Letters to the Editor

Trash Talk

Dear Mr. Hudson,

Excellent article and pictures on garbage/recycle debacle in Niagara Falls. Spring bulk pickup 4/6-5/8 only allows for large objects, such as couches, furniture. NO additional black refuse bags allowed. So, instead of picking up six extra plastic bags, NF brainiacs would prefer me to throw out six couches instead.

I like the Reporters' previous idea of switching out the larger recycle bin for trash and the smaller bin for recyclables. I would like to suggest an easy fix, bearing in mind the illiterate. A large sticker picture of Dyster, slapped on a green bin really would point out garbage. Perhaps. Mr. Skrlin could do the illustration.

I went on the NF website to check out the qualifications of the City Administrator who helped our high achieving mayor in this fiasco and read. "In her spare time, Donna is a jazz enthusiast, worked part-time as the Back Stage Manager for one of the largest Contemporary Jazz Festival production company "Capitol Jazz Inc." As Back Stage manager, Donna assisted talent the like of, Stanley Clark, George Duke, Ray Charles, Bob James and Nancy Wilson to name a few. Donna is also a Golf enthusiast and gourmet cook." I now realize why Dyster picked her, due to shared interests-but the city posting a dating bio free of charge for her is simply trash talk.

Sign me, Another Reason to Read the Reporter

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Dyster, Quit While You're Behind

As expected, Mayor Dyster's ego will not allow him to quit while he is behind. Once again, he has decided to lead the city on a continuing downward spiral, by running for reelection. It is common knowledge that most of the voters are thoroughly disappointed with his feeble attempts to get Niagara Falls back on its feet to solvency. It is also common knowledge that most of the voters do not vote. As we have all witnessed, this has been our city's worst recipe for disaster.

Where else, but in New York State and in Niagara Falls, NY, could you find such a sparsely populated community in such debt, with millions of dollars of casino cash coming in each year? Where else could you find such a community that would boldly reelect the same person for mayor, albeit by the narrowest of margins? We deserve to be the laughingstock of the nation.

The voters in our city have very short memories. To refresh your memories, when Dyster first ran for mayor, he stated that our city needed to be headed into a new direction. Dyster's first four years proved that this didn't occur. At the last election Dyster said he needed 4 more years to finish what he started. Again, as we have witnessed, that also did not happen. Now, his latest campaign rhetoric is that he needs yet another 4 years to achieve his goal. Are we going to allow ourselves to be duped again?

Dyster quoted, " I promise you that if the people of Niagara Falls honor me with a third term as mayor of the city of Niagara Falls, you ain't seen nothing yet." That statement proves that Dyster definitely does not deserve a third term. Truth be told, in reality, we actually haven't seen anything yet!

Remember, that it is you, the 20,000 non-voters, who have been responsible for the disastrous position that we are in. The only way we are going to stop this downward spiral is to let yourselves be heard, please get out and vote.

VERY CONCERNED TAXPAYER

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Celebrating Spring With Vegetarianism

After a month of persistent and crippling snowstorms, I do look forward to spring weather, green grass, and flowers in bloom.

The advent of spring is also a great opportunity to turn over a new leaf on our dietary habits. In fact, hundreds of communities welcome spring on March 20th with an observance of the Great American Meatout. Visitors are asked to go vegan, at least for the day, and to explore a healthy diet of vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes, and grains.

This year's 30th anniversary celebration of Meatout is particularly significant because of the massive shift in America's eating habits. "Meatless Monday" has been making huge advances in public schools, universities, institutional cafeterias, and restaurants. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is recommending reduced meat consumption. Stock market analysts are warning clients about potential "death of meat."

Almost 50% of the respondents in a special GlobalMeatNews poll said they had actively reduced their meat consumption. Accordingly, per capita U.S. meat consumption has dropped by more than 10% since 2005.

Each of us can celebrate our own advent of spring on March 20th by checking out vegan foods in our local supermarket and vegan recipes on the internet.

Nick Guntermann

Niagara Falls, NY 14304

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Crimson Not a Bad Article or Movie

Dear Mr. Parlato,

Thank you for your remarkable feature about "Crimson" the locally produced motion picture. Your report was well researched and clearly presented, free of the loaded innuendo and ridicule that we have come to expect in your newspaper which I never fail to read.

I am an independent creator of animated shows for TV and have many awards for my work, also in Hollywood I was a Creative Producer at Disney Studios (educational) and Marvel Productions (Casper, GI Joe, My Little Pony and others), plus I was involved in many live-action productions and commercials. I say this so that my opinion may be viewed as having more value than that of an elderly failure shambling around the Niagara Falls wasteland, which I forgive anyone for assuming. Until recently it was true, but never mind about that.

Crimson is the best bad film I have ever seen and I have seen many. Of course it's bad. It's a first effort, with an impossibly low budget, with volunteer cast and crew. But - the story, cinematography, lighting, editing, acting and entertainment value demonstrate genuine talent of a rare kind. And hey, the acting ain't all that bad. The brilliant young director Ken Cosentino is due all credit for pulling the whole thing off with such compelling style. He made the movie and he made it good.

A motion picture production is a very complex undertaking requiring huge support from many skilled dedicated hearts and minds over the hours nobody bothers to count. Carpenters, designers, lighting experts, make-up and costume, sound recording, managers, drivers, continuity and script control, to say nothing about the providers of food and coffee as the shoot goes on, take after take, often into the dawn hours. And don't forget the cleaning up after. The fact that all this support came from neighborhood talents, many associated with the despised NACC, is a marvelous thing. The internet has a worldwide audience of over 2 billion with an endless need for content. Right here in Niagara Falls there is a foundation for creative motion picture production comparable to early Hollywood and at a fraction of the cost. The NACC is central to it. Too bad a few sincere halfwits in City Hall just don't get it. As for what the NACC supplies in lifestyle opportunities for families in this cultural desert, well, don't get me started.

The word on the street about "Attack of the Killer Shrews", still in post-production, is that it's hilarious. Can't wait to see it.

Jonathan Rogers

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Barnum and Bailey has retired their elephants.

Whether that is a good or a bad thing, is a matter of choice.

What we really should be concerned about is our future.

Knowing Mayor Dyster's fondness for animals, reckless wasting of our casino funds, and misuse of prime property, how long do you think it will take him to suggest that we build an Elephant shelter in downtown Niagara Falls, with Casino dollars?

ANONYMOUS

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I read your article on the NF animal control plan and although I do not live in the city, I have twice seen a Niagara Falls PD truck with Animal Control on it and wondered, what the hell is that?? So your expense breakdown is greater than listed. You have to consider the expense of the truck, the equipment in it (radio, electronics, probably laptop like all the other real police cars, striping and labeling, maintenance) and let's not forget the cost the cop that's driving it. Another officer taken off of the street so as to perform this ridiculous function. With wages, benefits and retirement costs, that is H U G E !!!!!!

Tony Casilio

NFPD-ret