LoHud, by Jorge Fitz-Gibbon and Mareesa Nicosi, March 24, 2012. Local governments are creating private development corporations at a rapid rate, allowing them to spend tens of millions in tax dollars outside the public view and with minimal state oversight, a Journal News investigation shows.
Advocates from ALIGN praised the increased scrutiny of the New York City Industrial Development Agency (IDA) through a new audit by Comptroller John Liu’s office. The audit examined the IDA’s project financing, evaluation, and monitoring process.
Democrat and Chronicle, By Matthew Daneman, February 25, 2012. The state agency that oversees New York’s public authorities says it likely will investigate the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency’s work with a Henrietta company. A bipartisan group of Buffalo-area lawmakers and several labor and social justice organizations wrote the state Authorities Budget Office this week, seeking an investigation into 2008 COMIDA tax breaks given to Ward’s Natural Science Establishment LLC.
Capital Confidential, By Rick Carlin, February 24, 2012. An activist group along with the Teamsters and a bi-partisan group of lawmakers are asking the Authorities Budget Office to investigate the way that Wards Natural Science moved some of its operations from Erie to Monroe County, seemingly as their tax break in Erie was expiring.
Innovation Trail, By Zack Seward February 24, 2012. Labor groups backed by several Buffalo-area lawmakers are calling for an investigation of the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA). In a letter filed Thursday afternoon with the state's Authorities Budget Office (ABO), the Getting Our Money's Worth Coalition claims COMIDA broke state law by offering tax breaks to VWR Education LLC.