Niagara Reporter-
The $1.5 Billion Project the Niagara Falls Mayor Doesn’t Want Residents to Know About
By Frank Parlato Kevin O’Leary stood at the podium at Data Center World 2025 in Washington, D.C., and declared the obvious to anyone paying attention: “This is the new gold rush.” The “Shark Tank” star was announcing Wonder Valley, a $2 billion AI-powered data center planned for Alberta. But he was also describing a global phenomenon. Thirty-six states have enacted laws to attract data center developers, including tax exemptions for equipment and construction materials and job-creation credits. Virginia’s Loudoun County built “Data Center Alley” and has seen property taxes decrease because the facilities pay so much in taxes. Governors are
How Politico Got It Wrong: Eight Anonymous Sources, Zero Verification
It began with a headline. On April 5, 2024, Politico published: “Sexual harassment allegations made against top Biden nuclear official.” Frank Rose had been the number two official at the National Nuclear Security Administration. Now he was radioactive. Politico’s audience—policymakers, insiders, the custodians of Washington reputation—understood the implication. In the months that followed, Rose applied for more than twenty positions within his field. He has been met not only with rejection, but with silence—which, in this climate, is worse. A career erased—not by judgment, but by suggestion. He is now suing the federal government and his accuser, Kathryn “Kate” Hewitt. The
The Flynn Doctrine, Part 5: Judicial Complaint Filed Against Judge Who Jailed DA’s Accuser
By Frank Parlato Complaint names judge’s prior professional ties to former DA On January 7, 2026, John Rendina filed a formal ethics complaint with the Rochester office of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct against Judge J. Mark Gruber of the Town of Tonawanda Court. The complaint asks for the judge’s removal from the bench. Rendina is the uncle of Ryan Flynn, who has been held without bail at the Erie County Holding Center since October 21, 2025—more than eleven weeks—after accusing his cousin, former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, of sexually molesting him as a child.
PART 1: The Man Who Jailed 46 People Over a Cell Phone Now Runs Niagara Falls
Shortly after 9:00 AM on March 11, 2005, Judge Robert Restaino took the bench in Niagara Falls City Court. Approximately 70 people filled the courtroom—46 defendants in a domestic violence diversion program, plus attorneys, court staff, and counselors. For 45 minutes, proceedings went normally. Then a cell phone rang. “Everyone is going to jail,” Restaino announced. “Every single person is going to jail in this courtroom unless I get that instrument now.” No one came forward. What followed was an hours-long descent into collective punishment that would end Restaino’s judicial career—and reveal a temperament that should concern every resident of
‘Publish or I Die’: Ryan Flynn’s Hunger Strike After Accusing His Cousin, Former District Attorney John Flynn
By Frank Parlato Ryan Flynn called me from Erie County Holding Center last night and told me he’s going to die there. “I’m going on a full hunger strike, no food or no water,” he said. “I plan to die in here.” He started at 11:00 AM yesterday, January 3, 2026. “Get your headline ready,” he told me. “Inmate dies in Erie County Holding Center after three series part.” He’s referencing the three stories I’ve published about the events that led to his arrest and remand after accusing his older cousin, former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, of sexual
Held Without Bail, Without Heat, Without Water: Ryan Flynn Speaks from Jail About His Cousin Former DA John Flynn
By Frank Parlato The Flynn Doctrine “Grandfathered In” Ryan Flynn Describes Jail Conditions While Held Without Bail This is the third installment in a series examining former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn and the doctrine he established in prosecuting political consultant, and former Erie County Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon: believe the accuser, disregard denials, act without corroboration. In Parts 1 and 2, I examined Flynn’s prosecution of political adversary Steve Pigeon and his cousin Ryan’s accusation against Flynn. Ryan Flynn remains jailed on charges tied to an anonymous social media post prosecutors claim he made threatening John Flynn’s wife.
Former DA John Flynn’s Accuser Speaks From Jail as Case File Reveals New Details
By Frank Parlato PART 2: The Flynn Doctrine Ryan Flynn Speaks: Two Accusations, Double Standard On December 15, I published a story about former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn and two cases involving him. In it, I described how Flynn prosecuted political consultant, former Erie County Democratic Chairman and longtime adversary Steve Pigeon in 2021 on uncorroborated allegations of child sexual abuse, justifying the prosecution with a phrase that required no proof and permitted no dissent: “I stand with the child.” The story also described how Flynn’s younger cousin, Ryan Flynn, accused him of sexually abusing him when Ryan
Former DA John Flynn Accused of Child Sexual Abuse by Cousin; He Prosecuted Pigeon on Similar, Uncorroborated Charges
By Frank Parlato THE FLYNN DOCTRINE — AND THE MAN NOW CAUGHT IN IT By Frank Parlato Two cases center on former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn. In one, Flynn brought the accusation. In the other, he is the accused. He set the rule. Believe the accuser. Act fast. Don’t wait. Now the rule comes back to him. RYAN FLYNN — THE ACCUSER THEY CANNOT EASILY EXPLAIN AWAY Ryan Flynn, 32, the younger cousin of John Flynn, alleges that the former DA sexually abused him twice when he was around 10 years old during visits to his father’s home.
Niagara Falls is a Sinking Ship
By Dave Seminara I’m a mad traveler who has visited 85 countries and is never happier than when I’m in an unfamiliar place. My travel addiction was born in Niagara Falls in the 1980s. As a kid growing up in nearby Williamsville, my mom — a fellow compulsive traveler — would take me to both sides of the Falls often. I loved the waterfalls, of course, but what fascinated me even more was hearing foreign languages and feeling like I was on an exotic vacation so close to home. Now I live in Florida but come back to Western New
The Restaino Name Takes a Hit at the Ballot Box
On paper, the City Court race wasn’t a contest. Two open seats for Niagara Falls City Court judge. Two candidates – only two: Chief Judge Danielle Restaino running for reelection and attorney Jason Cafarella making his transition from lawyer to the bench. Both were sure to be elected—as long as they got at least one vote, since there was no other opposition. Both were cross-endorsed by every party — Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, and Working Families. Both were guaranteed to win. Out of roughly 9,000 voters of this small city with the famous name, Cafarella received 5,457 votes. Restaino got 3,517 — a difference
Mayor’s Committee Paid for Myles Campaign Mailer, Prompting Ethics Questions
Mayor Robert M. Restaino financed a mailer for City Council candidate Bridgette V. Myles. The proof is in the corner, printed in plain type—the mayor’s name like an artist signs a canvas. Paid for by Restaino for Mayor. The mayor is financing his very own personal pet council. The executive financing the legislature. Forget that under New York Election Law, a mayor’s campaign committee cannot directly fund or coordinate campaign materials for another candidate without reporting it as an in-kind contribution and adhering to contribution limits. Forget about how by financing a council candidate’s mailer, Restaino blurred ethical boundaries intended
Restaino’s Power Play: Tuesday’s Vote Will Decide If Niagara Falls Still Has a Council
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — On Tuesday, voters will decide whether the City Council becomes an independent check on Mayor Robert M. Restaino—or continues to be an extension of his office. Five seats. Three are on the line. Mayor Robert Restaino’s slate — John Kinney, Noah Muñoz, and Bridget Myles — is running as a team. If they win, Restaino continues to run the council. The chairman, Jim Perry, is supposed to run the council, but he follows the mayor’s directives. He keeps meetings quiet, cuts people off, and leaves the room when the questions get awkward or hard. Restaino has