Niagara Reporter-
Is Mayor Dyster one of the ‘immigrant’ faces on Cuomo Pamphlet ???
On Jan. 20, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s representative, Empire State Development’s Sr. VP Sam Hoyt appeared in Council Chambers at Niagara Falls City Hall to deliver an encapsulated version of the “State of the State” speech performed by Cuomo on Jan. 9 at the University of Buffalo’s North Campus. At the front entrance to the large chambers, where the business of the people is conducted every other Monday, on the bench next to the door, was a stack of single-page, fold-out glossy brochures headlining “NEW YORK STATE EXCELSIOR EVER UPWARD – Advancing the New York Promise” above images of the Greater
Niagara Falls experiences social media firestorm over Cuomo’s “Lodge” proposal
A number of Niagara Falls residents lit up social media this week with protests against Gov. Cuomo’s “lodge” which he wants to build next to the Niagara River on Goat Island in the Niagara Falls State Park, damaging the beautiful natural scenery surrounding Niagara Falls. We culled the following critical comments from Facebook, which outnumbered those in favor by at least 10 to 1. Robert Borgatti: “This is a terrible idea. Just another unnecessary intrusion on the natural environment at the falls and totally contrary to the Olmsted vision that created the natural reserve (now referred to as a “park”).
Local Opposition Ramping up to Cuomo’s Lodge in Olmsted’s Niagara Reservation park
While the shock of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that he wants to build a state-owned “lodge” (read hotel) on Goat Island in the Niagara Falls State Park is still sinking in with many local residents, a preliminary sample of public opinion so far seems to reflect growing opposition to the governor’s proposal. Floating the trial balloon during his January 9 University at Buffalo “State of the State” speech (“On Goat Island we will create a year-round destination for tourism and build a world-class lodge with sweeping views of the Niagara River”), Cuomo’s scheme to establish overnight lodging on Goat Island
Roscetti Fundraiser Draws Overflow Crowd
By Tony Farina It was a full house last Thursday at the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion for Alan Roscetti’s kickoff fundraiser in his campaign for Niagara Falls City Court judge. Roscetti, a 37-year-old Niagara County public defender and private practice attorney, is running for the seat currently held by Judge Robert Merino who will be retiring at the end of the year. “It was a great night, just a terrific turnout,” said Roscetti after greeting more than 200 well wishers and supporters who turned out for the official start of his campaign and promising to work hard to convince voters
THE BEST GOVERNMENT YOU CAN BUY An Inside Look At Political Corruption In New York
BY PAUL WOLF, ESQ. The recent convictions of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos provide a great inside view of how campaign cash and political corruption meet. A key player in both trials was a http://southbuffalonews.com0http://southbuffalonews.com year old billionaire named Leonard Litwin who owns and builds high end apartment buildings in New York City through a firm named Glenwood Management. Litwin owns 26 buildings in Manhattan with 8,700 luxury apartments. Skelos & Son Leonard Litwin Sheldon Silver New York’s Weak Campaign Finance Laws In New York State individuals can contribute up to $http://southbuffalonews.com50,000 total per year
Cuomo Promises No Sure Thing; City Must Help Itself
Gov. Andrew Cuomo rode into Niagara Falls this week full of promises about using state funds from his Buffalo Billion Squared Initiative in his proposed 2017 budget to reclaim underused and vacant property near the state park, an investment he says that will pay dividends for the city. While it may sound great, the federal corruption probe into his first Buffalo Billion investment has many legislators taking a second look at phase two. There’s no guarantee state lawmakers will give Cuomo everything he’s looking for this time, and even he admits his plan has only a 50-50 chance of success.
Cuomo’s “Buffalo Billion” no Benefit to Niagara Falls
With key members of his staff under indictment, a potential $3.5 billion budget deficit looming, various ill-considered initiatives like free college tuition and selling liquor in movie theaters going over like lead balloons, and being increasingly at odds with a state legislature scratching and clawing to maintain its own prerogatives in a declining and corrupt state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo brought his road show to Niagara Falls this week, cutting the ribbon at a hotel opening. Cuomo was in town to promote was what he calls his “Buffalo Billion Squared” which, being a $500 million reprise of a previous state aid
Ken Cosentino testifies: Cuomo has stolen Niagara Falls prosperity and birthright
It took a lot of guts. Last week on Friday, Niagara Falls resident Ken Cosentino stood up at the end of a presentation given by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s representative, Empire State Development’s Sr. VP Sam Hoyt, in Council Chambers at Niagara Falls City Hall, and spelled out, in no uncertain terms, the deep discontent of the people. Hoyt had just delivered an hour-long, encapsulated version of the “State of the State” speech performed by Cuomo a couple of weeks ago at the University of Buffalo’s North Campus. Filling in for ESD President and CEO Howard Zemsky, who was ill, Hoyt
Opposition mounts to new Soup Kitchen on Pine as Hunger, Poverty on Rise
A Roman Catholic priest who is proposing to locate what he terms a “not-for-profit restaurant,” run by volunteers, serving low cost meals to low income residents and free meals to veterans, is running into stiff resistance from Mayor Dyster and a self-appointed business group that calls itself Pine Avenue Redevelopment Project (PARP). Since the 1701 Pine Avenue location, upstairs from the popular Carmine’s Restaurant, is zoned for such a purpose, in the final analysis, if the good Father decides to follow through with it, there’s little those entities can do to prevent what’s been termed a new soup kitchen from
Former Legislator Ceretto apparently not to answer for alleged campaign ethics breaches
When Richard Nixon left office some 45 years ago, he was spared criminal prosecution thanks to a presidential pardon issued by his successor, Gerald Ford. To the best of our knowledge, John Ceretto has received no such pardon from the outgoing Barack Obama. So why isn’t Ceretto being investigated for campaign law violations allegedly committed during his futile re-election bid this past fall? In late October, 2016, less than a month before the election that was ultimately won by challenger Angelo Morinello, a former Ceretto employee blew the whistle on possible illegal activities which included, according to news reports, “several”
Wind Turbines Debated as Senator Robert Ortt assumes Energy Committee post
Following in the footsteps of his predecessor George Maziarz, Senator Robert Ortt was named last week to the state senate’s powerful Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications, or Energy Committee, for short. “The (Energy Committee) oversees the development of legislation and policy related to energy and communications sectors. Committee members aim to promote competitive markets, support private investment, streamline regulations, create jobs and keep consumer costs down. Priorities include modernizing the state’s energy generation, transmission and distribution; facilitating expansion of renewable and clean energy technologies; and expanding high-speed broadband and other new communication technologies to underserved areas of the state,”
Memorial Gala a Ringing Success
The Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center’s marquee event, the Premier, was a star-studded success last Saturday night at the Seneca Niagara Casino, attracting close to 1,000 people who clearly had a wonderful time contributing and mingling with some of the area’s biggest names as well as many guests from the everyday world. Ch. 2 news anchor Maryalice Demler once again served as emcee and she kept things moving quite nicely after the guests had enjoyed a superb dinner, introducing Memorial President and CEO Joseph Ruffolo who outlined the major advancements at the Medical Center, including the opening in 2016 of