By Joel Giambra           I grew up in Buffalo’s Lakeview Housing Project, the son of a single mother who, with help from my grandmother, got me started on life’s journey.  It was from those humble beginnings that my life was shaped, and I learned early on to make my wayRead More

The Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo location of Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches has closed after less than two years in operation. No explanation was given by the nationwide Jimmy John’s chain for the failure of its franchise on the busy commercial street, bounded by economically upscale neighborhoods and student housing for BuffaloRead More

by Joe Kissel Lockport activist Shirley Nicholas passed away Saturday, Jan. 20 at Briody Health Care Facility. She was 80. For decades, she was an outspoken advocate for environmental cleanup in Lockport and brought an unprecedented degree of public awareness of hazardous waste littered around the city. Born on AprilRead More

The Right Side By J Gary DiLaura, FBI-RED I’m sorry, I’m not an attorney, although I wanted to attend law school but couldn’t afford law school, so I never studied “Sanctuary Law.” Fact be known, I can’t find Sanctuary Law ANYPLACE! It’s not in any law books I looked at.Read More

  NORTH TONAWANDA, NY, 2018- Erik A. Herbert of North Tonawanda has formally announced his candidacy for the North Tonawanda School Board. Herbert, 31, is a North Tonawanda Police officer who works as a patrolman and often speaks at the High School on various bullying, social media and city issues.Read More

  Niagara Falls, NY – Niagara Falls City Council member Chris Voccio has scheduled his second Coffee with Chris to get feedback from citizens. Coffee with Chris sessions are tentatively scheduled for the third Thursday of each month. The second Coffee with Chris is scheduled for Thursday, February 15th atRead More

  One-time Mayor Vince Anello addressed the newly-installed Niagara Falls City Council at their first regular meeting Wednesday afternoon on prudent fiscal management. Unfortunately, none of the five councilmembers were seen to be taking notes. “The last thirty years only two mayors have had a budget surplus. Mayor O’Laughlin beingRead More

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is under scrutiny by lawmakers in Albany, both Republican and Democrat, in the wake of his proposed 2018 budget which was released this past Tuesday. The Governor’s proposed budget, totaling $168 billion dollars, was highlighted by an estimated $4 billion deficit and $586 million inRead More

The Niagara Falls City Council is receiving harsh backlash after voting to hire Mark Diodate as their new administrative assistant/secretary. Mr. Diodate, who was ranked in each of the councilman’s top-five candidates for the position, was under fire for his lack of experience in the field. The position, which wasRead More

Town of Grand Island Supervisor and occasional Niagara Falls Reporter contributor Nate McMurray has announced his candidacy for the 27th Congressional district of New York State, which spans a vast region of Western New York comprising most of Niagara County and points east all the way to Rochester, and wrappingRead More

Record of Reform continues with recent State website change The first issue of the Niagara Falls Reporter hit the newstands on June 28, 2000, and while that’s less than 18 years ago, it must seem like an eternity to many of the ruling elite of the Cataract City. Since itsRead More

In an op-ed published in the New York Times this week, Governor Cuomo continued a fight for criminal justice system reform by pledging to propose a bill to the State Legislature focusing on bail reform, discovery reform, and changes to how cases are scheduled. Despite the fact that most peopleRead More

Most everybody can tell a maple from an oak, but would you know an American Hornbeam if you walked into one? The Western New York Land Conservancy, the organization restoring the Stella Niagara preserve as well as spearheading the $2.1 million Niagara Gorge ecological diversity project, will be sponsoring a WinterRead More

By Randy Palladino There are no better stories on the evening news than the Made in America special assignment segments on ABC World News. We need look no further than a mirror to find a major part of the blame for any economic problem this country faces. Despite constant remindersRead More

What do Mayor Dyster and a Corona have in common? They’re both empty from the neck up! *** Paul Dyster says, “I’m not an alcoholic! I only drink twice a year: on my birthday, and when it’s not my birthday.” *** To save money at City Hall, Mayor Dyster decidedRead More

  Solidarity amongst the entire Niagara Falls City Council was in short supply Wednesday. The closest the council came to unity on a substantive issue was the hiring of its new assistant.   Only Councilman Tompkins voted against offering the secretarial position to Mark Diodate, who had worked at aRead More

NIAGARA FALLS CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR JANUARY 17, 2018 COUNCIL CHAMBERS COUNCIL CHAMBERS 6:00 P.M. – COUNCIL MEMBERS KENNEDY SCOTT TOMPKINS VOCCIO TOUMA _ __ PRAYER – CHAIRMAN TOUMA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Approval of Minutes from the Council Meeting of December 26, 2017 and the Organizational Meeting of January 1,Read More

Resolution Expected to Pass Unanimously      Still hoping for a resolution to the gaming dispute in months, not years, Niagara Falls city lawmakers nonetheless are attempting to brace for an uncertain future by sending a message to the Dyster administration and city workers that the city needs to take actionRead More

Population, Wealth taking flight from City in Decline More evidence of the continuing downward spiral of the city of Niagara Falls under the Dyster administration was released last month by the US Census Bureau. According to its “American Communities Survey,” while the population of New York State expanded by 1.9%Read More

Councilman Kenny Tompkins As the calendar turned to a new year, we watched as Councilmembers Chris Voccio and Bill Kennedy were sworn in for their inaugural terms. As with all new beginnings, there is a sense of hope. Here are some ideas I am hopeful of implementing this year: ·      ThereRead More