And so it begins. As the reality of the city debt and deficit sinks in – combined with the fact that the casino revenue is currently exhausted and dwindling for the coming years – city hall is frantically searching for ways to stem the tide of rapidly rising red ink.Read More

An October, 2015 Design Report/Environmental Assessment document jointly issued by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the New York State Dept. of Transportation (NYSDOT) outlines the steps the two agencies will take to obtain the myriad regulatory approvals necessary to move forward with the construction of twoRead More

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster had hoped to push through his parking meter installation plan at the February 22 council meeting, but an unusually vocal group of residents pummeled the council and mayor with questions regarding operating costs of the parking plan. As a result the plan was votedRead More

The Right Side By J Gary DiLaura In January 1985 a massive Ice Jam was caused in the East Upper Niagara River by the Power Authority. A week after the Ice Jam, at a meeting of 500 people in Amherst, the then Army Colonel Hardiman “declared” that the Power AuthorityRead More

There’s two major differences between the seven point finance plan presented in this column and the finance plan recently offered by the council’s Financial Advisory Panel: The Reporter’s plan is both easily understood and easily implemented. No buzzwords. No double talk. Just straight forward remedies for the city’s sick fiscalRead More

  Over the past two years Governor Andrew Cuomo has promised tens of millions of dollars of economic aid for the city of Niagara Falls. So far, the city has received none of it. Not only that, but after having been a regular visitor here, it now appears the governor is distancingRead More

The dark and disturbing novel “1984” introduced into everyday language such terms as “Big Brother” and “Orwellian” (after the author, George Orwell). In the book, an all-seeing, all-knowing totalitarian government controls its citizens through various bureaucracies such as the Ministry of Truth (in charge of propaganda and censorship), the Ministry of PeaceRead More

Kudos to Mayor Arthur Pappas and his wife Linda for continuing the Mayor’s Snowflake Ball begun by Mayor Robert Ortt and his wife Megan to assist nonprofit organizations in NT. This year’s selection to be the recipient of the proceeds, the Nor-Ton Red Jacket Club, is a hidden diamond inRead More

If there’s a financial crisis at Erie Community College, as certainly appears the case, there’s no sign of it if you take a look at the salaries at the college headed by President Jack Quinn at $192,500 even though he spends many days away from the institution on outside payingRead More

  As we have been reporting for the last several weeks, Tonawanda Town Attorney John Flynn appears to have locked up the Erie County Democratic Party’s endorsement for district attorney, and he is expected to officially get the nod at the Executive Committee’s meeting on Saturday (Feb. 13). Sources sayRead More

  Carl Paladino will be the guest speaker on Wednesday, Feb. 24, when A. J. Verel of South Buffalo, a member of the martial arts Hall of Fame, will be sworn in as the 52nd president of the Judges and Police Conference of Erie County at DiPaolo’s Restaurant on SouthRead More

It’s growing increasingly difficult to follow the bouncing ball – or hot potato – as the members of the city Finance Advisory Panel appear periodically in front of the council to lecture (chuckle) the council on fiscal integrity and the need (smirk) to suddenly begin counting the pennies and dimesRead More

Niagara Falls – Due to the nature of today’s subject matter we suggest you read this column very carefully as it deals with the mayor’s vetoing of the council’s attempt to modify a city ordinance as offered by well-intended rookie council member Ken Tompkins. The ordinance change would have endedRead More

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Flaherty who is facing a bruising Democratic primary battle against Tonawanda Town Attorney John Flynn this year, has tapped former Ch. 7 news anchor Joanna Pasceri to become the first public information officer in the history of the office. Flaherty announced the appointment thisRead More

Here we go again bashing the city council in general and council member Kristen Grandinetti in particular. Well, what else is there to say or do when Niagara Falls is in the condition it’s in and the councilwoman crafts a resolution/proclamation honoring the outgoing chief of Buffalo Planned Parenthood? Ms.Read More

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster recently vetoed a council resolution that would have ended free health insurance for all future council members. However, did the mayor violate the separation of council and mayor powers by issuing that veto? Informed sources have shared their thoughts on this matter with theRead More

Aries: (March 21 – April 19): Someone sends you an instant messages – with a baseball bat.  Good news. You’re not dyslexic; just really, really stupid. Your spouse and you were happy for twenty years. Then you met. People who know you are jealous of all the people that haven’tRead More

Six weeks ago the Reporter broke a story as to how Mayor Paul Dyster had served his department heads with letters requesting their loyalty in writing along with an updated resume. The department heads had to submit the resume if they hoped to keep their job for 2016. Other mediaRead More

It’s the tourist off-season, and that means the restrooms at Devil’s Hole and Whirlpool State Parks are closed, Three Sisters Islands have been gated off and, as we reported to you last week, parking discounts for seniors in the Niagara Falls State Park are not in effect.   Our storyRead More

In 2005, during the administration of North Tonawanda Mayor David Burgio, the Common Council passed a Historic Preservation Ordinance creating a Historic Preservation Commission. The subsequent Commission hasn’t focused on preserving historical sites with actual historical status but has enabled wealthy carpetbaggers to get tax credits for “historic” buildings. Why isRead More