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New York Times
18-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
John J. LaFalce, Congressman Who Fought Financial Fraud, Dies at 85
John J. LaFalce, a 14-term former congressman from Western New York who mentored the state's first female governor and sponsored sweeping legislation to mitigate the Love Canal toxic waste disaster and to protect consumers from financial fraud, died on April 11 in Lockport, N.Y., near Niagara Falls. He was 85. His death, in a hospice facility, was from kidney failure, his son, Martin J. LaFalce, said. First elected to the House of Representatives in 1974 as part of a nationwide post-Watergate rebuff to Republican incumbents, Mr. LaFalce (pronounced la-FALSE) was the first Democrat to win his district's seat since 1912. During his 28 years on Capitol Hill, he was chairman of the Small Business Committee, from 1987 to 1995, and the ranking Democrat on the Committee on Banking (now the Financial Services Committee). He played pivotal roles in the bipartisan passage of two far-reaching bills: the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (officially known as the Financial Services Act), which eliminated legal boundaries between investment banking and commercial banking, and, in 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which targeted corporate financial fraud. Before the collapse of the savings and loan industry in the late 1980s, Mr. LaFalce was a fierce critic of so-called subprime homeowner loans and payday loans by companies that preyed on consumers. One of his most effective actions as a House member was his response to the environmental calamity at Love Canal, a neighborhood of Niagara Falls, N.Y. By the late 1970s, a chemical dump there was contaminating ground water that was leaching into backyards, swimming pools and school playgrounds, causing severe health effects among residents there. Mr. LaFalce and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Democrat of New York, devised the legal basis for the federal government to clean up the site. Love Canal was the first site to be designated an environmental hazard under the legislation, which created the federal Superfund to mitigate such threats. Lois Gibbs, a homeowner and civic leader in Love Canal, was quoted in 1991 as saying that Mr. LaFalce 'was one of the front-runners in getting things done' there. Mr. LaFalce was regarded as a progressive in Congress (getting an F rating from the National Rifle Association). He voted against American participation in both the Persian Gulf war and the Iraq war and dissented from President Bill Clinton's welfare reforms because, he said, they would punish the poor. As a practicing Roman Catholic, however, he opposed any extension of abortion rights. In the early 1970s, as a member of the New York State Legislature, Mr. LaFalce bucked popular sentiment by objecting to the harsh penalties imposed by what became known as the Rockefeller drug laws, signed by Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller. And he objected to casino gambling in New York State on the grounds that it would exploit lower-income people. Kathy Hochul, who as lieutenant governor became the state's governor in 2021 when Andrew M. Cuomo resigned, was Mr. LaFalce's legislative counsel in Washington in the 1980s. With his support, eight years after he left the House, she won a special election in 2011 to become the first Democrat to represent her Western New York district in four decades. Mr. LaFalce 'had a profound influence on my early career,' Governor Hochul said in a statement this week, 'recruiting me from a large D.C. firm' and 'putting me on the path to a lifetime of public service.' 'I always credited him with getting me the recognition I needed,' she said. Under her direction, flags at state buildings were flown at half-staff on Monday in his honor. John Joseph LaFalce was born in Buffalo on Oct. 6, 1939. His father, Dominic, worked in a grain mill and was a union steward. His mother, Katherine (Stasio) LaFalce, worked in a bakery. He was the first member of his family to graduate from high school. Mr. LaFalce received a bachelor's degree in history from Canisius College (now Canisius University) in Buffalo in 1961 and a law degree from Villanova University in 1964. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967, leaving with the rank of captain. In addition to his son, Martin, a professor at St. John's University School of Law in Queens, Mr. LaFalce is survived by his wife, Patricia (Fisher) LaFalce; and a sister, Lorraine Kenny. He and his wife had lived in Latham, N.Y., north of Albany. Mr. LaFalce served in the State Senate from 1971 to 1972 and in the Assembly from 1973 to 1974, when he ran for Congress, to succeed Henry P. Smith III, who had announced his retirement. His congressional district encompassed Niagara Falls and northern Buffalo and stretched east to the western suburbs of Rochester. As a result of the 2000 census, the district was merged with a neighboring one represented by a fellow Democrat, Louise M. Slaughter. Rather than engage in a hotly-contested primary in the newly created district, he decided not to seek a 15th term in 2002. Ms. Slaughter was re-elected. After leaving office, Mr. LaFalce practiced law and was a director of State Bancorp (now National Valley Bancorp), a member of the New York State Banking Board and chairman of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency. In Congress, he was one of the dwindling exponents of bipartisanship. In 1983, he cited Senator Edward M. Kennedy's appearance at Liberty Baptist College (now Liberty University), a private evangelical Christian institution, as an example of 'how important tolerance is when diverse and opposing world views compete in the free marketplace of ideas which is America.'
The Independent
06-03-2025
- The Independent
Service held to mark first anniversary of funeral director scandal
A service has been held to mark the first anniversary of the start of a huge investigation into remains found at funeral directors in Hull. Families affected by the scandal surrounding Legacy Independent Funeral Directors gathered at Hull Minster on Thursday evening to remember their relatives at a private event. The firm has been under investigation since officers recovered 35 bodies, as well as suspected human ashes, at its site in Hessle Road in March 2024. Police have passed a 'comprehensive file of evidence' to prosecutors while two people remain on police bail after being arrested as part of the inquiry. Scores of families were given devastating news after the investigation began, with many told they had been given the wrong remains. Last year, Humberside Police said they had visited 163 families in relation to ashes. Families have been asked to help shape designs for the permanent memorial gardens which will be built at the Northern Cemetery in Hull and Lelley Fields Crematorium near Preston, in the East Riding. Once designed are finalised, the memorials are expected to be completed over the summer, the two local authorities involved said. The leader of Hull City Council, Mike Ross, said earlier on Thursday: 'A year on from this incident emerging, this continues to be a difficult time for those involved, and we are continuing to provide support. 'I would like to pay tribute to the families and loved ones, who have displayed incredible dignity. 'In a close-knit city like ours, there will be many people connected to this situation, and our thoughts are with them on what may be a poignant day for them.' Mr Ross's counterpart at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Anne Handley, said: 'We know the feelings and emotions felt by our families and communities are still very raw since the details of the investigation started to become apparent. 'Our thoughts are with those attending the service this evening and those at home remembering their loved ones. 'We hope the memorial service this evening and our joint plans for a lasting memorial, away from the scenes of the incident, will provide some comfort and peace to those affected and reassure them we are listening and still here to provide support.' Humberside Police deputy chief constable Dave Marshall said: 'Exactly one year ago, the lives of hundreds of people across our communities changed forever. 'Whilst thoughts from all officers and staff at Humberside Police and our deepest sympathies remain with them today, we cannot begin to imagine the emotional devastation and anguish many have suffered and continue to do so.' A 46-year-old man arrested in March was detained on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation, fraud by abuse of position, theft, making or supplying articles for use in frauds and offences under the Financial Services Act. A 54-year-old woman arrested later was detained on suspicion of money laundering. Another woman arrested in March, who was 23 at the time, was later released from bail with police saying she was no longer being treated as a suspect.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Service held to mark first anniversary of funeral director scandal
A service has been held to mark the first anniversary of the start of a huge investigation into remains found at funeral directors in Hull. Families affected by the scandal surrounding Legacy Independent Funeral Directors gathered at Hull Minster on Thursday evening to remember their relatives at a private event. The firm has been under investigation since officers recovered 35 bodies, as well as suspected human ashes, at its site in Hessle Road in March 2024. Police have passed a 'comprehensive file of evidence' to prosecutors while two people remain on police bail after being arrested as part of the inquiry. Scores of families were given devastating news after the investigation began, with many told they had been given the wrong remains. Last year, Humberside Police said they had visited 163 families in relation to ashes. Families have been asked to help shape designs for the permanent memorial gardens which will be built at the Northern Cemetery in Hull and Lelley Fields Crematorium near Preston, in the East Riding. Once designed are finalised, the memorials are expected to be completed over the summer, the two local authorities involved said. The leader of Hull City Council, Mike Ross, said earlier on Thursday: 'A year on from this incident emerging, this continues to be a difficult time for those involved, and we are continuing to provide support. 'I would like to pay tribute to the families and loved ones, who have displayed incredible dignity. 'In a close-knit city like ours, there will be many people connected to this situation, and our thoughts are with them on what may be a poignant day for them.' Mr Ross's counterpart at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Anne Handley, said: 'We know the feelings and emotions felt by our families and communities are still very raw since the details of the investigation started to become apparent. 'Our thoughts are with those attending the service this evening and those at home remembering their loved ones. 'We hope the memorial service this evening and our joint plans for a lasting memorial, away from the scenes of the incident, will provide some comfort and peace to those affected and reassure them we are listening and still here to provide support.' Humberside Police deputy chief constable Dave Marshall said: 'Exactly one year ago, the lives of hundreds of people across our communities changed forever. 'Whilst thoughts from all officers and staff at Humberside Police and our deepest sympathies remain with them today, we cannot begin to imagine the emotional devastation and anguish many have suffered and continue to do so.' A 46-year-old man arrested in March was detained on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation, fraud by abuse of position, theft, making or supplying articles for use in frauds and offences under the Financial Services Act. A 54-year-old woman arrested later was detained on suspicion of money laundering. Another woman arrested in March, who was 23 at the time, was later released from bail with police saying she was no longer being treated as a suspect.
