Local News

Proposed City Wide Reassessment is Another Name for a Tax Increase  

Proposed City Wide Reassessment is Another Name for a Tax Increase  

News, Niagara Falls February 16, 2016 at 12:25 am

“If it cost $10 million dollars more to run the city than it did eight years ago, then charge me.” With those words, retired school teacher, former city Council member and a member of the Niagara Falls Financial Advisory Panel, Frank Soda advocated for what would be in effect aRead More

We told you so! City’s been abusing taxpayer casino cash all along!

Niagara Falls February 13, 2016 at 9:32 pm

Niagara Falls – My goodness, it’s been a frustrating experience, preaching about the wasteful spending habits of the Dyster administration over the past five years while no one listens. But, better late than never, people are finally noticing how Mayor Paul Dyster and council have abused casino revenue and deliveredRead More

Morinello Endorsed by Niagara County Independence, Conservative and Republican Party in Assembly Race against Ceretto

Morinello Endorsed by Niagara County Independence, Conservative and Republican Party in Assembly Race against Ceretto

Niagara County February 13, 2016 at 9:24 pm

  The Niagara County Independence Party has endorsed former Niagara Falls City Court Judge, Angelo J. Morinello’s bid for the New York State  Assembly race in the 145th district today. John Ceretto a Democrat holds the seat. Morinello, a Republican also received the Niagara County Republican party and Niagara County Conservative party endorsements.Read More

Niagara Greenway to Fund Sanborn Parking Lot

Niagara Greenway to Fund Sanborn Parking Lot

Niagara County February 11, 2016 at 2:19 am

The dark and disturbing novel “1984” introduced into everyday language such terms as “Big Brother” and “Orwellian” (after the author, George Orwell). In the book, an all-seeing, all-knowing totalitarian government controls its citizens through various bureaucracies such as the Ministry of Truth (in charge of propaganda and censorship), the Ministry of PeaceRead More

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History to repeat itself as falls dewatering recalls 1969 fiasco

News, Niagara County February 11, 2016 at 2:11 am

  “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” wrote the great Spanish philosopher George Santayana. He wasn’t talking specifically about Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. CEO John Percy or any of the state parks and other officials who have predicted thatRead More

Dewatered falls as tourist attraction?  Officials here say yes, history says no

Dewatered falls as tourist attraction? Officials here say yes, history says no

Niagara Falls February 11, 2016 at 1:53 am

  The herd of local officials predicting a boom in tourism resulting from turning off the flow of water over the Niagara Falls is puzzling to anyone familiar with the last dewatering of the natural wonder. The American Falls was reduced to a trickle in 1969 so that geologists couldRead More

Some reasons for opposing the falls  $40 million dewatering boondoggle

Some reasons for opposing the falls $40 million dewatering boondoggle

Niagara Falls February 11, 2016 at 1:42 am

   We smell a rat. That’s the answer the Niagara Falls Reporter gives anytime someone asks why we are questioning the planned dewatering of the American and Bridal Veil Falls when virtually every elected and appointed official involved in the process supports it, and the rest of the local mediaRead More

Former city engineer Curtis says  DeSantis profits from train station

Former city engineer Curtis says DeSantis profits from train station

News, Niagara Falls February 11, 2016 at 1:19 am

      Was city Planner Tom DeSantis’ longstanding desire to build a new train station in the city’s North End driven by any actual need for a new facility or by something else? Is his relationship with Wendel Duchscherer Architects and Engineers merely a professional alliance or something moreRead More

Only in NT: Kudos and musing about NT

Only in NT: Kudos and musing about NT

Niagara County February 11, 2016 at 12:25 am

Kudos to Mayor Arthur Pappas and his wife Linda for continuing the Mayor’s Snowflake Ball begun by Mayor Robert Ortt and his wife Megan to assist nonprofit organizations in NT. This year’s selection to be the recipient of the proceeds, the Nor-Ton Red Jacket Club, is a hidden diamond inRead More

Train station opening nears as operation and maintenance questions remain unanswered

Train station opening nears as operation and maintenance questions remain unanswered

News, Niagara Falls February 11, 2016 at 12:06 am

Over the past seven years the Reporter has posed a series of inconvenient questions regarding the funding, construction and operation of the Niagara Falls Intermodal Transportation Center…the train station. Recently the Niagara Gazette wrote a story that the train station is opening in May and has yet to determine itsRead More

No budget, no contracts, no idea  about train station opening here

No budget, no contracts, no idea about train station opening here

Niagara Falls February 10, 2016 at 11:59 pm

  Niagara Falls – Although the Dyster administration has had more than five years to come to an agreement with Amtrak for use of the new, $44 million train station on Whirlpool Street, market the facility to other prospective tenants and come up with a budget to run the place,Read More

Quinn Leads $100,000-plus Earners at ECC

Quinn Leads $100,000-plus Earners at ECC

Erie County February 10, 2016 at 11:02 pm

If there’s a financial crisis at Erie Community College, as certainly appears the case, there’s no sign of it if you take a look at the salaries at the college headed by President Jack Quinn at $192,500 even though he spends many days away from the institution on outside payingRead More

Flynn Endorsement Expected Saturday; Flaherty Vows to Fight On

Flynn Endorsement Expected Saturday; Flaherty Vows to Fight On

Erie County February 10, 2016 at 10:59 pm

  As we have been reporting for the last several weeks, Tonawanda Town Attorney John Flynn appears to have locked up the Erie County Democratic Party’s endorsement for district attorney, and he is expected to officially get the nod at the Executive Committee’s meeting on Saturday (Feb. 13). Sources sayRead More

Paladino to Speak at Verel Installation Feb. 24

Paladino to Speak at Verel Installation Feb. 24

Erie County February 10, 2016 at 10:04 pm

  Carl Paladino will be the guest speaker on Wednesday, Feb. 24, when A. J. Verel of South Buffalo, a member of the martial arts Hall of Fame, will be sworn in as the 52nd president of the Judges and Police Conference of Erie County at DiPaolo’s Restaurant on SouthRead More

Acting DA Hires Former Ch. 7 Anchor Joanna Pasceri

Acting DA Hires Former Ch. 7 Anchor Joanna Pasceri

Erie County February 10, 2016 at 6:06 pm

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Flaherty who is facing a bruising Democratic primary battle against Tonawanda Town Attorney John Flynn this year, has tapped former Ch. 7 news anchor Joanna Pasceri to become the first public information officer in the history of the office. Flaherty announced the appointment thisRead More

Public outcry prompts city to  rebid Chilton Ave. apartments     

Public outcry prompts city to rebid Chilton Ave. apartments    

News, Niagara Falls February 7, 2016 at 6:12 pm

Niagara Falls – In a bow to public outrage and basic human decency, the Dyster administration has announced a do-over, and will hold a public auction for a four-unit apartment building at 631 Chilton Ave. The 3,160 square foot building, which has assessed value of $37,261 and comes with itsRead More

Health Insurance Veto – Ordinance and Resolution Differences Explained

Niagara Falls February 6, 2016 at 7:37 pm

Niagara Falls  – The council initiative to cut health insurance for future city council members could have been written as a resolution or an ordinance. We have seen no evidence that it has to be written as one or the other. Informed sources say that it could be written eitherRead More

Did Dyster’s veto of council health insurance resolution exceed mayor’s powers?

Niagara Falls February 5, 2016 at 4:26 pm

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster recently vetoed a council resolution that would have ended free health insurance for all future council members. However, did the mayor violate the separation of council and mayor powers by issuing that veto? Informed sources have shared their thoughts on this matter with theRead More

How come these bridges could be built without de-watering?

How come these bridges could be built without de-watering?

Niagara County February 4, 2016 at 1:18 am

According to the many navigators who have been sailing them for the past five centuries, the roughest waters in North America can be found at the confluence of the East River and Long Island Sound in New York City, where the twice daily conflicting tides roil and churn the waters.Read More

Engineers to get nearly $5 million  for design work on Goat Island bridges

Engineers to get nearly $5 million for design work on Goat Island bridges

Niagara Falls February 4, 2016 at 12:38 am

    Greenman Pedersen, the Albany based engineering and construction firm overseeing the Peace Bridge project in Buffalo, is also in line to receive a healthy chunk of the $4.9 million design contract for the Goat Island bridge replacement project. The firm signed off on a 131-page preliminary Design ReportRead More

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