WBFO Business & Economy
The Business and Economy News Desk is funded by The M&T Charitable Foundation.
Our economy has seen transformative improvements in recent years. Yet even with substantial investments that are being made at Canalside, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and in other areas, some neighborhoods grapple with blight and poverty. WBFO provides comprehensive coverage of a range of issues that directly impact our listeners.
Our economy has seen transformative improvements in recent years. Yet even with substantial investments that are being made at Canalside, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and in other areas, some neighborhoods grapple with blight and poverty. WBFO provides comprehensive coverage of a range of issues that directly impact our listeners.
-
A state law legalizing credit card surcharges went into effect Sunday, allowing business owners to collect a small fee from customers who opt to use a credit card at the register.The new law limits credit card surcharges to the amount businesses are charged by the credit card company. Businesses are required to include the surcharge in the listed price, although they can also list a separate “cash price.” Companies can also choose to charge everyone the “credit card price,” effectively allowing them to collect credit card surcharges from customers who use other payment methods.Credit card surcharges were flat-out prohibited under the prior law, although business owners were permitted to offer discounts to customers who paid in cash.Gov. Kathy Hochul billed the legislation, which she signed in December, as a “transparency” measure that would “clarify” the law surrounding credit card fees.“New Yorkers should never have to deal with hidden credit card costs, and this law will ensure individuals can trust that their purchases will not result in surprise surcharges,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement. “Transparency is crucial in building trust between businesses and communities, and now patrons will be empowered to budget accordingly.”The legislation also lowers penalties for business owners who break the rules. Violations under the previous law were considered criminal misdemeanors punishable by a $500 fine, a year in prison or both. The new law decriminalizes violations, instead imposing a civil penalty of $500 for each illegal charge.The new law doesn’t apply to debit cards.
-
The Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority voted in support of the tentative contract, despite the multimillion dollar budget gap. But the authority recommends the city make a "gap plan" to outline how it will make up the deficit.
-
The New York Coalition for Open Government alleged that Buffalo council members violated several laws and acted with "arrogance and greed" to raise their own salaries.
-
The Buffalo Common Council voted to write pay increases for city elected officials, including themselves, into local law.
-
Neither Mayor Byron Brown’s administration, nor the Common Council, has specified the exact revenue deficits the money will fill.
-
The Buffalo Common Council was expected to approve $4.3 million of funding in a meeting Tuesday, but delayed the vote due to a procedural uncertainty.
-
Over half of Buffalo's tenants are housing cost burdened.
-
The meeting will be held Wednesday between 5 to 7 p.m. at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library in downtown Buffalo.
-
The New York State Department of Transportation shared plans Monday to expand the Kensington Expressway project by 600 feet to include neighboring side streets on the east side of Buffalo. The DOT plans to hold two public information meetings on Tuesday about the project.
-
For every dollar a man earns in Erie County, a woman earns 84 cents.