Barone will retire at the end of July after 32 years with the authority, including 18 years as deputy executive director before taking over for Cowart. In the meantime, we thank you for understanding and respecting the constraints within which were operating, he said. NIAGARA FALLS Applications are due April 30 for the Jean Hopkins Memorial . First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Niagara Falls, NY minimum wage rate is $12.5 per hour. When Stephanie Cowart used her power as the Executive Director of the Niagara Falls Housing Authority to steal money entrusted to her, she failed the people she was hired to serve.. Cloudy. Clifford Scott . Dave DiCenzo2022-05-05T20:29:44+00:00May 5th, 2022|Categories: Public News|. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York, Former Head Of Niagara Falls Housing Authority Pleads Guilty To Stealing Government Funds; Son And Daughter-In-Law Also Convicted, Seven Defendants Charged In Rochester Illegal Sports Gambling Business, Father And Son Arrested, Charged With Kidnapping Conspiracy In An Attempt To Force Their Daughter/Sister To Marry In Yemen, Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Lying To Probation Officer, Former Head Of Niagara Falls Housing Authority Pleads Guilty To Stealing Government Funds; Son And Daughter In Law Also Convicted. . Niagara Falls Housing Authority. "There were very good letters," Arcara said. Allen and Fredia Cowart, on behalf of People and Possibilities, Inc., sought and obtained a $6,000 grant from NAF, with the assistance of Stephanie Cowart. Highlights. Clifford Scott, NFHA's executive director, said, "The Niagara Falls Housing Authority chose to partner with the New York Power Authority on this project because it aligns with . Four months later, he left to become executive director in Omaha. Summary People Technology Signals & News Similar Companies. Jul 7, 2019. (Source: buffalonews.com) Stephanie W. Cowart, former executive director of the Niagara Falls Housing Authority, admitted Wednesday to working with her son and daughter-in-law to steal $17,580 from the authority and the state. Her attorney, Michael Battle, did not respond to a request for comment. Although authority board members would not comment on whether these actions were related to an FBI investigation of Cowart, who will retire in March, board attorney Jason J. Cafarella said that the authority has concluded its internal investigation. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). My priorities are God, family and community.". We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. At that time, Cowart was placed on paid administrative leave by the housing authoritys board of commissioners. Although he called the Housing Authority "financially stable," other challenges remain. The Niagara Falls Housing Authority is committed to removing as many obstacles as possible to empower individuals and families to reach these goals. DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY 11 Page AUTHORITY LETTER 2 INTRODUCTION 3 Background 3 Objective 3 Scope and Methodology 3 Comments of Authority Of cials and Corrective Action 4 Find out what works well at Niagara Falls Housing Authority from the people who know best. But it wasn't all bad. Michael Battle confirmed Friday that he and his firm had been retained by Cowart, whom the authority's board of commissioners placed on indefinite paid administrative leave in May for unspecified reasons. Patersons remarks preceded a two-hour closed door session on Aug. 9 wherein the board discussed an unspecified personnel issue.. He moved to Atlantic City, N.J., to become executive director of its housing authority in 2016. Dave DiCenzo2023-01-12T16:21:35+00:00November 14th, 2022|Categories: Public News|Tags: bank on buffalo, buffalo, Doris Jones Community Resource Center, New York, NFHA, Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls Housing Authority, NY|. Battle was appointed to the U.S. Attorney's Office by former U.S. President George W. Bush. Cafarella said Williams had lived in the North Avenue home for 20 years. ministry of forests. Once the application has been completed, it can be mailed or hand delivered to: 744 Tenth St., Niagara Falls, NY 14301. Key Findings. Our communities include: Packard Court, Beloved Community, Harry S. Jordan Gardens, Anthony Spallino Towers and Henry . NFHA is the largest landlord in the . "We've always have been trying to get rid of scattered sites. And with nearly 3,000 migrants in total having been transferred since July, community services of the city are feeling . As a result, NFHA has embarked on an aggressive, community-led initiative to improve this long-time neglected area., "We believe a New York state investment in this community has the potential to kickstart economic development in one of the most underserved areas in the City of Niagara Falls,'' said Clifford Scott, executive director of the Niagara Falls Housing Authority. Our own internal review is ongoing. The People and Possibilities board of directors has shuffled leadership over its life-span, but in the years 2013-14 included former city Board of Education President Carmellette Rotella, current BOE member Kevin Dobbs and Niagara County Legislator Owen Steed, D-Niagara Falls. Industries . Niagara Falls Housing Authority Executive Director Stephanie Cowart has enlisted the service of a prominent Washington D.C. attorney who was once the top federal prosecutor in Western New York. Niagara Falls Housing Authority corporate office is located in 744 10th St, Niagara Falls, New York, 14301, United States and has 41 employees. James Maher said the school and the hospital have been teaming up for years on revitalization initiatives for the Niagara Falls area, more recently with an eye to . Fortunately, not all public servants are similarly motivated, and those who abuse their positions of trust, such as Cowart, can be brought to justice by those who, like our state and federal law enforcement officers who worked this case, faithfully serve the public with honor and integrity., Public corruption is the FBIs top criminal investigative priority because it poses a fundamental threat to the way government and communities operate every day, said Kevin P. Lyons, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBIs Buffalo Division. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). He resigned after less than a year, for what the PressofAtlanticCity.com reported were "personal reasons related to his family.". Details. Phone 716-285-7778. In stealing public funds, the defendant put her own interests ahead not only of taxpayers but of the very people she was supposed to be helping, said U.S. Attorney Kennedy. COURTS: Former Niagara Falls Housing Authority executive director also fined $2,000. Allen Cowarts attorney did the same about a week later, on Sept. 8, with a nearly identical letter attached to his refund check,though it was absent any reference to a recent conversation with authority officials. Allen Cowart falsely claimed that he was performing the work of two teachers under the Advantage After School Program and was paid more than two times the normal hourly pay rate for one teacher position. "I know some of the people who wrote these letters and I know they were sincere in what they said. 479 16th Street, Niagara Falls NY, 14303 Phone: 716-285-7778 E-mail: Center City Neighborhood Development Corporation John Drake, Executive Director Business Address: 1824 Main Street, Niagara Falls NY, 14305 Phone: 716-282-3738 E-mail: [email protected] . A locked padlock Soda, authority board chairman, said Scott "gravitates to troubled housing authorities.". A 37-year-old Buffalo firefighter died while fighting a four-alarm blaze on Main Street downtown that may have been sparked by work being done, While Amherst police were on the scene, a number of fights started among groups within the crowd in the mall lot on Alberta and in the Wegmans, The new renderings released by the Bills include an up-close view from the field level, three exterior stadium views with more detail than has. The Authority's 2012-13 fiscal year budget was $6.9 million. "For most of my career, I have been a public servant," Arcara told Cowart. NIAGARA FALLS The Niagara Falls Housing Authority Board of Commissioners accepted a $6,000 repayment from a son of suspended Executive Director Stephanie W. Cowart and decided to sell a single-family home occupied by Cowart's sisterat its meeting Tuesday. Some mixed winter precipitation possible. 1. Dave DiCenzo2022-09-20T04:09:23+00:00September 20th, 2022|Categories: Public News|. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Occupation. But then an outpouring of community support began to persuade him otherwise. Winds light and variable.. Cloudy. Alma mater. City of Niagara Falls. I've been very fortunate to turn each one around, some more than others," Scott said. 6311 Inducon Corporate Drive New Falls Housing Authority director, a former UB QB, is used to tough assignments. Some mixed winter precipitation possible. In addition, Cowarts daughter-in-law, Fredia Cowart, 28, of Niagara Falls, NY, was sentenced to one year probation for her conviction on a misdemeanor charge of theft of government funds. Member maria v. lopez. Craig Pridgen, that gave him pause. The Niagara Falls Housing Authority board of commissioners has selected Beacon Communities LLC as the co-developer on the Harry S. Jordan Gardens Housing Redevelopment in the Highland/Beech area of the City of Niagara Falls. Between October 2013 and January 2015, Stephanie Cowart, being an agent of a state authority, and being aided by Allen and Fredia Cowart, stole $6,000 from the NFHA. Click here for meeting minutes, agendas, and other compliance postings. the Niagara Falls Housing Authority, and the Niagara Falls Public Library, totaling over 1,300 positions. The housing structure was built in the 1960s and has been in need of rehabilitation for decades. Click here for meeting minutes, agendas, and other compliance postings. Outside the courtroom, both Cowart and her defense attorney, former U.S. Attorney Michael Battle, each declined to comment on the sentence. Stephanie Cowartannounced last month that she will retire from her position in March in a letter she delivered to the agencys board of commissioners. "(That means) you're entitled to work hard and get a paycheck. On Aug. 31, Elmore wrote to Cafarella, Pursuant to our recent conversation, enclosed please find a check for $3,000 payable the (sic) Niagara Falls Municipal Housing Authority. The Niagara Falls Housing Authority management team includes Stephanie Cowart (Executive Director), Patricia Barone (Interim Executive Director), and Tomorrow Allen-Collins (Deputy Executive Director of Administration). Executive Offices 744 Tenth Street Niagara Falls, NY 14301 (716) 285-6961 Anthony Spallino Towers 720 Tenth Street Niagara Falls, NY 14301 (716) 285-5505 Manager: Margaret Anne Smith Henry E . "Please accept my heartfelt regrets.". Executive Director, Executive Director, Administration. Rochester, NY 14614. However, Stephanie Cowart directed that effective October 23, 2013, her son was to be paid an hourly rate of $50. He said Williams is eligible for housing authority housing, so if she doesn't purchase the property, the board will find her suitable housing in another authority property. Niagara Falls Health Equity Task Force: . A federal court case, involving the former executive director of the Niagara Falls Housing Authority, has led to a number of reforms at the agency, meant to improve oversight. Attorneys, Battle supervised the office's 93 lawyers until his resignation. Niagara Falls Housing Authority ends its investigation of director. The Gazette also reported in December 2016 that Allen and Fredia Cowart had cut checks, totaling $6,000, to reimburse the authority for funds paid to them by Stephanie Cowart. Dave DiCenzo2023-01-12T16:22:47+00:00August 31st, 2022|Categories: Public News|Tags: bank on buffalo, buffalo, NFHA, Niagara Falls Housing Authority|. In existence for more than 70 years, it serves the low- to very-low-income population. 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Niagara Falls Housing Authority . Business Address: Niagara Falls Neighborhood Housing Services. She will not return to work. Yvonne is a Partner with DistruptHR which hosts annual event here in Niagara bringing together speakers and leaders for an . "That's my background. Niagara Falls Housing Authority (NFHA) 744 Tenth Street Niagara Falls, NY 14301 www.nfha.org. Ex-Falls Housing Authority director sentenced. "I witnessed some of the inequities in the food system," she said. 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We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Edit Highlights Section. The pleas are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen; the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Brad Geary; and the Office of New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Division of Investigations. relied upon and are not being used by the Department. Cowarts words appearedin the July issue of the magazine, a month before Fredia Cowarts attorney, John Elmore, wrote to the authoritys lawyer, Jason Cafarella, with a $3,000 check enclosed. In addition, between October 2013 and June 2014, aided by his mother, Allen Cowart defrauded the NFHA and the New York Office of Children and Family Services (NYOCFS). However, Allen and Fredia Cowart never actually conducted any presentations related to the A Better Me project. Instead, the defendant misused her position to ensure that the only improvements realized through her administration of these funds were to the bank balances of her family members., Stephanie Cowart used her power as the Executive Director of the Niagara Falls Housing Authority to enrich herself and members of her family, said Adam S. Cohen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBIs Buffalo Division. A scheme that U.S. District Court Judge Richard Arcara said left him deeply troubled. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? They didn't publicly discuss during their meeting any link between the $6,000 and the federal investigation of Stephanie Cowart. Phone: 716-773-7676 Description. 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