The Buffalo Common Council will not vote on Mayor Byron Brown’s nomination for police commissioner for another two weeks. Council members say they have a number of questions they need to prepare for Daniel Derenda, and that the position is too important to fast-track a decision. Derenda has been serving as interim commissioner since the start of the year. But some council members question why he never rose past the rank of detective sergeant before moving up by appointment. A confirmation hearing has yet to be scheduled. Lawmakers say that could happen at a July 13th legislation committee meeting or possibly before that if a special session is called. The full Council’s final meeting before summer break is on July 20th.
An Aurora horse-farm owner will have 40 of 73 horses returned to her by the SPCA, after a State Supreme Court judge’s decision yesterday. Beth Hoskins has denied allegations that her animals were neglected. The SPCA expressed disappointment with the decision. The Erie County District Attorney’s office also announced that it was increasing the number of misdemeanor counts against Hoskins from the 10 originally filed, to 114, reflecting the total number of horses, cats, and dogs seized when the Eden Farm property was raided in March.
A reputed gang leader from Niagara Falls has pleaded guilty to running a drug-dealing ring. Thirty-one-year-old Sean McIver also admitted in federal court to leading a gang but denied any affiliation with the infamous “Bloods.” McIver was one of about 30 people arrested during a sweep in Niagara Falls last year, following a lengthy investigation into gang and drug-related violence in the Falls area. He could face 12-and-a-half years to life behind bars when sentenced on October 22nd.
A Syracuse man has been charged in connection with a fatal Buffalo car crash which killed his passenger. 23-year-old Christian Flagg was arraigned on vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving charges yesterday, after the May 15th wreck on Memorial Drive. 23-year-old Adrian Swain was killed after being ejected from the vehicle. Flagg faces seven years behind bars if convicted. He will return to court in September.
A 53-year-old Buffalo man has been charged with killing his roommate. Wilmon Vincent allegedly stabbed his 64-year-old victim Monday night inside their Dodge Street apartment. Vincent faces a second-degree murder charge. Police say they were able to use leads and witness information in order to make the arrest.
A motorcyclist lost his life last night in a collision with a semi-truck on Route 219 in Great Valley. Investigators believe the semi slowed down while going through an underpass, and the cyclist ran into the back of the truck. The victim’s identity has yet to be released and the accident remains under investigation.
Buffalo’s Common Council is toughening up city restrictions on cigarette sales. The City Hall law department has been directed to draft an ordinance that would require stores that sell smokes to get a new city license. Anti-smoking advocates say he action will make it easier to crack down on retailers who sell to minors. Other provisions would ban colorful images in tobacco ads and limit them to plain black lettering on white paper. Stores would aslo have to post health warnings and information on stop-smoking programs.
The environmental impact of operations at Tonawanda Coke will be the subject of a public hearing tonight. The State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Western New York Clean Air Coalition will host a meeting to get public feedback in on the factory’s alleged air pollution in the Northtowns. The hearing is set for 7 p.m. at the Sheridan Parkside Community Center. Tonawanda Coke’s facility was raided by federal authorities last year.
A Tonawanda business was vandalized last week, last week and police are asking for the public’s help in finding the perpetrators. Officials say four teenagers broke into an industrial factory last week, damaging equipment, destroying a vehicle, and spraying several fire extinguishers. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 879-6613.
State Democrats have made an official move to oust Pedro Espada from their party. A letter was sent yesterday to the Bronx Democratic chairman to begin the process. Espada has been accused in a civil suit of looting about 14-million dollars from a health care clinic he operates in the Bronx. If the party does oust him, he would be able to appeal the verdict in state court.
