The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) is charged with the responsibility of monitoring and enforcing the laws and regulations on public ethics. Yes, I know that seems like something that has not actually been happening in Albany. There certainly have been many transgressions.

Part of JCOPE’s role is to annually publish a report on businesses and organizations that pay registered lobbyists to try to influence state and local laws, regulations, spending, and purchasing. The 2015 Report was published in April 2016. The 2017 Report was published two months later than last year, on June 8, 2017.

Total statewide lobbyist spending rose slightly in 2016 compared with the previous year to a total of $242.7 million. Imagine that – nearly a quarter billion spent by businesses, organizations and individuals trying to direct, re-direct, start or stop some functions of state and local government.

The lobbying firm with the most business was Kasirer LLC ($10.4 million). The lobbyist client that spent the most on such activities was the Rent Stabilization Association of New York City ($3.7 million). The 4,960 statewide clients were, as might be expected, dominated by organizations and businesses in New York City.

This post focuses on the Western New York businesses and organizations looking to influence government action. This is the third year that Politics and Other Stuff is reporting on local lobbyist spending. You can see the 2014 and 2015 reports here and here. While regular readers know that this blog often discusses a partisan point of view on federal, state and local politics, when it comes to a post such as this one and others on campaign financials and election results, Politics and Other Stuff is your blog-of-record.

Total locally identified lobbyist spending in 2016 was $4.1 million, down $1.3 million or 24 percent from 2015. The local list continues to be dominated by the local powerhouse firm, Masiello, Calabrese, Martucci and Associates, whose principals are former Buffalo Mayor Tony Masiello, former Deputy County Executive Carl Calabrese and former Town of Tonawanda Republican Chairman Vic Martucci.

Other lobbying firms with local connections include:

• Bolton St. Johns (Jack O’Donnell and Camille Brandon)
• E3 Communications (Earl Wells III)
• Park Strategies (Joel Giambra)
• Richardson Management (Rick Winter)
• Upstate Consultants (James Sampson)

Here is the list:

WNY Firms and Organizations That Employed New York State Lobbyists in 2016

Business/Org.                               Lobbyist                      $ Compensation