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I spotted them wandering aimlessly amid the weeds and wind-blown garbage that litter the concrete of Lackey Plaza. Attired in matching "Niagara Falls or bust" T-shirts, the young honeymooners wore the horror-stricken looks of train-wreck survivors. When I asked them what was the matter, tears began to well up in their eyes.
"We came all the way from California," said the young bride. "We were so excited. There was supposed to be so much to do."
"Lies, it was all lies," spat out her husband, as the sun reflected off of the gleaming gold band on his left hand. "Where's the casino, the booming development, the underground aquarium, the bustling airport?"
"Who gave you the idea that you'd find those things here?" I asked with a reporter's inherent curiosity.
"Your governor, that's who," they cried in unison.
Reaching into his knapsack, the young man extracted a small bundle of papers.
"It's all here in black and white," he announced.
Later, as we sat at a table in the near-desolate Wintergarden, I was given a chance to scrutinize the papers more closely.
"They're press releases," said the young woman. "I work for the California state government and, as a general rule, I always check out the official state Web site of any place that we plan to visit."
"And when we read all of the exciting announcements concerning Niagara Falls in the press releases, we knew that this is where we had to spend our honeymoon," added her husband.
"We thought that it would be perfect timing. Get married in April and win a few bucks at the grand opening of the new casino," the new wife from the west coast lamented, as she handed me the following press release.
The release went on to state: The Niagara Falls casino is expected to be opened by April, 2002.
"Well, in fairness to the governor, it also says that the whole deal is dependent upon reaching a pact with the Seneca Indians and that is precisely what has held up the casino," I offered.
"OK, but what about this then?" asked the woman while shoving another piece of paper in my hand.
The release also contained this quote from NFTA Chairman, Luiz F. Kahl: "As a result of Governor Pataki's leadership and vision, New York State is again using the power of private enterprise to benefit air travelers and taxpayers. I am very pleased that we have been able to fulfill our commitment to the community and come to terms on a lease that will secure the long-term future of the Niagara Falls International Airport as an engine for economic growth. Cintra's track record and long-term professional and financial allegiance to the airport will prove to be a catalyst for growth in the Niagara region."
"We thought we'd be able to fly right in to the Falls, no problem, but the closest the airlines came was Buffalo," said the young man. "What's up with that?"
"The Cintra deal was bad from the get-go and fell through completely. Nothing much has happened at the airport since," I offered as a weak defense.
"That wouldn't be so bad, if there was all of this promised development," countered the woman as she shoved another white sheet my way.
The release also contained this statement: ESD Chairman Charles A. Gargano said, "With its Wonder of the World and prime real estate sites, Niagara Falls is perhaps one of the nation's most unrealized business locations. The Governor's USA Niagara Development Corporation will leverage the Falls' tourism attraction into new American-side business investments. The New York side offers better and stronger business opportunities -- including its designation as a tax-free Empire Zone -- which USA Niagara Development Corporation will market to bring in new corporate investments and job growth."
"We've been to Times Square," said hubby. "To compare this ghost town to Times Square is slanderous."
"The final straw was when we asked the front desk clerk at our hotel how to get to AquaFalls and she showed us a picture of a big hole in the ground that she took from some balloon ride," said wifey.
"I'm really sorry that your honeymoon hasn't turned out how you wanted it to, but the people here do care -- despite the ineptitude of our elected officials," I offered apologetically.
"Is there anything I can do to help you leave with a better taste in your mouth?"
"No, thanks anyway, but we just want to get back home to California," said the no-longer- blushing bride.
"There is a message that you can pass on to your governor for us, though," offered her husband.
"What's that?" I asked.
"Tell him that his press releases should be filed under 'works of fiction.'"
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | April 16 2002 |