Archive for September 15th, 2017
An Open Letter to the New York State Attorney General
September 15, 2017 Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman Office of the Attorney General The Capitol Albany, NY 12224-0341 Dear AG Schneiderman, We wish to make a formal complaint alleging corruption associated with the Niagara Falls State Park Landscape Improvements plan. A Spring, 2014 offer for bids was put out, requiring contractorsRead More
Mayor Dyster, Council Majority to Approve Raises for City Workers next week Despite Bad Audit, Credit Downgrade, Vanishing Casino Funds
The city of Niagara Falls is living on borrowed time, financially speaking. The unrestricted fund balance (aka reserve fund) is projected to sink to zero by the end of this year, and according to a draft audit released in August by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office and first made publicRead More
Bringing the City to the Country: The Problem is Density with Bri Estates
Opposition to a proposed new housing development in the Town of Niagara is gaining momentum, as more information becomes available to residents of the Colonial Drive and Miller Road neighborhoods which will adjoin the subdivision, should it be built. The local office of Yonkers, NY-based Double C Realty Inc. hasRead More
IDA bets on DiCienzo’s downtown waterpark; Meanwhile, Wonderfalls remains a pipe dream
Michael DiCienzo’s proposed $20 million indoor water park in downtown Niagara Falls got a big boost this week from the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency, which granted a $6.6 million tax break package to the project. Mr. DiCienzo first announced the project in May with a larger scope that wouldRead More
City gets slap on the wrist for Headline-making Sewage Disaster
New York State will fine the Niagara Falls Water Board a measly $50,000 for discharging thousands of gallons of black, fetid and stinking water near the falls during a busy tourist weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday. The agency will be required to make changes at its aging wastewater plantRead More
Faso Wins City Court Judge Primary, and in Essence, the Election
In a quite decisive manner, James J. Faso, Jr. won the Niagara Falls City Court Judge race on every contested primary party line on Tuesday night. The Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Green, Working Families, Independence, Women’s Equality and Reform parties all went to Faso, to the disappointment of Alan J. RoscettiRead More
Why Strong Mayors Need Strong Councils
In an ideal world, checks and balances would actually check and balance each other. That is the primary function of the two major branches of government, the executive and the legislative. The executive leads, administrates and directs the business and relationships of the government. The legislature passes laws and, where necessary, approves theRead More
The Status Quo Must Go
The Primary election is over and the stage is now set for the General election in November. We know who the players are, so what are we going to do make a real difference in the lives of the people of Niagara Falls? Something has to change. That much isRead More
It’s like déjà vu all over again… Same Retreads Survive Primary
Kristen Grandinetti. Who among us can figure out the sorceress-like spell she’s cast upon the Niagara Falls voter? Garnering some 1,457 votes in the Democratic primary Tuesday, finishing third after incumbent Andrew Touma (1,784) and newcomer Bill Kennedy, she still clinched a spot on November’s general election ballot. Her recordRead More
Time for a change here
The main difference between the primary election and the general election coming up this November is that, in the primary, voters are bound to vote only for candidates running on the party lines they are registered in. Democrats can only vote for Democrats and Republicans only for members of theRead More
THE ANSWER TO… WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE CONGRESS?
The Right Side By J Gary DiLaura This is easy; NY Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, NY Congressman (EVERY SINGLE ONE except, maybe, Collins), California Congresswomen Pelosi, Waters and Boxer and Senator Feinstein… it would almost be accurate and a LOT easier to just say EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT and about ½Read More
Niagara Falls Jokes
While the official Niagara Falls’ City Hall website is rarely updated, we were still concerned to find, when clicking on the Ethics page, “Sorry – Under Construction.” *** In the year 2020, the contractor hired by the city finally finished paving Lockport Street and one of its workers was puttingRead More
Contraptions of History
By Craig Reger “This is the golden age and gold is the reason for the wars we wage”, Bono Vox. Lead singer, U2. Speaking of the hypothesis that Presidents lie, I am always reminded of Nixon’s temporary lie when I hear this celebrated line harmonized by Bono. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRzr1QU6K1o The Youtube linkRead More