This post marks a minor milestone for Politics and Other Stuff. I am presenting my second annual review of local lobbying activities in state and local government. The first edition was published on May 13, 2015. Once again, this is mainly a “what we know if we do a little digging” post.
When I worked at Canisius College one of my responsibilities was to serve as the school’s registered New York State lobbyist. I became familiar with the Lobbying Commission’s rules and procedures, including the periodic reports they require.
The Lobbying Commission later became the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, or JCOPE. Among the things JCOPE does is publish an annual report on lobbying activities in the state. The Commission has been in the news the last few days as the investigation into the Buffalo Billion proceeds.
The 2015 Report notes that $243 million was spent on lobbying activities on behalf of more than 4,000 clients. Spending was up eight percent over 2014. The total includes compensation to lobbyists and their related expenses. It does not include campaign contributions.
In addition to payments to lobbying firms in 2015, businesses and organizations spent $206 million on compensation for lobbyists directly employed by those entities.
As in 2014, lobbying spending was dominated by education-related organizations. The Commission reports that “Invest in Education Coalition, Inc. (formerly the Coalition for Opportunity in Education, Inc.) led all lobbying entities, with $5.1 million going toward its lobbying efforts, most of it for advertising, events, and other non-compensation expenses. Other education-related groups in the top ten spenders include New York State United Teachers, which spent $4.6 million, StudentsFirst New York Advocacy, Inc. ($2.4 million), Families for Excellent Schools Advocacy ($1.7 million), and Families for Excellent Schools, Inc. ($1.6 million).”
There are more than 24,000 entries in the 2015 JCOPE lobbyist list. All told, local businesses and organizations spent $5,548,465 in lobbying expenses. Of that total $5,356,281 went to compensation for the lobby firms and in-house lobbyists. Another $191,882 went for expenses and reimbursements.
Some of the organizations included here are statewide associations which list a Western New York business address.
The dominant locally-employed lobby firm is Masiello, Martucci, Calabrese, whose principals are former Mayor Anthony Masiello, former Deputy County Executive Carl Calabrese, and former Republican Party official Victor Martucci. One of the principals of a firm on the 2015 list, former Assembly Majority Leader Paul Tokasz, recently took a position as Vice President of Government Affairs for M&T Bank, the position held by Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul prior to her election to that office.
Former County Executive Joel Giambra continued his association with former Senator Al D’Amato’s Park Strategies. Former Senator George Maziarz’s chief of staff Richard Winter is associated with Richardson Management. Earlier this year Senator Maziarz was hired by the Niagara Falls Medical Center to lobby for them.
That pretty much exhausts the use of “former” in this blog. Kristy Mazurek’s name, associated with Successful Strategies Inc., is on the lobbyist list this year with a small contract, but since she otherwise appears to continue as a member of Team Pigeon she doesn’t fit on the “formers” list. Speaking of Pigeon, he lost his lobbying gig with the Seneca Nation when he ran into his legal problems last year.
What follows is a list extracted from the 2015 JCOPE Report that summarizes the lobbyist hires and costs for identifiable firms and organizations in Western New York.
WNY Firms and Organizations That Employed New York State Lobbyists in 2015
| Total $ | ||
| Client | Lobbyist Name | Compensation |
| 7 GENS | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 25,000 |
| ABSOLUT FACILITIES | E3COMMUNICATIONS | 36,000 |
| ALBRIGHT-KNOX ART GALLERY | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 24,000 |
| ALLIANCE OF BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS, INC. (NYS) | HINMAN STRAUB ADVISORS LLC | 34,398 |
| ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES | BALLANTYNE, SUZY | 15,000 |
| AMAR ATWAL/EPHRAIM ATWAL | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 50,000 |
| AMAYA | NIAGARA FRONTIER BUSINESS SOLUTIONS | 120,000 |
| AMERICAN BAIL COALITION | WILSON ELSER MOSKOWITZ EDELMAN | 120,000 |
| ASSN OF PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING CONTRACTORS | CAPITOL GROUP, LLC | 12,000 |
| ASSOCIATION FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION | BARRETT ASSOCIATES | 30,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS | E3COMMUNICATIONS | 36,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF HOME INSPECTORS (NEW YORK STATE) | PARKSIDE GROUP, LLC (THE) | 8,000 |
| BAKER VICTORY SERVICES | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 25,500 |
| BOTANICAL MEDICINES | UPSTATE CONSULTANTS, LLC | 5,000 |
| BRIGHTFIELDS CORPORATION | RICHARDSON MANAGEMENT | 21,000 |
| BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY NAVAL PARK | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 4,000 |
| BUFFALO CITY CEMETERY, INC | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 27,500 |
| BUFFALO COMPUTER GRAPHICS, INC. | LANDEN ASSOCIATES, LLC. | 42,000 |
| BUFFALO NIAGARA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, INC. | BUFFALO NIAGARA ASSN OF REALTORS | 169,590 |
| BUFFALO NIAGARA MEDICAL CAMPUS | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 36,000 |
| BUFFALO NIAGARA PARTNERSHIP | BUFFALO NIAGARA PARTNERSHIP | 23,792 |
| BUFFALO NIAGARA PARTNERSHIP | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 6,000 |
| BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE | BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE | 31,548 |
| BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 4,166 |
| BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 24,996 |
| BUFFALO ZOO | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 24,000 |
| BUFFALO/LAKE ERIE WIRELESS SYSTEMS CO., LLC | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 42,500 |
| CANISIUS COLLEGE | CANISIUS COLLEGE | 141 |
| CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, L.P. | PARK STRATEGIES, LLC | 32,500 |
| CAROUSEL ACADEMY, INC (THE) | SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES, INC. | 4,000 |
| CATHOLIC HEALTH SYSTEM | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 120,000 |
| CITY OF BUFFALO | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 39,996 |
| CITY OF LACKAWANNA | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 36,000 |
| CLARUS LINEN SYSTEMS | PARK STRATEGIES, LLC | 15,000 |
| COALITION FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 21,000 |
| CONNOISSEUR ENCOUNTERS COMPANY INC. | PARKSIDE GROUP, LLC (THE) | 90,000 |
| COUNTY OF NIAGARA | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 60,000 |
| CREATIVE STRUCTURES SERVICES | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 16,177 |
| DELAWARE NORTH COMPANIES, INC. | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 92,500 |
| DELAWARE NORTH COMPANIES, INC. | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 45,000 |
| DELAWARE NORTH COMPANIES, INC. | MEARA, BRIAN R. PUBLIC RELATIONS | 120,000 |
| DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY ALLIANCE OF WNY | DREXELIUS, JR., JOHN R. | 35,004 |
| DISTRICT COUNCIL 4, AFL-CIO | PITTA BISHOP DEL GIORNO & GIBLIN LLC | 24,000 |
| D’YOUVILLE COLLEGE | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 75,000 |
| EMPIRE STATE PASSENGERS ASSOCIATION | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 7,500 |
| ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER CORPORATION | PARK STRATEGIES, LLC | 60,000 |
| ERIE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY | E3COMMUNICATIONS | 13,750 |
| EVERGREEN HEALTH SERVICES OF WESTERN NEW YORK | MALKIN & ROSS | 24,500 |
| FAIR COMMITTEE | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 12,500 |
| FAIRWAY HILL DEVELOPMENT LLC | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 7,500 |
| FLORA FRANCO, LLC | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 8,800 |
| FLOSS AGENCY | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 6,000 |
| FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S ROWING BOATHOUSE CORP. | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 2,000 |
| FREY ELECTRIC | RICHARDSON MANAGEMENT | 30,000 |
| GAR ASSOCIATES, INC. | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 24,000 |
| GARRETT LEATHER | UPSTATE CONSULTANTS, LLC | 20,805 |
| GENESEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER | PARK STRATEGIES, LLC | 51,000 |
| GENESEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER | RICHARDSON MANAGEMENT | 25,400 |
| HAMBURG BREWING COMPANY | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 2,000 |
| HASEK’S HEROES | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 15,000 |
| HEALTHNOW NEW YORK, INC. | MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS, LLP | 36,000 |
| HUMANA (NIAGARA FRONTIER BUSINESS SOLUTIONS) | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 48,000 |
| HYATT REGENCY BUFFALO | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 28,000 |
| INDEPENDENT HEALTH ASSOCIATION, INC. | CAPITOL GROUP, LLC | 34,300 |
| INDEPENDENT HEALTH ASSOCIATION, INC. | SHERIDAN & ASSOCIATES | 24,500 |
| INSYTE CONSULTING | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 21,000 |
| INVENTURES GROUP INC. | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 5,000 |
| IROQUOIS BAR CORP. | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 38,500 |
| JACK HUNT COIN BROKER, INC. | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 15,000 |
| JOHN W. DANFORTH COMPANY | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 36,000 |
| JOHN W. DANFORTH COMPANY | PARK STRATEGIES, LLC | 60,000 |
| KALEIDA HEALTH | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 120,000 |
| KLEINHANS MUSIC HALL MANAGEMENT, INC. | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 15,000 |
| LABCARE, INC. | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 30,000 |
| LACTALIS AMERICAN GROUP, INC. | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 60,000 |
| LAKE REGION MEDICAL | UPSTATE CONSULTANTS, LLC | 20,000 |
| LCO BUILDING LLC | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 24,000 |
| LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, DISABLED,DISADVANTAGED | NICOLSON, KAREN | 128,034 |
| LIBERTY COMMUNICATIONS INC | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 6,000 |
| LITERACY NEW YORK, INC. | CORNING PLACE COMMUNICATIONS | 19,902 |
| LITERACY NEW YORK, INC. | HINMAN STRAUB ADVISORS LLC | 20,224 |
| MAID OF THE MIST CORPORATION | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 60,000 |
| MCGUIRE DEVELOPMENT CO. | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 12,500 |
| MENSCH CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 36,000 |
| MERANI HOTEL GROUP | UPSTATE CONSULTANTS, LLC | 6,000 |
| METALICO BUFFALO | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 15,000 |
| NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY & SUBSIDIARIES | E3COMMUNICATIONS | 24,000 |
| NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY & SUBSIDIARIES | GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP | 60,000 |
| NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY & SUBSIDIARIES | NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY | 542 |
| NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | RICHARDSON MANAGEMENT | 30,000 |
| NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, INC. | PARK STRATEGIES, LLC | 60,000 |
| NIAGARA FALLS BRIDGE COMMISSION | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 108,000 |
| NIAGARA FALLS WATER BOARD | E3COMMUNICATIONS | 45,500 |
| NIAGARA FRONTIER TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 60,000 |
| NIAGARA LUTHERAN NURSING HOME | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 5,000 |
| NIAGARA UNIVERSITY | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 25,000 |
| NOCO, INC. | E3COMMUNICATIONS | 48,000 |
| NORSTAR DEVELOPMENT USA, LP | BROWN & WEINRAUB, PLLC | 57,500 |
| NYSARC, INC. ERIE CHAPTER (FKA HERITAGE CENTER) | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 13,500 |
| OLMSTED CENTER FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED | OWEN, TAMARA B. | 4,000 |
| PALLADIAN HEALTH | BURGOS, TONIO AND ASSOCIATES | 30,000 |
| PALLADIAN HEALTH | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 6,500 |
| PEOPLE INC. | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 39,000 |
| PERSONIUS MELBER LLP | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 43,000 |
| PMG LLC ( PYRAMID MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC) | PARKSIDE GROUP, LLC (THE) | 20,000 |
| PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION | EMPIRE ADVOCATES LLC | 10,000 |
| PYRAMID MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC | OSTROFF ASSOCIATES, INC. | 42,000 |
| QUEEN CITY LANDING LLC | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 50,000 |
| REGIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS (NYS) | MALKIN & ROSS | 54,075 |
| ROSINA FOOD PRODUCTS, INC. | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 33,000 |
| ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE | BROWN & WEINRAUB, PLLC | 75,000 |
| ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE | NIXON PEABODY, LLP | 60,000 |
| SAVE ONTARIO SHORES, INC. | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 15,000 |
| SAVE OUR WNY CPC | WOH GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS LLC | 24,000 |
| SENECA NATION OF INDIANS | HINMAN STRAUB ADVISORS LLC | 30,000 |
| SENECA NATION OF INDIANS | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 98,065 |
| SHEA’S BUFFALO THEATRE | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 48,000 |
| SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC. | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 120,000 |
| SINATRA & COMPANY | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 33,000 |
| SOCIETY OF PATHOLOGISTS (NYS) | CORDO & COMPANY, LLC | 13,500 |
| SOLARCITY CORPORATION | WILSON ELSER MOSKOWITZ EDELMAN | 54,000 |
| SUNY GENESEO (CAMPUS AUXILIARY SERVICES, INC.) | WHITEMAN OSTERMAN & HANNA LLP | 22,918 |
| SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ASSOCIATION | HINMAN STRAUB ADVISORS LLC | 12,000 |
| TM MONTANTE DEVELOPMENT | E3COMMUNICATIONS | 42,000 |
| TOSKI & CO. | RICHARDSON MANAGEMENT | 24,000 |
| TOTAL SAFETY CONSULTING, LLC | CAPALINO, JAMES F. & ASSOCIATES, INC. | 60,000 |
| TROCAIRE COLLEGE | E3COMMUNICATIONS | 36,000 |
| TRY-IT DISTRIBUTING COMPANY | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 36,000 |
| TSG DEVELOPMENTS INVESTMENTS INC. | PARK STRATEGIES, LLC | 120,000 |
| UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO | UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO | 136,967 |
| UPSTATE NIAGARA COOPERATIVE, INC. | UPSTATE NIAGARA COOPERATIVE, INC. | 4,040 |
| UPSTATE PHARMACY LTD. | UPSTATE CONSULTANTS, LLC | 45,000 |
| VEGETABLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION (NYS) | ZGA, LLC | 24,000 |
| WESTERN CENTRAL COALITION,CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS | GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP | 16,000 |
| WESTERN NEW YORK ENERGY, LLC | PARK STRATEGIES, LLC | 24,000 |
| WESTERN NEW YORK HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION | BARTIMOLE, JOHN E | 4,317 |
| WESTERN NEW YORK LAW CENTER, INC. | BOLTON ST. JOHNS, LLC | 27,000 |
| WESTERN REGIONAL OFF-TRACK BETTING CORP. | LYNCH, PATRICIA ASSOCIATES, INC. | 36,000 |
| WESTERN REGIONAL OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION | RICHARDSON MANAGEMENT | 27,000 |
| WILLIAM SCHUTT & ASSOCIATES, P.C. | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 20,500 |
| WYOMING COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS | HINMAN STRAUB ADVISORS LLC | 48,000 |
| ZAEPFEL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT & LEASING | MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, CALABRESE | 8,000 |
Politics and Other Stuff 