I may not be a native of the Niagara Falls area, but reading your articles I have to agree 100% with you.
Now I have a question for the people of Niagara Falls: How can you just sit around and accept the thievery that not only Albany is committing on you but also your local elected officials you hired to serve in your best interests?
If local officials were really looking out for the people of Niagara Falls they would be fighting the Glynn/Cuomo "Maid of the Mist" agreements, using Glynn’s own argument he used for years to rape the people of Niagara Falls. The argument used by and on behalf of Glynn in New York for the single source award in 2002 is that whoever had the Canada lease for the boat tour had to have the New York side, since there is nowhere to dock/store boats on the New York side.
Now, if that argument is true then the People and their elected officials should be fighting on behalf of Hornblower who won the bid for the Canadian side.
If elected officials go by the laws of New York State then they should be arguing that "Section 163 of the New York State Finance Law reads: ‘The term of a single source procurement contract shall be limited to the minimum period of time necessary to ameliorate the circumstances which created the material and substantial reasons for the single source award.’" And, that if the Glynn's are allowed to continue the operation of the "Maid of the Mist" then they may do so at a rate in comparison with that of the Canadian side "Maid of the Mist".
Personally, I'd do the same thing they did in Canada and fire everyone that is responsible for deceiving the people of Niagara Falls and the people of the State of New York whose taxes have been supporting this rape of the people.
Rique Padron
Youngstown
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Is there some way the New York State Attorney General can investigate this fiasco, on behalf of New York residents, or is there too much corruption?
Don Zubris
I have been following your coverage of the Maid of the Mist issue since the beginning.
We need the proper entities to step up and see that a lawful and fair process is honored and hold accountable those who would do and have done otherwise. Unfortunately, now it also involves our Governor and it will take a monumental effort to rein him in.
Cuomo has stated further in regards to the billion he has pledged to Western New York and specifically Niagara Falls that they will assemble "their" team of designers, tourism operators, and, I’m sure, developers and consultants to the task which is exactly how they will siphon a good portion of that billion dollars right back out of this area.
Everyone should know by now how these things unfold. We can’t let it keep happening.
I know you are aware that there is a concerted effort to keep the status quo and favor the Glynn family over every other person in the area. I can’t blame them so much as those who allow it to happen.
Namely our elected officials and appointed department staff. You are one of the only publications in the Niagara Falls and Buffalo areas that practices real investigative journalism that makes a difference. Not just being a cheerleader and telling people what they want to hear or covering for crooked politicians and moneyed interests.
I do hope the lawsuits fly over this boat business and I hope that more people make their voice heard. We have been kicked around and lost enough ground already. Most people I know that cry the loudest about loving Niagara Falls have been largely silent on the issue. I have been anything but in the comment section and social media. The players need to be held accountable and your paper is one of our only hopes to spur action.
Thank you for your coverage and all you do.
Robert S Agnello
Record Producer and Recording Engineer
Grand Island, New York
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