Niagara Reporter-
Goat Island Lodge Plan Could Be Coming Soon
By Tony Farina It was only a few weeks ago that the state plan to build a “world-class lodge” on Goat Island State Park was swirling in controversy as the Niagara Falls Council and the Niagara County Legislature voiced strong opposition to the idea of marring the pristine beauty of the park and hurting downtown business interests with a tourist-magnet lodge. Feeling the pressure, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s development honchos sought to cool the furor and said other state parks along with Goat Island would be considered for the governor’s lodge and that RFP’s would soon be issued. According to sources
State Grand Jury Focusing on Maziarz Campaign Fund
I reported last October that the State Attorney General’s office was focusing squarely on the campaign account of former State Sen. George Maziarz and the former senator himself, and we have now learned that subpoenas have been issued in that investigation and evidence could be presented to a grand jury as soon as later this month. Sources familiar with the probe say that Maziarz, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his campaign account that once totaled more than $1 million, is among the targets of the grand jury investigation and there may be others. When Maziarz announced
Goat Island lodge’s long journey from “Small Inn” to huge Tourist Resort
It started out small, then got bigger, much bigger, thanks to the efforts of USA Niagara. First brought to light in a largely-overlooked 2014 USA Niagara Development Corp. Request for Proposals (RFP) that called for bids to retrofit a small building on Goat Island in the Niagara Falls State Park as “a signature dining facility, an outdoor recreation outfitting facility, and/or a small inn,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed “lodge” for the state-owned and operated park has been scaled up to, according to information recently obtained by the Reporter, a sprawling tourist attraction and resort destination in its own right on
Delaware North assured of Niagara Lodge thanks to Campaign Contributions to Cuomo
Eight – by some accounts, nine – million tourists visit Niagara Falls State Park every year. They access the world-famous attraction from two directions on a dedicated roadway, park on one of 1,500 parking spaces, tour Cave of the Winds and ride Maid of the Mist, dine at Top of the Falls restaurant, pavilion Snack Bar or one of four food booths scattered around the park, purchase souvenirs at one of two gift shops, perhaps thumb some quarters into the coin-operated binoculars perched next to the grand waterfalls, and then get back into their vehicles and leave without any need
USA Niagara promotes Niagara Lodge with images linked to Delaware North
If there were any remaining doubts in anyone’s mind that the proposed Niagara Lodge on Goat Island in Niagara Falls State Park is earmarked for Jeremy Jacobs’ Delaware North worldwide empire, what follows should dispel them. Two images portraying the embattled hotel/resort have been posted by local economic development agency USA Niagara at its Niagara Experience Center website. Several other images depict the Niagara Experience Center, but it’s the two hotel images that are most significant. The images were created by a company called BRC Imagination Arts of Burbank, California. According to its website, BRC “is an experience design and
Lots of Mystery Surrounds Goat Island Lodge Plan
What did Sam Hoyt say to Dennis Virtuoso last Tuesday in a phone call to convince the Niagara County legislator from Niagara Falls to pull his resolution opposing Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s controversial plan to build a world class lodge on Goat Island? Well, true to form, Hoyt, regional vice president of super-secretive Empire State Development, could not be reached to give his side of the conversation, but according to Virtuoso, Hoyt asked him to pull his resolution from consideration at the legislature’s regular session because the lodge plan was as good as dead and there would be three or four
Flach to Challenge Virtuoso
A decorated Iraq war veteran and the owner of the Gorge View Hostel has announced his candidacy for the 6th District Niagara County Legislative seat now held by Democrat Dennis Virtuoso. Jeffery Flach, who has the full support of Niagara Falls City Republican Chairman Bill Carroll, returned to Niagara Falls in 2014 after leaving active military service as an army major. Flach, 46, said in the announcement of his candidacy that “transparency lets both residents and decision-makers clearly see how resources are being allocated as well as the direct result of those allocations. By prioritizing transparency, we remove the distractions
Verel Begins Second Term as President of Judges and Police Conference
Martial Arts Hall of Fame member A. J. Verel will be sworn in for his second term as president of the Judges and Police Conference of Erie County this week (Thursday, Feb. 23) at Doc Sullivans, 474 Abbott Rd., South Buffalo. Officers and club members will be sworn in by Sheriff Tim Howard, a past president of the organization, during the program that begins at 5 p. m. with a $20 admissin cost. In addition to Verel, other officers who will be sworn in are Norman Mattar, 1st VP; Thomas Gambino, 2nd VP; Madeline Harvey, secretary; Ernesto Leonetti, treasurer; and
Dyster’s position on Cuomo’s lodge assures Placement in Pantheon of Great Leaders
Gov. Cuomo’s proposed “lodge” on Goat Island in the Niagara Falls State Park has been met with swift, unequivocal and forceful public opposition since he announced his intentions during a January speech at the University of Buffalo. Earlier this week the Niagara Falls City Council passed a resolution opposing the project. On the same evening, twenty miles away at Lockport, Niagara County legislators tabled a similar resolution pending clarification by the governor’s staff, a resolution that would have passed with flying colors had it come to a vote. The social media backlash against Cuomo’s hotel on the famed landscape
State DEC greenwashes Delaware North so-called “Improvements” to State Park
The very survival of the human race is being threatened by global warming, air and water pollution, overpopulation, natural resource depletion, loss of biodiversity, deforestation and ocean acidification, but don’t despair! Delaware North, which sells fast food, gifts and souvenirs in the former nature preserve we know as Niagara Falls State Park, was recently named a “New York Environmental Leader” by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. Why was Delaware North designated an “Environmental Leader” by New York State? Because, according to the DEC website, “Delaware North is saving 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel by switching from a national brand
“Buffalo Olmsted” rolls over for Cuomo, Delaware North $$$
It’s no secret why the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, one of the largest, most prominent and influential local non-profit community organizations in Western New York, has adopted a strictly hands-off approach when it comes to advocacy on behalf of one of the most famous Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks in the entire world, Niagara Falls State Park. It’s because Delaware North pays them off, pure and simple. And to be honest, they come pretty cheap. Last week Lou Jacobs, co-CEO of Delaware North, pledged $300,000 to Buffalo Olmsted for the various purposes of fighting the invasive emerald ash borer, sponsoring a
Cuomo’s Goat Island ‘World Class Lodge’ Under Fire
The governor’s Goat Island lodge plan, rolled out during one of his State of the State speeches in Amherst last month, is coming under strong attack from Niagara Falls legislators. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it is time for a “world class lodge” on Goat Island, something to create a year-round tourism destination, but three of the Cataract City’s county legislators will sponsor legislation next week opposing the governor’s plan as the wrong investment in the wrong place, urging Cuomo to focus instead on downtown economic development. The legislation, co-sponsored by Minority Leader Dennis