Here's a Dozen Wishes For Holiday Season

While everyday is Christmas for the tax free Senecas, they really could and should offer some payment to the struggling city of Niagara Falls.

This is the Robert Moses Power Plant. It’s primary purpose is to take/steal locally produced hydro- power and get it to New York City. Did you ever hear of a place that produced more than half a billion in power per year that did not get to use that power? Well now you have: Niagara County. The sooner we elect some brave men and women to kick these Albany rascals out of here, the better it will be for the people of this region.

Though surrounded by the most abundant source of fresh water in the world, somehow the people of this area pay more for their water than many places in the desert. You figure that one out.

1. That every American in the Niagara area is afforded the same legal rights as the Seneca. If the Seneca has the right to open a casino, so should an American. If a person born a Seneca can open a store tax–free, then it is our wish that an American may too. When that day comes, we will once again have prosperity.

2. That the Seneca Nation pays Niagara Falls, despite their dispute with New York State. The amount the city is owed in this dispute is quite negligible in comparison with the big picture – about 70 million. If the Seneca Nation were to stop holding the City of Niagara Falls hostage in their dispute, they would lose some leverage. They have to punish Niagara Falls; And, yet, if they were honorable, they would pay the Falls and hold back the rest of the payment to the state.

3. That taxes go down in the area so that they are no longer among the highest in the nation. The Niagara Falls city council is deserving of credit for preventing a tax increase this year. But the taxes are still inordinately high. This region will never prosper until taxes are lowered. The lowering of taxes will attract more business than any amount of government-funded development ever will.

4. That New York state charges either James Glynn or another operator a fair rent for the Maid of the Mist. And since they are willing to leave more than $100 million on the table, why not give the difference to Niagara Falls? In other words, rather than give the Glynns the advantage of a sweetheart deal, give it to the city. Do you realize that Gov. Cuomo gave the Glynns at least $100 million off their rent over the next thirty years? This is more money than what the city will get from the entire fifty year NYPA license agreement.

5. More jobs. These are jobs that aren't government jobs, but created by the private sector; True jobs that will prevent this area from having nearly the highest unemployment rate in the USA.

6. That NYPA gets kicked out of the area and the local people retain use of the locally produced hydro-power, instead of New York City getting all of the benefits of our low-cost, renewable resource.

7. That with less corruption and more honest government, the water bills in Niagara Falls become as low as they are in the desert, where people have less water, but more honest government.

8. That every person who is on welfare, who is able to work, finds work. That every home is safe, that anyone can walk the streets safely at night, and that the poor rise to prosperity, not by tearing down those who are successful, but by building up America in their own right. Niagara Falls practically leads the nation in government dependency and we wish it to be the opposite. That the people develop the strength and vigor that makes them independent of a nanny-state government.

9. That the state build Niagara a convention center to replace the one they took away from the people and gave to the Senecas for one dollar. Then the people can once again have conventions and concerts in this city, like any other major tourist destination.

10. That every elected official first think of the people they should be serving.. I mean actually do it, not just say it. They all say it.

11. That Niagara Falls, New York gets a little stronger and looks a little bit more like the inspiring city of Niagara Falls, Ontario. They have shown us the way to prosperity. We might as well try following them.

12. That the state eliminate parking in the Niagara Falls State Park except for handicap spots and return to the vision of Olmsted, who designed the park. This would allow tourists to park in the city and intermingle there. Just as importantly, this would create a marvel of the world-- a tourist attraction: the park, just as Olmsted designed it.

Finally, we wish for everyone –throughout the world, at all times and places where they celebrate Christmas-- a happy holiday, filled with reverence and joy, and a safe, prosperous, healthy new year, where the best dreams of their lives come true. To live and to love and have the time of your life is our wish to you.