City Hall Under Scrutiny

Eliot Ness has entered the building - City Hall, that is.

As I report in today's Buffalo News, the FBI, the State Police and the Erie County District Attorney have assorted floors of City Hall under scrutiny.

The State Police and the DA have zoned in on Brian Davis, the Councilman who has trouble paying his bills, disclosing his finances to the Board of Elections and telling the truth about where he went to college. Their investigation is focused on allegations that Davis is a serial bad check writer and the Councilman's repeated failure to file financial disclosure reports with the Board of Elections.

I give DA Frank Sedita credit for treading where his predecessor rarely did. Especially because Sedita last year enjoyed the backing of both Mayor Byron Brown, who counts on Davis' support in the Council, and Steve Pigeon, who is working behind the scenes on the mayor's re-election campaign.

Sedita is showing he is his own man. If he continues this streak of independence, he could wind up a white knight in helping to clean up this region's cesspool political culture.

Of course, he's working with a lot fewer prosecutors and investigators than DAs in comparable counties, which is one reason I suspect the State Police are involved in the Davis investigation. Wouldn't it be nice if the DA's office was given the money to staff a public integrity unit like his counterpart in New York City?

The feds, on the other hand, have no problems with resources, and I find the FBI's interest in the Brown administration to be especially intriguing.

Keep in mind who is part of the mix - the agency's Government Corruption Unit. 

Sounds kind of ominous, doesn't it?

I couldn't drag much out of Acting U.S. Attorney Kathleen Mehltretter other than, yeah, we're up to something, but the something involves the Government Corruption Unit, so you know they're not checking for parking meter violations.

Moreover, a source familiar with what the feds have been looking into suggests this could be serious business.

First, there's Davis and the One Sunset fiasco. No big surprise there.

There's also City Hall's continued mismanagement of block grant money. Again, no surprise. (I've got to say that when I read the HUD audit that apparently piqued the interest of investigators, the report  described a program that seemed ripe for corruption.)

I'm told the FBI also has fielded allegations that - let's see, how can I put this diplomatically? - some folks involved in Brown's re-election campaign have been doing some inappropriate things that go beyond the e-mails that Tanya Perrin-Johnson has been sending to the troops.

A few words of caution.

Just 'cause the authorities are sniffing around doesn't mean there's fire to be found underneath all the smoke. But there sure seems to be a lot of smoke.

Comments

[BobbyCat]

The history of public corruption has been a slap on the hand for all those public officials (and church officials) caught with their hands in the tills - and there have been many.

Usually the penalty for these blue haired old ladies, these precinct captains who invariably get the vote out for the party chairmen, is restitution,probation, community service, some embarassment and giving up twinkies for lent.

We'll see if the new D.A. sends a stronger message than his predecessor did.

It's good to see the all the troops roaming around city hall. Maybe they could investigate some TOWN halls next. That would be news.

[john]

This is the best news I've had in a VERY LONG time!!!!! Finally there are investigations of the BLATANT CORRUPTION of the "Brown Regime"!!!!! Granted, political corruption is the norm here (city, county and state), but maybe FINALLY something will be done to try put an end to it.

[enoughalready]

FINALLY! Go get 'em! Please have the indictments - if any - out BEFORE the election.

[speaktruthtopower]

So let’s review why Byron Brown deserves another four years as mayor:

Appoints corrupt Steve Casey as Deputy Mayor (co-mayor), Casey was brought to WNY from PA by corrupt political boss Steve Pigeon.

Young construction worker is killed because Casey allowed developer to cut corners.

Mayor’s son takes family SUV on joy ride and damages the car of the daughter of a city employee. City Hall employee is demoted for speaking up about the Mayor lying about incident.

Public Works Commissioner convicted of public corruption charges.

Strategic Director Tim Wannamaker travels the nation interviewing for other jobs and the city pays for his travel. Before Wannamaker leaves town, he promotes Michelle Barron to Vice President of the BERC. Barron moonlights as manager of restaurant One Sunset.

Mayor hires Donna Brown as Deputy Mayor after qualified African-American woman who held the post is run out of town by corrupt Deputy Mayor Steve Casey. Casey was intimidated by this woman’s qualifications. Donna Brown’s main charge is to fight poverty in Buffalo. Donna Brown spends over a year learning about poverty. It gets better. The Mayor appoints as chair of the taskforce charged with fighting poverty, Nate Hare, CEO of the CAO and former or current lieutenant in the Mayor’s political organization. The CAO receives about 30 million dollars a year in federal and state funding to fight poverty in Erie County. The Chairman of the non-profit CAO is Brian Davis.

Mayor pushes out Rich Tobe as Economic Development Commissioner. Tobe’s accomplishments were a bit suspect but he is known for his honesty and integrity.

Mayor appoints Brian Reilly as Commissioner. Reilly expands Barron’s duties at the BERC. He also provides his girlfriend, using poverty funds with what every American deserves as a fundamental right, a good health care plan.

Casey pushes the Corporation Counsel out the door because she questioned his political activities in City Hall. Dan Rodriguez, who lacks the qualifications is named Acting Corporation Counsel.

Mayor appoints Carla Thomas, Commissioner of Human Resources. She is the former President of the Mayor’s political organization. Thomas now oversees Civil Service hiring at City Hall and has direct access to the personal information of City Hall employees.

Tanya Perrin Johnson, the childhood friend of the mayor’s wife is appointed Commissioner of Community Services. She oversees programs funded by state and federal dollars. Perrin-Johnson had been asked by her previous employer to look for work elsewhere.

[frquarter]

TYPICAL....after investigation,,,,,nothing will change....you want to know why????....look at who is in charge...if they just mention an attempt to fire them or place them under arrest,,,,,you know who will be here...AL SHARPTON OR JESSE JACKSON,,,,2 of americas biggest racist....and of course you know what don imus would say,,,,knowing its an african american .....his words are .....THERE YOU GO........any corruption by any official...AITOMATIC FIRED AND LOSS OF PENSION AND BENEFITS....thats the real world,,,,but the democRAT TAXPAYERS as usual uneducated voters ..vote the party....case closed

[Colin]

Want to see a goofy picture of Brian Davis at a Grassroots fundraiser? And why are other councilmembers representing constituents in the Ellicott district while Davis is AWOL?

http://eagercolin.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/brian-davis-is-still-doomed/

[my2cents]

Attention: If your considering "Politics" as a future endeavor -

One thing and one thing only will be different in Buffalo a day after the Primary.

All you howling Dems will kiss and hug and all back who ever wins - not because of the issues that affect City Residents - not because your guy has a clear "Reform Agenda" -

Because you have to. You have to in order to keep your Party/Committee in Power. You have to - in order to stay on the "Good Side" - You talk about pressure in City Hall - Your Committee depends on that pressure and Patronage.

Yesterday - Today - next month - New Suit, same game.

Its like watching a crazed dog trying to catch its tail.

[james]

FINALLY The Buffalo SNOOZE woke up! IT's about time. Show me the money!

[WNYmind]

There is gambling going on in this establishment, I am shocked!

[RJS]

Check out the Village of Depew Tax increase,please,something screwy going on there.Last year I paid $1047.79 this year I paid $1439.59. I now pay more Village Tax then I do County and School Tax by over $400.00 and my house is little less then 1400 sq.feet.and I get senior citizen & veteran deductions as well
???????????

[DH]

Wow. Substantive investigative reporting. Now there's a reason to buy a newspaper. It'd sure be nice if this were a more regular occurrence. I might have to buy more of these papers...

[glad about change]

We often talk about change until it actually happens I don't know about anyone else but take a look at Main St, some of the east side corners and police presence in the city. Growing up on Buffalo East side crime was ok unless you heard on the news "this doesn't happen in this quiet neighborhood" The rest of us called the police and waited for them to come. Now I see police every where and If I had to call them at least I know someone was around. This comes from someone who children played outside during broad daylight shootings and there was NO NEWS COVERAGE because this happens all the time that's not news. I GIVE THE BROWN ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CREDIT FOR DOING WHAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION COULDN'T. Maybe because they can relate and actually knows what goes on in there city before it reaches the news.

[Warren]

Thank you, Mrs. Gipson, for your comments.

[Mark]

Almost every day there has been some story about politicals lining their own pockets, appointing cronies to jobs and mismanagment of funds. Bring em all in to investigate and maybe we can get the funding where it belongs to be spent and the screw ups out of office. State Senators, we are coming after you next.

[rastamick]

"Maybe because they can relate and actually knows what goes on in there city before it reaches the news."

Yes they "knows what goes..."

You'd better hope the BPD doesn't catch you with whatever you're smoking that's made you so happy about the whirlwind of change Brown's regime has brought to Buffalo. Those of us not high or drinking the mayor's kool aid have a different view. It's called reality. Check it out when your pipe goes out.

[JMM]

Why does Brain Davis have the most staff of all the Common Council Members?
http://www.city-buffalo.com/Home/Leadership/CommonCouncil/CommonCouncilMembers

[Jay]

When you have so many cross party endorsements for the District Attorney why should I the average citizen have any faith that a public integrity unit located under the DA would be concerned with anything more than protecting the foxes against the chickens?

[jd]

Now if we only we could get Eliot Ness to pay a vist to the white house, that's where the big dirty fish lurk.

[Barton Keyes]

The mis-use of HUD funds by the city has been both extensive and persistent. And it has been going on since before the Massiello administration.
It has been going on for so long, with one critical audit by HUD after another over the years, that the culture of mis-management seems to have become ingrained to the point it has become the normal way of doing business.
And if this is true, it will take more than replacing one or two supervisors. It will take a reform that will dig out root and branch the culture of political manipulation of federal funds designed to help the ill housed in the city.

[james]

Hey: Gald about Change: NewsFlash: The Brown Administration is behind the "no news" coverage, get it? The change you see is an increased police response to a bleeding artery, ONLY because people are flooding 911. Now they cannot hide it anymore, remember they say crime is down. Liars.