the wagons.

For starters, consider their response to a "request" from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to review the One Sunset deal to determine if it followed the rules and regulations governing the use of block grant funds.

As I report in today's Buffalo News:

The Brown administration had one development agency headed by the mayor review the actions of a second development agency headed by the mayor.

The conclusion: the city did nothing wrong.

Then there's the refusal to turn over either of the two internal reports the city has done regarding the One Sunset deal. Yes, there may be legitimate privacy concerns involved, but the refusal to provide any information doesn't exactly make the Brown administration look forthcoming. The leadership of the Common Council has written BERC asking for release of the reports.

Then consider my interview Wednesday with Brian Reilly, president of the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corp., whose shop provided Leonard Stokes money and manpower that was deployed to help keep the restaurant in business for all of one year.

I asked Reilly three or four times what he thought of everything he's read about the One Sunset deal, both in the paper and internal reviews conducted by the city.

His response?

Well, he started out with a reply similar to what ended Mark McGuire's prospects of getting elected to the baseball Hall of Fame.

Like McGuire, Reilly wanted to talk about the future, not the past. Then again, he said, it doesn't really matter what he thinks. After all, there's an investigation going on.

I got a bit incredulous at that point of the interview, telling Reilly, in effect: "You're the boss of this operation and you don't have an opinion? Get real."

Finally, finally, he grudgingly conceded that, yes, indeed, he was "definitely concerned."

Whew, I'm glad he got that off his chest.

It was Reilly's turn to get animated when I brought up Michelle Barron's performance and credentials.

He sounded genuinely offended by my story calling her qualifications into question. 

I reported her job calls for a college degree and five years experience, while she is a high school graduate who had, at best, three years of applicable experience, before being promoted.

Reilly challenged me, saying that Barron has equivalent experience that qualified her for the job.

What equivalent experience might that be?

Reilly didn't really say.

I asked him whether Barron's job is on the line.

Reilly's response: She's been given additional job duties over the past two months.

OK, Brian, I hear you. I think we all hear you.

While I can only speculate, I think Reilly is probably aghast at what he's read in the paper and in his agency's own internal reports these past two weeks. Not that he can say that, given that he's part of a City Hall team that values image above all else.

I'll give Reilly this much credit -- at least he's answering questions. Sort of.

His boss, the mayor, continues to duck them.

I told you readers a couple of days ago that I had again asked for an interview with the mayor, not to talk about the One Sunset deal in general, but about questions I had about Brown's potential direct involvement in the One Sunset deal. They are questions that he and he alone -- well, and perhaps Steve Casey -- are qualified to answer.

Here's the e-mail response from Peter Cutler, the mayor's press handler:

As you know, the Mayor forwarded on Monday a report from BERC's ongoing review of this matter to the City Comptroller's office. Following that action, the Mayor spoke briefly with the paper's City Hall reporter, whose feature is in today's paper. Given that fact and the ongoing internal BERC review and Comptroller's audit, the Mayor will not comment any further.

So, he's clammed up until Comptroller Andrew SanFilippo's shop has done its review of both the One Sunset deal and the overall performance of BERC. 

Which brings me to another point: In theory, an audit by the comptroller sounds good. But does SanFilippo have the manpower and the expertise to really get to the bottom of things?

Might he benefit from, say, asking State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli for a helping hand? Or perhaps  HUD?

(When I asked Reilly if he thought it was a good idea to involve the feds, he responded with an emphatic  "Absolutely not!" Reilly is no doubt aware of Brown's ongoing efforts to stifle and otherwise marginalize the local HUD office since it issued a critical review of City Hall's management of block grant funds. We can't have that kind of scrutiny, especially in an election year.)

No knock on SanFilippo's staff, but the more people I talk to, the more I question if they have the chops necessary to do this audit justice.

Comments

[Capt. Obvious]

Those who keep saying this has nothing to do with race should face facts and read what the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency's report said.

In the quote from the BURA report at the end of this excerpt from Friday's Buffalo News, BURA agrees race is indeed one factor. Otherwise there'd be no reason for them to say minority-owned.

"...In conducting a review for the federal government, the Brown administration had one development agency headed by the mayor review the actions of a second development agency headed by the mayor.

The conclusion: The city did nothing wrong.

“It appeared that BERC’s actions were reasonable in providing assistance to this minority-owned business to ensure its survival and its commitment to create job opportunities for low-to moderate-income persons,” said the report done by the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency. ..."

The above excerpt is from http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/693368.html

When One Sunset was glowingly reviewed upon its opening, race was mentioned time and again as a significant attribute of the restaurant. And now BURA itself says that minority-ownership was an important factor about why One Sunset was given the money. If it wasn't imporatant, why would BURA have mentioned it so prominenetly in the report?

[Robert]

This growing story about Buffalo City Hall employees being directly involved in a failed restaurant venture funded with taxpayer's money is just one more example and confirmation of the on-going corruption and abuse of power and position taking place in Buffalo City Government today. There are no checks and balances in Buffalo City Government today nor has there been for over 60 years as Buffalo City Government has been the exclusive domain of a corrupt and self-serving Democrat Party and it's legions of loyal minions devoted to their own and their party's self-interests at the expense of taxpayers and city residents. We need a thorough house-cleaning at City Hall, but don't count on it happening with Democrats holding a 7-to-1 voter registration advantage in the city after decades of corruption, abuse of power, incompetence and outright negligence. It is no wonder Buffalo is the 3rd poorest large city in the USA today.

[K9]

Hey Jim, any info on how Mayor Brown's polling number are looking? All these screw ups can't be good for Mayor 2nd term Inevitable. Or does a $million dollar campaign fund make all this a non-issue?

[my2cents]

Things are changing - As stated there is a strange "history" involved in Buffalo's Government - the dominate forces or atleast the geography of those who sway the votes is shifting.

Its amazing how desperate the South is to defeat the east. Must be a heritage thing!

Change is good!

Reilly said that BERC has instituted a number of changes since he was hired more than a year ago and that more change is in store.

“This agency,” he said, “has decades of accumulated practices that need to be looked at.”

[BenFranklin]

While the funding of this misguided business plan deserves the attention it is receiving, I believe a larger issue, and just as important, is what business does the city of Buffalo have competing with legitimate restaurant owners? The number of patrons in that area is limited. Pulling those customers from another restaurant just weakens those that have invested their time and money in the City of Buffalo.

[curiousreader]

'The News also found that Barron and another BERC official recommended that the Erie County Industrial Development Agency give the restaurant a $50,000 loan.
SO WHO IS THE OTHER BERC OFFICIAL?

[john]

At least once or twice a week I read another story about how Buffalo is "totally and completely HOPELESS". Brown could care less about this city. ALL and I repeat ALL he cares about is his STIFF image. Has anyone ever seen him smile? Before this winter I WILL be gone from this "totally and completely HOPELESS" city!

[Carlos]

I thought Brown was doing OK before One Sunset, Syed Ali, and Brian Davis scandals. Now he has shown his lack of leadership on bringing change and openness to government. To me, it appears he is more concerned about image and protecting his job than taking a stand. If there are problems confront them, don't hide. He lost my respect and vote.

[enoughalready]

Reilly is a tool. How does he sleep at night. Defending her and focusing on the future (that's some defense!!!0, he's now as responsible as Barron and should also go. And needless to say, so should Brown.

Hellllllo FBI?

[Silence Dogood]

Why would these incompetents ask the Erie County Industrial Development Agency for money ? Half of these fools can't even spell industry!

[Craig]

This city is run just like the state of NY which is run just like the federal government.
Can you find one honest politician anywhere?
I guess "honest politician" is an oxymoron.
If we the people do not take back our government,at all levels, this country will soon fade away.

goodbye Buffalo, goodbye NY, good bye USA.

[John]

Helping business is, unfortunately, something that government has to be involved in in Upstate NY. High taxes, a legacy of brownfields, brain drain and shrinking economy have left us a mess. Help is needed. I'm just not sure how/why government would get into, and get very deep into, helping a restaurant...which is a risky business venture for even seasoned investors....and is generating low paying jobs, that rarely have many, if any benefits. Buffalo has too many of these jobs to being with. Development officials need to concentrate on creating good jobs and real wealth in WNY.

[Jay]

The reporter should have addressed his questions to the Citistat meetings. It is in these meetings that the public has a chance to ask for accountability from our public officials.

[Capt. Obvious]

BenFranklin asks: what business does the city of Buffalo have competing with legitimate restaurant owners?

One example is the city givng $190,000 to Gigi's Restaruant last year.

Who knows how many restaurants are financailly aided by BERC, BURA, Empire Zones, or other government giveaways. It's a good investigation topic. If it turns out only One Sunset, Gigi's and politician-popular Chef's were assisted, that would be revealing too. It's more likely a few other restaurants are receiving unfair competive help as well.

This happened under Masiello too with the downtown brew pub and maybe others.

The practice should permanently end, period. Will even one Common Council member have the political guts to call for a law to end this?

From the Buffalo News six months ago:

"GiGi's on East Ferry is back in business
By Tom Buckham NEWS STAFF REPORTER
It was so crowded in GiGi’s that Mayor Byron W. Brown had to push his way in Tuesday to formally announce what those at the counter and the tables in back already knew: The popular East Ferry Street restaurant is back in business after a city-funded $190,000 renovation. ..."

http://www.buffalonews.com/102/story/518732.html

[speaktruthtopower]

Brown and Casey often complain to Washington and Albany about state and federal officials in the region who question how the city spends state and federal dollars. In some instances, they’ve attempted to get these officials terminated.
"Reilly is no doubt aware of Brown's ongoing efforts to stifle and otherwise marginalize the local HUD office since it issued a critical review of City Hall's management of block grant funds. We can't have that kind of scrutiny, especially in an election year.)"

[Kevin]

Everyone I have talked to is outraged over the Sunset story but, the reaction of the Brown Administration could be defined as only marginally contrite. To me, they seem to define that nexus of arrogance and stupidity - or, is the general public missing something here?

Nothing that HUD didn't miss. The recent report by that federal agency makes Sunset look like small potatoes. And, the Mayor's crew has barely yawned over that scathing document, which puts Buffalo's management of big federal dollars at the lowest level of performance in all of America.

[AICPplanner]

Look at the city charter folks. Reilly is the defacto OSP director, but does not have the mandated credentials for the job. He is a political flunky of the Mayor and nobody is enforcing the charter.

The city has no leadership and no rule of law, so there will be no reform that grows out of this scandal. Just another of many and no change on the horizon.

The state is also a joke. It is run by thugs and tax eaters. Now that UB2020 is in the pike, the continuation of unchecked graft will continue.

All we can do at this point is lobby the AG's office to file charges against the currupt politicians in NY state and to press for the charter of the city to be revoked.

[King Byron]

Crystal Peoples goes out with Leonard Stokes father.....case closed.

[TooLegitToQuit]

@ Lord Byron

Open the case back up.

Leonard Jr's father is Leonard Sr (that was covered in an earlier post)

George/Eddie Stokes is the boyfriend...