Albany

When freshman Senator Rob Ortt, a Republican of North Tonawanda, sent out a mailer to supporters last week lambasting the the Cuomo administration’s film industry tax credit, he probably thought that he was speaking to a receptive audience. But the

Senator Tim Kennedy (D-South Buffalo) is being asked by constituent groups to return $5,400 in campaign contributions that he has accepted from firms that have contributed to the Nation’s opioid epidemic. Kennedy has accepted money from Allergan and Pfizer.  Allergan

Political operatives associated with Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins’ mainline Democratic caucus are contemplating potential candidates to challenge Senator Robert Ortt, of North Tonawanda.  The 62nd district stretches from Niagara Falls to Rochester. The most prominent names being floated are Mayor Paul Dyster

Democrats’ stunning election night victories in Amherst have sent shockwaves across Western New York’s political scene.  The vote-heavy town is typically a Republican stronghold, but the unpopularity of Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard led to sweeping losses for Republicans who

The 60th district is rare in the State Senate Chamber.  In the last two decades, the seat has switched occupants more than any other: Anthony Nanula, Al Coppola, Byron Brown, Marc Coppola, Antoine Thompson, Mark Grisanti, Marc Panepinto, and Chris

The wildly popular Cheektowaga Town Supervisor Diane Benczkowski — the region’s highest profile advocate for infrastructure modernization — is being urged by environmental activists to seek the 63rd District’s State Senate seat.  The district comprises Cheektowaga, Lackawanna, Depew, South Buffalo,

A source familiar with investigations initiated under former United States Attorney Preet Bharara has told The Chronicle that there is an “ongoing probe” of Governor Andrew Cuomo‘s top aide and her family. This week, Chief of Staff Melissa DeRosa has been promoted to the

  The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation is pleased to announced this morning that Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes has secured a $250,000 earmark for electrical upgrades at the storied Buffalo Central Terminal. The earmark is the second time that the Assemblywoman has secured capital dollars

THE EDITORIAL BOARD If former Seneca Nation President Robert Odawi Porter decides to run for Governor next year, his campaign and governorship would be likely to benefit Western New York. Porter — a Harvard educated attorney with a renowned international law

Freshman State Senator Chris Jacobs (R-Buffalo) did not attend Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s invitation-only rally celebrating the passage of an additional $500 million public investment in the region’s economic revival last Tuesday. Jacobs’ absence has political operatives speculating whether or not the

New York State’s Republican Party is in dire straits: it hasn’t had a competitive candidate for governor in four elections; has an embarrassingly small caucus in the Assembly; and the Senate caucus cannot retain a majority without the help of a breakaway

Senator Tim Kennedy is rumored to be in a precarious legal predicament given his closeness to the indicted former Erie County Democratic Party Chairman G. Steven Pigeon.  Such is why his harsh criticism of Governor Andrew Cuomo‘s budget process is

It is being rumored among political operatives that former Democratic Party Chairman G. Steven Pigeon — recently indicted on bribery charges by his longtime nemesis Attorney General Eric Schneiderman — is willing to take a plea deal in exchange for providing the

The Niagara County Republican Party is imploding in the aftermath of a Grand Jury being convened by the Albany County District Attorney’s Office investigating the campaign expenditures of former Senator George Maziarz. Former Maziarz loyalists have turned State’s evidence after

Matthew Ricchiazzi, who leads the investment group that plans to launch a new Niagara Gorge Ferry attraction, has told Artvoice that he would prefer to have a cooperative relationship with New York State, and Maid of the Mist operator Jim Glynn. Ricchiazzi is Haudenosaunne

Grand Island’s high profile anti-tax activist Rus Thompson is slamming freshman State Senator Chris Jacobs.  Not only does Jacobs want to keep the New York State Thruway tolls at both the North and South Grand Island Bridges, but he also

BY JAMES HUFNAGEL While the shock of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that he wants to build a state-owned “lodge” (read hotel) on Goat Island in the Niagara Falls State Park is still sinking in with many local residents, a preliminary

BY JAMES HUFNAGEL A number of Niagara Falls residents lit up social media this week with protests against Gov. Cuomo’s “lodge” which he wants to build next to the Niagara River on Goat Island in the Niagara Falls State Park,