High-profile departures of Collins, Malone lead WNY's top news stories of 2019

Dec. 28--A congressman pleaded guilty. A bishop stepped down. The feds raided City Hall.

The year in news, in Western New York in 2019, was punctuated by the high-profile departures of two towering figures in the Buffalo Niagara community and fresh scrutiny of some of the region's public institutions.

But there were bright spots in 2019, too.

The Buffalo Bills made the playoffs. New developments came downtown. The Albright-Knox unveiled a dramatic new expansion, and a flotilla of tall ships brought thousands to the waterfront for the Fourth of July weekend.

There was also news that was sobering and poignant. A blizzard in January claimed three lives, including that of a man, homeless, whose death in Amherst captured the attention of the region. August brought the opening of a window for people to come forward with allegations under the state's Child Victims Act -- and the stories flooded out into public view.

September brought the trial of an Erie County sheriff's deputy, Kenneth P. Achtyl, who was found guilty in an incident involving brutality.

But surpassing all those moments in 2019, on the list of the Top 10 news stories in The Buffalo News over the past year, was the resignation of Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence, and Bishop Richard J. Malone of the Buffalo Catholic Diocese.

Bishop Malone left his post in December.

And, in a move that landed him first on The News' list of top stories from 2019, in September, Rep. Chris Collins, a Republican, pleaded guilty -- and resigned from office.

As selected by editors and reporters, here are The Buffalo News' top local stories for 2019.

1. Chris Collins pleads guilty

For more than a year after he was indicted on federal insider trading charges, Chris Collins maintained his innocence. He labeled news stories "fake" and publicly questioned why he would take a plea deal.

Then, on a Tuesday in October, he stood in a federal courtroom in Manhattan and admitted he had done things he knew were "illegal and improper."

"The actions I took are anything but what a model citizen would take," Collins told the judge. "I am sorry with regret. There's nothing I can do to change that other than to take responsibility, own up to my actions and tell the truth."

The day before, Collins had resigned from New York's 27th Congressional District.

The resignation set off a scramble among potential Republican successors and interested Democrats, injecting uncertainty into what was once the state's most reliable district for the GOP.

2. Bishop Richard J. Malone steps down

Bishop Richard J. Malone, among the most powerful men in Western New York during his seven years as leader of the Diocese of Buffalo, stepped down from the post on Dec. 4, amid continuing uproar over his handling of a clergy sexual abuse scandal that has embroiled the diocese since 2018.

The Vatican announced the resignation less than three weeks after Malone met with Pope Francis in Rome and 15 months before Malone would turn 75, the usual retirement age for Catholic bishops.

The pope appointed Albany Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger to lead the Buffalo Diocese, as apostolic administrator, until a new bishop is named.

Malone said in a letter to parishioners that he had accomplished as much as he could and "there remain divisions and wounds that I am unable to bind and heal."

3. Child Victims Act unleashes dozens of old lawsuits

In less than five months, lawyers filed more than 300 lawsuits in Western New York courts under the state's Child Victims Act. The new law opened a one-year window for childhood victims of sexual abuse to make civil claims against perpetrators or the institutions that employed them, no matter how long ago the alleged abuse happened.

More than 100 cases were filed in Western New York courts on Aug. 14, the first day of the window. More than two-thirds of all the Western New York cases so far have named the Diocese of Buffalo as a defendant, with 107 priests accused. Lawsuits also accuse nuns, Boy Scout leaders, teachers, choir directors, neighbors and family members of sexually abusing children as young as 5 years old.

With more than seven months remaining in the window, the Buffalo Diocese continued to be the most sued entity in the state. Child Victims Act lawsuits prompted the Rochester Diocese in September to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a direction that Buffalo Diocese officials have acknowledged they are considering.

4.) Construction reshapes downtown Buffalo

Downtown Buffalo's comeback continued to dominate headlines and skylines.

Douglas Jemal's Douglas Development Corp. continued its efforts to remake Buffalo's tallest building, landing M&T Bank Corp. as Seneca One Tower's lead commercial tenant with the bank's new technology hub.

Meanwhile, Carl and William Paladino's Ellicott Development completed its 12-story project at 500 Pearl St., with a new Aloft Hotel, apartments, office space and shops. The project features a dramatic rooftop bar and a basement bowling alley.

And the Explore & More Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Children's Museum opened in its new digs in a four-story building at Canalside.

Those projects aren't alone in reshaping the city's downtown core. A new train station is underway on Exchange Street. More development is on tap for the Canalside neighborhood, and a state design competition fueled new ideas for the future of the Skyway.

5. New York turns left, but doesn't legalize marijuana

With Democrats in control of the governor's mansion, the Assembly and the Senate, long-stalled ideas became laws. The topics read like a progressive laundry list: new gun controls; a taxpayer-financed campaign system; abortion rights and expanded access; a ban on plastic bags; new rights and protections for the LGBTQ community.

But the left turn only went so far. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo joined a long-stalled effort in Albany to legalize marijuana.

In the end, the idea stalled at the end of session in June, brought down by a chorus of critics in law enforcement, education and medical communities. The Senate, newly controlled by Democrats, did not have enough support, especially among new, politically marginal members from Long Island. Lawmakers and Cuomo settled on a measure decriminalizing possession of the drug.

The issue returns, however, in 2020, with Cuomo and lawmakers saying in December that the matter will be a priority to resolve next year.

6. Controversy hangs over Erie County Sheriff's Office

On Sept. 27, Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard sat in a courtroom as the jury issued guilty verdicts against one of his road deputies.

Kenneth P. Achtyl had been found guilty of brutalizing a Buffalo Bills fan outside New Era Field and resigned days later. By attending the trial and chatting quietly with Achtyl and his family, the sheriff signaled that he was in Achtyl's corner as prosecutors presented their evidence.

The Howard team has seen bumpy years, but 2019 was rough -- and not just because a rare guilty verdict was rendered in a police brutality case. There was a spate of four deaths in the two jails Howard oversees, and two involved questionable decisions by the Holding Center's medical staff. Lawsuits are expected in both.

Reflecting her concern, Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin, D-Buffalo, persuaded lawmakers to re-create an advisory panel for the jails and strip the budget of the full-time SWAT team Howard wanted for 2020.

7. Bills and Sabres on the upswing

The Bills and Sabres ended 2019 on the upswing, with the Bills heading for the playoffs for the second time in three years and having had their first 10-win season since 1999. The Sabres welcomed new coach Ralph Krueger's approach and Jack Eichel continued to emerge as a top star.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen has energized the fan base even further with his dynamic play and his embrace of the Western New York ethos and pride. "You could have ended up in New York ..." a reporter began a question after the Bills won at the New York Giants. "I play in New York," Allen quipped.

The Buffalo defense has brought back memories of the elite units that helped fuel the Super Bowl years and has been one of the league's best as the Bills exceeded oddsmakers' expectations.

8. Federal investigation in Buffalo touches CAO

The FBI drew public attention as it investigated a City Hall agency and the Community Action Organization of Western New York, an anti-poverty organization that lies within Mayor Byron W. Brown's sphere of influence.

Brown in late 2018 tried to save the job of his friend, CAO President L. Nathan Hare, as a coalition of CAO directors tried to fire him and then seek a forensic audit of the books. Hare remained in his job, but FBI agents started asking questions early in 2019. They were joined by the State Attorney General's Office as the investigators examined the CAO's inner workings and its use of government money.

The day after Election Day, agents with the FBI, the IRS and the Department of Housing and Urban Development searched the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency office in City Hall. They hauled away boxes of documents in what has been described as a continuing investigation.

9. Albright-Knox begins dramatic expansion

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery began the second major expansion in its 115-year history in November -- breaking ground on an estimated $165 million project.

When completed in 2022, the museum's exhibition space will double with the addition of a semi-transparent building that will serve as the new entrance. The 1905 building's front steps will be restored, and the 1962 building will become the museum's educational wing.

Other changes: A green plaza will replace the parking lot that is moving underground, a covered courtyard with a funnel-shaped glass canopy will allow east-west access and a curvy bridge will connect the newest and oldest buildings.

10. David Bellavia awarded Medal of Honor

David Bellavia received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, from President Trump during a June 25 ceremony at the White House.

Bellavia was recognized for saving the lives of members of his platoon during the Battle of Fallujah in 2004.

He became the first living veteran of the Iraq War to receive the award.

Once considered a favorite to gain the Republican nomination to succeed Chris Collins in representing New York's 27th Congressional District, Bellavia announced in October he would not seek the nod.

Honorable mentions:

Eventful weather

A blizzard, ice shoves, flooding -- and a scow-moving windstorm -- marked Western New York's weather in 2019.

A two-day blizzard, combined with bitterly cold temperatures in January, left three people dead, including a homeless man found in a Williamsville bus shelter. In February, a powerful storm battered the area with wind gusts over 70 mph, toppling trees and power lines and piling up huge mounds of ice that had been frozen in Lake Erie.

The battle with high water levels on Lake Ontario continued with flooding again in May.

High winds swept into the area again Halloween night, leaving dozens of trees on houses, cars and the ground, thousands without power and the Bird Island Pier under water again, with damages estimated at $10 million. Evidence of the storm's fury: the Niagara scow -- a schooner grounded in the Niagara River since 1918 -- moved.

Tall ships

Thousands turned out to see a flotilla of tall ships in Buffalo on the July 4th weekend. "Basil Port of Call: Buffalo" began with a parade of vessels, and continued with the public getting the chance to visit a total of 12 tall ships docked at three waterfront locations.

It was the largest collection of tall ships ever in Buffalo. And served as a reminder that the Queen City was a major port city in the 19th century -- and of the once-moribund waterfront's rebirth.

With contributions from Robert J. McCarthy, Jay Tokasz, Tom Precious, Matt Spina, Mark Sommer, Barbara O'Brien, Jonathan D. Epstein and Aaron Besecker.

___

(c)2019 The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.)

Visit The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.) at www.buffalonews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.