Bharara, once a vocal critic of the governor's, also probed Cuomo's signature
upstate economic development project, the Buffalo Billion, an effort that did eventually result in charges — including against a former top aide to the governor, Joe Percoco, as well as ex-SUNY Poly head Alain Kaloyeros.
Lawyers representing six of the defendants have spent the past several weeks in a new letter - writing campaign to a federal judge seeking dismissal of the bid - rigging corruption charges leveled against individuals involved in several major
upstate economic development programs, including the mega-construction project at Tesla's Riverbend site in South Buffalo.
The bribery and fraud charges against Louis Ciminelli, Michael Laipple, and Kevin Schuler are part of a widespread and highly - publicized case related to bid - rigging and state contracts in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's
signature upstate economic development project: The Buffalo Billion.
The federal probe into Gov. Andrew Cuomo's upstate development projects has extended to several members of the governor's inner circle, including his former aide Joe Percoco, longtime lobbyist Todd Howe, and companies who have worked on a portfolio
of upstate economic development projects.
Howe is a registered lobbyist of a major Buffalo Billion developer, Syracuse - based COR Development, and Percoco is being investigated for making between $ 70,000 and $ 125,000 from two development companies, Clough, Harbour & Associates of Albany and COR Development, both of whom received state contracts
on upstate economic development projects.
The trial of Mr. Kaloyeros, the former president of the State University's Polytechnic Institute, involves bid - rigging in Mr. Cuomo's signature
upstate economic development plan, the so - called Buffalo Billion.
Republican Rob Astorino ripped Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a radio interview on Thursday, saying the issues surrounding investigations into
upstate economic development efforts were initially raised by his gubernatorial campaign in 2014.
The cases involve accusations of bid - rigging
involving upstate economic development programs — including the ballyhooed Buffalo Billion — and related dealings involving ex-Cuomo aide Joe Percoco and lobbyist Todd Howe, who previously worked for Cuomo when he was federal housing secretary.
Cuomo spent a week in January rolling out his ambitious budget agenda, which contained plans for a new criminal justice system for teens who commit serious crimes, and a
major upstate economic development program.
Reed said ethics will be an area of focus for Cuomo, given the federal and state prosecutions related to the Buffalo Billion and
other upstate economic development initiatives.
To date, the legislature has not passed the comprehensive reforms needed to reduce the enormous corruption risks revealed by the alleged rigging of $ 800m in
upstate economic development contracts.
Broadly speaking, Cuomo's
upstate economic development strategy remains heavily weighted toward dubious business tax breaks, while his transportation policies still squander resources on stuff like a toll freeze for Thruway drivers.
In May, just as the session winds down, a trial is scheduled for former SUNY nano mastermind Alain Kaloyeros and a host of upstate developers, although as much on the block for scrutiny will be the governor's
upstate economic development schemes, and those who carried out his wishes.
In contrast to Cuomo's high -
profile upstate economic development projects, the $ 700 million pipeline would have, just for starters, directly or indirectly created 2,300 jobs without any tax break or other special state subsidy.
Zemsky did acknowledge that the federal investigation
into upstate economic development has led to delayed payments for key projects in Western New York, including approval for a half - billion dollars earlier this year for the Riverbend site, home to a SolarCity plant.
A former top aide and several former associates have been indicted for bid rigging, bribery and extortion in connection
with upstate economic development contracts, including the Buffalo Billion, a situation that the governor calls «sad.»
In 2016, Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed him to conduct an investigation into his
own upstate economic development program, after news broke that then - U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office was investigating the program.
After that, not a lot happened policy-wise for weeks as attention turned not to post-budget issues, but to the growing corruption scandal surrounding the governor's
key upstate economic development program, the Buffalo Billion, which has focused on lobbyist Todd Howe and former Cuomo aide and confidant Joe Percoco.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's multibillion -
dollar upstate economic development plans, including the massive Buffalo Billion project, may be derailed by growing nervousness from IBM and other companies over the continuing corruption probes.
The Buffalo visit on Sept. 23 came one day after eight men were arrested, accused of an extensive bid - rigging scandal connected to Cuomo's
banner upstate economic development initiative — the Buffalo Billion.
Like most Republicans, Kolb's case against Gov. Andrew Cuomo is based on personality, and includes opposition to his policies
regarding upstate economic development — which are rooted in competitions for direct subsidies to businesses.
And with the recent arrests of 10 Cuomo associates linked to
various upstate economic development programs, Flanagan warned he expects lawmakers from both houses will grill the governor's commissioners during next year's budget hearings.
Despite the timing, the governor insisted the move was not a vote of no - confidence against SUNY Poly President Alain Kaloyeros, who is a subject of interest in U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's ongoing probe of the Buffalo Billion and other related Cuomo
administration upstate economic development projects.
Delivering the response for the Senate Republicans, freshman Sen. Rich Funke, of Rochester, took swipes at two of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's top policy initiatives — the $ 1.5
billion upstate economic development competition and the $ 1.66 billion property tax relief plan — saying his conference wants to make sure all regions of the state benefit equally from the 2-15-16 budget.
Those under scrutiny include Joseph Percoco, a top Cuomo aid and political enforcer who recently left the administration; longtime associate and lobbyist Todd Howe; and Alain Kaloyeros, the so - called nanotech guru who the governor has entrusted to quarterback the Buffalo Billion and several other big -
ticket upstate economic development projects.
While a payment of that size is notable on its own, the PACB has been thrust into the spotlight recently amid overlapping federal and state investigations
of upstate economic development initiatives including the construction of the 1.2 - million - square - foot SolarCity factory.
During the campaign, Astorino had questioned Cuomo's efforts
on upstate economic development, especially with regard to the spending of millions of dollars to encourage businesses in economically troubled upstate cities.
Kucinich has previously called for the $ 900 million plant in Wawayanda to at least be put on hold while a detailed investigation into the permitting process for the CPV Valley Energy Center that allowed the project to move forward, in light of reports that it was being looked at by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara as part of a wider probe into the administration's
upstate economic development efforts.
The attorney is assigned to look into the Buffalo Billion program and
other upstate economic development initiatives that have fallen into the crosshairs of federal prosecutors, according to Schwartz's contract with the Executive Chamber released on Friday.
Governor Cuomo's
upstate economic development plans took a hit in September when U.S. District Attorney Preet Bharara announced corruption charges against nine individuals involved in an alleged bribery and kickback scheme.
Bharara's public - corruption indictment of the governor's erstwhile alter ego, Joseph Percoco, was not only a personal humiliation; it also underscored the all - but - fatal fissures in Cuomo's
signature upstate economic development initiatives.
The proposal comes weeks after eight people — including former SUNY Polytechnic President Alain Kaloyeros and ex-Cuomo aide Joe Percoco — were indicted on charges stemming from an alleged bribery and bid - rigging scheme
involving upstate economic development projects.
Joe Percoco — regarded as a «third son» by the current governor's father, Mario Cuomo — is charged with extortion and bribery, while the former head of SUNY Polytechnic, Alain Kaloyeros, is charged with bid - rigging in connection with
major upstate economic development projects, including the Buffalo Billion.
Phrases with «upstate economic development»