The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino.
This past Wednesday, Niagara Falls City Council majority voted against awarding the operating contract for the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion to Legacy Hospitality & Entertainment Group.
For the past 13+ years, local vendor Mike Carella’s company Niagara Sports Tournaments (NST) has held the contract rights to operate the rink; but for the past four years, there has not been an actual operating contract for the ice pavilion due to gross incompetence exhibited by the City Administration.
Christopher McKendrick, the general manager of the Sheraton Hotel on Third Street, spoke in favor of NST at the council meeting on Wednesday. He stated that, in the colder and winter seasons the ice hockey tournaments are a “lifeline” for local businesses; and that a change in management at the rink at this time could result in a big loss for the 2025-2026 season.
Also, the City has totally neglected the rink which is approaching dilapidation; despite the best efforts by NST who has been left with the burden of maintaining the property.
For instance, the City was warned two years ago by an employee that the rink’s 15+ year old Zamboni was breaking down, but the City failed to take action. Due to the City’s negligence, NST had to pay $10,000 for a used OIympic ice cleaner just to keep things moving after the Zamboni broke down last year. It still hasn’t been fixed.
MAYOR RESTAINO CHOSE LEGACY BUT THE COMMUNITY CHOSE NST
And as predicted, Council Chairman Jim Perry (D) and Council Member Traci Bax (R) sided with Mayor Restaino. Apparently, so did the Niagara Gazette’s Rick Pfeiffer who at this point should put a collar on his neck and let the Mayor walk him around town as his pet.
As a part of his proposal, Mike Carella offered to buy a ($200,000) ice cleaner for the rink and donate it to the City after ten years. This was not mentioned anywhere in Rick Pfeiffer’s comparison of both proposals in the Niagara Gazette.
The rejected Legacy RFP proposal submission included an entire page and a half dedicated to a Buffalo figure skater and her business which the Legacy RFP proposal claimed would be a partner at the rink. Multiple sources, including Councilman Myles, have said that they’ve spoken with the figure skater who “did not authorize the use of her image, name or company in the proposal” and “did not have any plans on partnering with the Hyde Park ice rink.”
This fact alone would seem to render the Legacy proposal invalid; but the fact that their offer was five times the premium that NST proposed seemed too lucrative for Perry, Bax and Pfeiffer who – like their master Mayor Restaino – apparently couldn’t think about anything else.
Many locals are even questioning why a company would bid five times higher than the current rate for a run-down rink in a run-down town; which is raising eyebrows as to Legacy’s and Restaino’s true motives.
In retaliation to the council’s vote, City Corporation Counsel Tom DeBoy issued a statement that the ice rink will be closed, effective September 30th.
THIS WAS CAUSED BY MAYOR RESTAINO AND HIS GOONS, NOT COUNCIL OR NST
Bernadette plays at the rink in the boy’s league. Last season she scored 88 goals. All of her hard work over the last three years is now being disrupted because Mayor Restaino is closing the rink right at the start of the 2025-2026 hockey season.
He continued, “Bill Cline, the President of the Power City Bruins told me that he reached out to Mayor Restaino’s brother [City Administrator] Anthony twice, and both times he was told that the rink is not closing.”
This has been Restaino’s modus operandi as a bully all year long: Splash pads remained closed during heat waves; 99H money has been withheld from Falls schools/Memorial Hospital/Heritage Center; youth athletes were locked out of the ice pavilion on the first day of hockey camp; funding was reduced for the Doris Jones summer camp… etc, etc, etc.
MUCH WILL BE LOST DUE TO THE MAYOR’S RETALIATION
“We are deeply disappointed to learn that the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion will be closing following a decision by Mayor Restaino, after a board vote did not go his way.”
“This facility has been a vital part of the community – not just as the home of the Buffalo Tempest, but as a space where countless athletes, families and young skaters have come together to grow, compete, and build lasting memories. Closing it abruptly is a disservice to everyone who relies on this rink, and sends a troubling message about the value placed on recreational and youth sports for the city.”
“We urge city leadership to reconsider this decision and to work collaboratively to prioritize the needs of the community. Our team, our fans, and especially our players – all deserve better.”
“Mike is awesome. Last season our team schedule was pieced together very late into the year due to us joining the league late, because of the ownership changes, and Mike helped us make it happen. It’s very difficult to find three hour time slots on Saturdays and Sundays, especially come playoffs – but Mike made it happen and helped us win the Governor’s Cup on home ice. Prior to this closure, we had the season already set and times locked up as well as locker room accommodation which wouldn’t have happened without Mike.”
Mike Carella has spent years developing strong relationships with regional hockey leagues and other organizations, including skaters with special needs who use the rink every Sunday, and senior citizen programs.
Kevin Mang volunteers full time at the rink where his daughter spends 40+ hours practicing each week. He says, “She’s depressed and crying right now. It’s effecting her and it’s affecting other kids.”
“Now that the season has started, these kids are going to lose a whole season of hockey which is major. They won’t be able to keep up with other kids. And people say oh it’s just youth hockey. But what about the kids that want to go places? My daughter wants to go to college, she wants to play hockey.”
He added, “[There are] roughly 200 kids just in the Power City League that are not going to be playing.”
Another source told the reporter that in total, about 500 kids will be impacted by the Mayor’s retaliation. The administration is already trying to blame their actions on City Council and NST.
Mike Carella said, “I’m disappointed in the Mayor’s actions to shut the rink down at the end of September. I’m hoping that we can find a way to keep the kids in the rink til the end of the hockey season. We’re trying to work with the City’s lawyer to find a solution.”
ANOTHER ROUND OF SMOKE, MIRRORS AND THE RESTAINO BLAME GAME
The City Administration is now claiming that NST owes the City $1.4 million.
Says Carella, “We have all the documentation to prove that the number is not $1.4 million, however the City will not sit down and negotiate with us. We’re working to try and make that happen.” As of this writing, the City has not responded to Mr. Carella’s attempts at renegotiation.
Carella said that the debt was accrued during the months when the rink was not open or operational due to Covid, like most of New York State and the country. Perhaps Mayor Restaino could have used some of the pandemic relief money to fix the ice pavilion, buy a new ice cleaner and pay off any outstanding debt accrued during the pandemic…
Carella says that he was “never sent a bill or told [he] owed any money until now. When we heard rumors that they said we owe, we sent letters [to the City] but never received a response.”
Not only did he spend $10,000 of his own money for the new ice cleaner, he has spent close to $20,000 in maintenance and repairs which should have been made by the City.
“The parking lot hasn’t been paved in years. DPW is right there but they can’t pave the parking lot,” said Mang.
City Councilman Donta Myles told the reporter, “The Mayor had time to go over contracts. He knew they didn’t have a contract for the past four years. Why didn’t he take care of business then? It just shows the incompetence of him and his administration.”
Or is the Mayor just being a bully as per usual? Rumors are circulating that Mayor Restaino chose Legacy because he expects their financial support for his Centennial Park project.
Says Donta, “When you get into the heart of the Centennial issue and people see that there’s already an ice rink here, how is he gonna run that one when he can’t run this one? Incompetence.”
DeBoy’s official statement says “Pursuant to the City Charter, the administration cannot unilaterally enter into a contract with Legacy, as there is no emergency present to justify that action.” Mayor Restaino seems to pick and choose which parts of the charter he follows and which he actively ignores (like the residency requirement for City employees such as his brother, Anthony).
Locals are questioning DeBoy’s official interpretation because the City can enter into an extended agreement with NST until another contract is awarded. Also, the City did unilaterally enter into a contract with Albany lobbyist Bolton St. John’s for Centennial Park in 2022.
Can’t the Mayor simply propose another resolution for council to vote on; to provide NST with a temporary contract and save the youth hockey season? They’ve been operating without a contract for four years – why must the rink close – effective immediately?
For over three years, Councilman Myles has been warning our community about the harmful bullying tactics of Mayor Restaino and his cronies. Myles speaks from experience as he’s been a political casualty at the hands of the Mayor.
Says Myles, “A lot of what I have been expressing… the gaslighting and the Mayor making it out like I’m the trouble maker and I can’t get along with everyone. I’ve been trying to express this message to the masses the entire time I’ve been in office. He’s shown us exactly who he is, what type of person he is and what he does when he doesn’t get his way. It’s a continued pattern of behavior. They didn’t tell you whose phone it was so you jailed everybody.”
Indeed, Mayor Restaino has shown a pattern of behavior in which he waits until the last minute and then railroads City Council into making a decision in his favor. He then uses smoke and mirrors to confuse people before blaming City Council or anyone else for whatever punishment the Mayor chooses to inflict upon his victims.
Like last year when he tried to force the last second allocation of over $8 million in pandemic relief money. Mayor Restaino had several years to allocate the money but he waited until it was just about to expire to force the City Council into deciding how it should be spent.
Councilman Myles said, “We need people to pay very close attention and not ignore it anymore. People say ‘that’s just how he is,’ no. A bully doesn’t stop being a bully when you give them what they want.”
WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH?
“It’s all lies, then he lies again to keep that lie up, and it’s just one after another,” says Kevin Mang.
Even the Niagara Gazette has called out the Mayor for his lies.
“Since Restaino’s been in office, NST hasn’t had a contract,” says Mang, “If Mike owes money, the Mayor has been at the rink several times for events and fundraisers. He always says to Mike, ‘keep on doing a good job.’ If you’re owed over a million dollars by this person would you be saying that to them?”
He added, “Why is it that money was never brought up all these years until now? Every time I hear about it, the amount keeps going up.”
Councilman Myles told the reporter, “I haven’t seen any proof or evidence that NST owes over a million dollars.” If the Mayor has that proof, he should make it public. However, Mayor Restaino has proven that transparency is not among his characteristics.
Kevin Mang’s belief is that “the Mayor should give Mike a contract to end the season properly. Let him stay there and run this thing until April. That’s the right thing to do, it’s common sense. After April, say okay that’s it Mike you’re done. Yes it still sucks but if Mike does owe some money, something could be worked out between his company and the city. We could have a fundraiser for the kids. This is ridiculous.”
Mayor Restaino and those who serve his agenda have now gone as far as harming hundreds of kids and their parents who have invested countless hours and thousands of dollars into their sports education.
“Mike is involved in coaching three ice hockey teams,” said Mang, “He’s very, very giving with his time. He’s always accommodating. Mike is all about the people first. That’s why it’s a family here. Mike knows everybody’s name, he knows who’s who. That’s what the Mayor doesn’t understand.”
By forcing Mike Carella out of the ice rink, Mayor Restaino is effectively severing ties with the very same organizations with whom Legacy would hope to build partnerships in order to continue paying the rent.
This administration has turned its back on the people. Mayor Restaino and his brother are running this city into the ground and their goon squad are carrying out their orders, all paid for by our tax dollars.
This is Part 3 of an ongoing investigative series into this incident.