Fundraiser: Pie for PAI - Public Accountability Initiative

Pie for PAI, a celebration and fundraiser for the Public Accountability Initiative (PAI) & LittleSis.org, is back this year by popular demand – it will be held Wednesday, March 30th at 6pm at Allen Street Hardware. Please join us for home-made pie and a drink at the bar. 

The details:

Pie for PAI

>Wednesday, March 30th

6 PM at Allen Street Hardware in the backroom (245 Allen Street)

$20 suggested donation

Free pie, cash bar

Please share/join the event on facebook 

A special request: we are looking for people to make/bring delicious pies! Past Pie for PAIs have been a huge success in large part because of our amazing pie-making crew. Please email Rob, rob@public-accountability.org, if you are interested in making a pie.

Below, you can find a few highlights from our year of watchdog research on the powers that be, in Buffalo and beyond. If you can't make it to the event but still want to support PAI, you can always make a donation online. 

Hope to see you there!

Kevin Connor

Co-founder, Public Accountability Initiative

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Over the past eight years, PAI’s watchdog research on undue influence and corruption has spiked rotten deals, prompted resignations and recusals, and exposed corporate front groups, in Buffalo and beyond. 

LittleSis, our database and research community that tracks ties between politicians, lobbyists, financiers, and their affiliated institutions, continues to grow and inform hard-hitting journalism and organizing.

Some quick highlights from our year:

The Paladino Problem – A closer look at our local mini-Trump’s record of buying off politicians, profiting from government subsidies, and disturbing racist, sexist, and homophobic rhetoric. http://public-accountability.org/2015/06/the-paladino-problem/

Jerry Brown & the Porter Ranch gas leak – California Governor Jerry Brown seemed reluctant to take action on record setting methane leak in Porter Ranch, California, even as the leak forced thousands from their homes and required a no-fly zone. We uncovered that Brown's sister, Kathleen Brown, is a board member and stakeholder of Sempra, the corporation that owns the leaking wells. Read the full report: http://public-accountability.org/2015/12/jerry-browns-ties-to-the-oil-and-gas-industry/

Power Behind the Police in St. Louis – We worked with Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment to map the power elite and their networks in St. Louis, Missouri for their Power Behind the Police campaign. Read about this campaign in Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/activists-in-ferguson-broaden-scope-unveil-power-behind-the-police-20150709?page=4

New developments in Oligrapher – We added a story feature to our power mapping tool on LittleSis that lets analysts walk viewers through maps piece by piece, allowing for more context and greater detail. Map the power! http://littlesis.org/oligrapher