Articles by: Ken Cosentino

Juneteenth Committee Condemns Mayor Restaino for Racism

Juneteenth Committee Condemns Mayor Restaino for Racism

Once again, Mayor Robert Restaino is being accused of racism against Black people in the City of Niagara Falls. For those keeping score – this is the second series of complaints of this nature against the mayor this month. This time, the complaint is coming from members of the NiagaraRead More

Mayor Restaino: Anti-business, Pro-gentrification

Mayor Restaino: Anti-business, Pro-gentrification

Community News, Ken Cosentino, Local News, Niagara Falls June 24, 2024 at 10:04 pm

Local taxpayers have been critical of Mayor Restaino’s administration, which has labeled the City of Niagara Falls as anti-business and pro-gentrification; utilizing the department of code enforcement to implement his agenda. Years ago I sat in on a city council meeting, listening to taxi cab owners as they tried toRead More

Local Film Festival to Showcase NFHS Student Films

Local Film Festival to Showcase NFHS Student Films

The inaugural Grey Area Film Festival will take place on June 13, 2024, from 6:00PM to 9:00 PM, celebrating the creativity and hard work of Niagara Falls High School students. This event will be held at The Capitol Theatre in Niagara Falls, providing a platform for students to premiere theirRead More

Analyzing the Market for a new Niagara Falls Event Center

Analyzing the Market for a new Niagara Falls Event Center

Live entertainment experts such as Christian Printup have voiced their opinions in opposition of Mayor Restaino’s proposed event center in Niagara Falls, NY. One of their key arguments as to whether or not this project is even feasible involves the saturated market for live events in immediate proximity to ourRead More

Experts Warn Against Using Public Funds for Event Center

Experts Warn Against Using Public Funds for Event Center

This past Friday, the Niagara Gazette’s investigative journalist Mark Scheer published an editorial entitled “Economists on sports venue public financing: ‘read the fine print’.” Scheer astutely compared expert analyses on the public funding of the new Buffalo Bills stadium with Mayor Robert Restaino’s proposed use of public funding for hisRead More

Discovery’s “Expedition X” Features Niagara Falls Legends

Discovery’s “Expedition X” Features Niagara Falls Legends

Last night, the popular Discovery+ paranormal series “Expedition X” aired their latest episode called “Niagara Nightmare,” which was filmed in Niagara Falls, NY as well as Lockport. The description for the episode reads: “Jess and Phil dive into the mysteries of Niagara Falls. The popular honeymoon destination is also theRead More

Turtle Aftermath: Giving “Buffalo Niagara” the Boot

Turtle Aftermath: Giving “Buffalo Niagara” the Boot

TURTLE RECAP: CENSORING THOSE WITH A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION Last week’s debacle surrounding the Turtle building should be a major wake up call for the people of Niagara Falls. A Buffalo-based group of Erie County “preservationists” failed miserably in its attempt to landmark the Turtle building which most observers believedRead More

Turtle Farce: Misleading People for a Land Grab

Turtle Farce: Misleading People for a Land Grab

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!”  Earlier this week, Niagara Falls City Council voted against granting the Turtle building a historic landmark designation. The defeat was devastating to the Buffalo outliers behind the “preservation” movement, led by Carl Skompinski and Bernice Radle. SupportersRead More

Turtle Power: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Turtle Power: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Ken Cosentino February 27, 2024 at 3:05 pm

I have watched with interest as the “Save the Turtle” drama unfolds. The Turtle has no special spiritual significance to me, nor do I have any memories or recollection from its brief heyday. I was just a kid when the Turtle was foreclosed upon and forced to close its doors.Read More

Mayor Restaino’s Budget Includes Tax Hike for Businesses

Mayor Restaino’s Budget Includes Tax Hike for Businesses

Ken Cosentino, Local News, Niagara Falls December 2, 2023 at 10:05 pm

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the highest property taxes in the nation for a metropolitan sized city is Rochester, NY at a 2.4% effective rate. Interestingly, the average property tax rate in Niagara County is 2.89%. Niagara Falls residents have the highest city property tax rate of any municipalityRead More

Falls Comedian “Black Ernie” Lights Up the Stage in Vegas

Falls Comedian “Black Ernie” Lights Up the Stage in Vegas

Community News, Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News, Niagara Falls November 12, 2023 at 11:18 pm

Comedian Ernie Bivins, AKA “Black Ernie,” is making a name for himself in Las Vegas. “I’m 49, but I feel like I’m 29!” Jokes the Niagara Falls Native, whose career began here in his hometown in 2008. “I was doing shows for a few years and then I met MikeRead More

Vincent Cauley Challenges Mayor’s Planned Misuse of CDBG Funds for Event Center

Vincent Cauley Challenges Mayor’s Planned Misuse of CDBG Funds for Event Center

Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News, News, Niagara Falls, Parcel 0 November 2, 2023 at 4:30 pm

Last night’s city council meeting was further proof that Mayor Restaino’s proposed use of CDBG funds for purchasing Parcel 0 is still on the table. Last night, Councilmember Vincent Cauley attempted to rescind the authority the council granted the Mayor last December to use CDBG funds for the purchase ofRead More

Brian Archie: Trust, Accountability and Building Bridges

Brian Archie: Trust, Accountability and Building Bridges

Elections 2023, Ken Cosentino, Local News November 1, 2023 at 11:03 pm

As part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls, this article will focus specifically on Democratic candidate for city council Brian Archie. In this series we will examine the Black candidates and judge them not by the color of theirRead More

Niagara Falls is a Horror Show

Niagara Falls is a Horror Show

Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News, Niagara Falls October 31, 2023 at 12:28 am

Downtown Niagara Falls has effectively become a garbage dump. We’ve all seen it as we drive down streets and alleys. Old mattresses, used tires, trash bags ripped open with their contents spilling out all over the ground. The average person drives by these eyesores and wonders “Who’s cleaning all ofRead More

Uniquia Lewis: Fairness, Equality And Transparency

Uniquia Lewis: Fairness, Equality And Transparency

Elections 2023, Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News October 28, 2023 at 12:11 pm

This article is part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls, focusing specifically on candidate for city council Uniquia Lewis. In this series we will examine the Black candidates and judge them not by the color of their skin, butRead More

Vincent Cauley: Sticking Up For The People

Vincent Cauley: Sticking Up For The People

Elections 2023, Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News, News October 26, 2023 at 7:48 pm

This article is part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls. This article will focus specifically on Republican candidate for city council Vincent Cauley, who is running for re-election. In this series we will examine the Black candidates and judgeRead More

Carl Cain is set to become the next mayor of Niagara Falls

Carl Cain: The Smart Choice For Mayor

Elections 2023, Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News October 26, 2023 at 7:25 pm

This article is part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls. This article will specifically focus on mayoral candidate Carl Cain. In this series, we strive to examine the Black candidates and judge them not by the color of theirRead More

Things Keep Getting Worse With Restaino in Office

Things Keep Getting Worse With Restaino in Office

Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News, News, Niagara Falls October 13, 2023 at 4:57 pm

Right about now, the walls are closing in on Bobby. Even if he wins, he loses. Emails and messages have flooded in to the Reporter with tips and stories about Mayor Robert Restaino’s private life. Some are so tawdry and cringeworthy that they won’t even be mentioned here. Election season willRead More

Mayor Restaino’s Broken Campaign Promises & Failed Report Card

Mayor Restaino’s Broken Campaign Promises & Failed Report Card

Elections 2023, Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News, News October 7, 2023 at 8:14 pm

The following is a screenshot taken directly from the main webpage of Mayor Restaino’s 2019 campaign platform. These are his top three campaign promises: For clarity, it reads: Development. We must focus on business development that can deliver employment with wages to empower families and help stabilize neighborhoods. Transparency. TheRead More

Weighing the Economic Impact of an Event Center vs. Digital Campus

Weighing the Economic Impact of an Event Center vs. Digital Campus

Data Campus, Ken Cosentino, Local News, News October 3, 2023 at 9:46 pm

As the mayoral election draws nearer in the city of Niagara Falls, one can’t help but wonder what will happen if Mayor Robert Restaino gets re-elected. Aside from Mayor Restaino dishing out small business grants to locals in exchange for votes and cutting ribbons at press events, Restaino’s focus isRead More

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