Latest news with #BuffaloPublicSchools
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
In case you missed it: Big takeaways from News 4's Democratic mayoral debate
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo will decide its next mayor this November and the Democratic primary is coming up fast. Five candidates took to the stage Tuesday night with WIVB News 4 and D'Youville University to debate topics on the minds of Buffalonians. Here's what Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon, State Senator Sean Ryan, Councilman Rasheed N.C. Wyatt, former Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield, and Buffalo native Anthony Tyson-Thompson had to say. The city budget was approved late last month, which includes a hotel bed tax and the sale of the city's parking ramps in order to address a $70 million structural deficit. Scanlon described the budget as 'an opportunity,' while Wyatt, one of two councilmembers who voted no to pass it, said leadership in the city continues to make the same mistakes that fall back on taxpayers. Ryan claimed that Scanlon has received money from 'MAGA' Carl Paladino, but Scanlon refuted the claims. Selling the city's parking ramps would only solve this year's problems, Ryan speculated. Parkways have been proposed for both the Kensington and the I-198 for large amounts of federal funding. Both projects are on pause. WIVB News 4's coverage on the Kensington Expressway In regards to making progress or getting the money back, Scanlon said a full environmental study must be done. Whitfield claimed he was the only one on the stage in support of the restoration of Humboldt Parkway. Multiple restaurants downtown have closed in the past year. In order to keep businesses in and keep people visiting the city, Scanlon said his administration has already enacted a small business grant program. Whitfield lamented the new Bills stadium being built outside of downtown and Wyatt said, 'I would like to point my finger at the Pegulas, but I can't,' instead blaming the city's leadership. Chief of Narcotics D.J. Granville is accused of hitting six vehicles and causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage to seven last year. An investigation remains pending. When asked about Granville donating to Scanlon's campaign, the acting mayor said they were childhood friends and that Granville has donated to his campaign in the past. *** Viewers submitted various questions to WIVB News 4. Here are answers given by candidates during our post-debate town hall. Safety has been a recent concern within Buffalo Public Schools. In response, Scanlon said $55 million has gone to the schools to improve safety as a partnership prevails. 'If we can't keep our kids safe, we can't educate them,' he said. Ryan cited a 'mental health crisis' and said programs must be available for basic needs, such as clothing and counseling, to be met. Buffalo Public Schools adopts resolution to expand scope of investigation into allegations Whitfield said Buffalo needs to do a better job of educating and supporting its children, and that the mayor should be 'intimately involved' in that process. 'If they know that they're supported, right now they don't know that,' he said. 'We see them as the problem, but we're the problem. We're the problem because we have not provided a safe environment for them.' Illegal ATVs swarm the city every year during the warmer months. Riverside resident Terry asked how the candidates will take back the streets and hold drivers accountable. Investigation launched after incident involving Buffalo police vehicle, ATV Scanlon said increasing fines and cameras is a possibility. Both Ryan and Wyatt said laws are necessary to block ATVs from being sold in the city. 'The City of Buffalo operates a kill animal shelter. It is barbaric, it is behind the times and we can do better,' Ryan said when asked about improving the Buffalo Animal Shelter. He claimed the city never applied for state money for the shelter. Scanlon said he could not speak to potential money from the state, but that a new location has been identified and will be announced later this week. When asked about bringing down the cost of rent and affordable housing, Scanlon said the city is building 110 homes, with the vast majority being in the East Side. Tyson-Thompson said initiatives for residents and buildings up to code are a necessity. Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Associated Press
Man charged with trying to kidnap a child from a school in Buffalo, New York
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — An Illinois man tried to kidnap a student from a school in Buffalo, New York, and fled after punching and shoving an employee who confronted him, prosecutors said Wednesday. Shane Cronin, 30, of Lombard, Illinois, was arrested a short time later near the school. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted kidnapping, burglary, attempted assault and other charges, and was ordered to be held without bail. Cronin entered the Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet school without permission Feb. 11 and approached two children he did not know in a hallway, authorities said. He was attempting to lure and abduct one of them when a school employee saw him and directed him to leave, District Attorney Michael Keane said. Cronin punched the employee and shoved her to the ground before a security guard intervened and Cronin ran from the building, the prosecutor said. The school is adjacent to the Buffalo Museum of Science. Cronin's attorney said his client may have been in the midst of a severe mental health crisis when he legally entered the science museum and from there 'was somehow able to gain access to' the attached school. 'By all accounts, most of the employees did what they were supposed to do upon making contact with any person not authorized to be on the school premises,' attorney Daniel DuBois said in an email. Cronin didn't have any tools or weapons on him or in his vehicle, which was searched by police, DuBois said. A spokesman for Buffalo Public Schools did not immediately respond to questions about how the intruder gained access to the school and what security protocols may have been breached. The school includes students in grades three through eight. The Buffalo Board of Education last month authorized an independent investigation after a veteran Buffalo police detective discussed the case on an April 26 podcast and accused the district of cover-ups. Keane said he is aware of the detective's comments. 'My office has been conducting an investigation. We are committed to upholding the law, pursuing justice for victims, and preserving the integrity of the investigative process,' he said.
Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Buffalo Public Schools faces child abuse, sexual assault exposé; detective alleges massive cover-up
Detective Richard Hy, a 13-year veteran of the Buffalo Police Department, broke down multiple times as he accused the Buffalo Public Schools of 'covering up' child abuse, sexual assault, and abduction reports. He made the claim on a podcast called the 'Unsubscribe Podcast'. The episode titled 'Your Kids Are In Danger - SVU Detective Exposes Buffalo School System' was posted on Saturday morning and has been viewed nearly 500,000 times. Hy has been on the Special Victims Unit for the past two years. Speaking on the podcast, he said that the Buffalo school district has been 'intentionally not reporting the assaults of students, sexual assaults between students, and then has also used the Buffalo Police Department school resource officers to write reports and then had their influence over those officers'. He further accused attorneys for the school district of refusing to comply with subpoenas. The Buffalo Public School District, in a statement, said that it is 'aware of unfortunate and untrue recent allegations circulating in an online video'. 'The district is prepared to vigorously address these untruths. The district has prioritized the safety and security of its students and staff every day. BPS is the second largest district in NYS with some 60 schools, 30,000 students, and 7,000 staff and any transgressions that may happen are handled swiftly with seriousness, integrity, fairness, and empathy.' "The Buffalo Public Schools maintains a close and professional relationship with the Buffalo Police Department as a means to ensure that safety is a priority." The president of the Buffalo police union said Hy has the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association's support. 'Detective Richard Hy is a passionate detective in the Buffalo Police Department who prioritizes the wellbeing of the city's most vulnerable victims. As a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and a Law Enforcement Officer he does not shy away from the work he does to maintain his physical and mental health. His most recent podcast shows his passion for the job and his dedication to his mental health. Detective Hy is a valued member of the Buffalo PBA and has our support,' John Davidson said.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
Buffalo Public Schools responds to allegations of not reporting sexual assaults, abuse
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Public Schools responded to accusations on Saturday made by a Buffalo police detective on a podcast that the school intentionally does not report sexual assaults and abuse. Detective Richard Hy took to the Unsubscribe Podcast, which is based out of Texas and has around 679,000 subscribers on YouTube, to make the accusations. The video clip was posted on Saturday and has since amassed almost 400,000 views, 50,000 likes and over 7,000 comments as of late Sunday morning. While on the podcast, Hy alleged that BPS intentionally did not report sexual assaults between students, deleted a video of an attempted abduction of two young children from school grounds, and failed to make reports of a student who was being physically abused by her father multiple times. BPS said in a statement posted online that it is aware of the allegations and is prepared to 'vigorously address these untruths.' 'The district has prioritized the safety and security of its students and staff every day,' the school said. 'BPS is the second largest district in NYS with some 60 schools, 30,000 students, and 7,000 staff and any transgressions that may happen are handled swiftly with seriousness, integrity, fairness, and empathy.' Hy accused city attorneys of 'obstructing police' from receiving information from the schools and BPS' legal representatives of 'intentionally not responding' to requestions for information regarding the assaults and abuse. BPS elementary school principal Dr. Greg. Johnson was previously placed on administrative leave back in July 2023 after being accused of abusing a child who attended the school over the course of six months. The family had said that the student was sexually abused and bullied by Johnson. Hy, who was formerly known for his 'Angry Cop' videos on social media, has been suspended multiple times and investigated by the Buffalo Police Department 23 times, according to his disciplinary records WIVB News 4 obtained through a Freedom of Information law request in 2022. The reasons listed for the investigations were his social media activity, use of force complaints and violent off-duty conduct. One of the reports stated that Hy and an off-duty West Seneca officer were watching kids make a rap video in September 2016. Hy then headbutted one of the children in the face because he refused to tell Hy his cell phone password, according to the records. In September 2020, a video recording showed Hy punching a Black man and squatting on his chest for several minutes until officers arrived. Hy accused the man of swinging his skateboard at him first. Multiple witnesses had said that the man, who appeared to have mental health conditions, made derogatory statements toward Hy. Internal affairs then exonerated Hy a year later. One of the reasons Hy listed in the podcast for BPS allegedly not reporting the assaults and abuse was a fear from employees of losing their jobs and 'stepping out of line.' BPS said in its statement that it 'maintains a close and professional relationship' with the BPD to 'ensure that safety is a priority.' News 4 reached out to Hy and the City of Buffalo for comment and is waiting to hear back. Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Buffalo Public School safety concerns rise after teachers injured in student fights
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A series of violent altercations in Buffalo Public Schools has raised concerns among educators and staff, with at least three recent student fights resulting in injuries that required teachers to seek medical attention. Marc Bruno, a teacher at Riverside High School and a representative for the Buffalo Teachers Federation, said that while student fights are nothing new, the frequency and severity of recent incidents — coupled with what he describes as a lack of adequate response from the district — mark a dangerous turning point. 'They don't want to have those students who are doing the right thing every single day further traumatized by a small minority of students,' Bruno said. According to Bruno, two teachers at Riverside Academy were injured during fights within the past two weeks. One teacher was reportedly punched multiple times in the face and taken to the emergency room. Another teacher suffered a bruised shoulder after being pushed aside. At Southside Elementary, a female substitute administrator was trampled by a group of 7th grade students rushing to film a fight. Sources close to the situation said the administrator was hospitalized with a broken hip and a neck injury. 'The District is aware of these physical altercations,' Buffalo Public Schools said in a statement. 'This type of behavior greatly compromises the safety of staff and students and will not be tolerated under this administration.' The district added that the students involved have been disciplined in accordance with the Buffalo Public Schools Code of Conduct. For Bruno and other educators, the response falls short. 'As the union rep there, I filed a grievance about school safety and violence 1,147 days ago, and it's still pending,' Bruno said. The unresolved grievance includes concerns over recurring fights, weapons being brought into school buildings, malfunctioning door locks, and the transfer of violent students to Riverside without prior notice. Bruno said the case may finally go to arbitration within the next month. 'The fact that it's taking 1,147 days to address these issues — and counting — shows how totally dysfunctional the Buffalo Public Schools are,' Bruno said. Bruno claims he has repeatedly emailed the district about safety issues and was even written up for doing so. According to him, the district's policy requires staff to channel concerns through a secretary, but he insists he was acting in his capacity as a union representative. As a result, Bruno said he plans to bring the issue before a Public Employment Relations Board judge in early May. 'We're charging the district with retaliating against me for protected union activity,' Bruno said. 'I am unafraid. I know what my rights are, and I'm a passionate advocate for the students and staff at my school.' The mounting tension underscores ongoing concerns from educators who say safety issues have reached a breaking point and that change is long overdue. Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
