09/15/09: BCC Calls for Stokes and ‘One Sunset’ Investigation

Buffalo’s Common Council continues to call for an investigation into the controversial One Sunset Restaurant.
The Council wants to get to the bottom of what happened to $160,000 dollars in federal funds granted to One Sunset owner Leonard Stokes.
“Well one was a letter I wrote to the FBI asking if they look and if there was any federal law that was broken in regards to the One Sunset affair and Mr. Stokes,” said Common Council President David A. Franczyk.
The North Buffalo restaurant and hot spot has become a hot topic, since the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation (BERC) also granted Stokes a $40,000 loan and $30,000 dollar grant.
“I think BERC from what I understand from the initial Comptroller’s report, has made initial attempts to recover the money,” said Delaware District Councilman Michael J. LoCurto.
But it’s not just the restaurant’s money problems that are stewing controversy.
There’s also a 2007 run in with Buffalo police, where Stokes allegedly was taken into custody for illegally possessing a handicap parking permit.
Niagara District Councilman David Rivera says Stokes demanded to be taken to the Mayor Byron Brown’s office where the restaurateur was allegedly allowed to walk free.
Common Council president David Franczyk says this ignited another investigation.
“The police should be allowed to do their job without any political interference. We don’t know if that happened or not. But it should be able to act in an unfettered manor,” said Franczyk
While the One Sunset investigation coincides with the primary election season, some council members say they are not directly connected, and any questionable handling of authority or funds is always up for debate.
“The mayor is venturing into the ‘dog ate my homework’ territory when everything that goes wrong is ‘dirty politics,’” said LoCurto.
“I don’t care about primaries. Primaries are irrelevant to me in this issue. Because the issue is the question of procedure, “added Franczyk.