Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

SUNY Polytechnic

SUNY Polytechnic

  • State-Backed, Scandal-Plagued Entities Seek New Chapter

    govcuomo roswell

    Howard Zemsky, of ESD, in Buffalo (photo via the Governor's office)


    Alain Kaloyeros, the former head of SUNY Polytechnic Institute heading to trial this month for alleged corruption, was known for his luxury sports cars, self-aggrandizing boasts, and awkward social media posts.

    The new face of the state’s tech development projects, Doug Grose, strikes a different image: subdued, old-school business executive.

    Coming after Kaloyeros’ fall from grace and amid twin corruption trials, Grose’s appointment seems aimed at assuring taxpayers that state

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  • In Wake of Charges, Cuomo Promises Change, Offers Few Details

    Cuomo gaggle teacher award night

    Gov. Cuomo (photo: Kevin P. Coughlin/Governor's Office)


    A day after United States Attorney Preet Bharara unveiled a myriad of corruption charges against two of his closest allies and some of his biggest donors related to their abuse of the state’s economic development programs, Gov. Andrew Cuomo traveled to Buffalo to announce he was expanding the program that sparked Bharara’s investigation.

    Cuomo publicly acknowledged the “truly disappointing” allegations and told the gathered crowd that his

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  • IBM Hired Influential Lobbyist Months Before Securing Buffalo Billion Deal

    IBM sign

    IBM (photo: Patrick via Flickr)


    International Business Machines (IBM) has a long history in New York - its headquarters is located on the New York-Connecticut border in Armonk; it used to be one of the largest employers in the state; and it was part of a 2011 deal to bring $4.4 billion in investments to upstate New York through the creation of a high-tech computer chip manufacturing plant. The success of the company and the overall state economy have travelled similar paths, both

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