Golisano's name surfaces as alternative weekly suspends publication
B. Thomas Golisano has acquired many titles over the years: founder of Paychex Inc., owner of the Buffalo Sabres, three-time candidate for governor, billionaire and philanthropist.
Now, some wonder if the Rochesterian seeks a new moniker — media magnate.
That’s because a source close to the situation said Golisano representatives earlier this year inquired about buying the Niagara Gazette, while his Responsible New York independent political committee lies at the core of an internal dispute that last week halted publication of the Niagara Falls Reporter.
Golisano late Friday vigorously denied any interest in becoming the next Rupert Murdoch.
“I’m not interested in buying a newspaper,” he said before hanging up. “I don’t care who’s feeding you that crap, but it’s crap.”
The Reporter, a feisty and sometimes controversial alternative weekly, is absent from newsstands amid a conflict that its publisher blames on the editor’s cooperation with Golisano’s political efforts.
Publisher Bruce Battaglia shut down the paper after he claimed Editor Mike Hudson was reflecting the views of Golisano’s chief political aide, former Erie County Democratic Chairman G. Steven Pigeon, who runs Responsible New York.
“In the last month, the editorial content of the paper reflects Pigeon and the Responsible New York perspective,” Battaglia said. “It’s the news according to Pigeon. That’s not what this paper is all about.”
But Hudson says the problem is nothing of the kind. He accuses Battaglia of dipping into the till.
“It seems to me he’s almost begging us to go to the DA,” Hudson said. “If you’ve got a guy taking out $1,000 per week in cash advances, something is going on.”
Battaglia denies that any financial improprieties occurred, and offered to review any of his transactions with the paper’s accountant.
Still, a major battle is under way for control of the newspaper, which Battaglia and Hudson started 8z years ago.
And on a larger scale, Battaglia claims that Pigeon has at least asked about buying a Western New York publication to reflect Golisano’s views.
A source close to the situation, who asked not to be identified, said Pigeon made inquiries on Golisano’s behalf to buy the Gazette and possibly its sister newspapers in Western New York several months ago.
“He wants to acquire a large media presence,” the source said. “He’s not so much interested in making money. He’s interested in increasing his power base.”
Pigeon acknowledged “working for a client with an interest in media,” but would not divulge his client’s name.
“There are no plans to move forward at this time,” he added.
Jamie Moses, publisher of the Artvoice weekly who said he often discusses media matters with Golisano, said it all stems from the Sabres owner’s disdain for the area’s dominant daily newspaper.
“It’s no secret he’s not a fan of The Buffalo News,” Moses said. “So he has periodically looked into the possibility of finding some kind of competing paper. It hasn’t materialized, and I doubt it will.”
Moses said he has counseled Golisano about the financial implications of launching another daily in the area, but said that Golisano continues to express interest in finding an outlet for his views.
When asked if Golisano or his representatives ever approached him about buying Artvoice, Moses replied: “I don’t think so.”
Golisano recently founded Responsible New York, an independent political committee, with $5 million. He called it a vehicle for seeking reforms he championed during three unsuccessful runs as the Independence candidate for governor.
But after spending about $1.3 million in recent primaries around the state, the money has primarily helped Pigeon’s pet projects — including a vicious campaign that unsuccessfully targeted Democratic Assemblyman Sam Hoyt of Buffalo and his extramarital relationship with a legislative intern.
In the Falls, Battaglia claims that Hudson has joined the effort. He said a check from a company called Landen Associates headquartered at Pigeon’s Buffalo address financed 10,000 extra copies uncharacteristically circulated in Buffalo in the weeks before the Sept. 9 primary. One recent issue featured a photo of Hoyt under the headline, “Disgraced!”
Another featured a female silhouette with the headline: “Sammy’s Sex-Capades,” accompanied by a full page ad sponsored by Responsible New York.
Battaglia said he recently attended a meeting with Hudson and another member of the Reporter’s board of directors in which he learned Pigeon was prepared to spend more in advertising with the paper, but only if Battaglia was fired.
“They said that Steve Pigeon, through Responsible New York, had $50,000 they wanted to spend with the Niagara Falls Reporter, but we wouldn’t get a dime unless I go,” Battaglia said. “I am not turning over these pages to the likes of Steve Pigeon or anyone else.”
John P. Bartolomei, a Niagara Falls attorney with close ties to Pigeon, said he also was involved in an offer to buy the Reporter several months ago from a client whom he would not identify. But he said it occurred before Responsible New York was born and included nothing about firing Battaglia.
“An important part of the offer was a contract for both Bruce Battaglia and Mike Hudson,” Bartolomei said. “They were to continue exactly what they were doing.”
Battaglia said he made the decision to suspend publication pending the outcome of a stockholders’ meeting Thursday.
Pigeon says the money merely paid for the ads bought by Responsible New York, and denied Battaglia’s removal stood as a condition for the group’s advertising.
“He’s exaggerating because of his problems with Mike Hudson,” Pigeon said.
