by Mike Hudson When Niagara Falls officials say they’re “leaving $112 million on the table” because they haven’t done a reassessment since 2004, what they really mean is that the money has been left in the pockets of city taxpayers. Don’t look now, those pockets are about to be picked.Read More

by Mike Hudson It was barely three years ago. On June 13, 2013, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that a settlement had been reached between the state and the Seneca Nation of Indians that ended a long running dispute over the possible development of private casinos along the NiagaraRead More

by Mike Hudson It would be comical if it wasn’t so pathetic. Councilwoman Kristin Grandinetti, rubber stamp for anything her neighbor, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, proposes, Facebook gadabout and untiring champion for issues having to do with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community is still proposing legislationRead More

by Joe Kissel “I don’t understand the hesitation,” said councilwoman Kristen Grandinetti at Monday’s city council meeting just before changes to the city animal code regarding “community” cats got tabled. “We’ve gone to the SPCA and gotten her expert opinion,” said Grandinetti. “We went over all the language with her.Read More

The three complainants who filed charges against former city controller Maria Brown have now also filed them against Corporation counsel Craig Johnson,  reliable sources told the Niagara Falls Reporter. Who are these people? Why do they attack people in the City Hall of Mayor Paul Dyster who attempt to playRead More

by Mike Hudson So the Governor of New York State decides to spend $17 million on Niagara Falls State Park – which of course is owned by New York State – and local politicians and the media fall over swooning as though it were some kind of big win forRead More

by Mike Hudson Oh how the mighty have fallen. Robert Moses, the onetime “master builder” of New York and the subject of Robert Caro’s bestselling 1974 biography “The Power Broker,” would be rolling over in his grave. Last week, as he announced a $17 million shot in the arm toRead More

by Paul Wolf, Esq. While Buffalo and Erie County have their share of open government and ethical issues, Niagara County seems to be years behind on basic items.  Earlier this year when Wm. Keith McNall became Chair of the Niagara County Legislature he told fellow lawmakers.  “The challenges county governmentRead More

by Jim Ostrowski The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said last week that the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms means that there is no right to bear arms in public, a comforting thought for mass shooters in gun-free zones.  The vote was 7-4.  I wondered if I could guessRead More

 by Mike Hudson Niagara Falls isn’t the only municipality in Western New York so desperate to portray itself as economically viable that government officials are willing to throw money at a snake oil salesman like Mark Hamister in a forlorn effort to get him to develop something. Down in Jamestown,Read More

by Joseph Kissel Niagara Falls is the only tourist destination in the world that gets 8 million visitors a year and is broke. Here’s another reason why. At the beginning of the summer tourist season, the Code Enforcement Office for Niagara Falls sent out “cease and desist” letters to allRead More

by Mike Hudson Talks currently underway between the principals of the Buffalo Niagara International Film Festival and the Niagara Integrated Film Festival held in St. Catharines, Ont., are aimed at consolidating the two events, creating a new and unique cinematic showcase that would be truly international in scope. “The filmmakersRead More

by J. Gary DiLaura Obama is providing more evidence of two things I’ve been alleging regarding the king (with a small k). First, he had no intention of “honoring his oath” to our Constitution because he IS a Muslim and he, himself, committed so many criminal acts as president thatRead More