Niagara Reporter-
Outdoor Recreation RFP found lacking
Pushes new Infrastructure at the expense of Local Economy, Natural Beauty We took a closer look at USA Niagara’s “Outdoor Recreation and Programming & Associated Real Estate Development” RFP that fleshes out Gov. Cuomo’s vision for introducing different tourist activities such as rock climbing, ziplining and horseback riding to the Niagara Gorge and Niagara Falls State Park, and found the document to be fairly typical when it comes to shaping the narrative regarding the state’s management of the tourism industry here, not to mention being rife with inaccuracies, misstatements and embellishments. In addition, significant portions of the RFP are not
City Council Nixes State’s “Outdoor Recreation” plan
USA Niagara, ESD bar media, disinvite NF Reporter correspondent from attending Info Tour State Parks, NYPA and USA Niagara recently released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purpose of establishing activities such as bicycling, ziplining, rockclimbing and horseback riding at Niagara Falls State Park and along the Niagara Gorge, however, a resolution passed Monday by the City Council may have effectively strangled the initiative in the crib. According to the 64-page “Outdoor Recreation and Programming & Associated Real Estate Development” RFP document, the three state agencies plan to adopt, in accordance with Governor Cuomo’s directives, a “synergistic approach to
DeVeaux Woods Carriage Barn previously doomed; now Centerpiece of state Outdoor Recreation proposal
“There may have been a time when preservation was about saving an old building here or there, but those days are gone. Preservation is in the business of saving communities and the values they embody.” – National Trust for Historic Preservation An emailed response by Western Region director and Assistant Deputy State Parks Commissioner Mark Thomas obtained by the Reporter would seem to indicate that, just like six years ago, the demolition of the DeVeaux Woods Carriage Barn has been put on temporary hold. What action the state agency intends to take in the immediate future to secure the historic
State Parks neglects DeVeaux Carriage Barn
Historic building may soon be razed Even though the local State Parks office reaps $20 million annually from its operations in Niagara Falls State Park and $3 million a year from Niagara Greenway, it seems they can’t spare a few dollars for a new roof on the historic DeVeaux Woods Carriage Barn, and insiders say the distinguished and celebrated structure is again, as it was a few years ago, under threat of being flattened by their wrecking ball. Formerly the location of a private school attended and fondly remembered by hundreds of local residents, the grounds of DeVeaux Woods State
Dyster repays Seneca treachery by repaving their driveway for free!
By Mike Hudson Back in March, when the Seneca Nation of Indians announced that they would end the casino revenue sharing agreement with the state, Niagara Falls and the other local municipalities where the casinos are located, it was like plunging a scalping knife into the heart of those communities that had agreed to host the smoky gambling dens in the first place. The cost of police and fire protection, infrastructure improvements, snow plowing and other relatively big ticket items were to have been offset by the annual payments of casino revenues, a portion of the slot machine take that
The cold case of Russell Mort; Child abduction remains unsolved
By Mike Hudson It remains one of the darkest and most disturbing cold cases in the files of the Niagara Falls Police Dept. But despite national media exposure that has included television programs such as “Unsolved Mysteries,” The Forensic Files” and “America’s Most Wanted,” and despite herculean efforts by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Dept. and the FBI, the 1982 disappearance of 2-year-old Russell Mort remains an enigma. By all accounts, May 5, 1982, was a beautiful sunny spring day in Wheatfield. Russell was out in the fenced back yard at the Lynch Park mobile home park with his mother, Ruth
Millions may already be budgeted for Cuomo’s Goat Island “lodge”
By James Hufnagel The first $25 million for the “Landscape Improvements” plan, with its bulldozing and paving of Three Sisters Islands and construction of bigger parking lots and expanded food service in the park, insuring that the 8 million tourists don’t have any reason to enter or spend money in the city’s downtown, came from the Niagara River Greenway, which is funded by NYPA relicensing dollars. In other words, the state screwed us with our own money. It started with $25 million in Greenway funding to implement the 2012 Niagara Falls State Park Landscape Improvements plan. “(Six) areas will be
Economic Aid to Niagara Falls in State Budget Still Unclear
By Tony Farina With the state budget being passed in bits and pieces in Albany, it is difficult to figure out how much real money will be flowing to municipalities like Niagara Falls when all is said and done. Assemblyman Angelo Morinello (R. C. – Niagara Falls), said Wednesday night that things should become clearer in the next few days when the numbers on economic development aid will be carved out of the bills being passed by weary lawmakers anxious to get out of Albany. The budget deadline was last Saturday. “There are a lot of different pots of
Dyster ‘Surprised’ Council on Tentative Fire Union Deal
By Tony Farina It appears that Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster may sometimes need to be reminded that municipal government is more than just a chief executive, it also includes five lawmakers who are elected–just like him–by the residents of the city to protect their financial interests and provide safe streets as well as things like garbage pickup and fire protection. Such a reminder came last week when Councilmember Andy Touma raised concerns that city lawmakers had not been given any information on the 10-year contract extension with the firefighters union that the mayor announced he had negotiated and, by
Cancemi Excited About School District’s Progress, Wants Another Term as Board President
By Tony Farina Retired Niagara Falls special education teacher James Cancemi is seeking his third five-year term as president of the Niagara Falls Board of Education in next month’s election, and despite his long tenure in the unpaid position, there is no sign he is ready to leave. “We’re doing a lot and I’m excited about continuing our work,” said Cancemi, 75, during an interview this week as he gets ready to face four challengers in the election set for May 16th for the position of board president. Cancemi says that as a member of the Niagara County Community
Ortt Says He Was Victim in Grand Jury Appearance
By Tony Farina State Sen. Robert Ott (R.- North Tonawanda) is keeping up his offensive against State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman this week, claiming felony indictments filed against him last week should be dismissed because he was effectively blocked from addressing the charges against him during his grand jury appearance. After the failure-to-file indictments were returned against him, Ortt, the former mayor of North Tonawanda, unloaded against Schneiderman, claiming the case brought by the Democratic attorney general (and former state senator) was politically motivated and he looks forward “to telling New Yorkers the truth about Eric Schneiderman and myself.”
Gaming Dispute Takes Back Seat to Budget
By Tony Farina The developing crisis between the Seneca Nation and the state in the gaming dispute over revenue sharing payments is taking a back seat these days to the budget negotiations in Albany as lawmakers and the governor try to meet the April 1 budget deadline. “It is definitely on the back burner right now,” said one lawmaker, “but the word is the governor and the Seneca president hope to get together to discuss the issue after the budget is passed. And it is our understanding that the two have talked and that meeting will happen very soon.” Gov.