Niagara Reporter-
McMurray seeking Dem nod to challenge Collins
Town of Grand Island Supervisor and occasional Niagara Falls Reporter contributor Nate McMurray has announced his candidacy for the 27th Congressional district of New York State, which spans a vast region of Western New York comprising most of Niagara County and points east all the way to Rochester, and wrapping around the metropolitan area to the south of Buffalo. One of five Democrats currently declaring for the nomination, if the large and enthusiastic turn-out of over 200 attendees at his kick-off event at the Brickyard on Center Street in Lewiston last Sunday was any indication, he may have the inside
NF Reporter Agent of Change for Niagara Falls
Record of Reform continues with recent State website change The first issue of the Niagara Falls Reporter hit the newstands on June 28, 2000, and while that’s less than 18 years ago, it must seem like an eternity to many of the ruling elite of the Cataract City. Since its launch, this paper’s reporting on a wide variety of topics has been cited or linked to by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Washington Post, along with magazines like Editor & Publisher and web outlets including CNN, Salon and Breitbart News. While writers have come and
Falls Lawmakers to Push City to Shave Expenses
Resolution Expected to Pass Unanimously Still hoping for a resolution to the gaming dispute in months, not years, Niagara Falls city lawmakers nonetheless are attempting to brace for an uncertain future by sending a message to the Dyster administration and city workers that the city needs to take action now, not wait until the roof collapses if the casino revenue doesn’t come in. Despite piecing together a 2018 budget with scotch tape, lawmakers know their handiwork won’t stand up unless more action is taken, and it is that realization that is prompting a move to urge Mayor Paul
Latest US Census numbers Dire News for Niagara Falls
Population, Wealth taking flight from City in Decline More evidence of the continuing downward spiral of the city of Niagara Falls under the Dyster administration was released last month by the US Census Bureau. According to its “American Communities Survey,” while the population of New York State expanded by 1.9% from 2010 to 2016, the city of Niagara Falls shrank -3.1% over the same period, losing over 1,500 people. Elsewhere in the Census Bureau report, the Income & Poverty section paints an even more dismal picture. As of 2016, the city of Niagara Falls lagged far behind the rest of
Talking Heads’ music video derided Falls, Moses Parkway decades ago
Being a tourist destination with international name recognition can be a double-edged sword, as the city of Niagara Falls finds out on a regular basis. It seems that every time something positive around here makes headlines worldwide, such as the Wallenda walk, or the falls and Goat Island displaying winter in all its splendor, some late night comedian makes a disparaging wisecrack about us, or the Maid of the Mist gets mired in a sewage slick. Dissing Niagara Falls isn’t a new phenomenon, however, as we ran across an obscure 1979 documentary film entitled “South Bank Show” about the early
Poison Pen letter is sneaky, vicious attack on Niagara Falls Firefighters
“You know there was a time when public servants really did care about the public they served,” the unsigned screed that arrived in the mail this week said, “Well I guess as the song says: ‘Those times they are a changin’.” “TAKE A LOOK AT THIS EXCERPT FROM A LETTER TO MEMBERS OF FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 714” it continues. Purported to be from an email sent members by Niagara Falls Uniformed Fire Firefighters Local 714 president Risky Sanabria prior to the 2017 City Council election, it states: “CONFIDENTIAL” “As a reminder, especially our newer members, be really careful what you share
Reporter critical of Mayor Dyster’s “public art” from the start
There’s a saying that well sums up public opinion here in Niagara Falls with regards to the new Boundary Waters “public art” sculpture that was installed at the Rainbow Blvd. traffic circle last week – “Americans don’t act, they react.” “How could this happen?” people are now demanding of each other. “We didn’t know anything about this!” “How can Mayor Dyster waste $619,000 on such an extravagance, while the city is suffering severe fiscal stress, raising taxes and eliminating police positions?” “Why did the city council vote him the money in the first place?” All questions that are being asked,
New Statue Far From a Winner
“We need to look forward, not backward,” said Councilman-elect Chris Voccio in offering his restrained view of the nearly $620,000 metallic artwork now sitting 30 feet high—inside and somewhat blocked from view by a ring of traffic signs—at Centennial Circle. The new artwork has ruffled some feathers given the cost, even though the city’s contribution of almost $85,000 was committed by the mayor and city lawmakers two years ago before the current budget crisis caused in part by the still unresolved fight over casino cash payments to the state by the Seneca Nation. Councilman Ken Tompkins is far
First “Buffalo Billion” land deal in Falls just another Cuomo favor for Maid’s Glynn
As part of his “Buffalo Billion II,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier this year that he had decided to purchase “distressed lands adjacent to Niagara Falls State Park” as part of a new “Strategic Land Acquisition Program” for the purpose of subsequent redevelopment, the idea being to spur economic growth locally and revitalize downtown Niagara Falls. The targeted area essentially borders state parkland as it stretches along the south Scenic Moses Parkway and past Niagara Falls State Park, including buildings and vacant lots located on Rainbow Boulevard, Buffalo Avenue and Main Street, as well as Second and Third streets, comprising
Niagara Falls City Council, Mayor Dyster exceed tax cap, cut Police
Budget Woes lead to big Tax Increases for Residents, Businesses It took less than twenty minutes. The meat cleaver came down hard on Mayor Paul Dyster’s proposed 2018 budget Wednesday afternoon, courtesy of the Niagara Falls City Council. In short order, the council eliminated four police positions, paring the mayor’s proposed tax increases for 2018 down from 14.7% and 2.7% for businesses and residents, respectively, to 7.7% and 0.1%. In addition, Councilwoman Kristen Grandinetti, Council Chair Charles Walker and Councilman Andrew Touma voted to allow the mayor to raise taxes in excess of the 1.84% state tax cap. Councilmen Ezra
Answer to Niagara Falls’ fiscal distress may lie in classic comedy film
The Niagara Falls Reporter has a solution to the budget crisis facing the city of Niagara Falls. It’s common knowledge that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is planning to run for president in 2020. The governor recently even went on a fundraising trip to California, being feted by Silicon Valley titans, Hollywood elites and assorted Mainstream Media bigwigs, with donors ponying up as much as $50,000 to hobnob with the second generation politician from Queens at dinners and receptions. Now there’s a Peter Sellers movie from the late 1950’s titled “The Mouse that Roared,” which tells the story of a fictional little
Boundary Waters Sculpture soon to grace Downtown Niagara Falls
It’s taken long enough, almost ten years, but soon Mayor Dyster’s pride and joy Boundary Waters sculpture will be unveiled and subjected to a dedication ceremony, to take place at its seat of honor in the middle of the Rainbow Blvd. traffic roundabout. It was supposed to have been finished back in 2009, the hundredth anniversary of the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty between the U.S. and Canada, the same treaty that was flagrantly violated by New York State Parks a couple of years ago when they bulldozed makeshift earthen bridges over sections of the Niagara River in their quest to