By Tony Farina One could argue that Niagara Falls is spinning its wheels  in an election year in its battle with Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR) over about 12 acres of South End property that the city wants to acquire through eminent domain from NFR for the mayor’s $150-million Centennial ParkRead More

By Tony Farina I think NFR’s Roger Trevino makes very strong arguments in response to Councilman Kenny Tompkins’ op-ed in piece in the Niagara Gazette this week on needing to work together to foster development. Trevino, in today’s Guest View article in the Gazette, quite accurately points out the omissions inRead More

The one big question in Niagara Falls is whether Mayor Robert Restaino merely snapped – when he placed his hand in front of a camera – or whether he is unraveling and headed for another mental health breakdown. His history of suspected mental illness is not new. On March 11,Read More

   By Tony Farina I’ve recently written several articles, including in the Buffalo News (Another Voice), about the amazing success of WROTBC/Batavia Downs Gaming in returning many millions of dollars to its member counties and cities to help reduce local property taxes since its inception 50 years ago. The publicRead More

By Tony Farina There will be a fun-filled fundraiser for Niagara Falls City Council hopeful Michael Gawel on Tuesday night, 5:30 to 7:30, at the always electric Player’s Bar at 528 Niagara St., Niagara Falls. Beer, pizza and music on the patio for $25, with checks payable to the CommitteeRead More

Mayor’s Unpredictable Anger Strikes Again By Ken Cosentino Folks, we literally have a petty tyrant as our mayor. While awaiting election results Tuesday night, Mayor Robert Restaino could no longer suppress the impotent rage that has become synonymous with his legacy. Once again, Restaino displayed his ugly and explosive temperamentRead More

Mayor Restaino Declares War on Unflattering Questions with Hand By Ken Cosentino   Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino won the Democratic primary on Tuesday night. His win was majorly overshadowed by a (now viral) interview between himself and WGRZ-TV photojournalist Ben Read. That video has been viewed over 100,000 timesRead More

Today and tomorrow are the last days to vote in the primary for Niagara Falls Mayor, and the choices are Glenn Choolokian, Demetreus Nix, and the incumbent Robert Restaino on the Democratic line. Those who support Nix or Restaino will not be left hopeless if their candidate loses. Nix has hisRead More

By Ken Cosentino Several days ago, the Niagara Falls Reporter published a bombshell article about Nick Forster’s Niagara Falls Water Board (NFWB). The article was a deep dive into questionable spending, hiring practices, alleged micro-managing practices by Forster, and potential connections to Mayor Robert Restaino’s re-election campaign. Since publication, severalRead More

By Ken Cosentino Mayor Restaino is a registered Democrat, and not surprisingly he’s been endorsed by the Democratic Committee. Conversely, he was also endorsed by the Conservative Party, which will help boost his votes in the general election. Arguably, Restaino sought the Conservative endorsement in order to appeal to anotherRead More

By Ken Cosentino Put on your wetsuit, slip on your flippers and let’s take a deep dive into the cesspool that is Nick Forster’s Niagara Falls Water Board. As a homeowner and resident of the City of Niagara Falls, I am extremely concerned by what you are about to read.Read More

By Tony Farina Nudged along with help from State Sen. Tim Kennedy of South Buffalo, the State Legislature appeared poised to approve a new gaming compact over the weekend  between the state and the Seneca Nation, but the secretive negotiations leading to a deal have now ignited a firestorm ofRead More

By Jim Szwedo BUT THIS TIME, WITH A TWIST First off, to start this article, I do know what roles the Mayor and his administration play in governing this City. I am also aware of the role that the City Council serves in this governance. I am also painfully awareRead More

By Ken Cosentino Mayor Restaino’s Fragile Ego The Niagara Falls City School District defines bullying as “a variety of negative acts carried out repeatedly over time. It involves a real or perceived imbalance of power, with a more powerful child or group attacking those who are less powerful.” Mayor RobertRead More

By Ken Cosentino Mayor Robert Restaino nearly rushed our community into a bad deal with National Grid. The deal, whereby the City of Niagara Falls would have purchased its streetlights from National Grid, would lead to ongoing financial costs and maintenance nightmares for taxpayers. Luckily, that deal didn’t go through,Read More

Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR) and the City of Niagara Falls clashed in New York State Appellate Court in Rochester today as NFR seeks to end the city’s attempt to take their private property through eminent domain. Mayor Robert Restaino’s fanciful vision for NFR’s land, dubbed “Centennial Park,” drew skepticism fromRead More

Spend First, Study Later At a “Special Meeting” on Wednesday, May 17, at 5:00 p.m., Niagara Falls Mayor Robert M. Restaino will seek Council approval to spend $140,000 for a feasibility study for Centennial Park, a planned 7000-seat events center and a small adjacent park. According to the mayor, theRead More

Just over a decade ago, this newspaper published a blockbuster series of articles revealing that the Niagara Falls Water Board was planning to import from Pennsylvania millions of gallons of toxic frackwater for treatment and dumping into the Niagara River. Our analysis revealed that, despite the advanced technology employed byRead More

By James Szwedo President, Niagara Street Neighborhood Revitalization Organization, Inc. Last week, I wrote, Niagara Falls Citizens Make Decisions Based on Safety Concerns. In it, I wrote about how the city has found itself in endless decline. Acknowledging Past Mistakes: A Step Towards Progress in Niagara Falls How do we moveRead More

On May 7, 2023 at approximately 4:00 am, Niagara Falls Police responded to the 4300 block of Porter Road to investigate a single-vehicle crash. A 2002 Chevy Tahoe was heading west on Porter Rd. when it crossed the eastbound lane, striking a utility pole. The vehicle continued, hitting a portableRead More