Instead of  assuming a positive role, the chief executive of the city of Niagara Falls, Mayor Paul A. Dyster has been the voice of carping criticism, taking the role of throwing darts at the high wire walk of Nik Wallenda from the start. 

Both the Niagara Gazette and The Buffalo News wrote recently about concerns many are feeling that the city fell short in preparing for the Wallenda Walk and the financial opportunities arising out of this event.

“Some of the problems,” the News wrote in an editorial, “may have more to do with (a feud) between State Sen. George D. Maziarz, D-Newfane, and Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster. Both need to make a point of demonstrating their cooperative efforts at ensuring the high-wire walk is the public relations success that the city and region need it to be.”

 It is odd that Senator Maziarz is mentioned as part of the problem. He is the reason for the walk. He, along with Assemblyman John D. Ceretto, R-Lewiston, drafted the legislation -- later signed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo -- that made Wallenda an exception to the state's anti-stunting law. 

However, was Mayor Dyster slighted in the beginning, feeling blue that Mr. Maziarz was getting the credit?  

 When the walk was fighting for needed bi-national governmental approval,  Don Glynn, for the Niagara Gazette (June 17, 2011) wrote, “That Flying Wallenda wire walk over the Niagara Gorge moved a step closer to reality Friday with the measure moving into the Assembly for consideration. Earlier, the bill sponsored by State Sen. George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, passed the Senate, 62-0 ….  That comes as a surprise to Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster …   who reportedly (was) never informed of the plan …. Dyster said the city was not consulted before the bill was submitted to the Legislature.”

 After that, from around the world, the press was mainly positive about the event except for one consistent voice of worry and concern.
 CKTB News (June 23) reported, “Mayor Paul Dyster (said), “he does worry about the repercussions of a highwire act over the Falls.  Dyster says while Wallenda is a trained professional, he may encourage amateur stunters to attempt the feat, attempts he says will almost certainly end badly.” 

The LA Times wrote, “Skeptics such as Mayor Paul Dyster of Niagara Falls, N.Y. , worry about copycats….
"’We're also concerned about our first responders who would have to go and rescue people,’ Dyster said.”
 Next it was the reputation of the Falls themselves.

 The New York Post reported on July 5: “Dyster has said his economically struggling city needs to take into account concerns that the event could be perceived as a ‘sideshow’ to the falls.” 

CKTB reported, “Dyster says respect must also be paid to the Falls themselves.  He doesn't want a ‘sideshow’ over them that he worries would take away from their elegance and beauty. Dyster's stance doesn't line up with that of his Canadian counterpart (who supports the proposed walk).”

 During the following months, Mayor Dyster was a voice of negativity, even raising the specter of lawsuits and unjust treatment of other daredevils, who a few weeks ago he worried might be copy-cats.
 On October 28, 2011, the Buffalo News wrote, “Mayor Paul A. Dyster said, ‘The one concern I had about this is that because Wallenda was the only (tightrope walker) who was offered this opportunity, and he has competitors, you just want to be careful there’s not a conflict of interest here.’” 

His next concern was not unjust treatment of other wirewalkers but that there might be too many wire walkers.

  “If this occurs often, it cheapens the real attraction," said Paul Dyster, in the Buffalo News, February 19, 2012.
 Throughout the winter and spring, Mayor Dyster made no plans to promote and organize the city to use the event that would likely draw hundreds of thousands to foster business and attractions in the city. He set his eyes on the penny wise.

 "One of the first questions that we would ask, is if we can identify, for example, police overtime costs, related to this, is there a way of getting compensated for that in whole or in part," said Dyster” WGRZ reported on April 26.

 The Tonawanda News on April 26 reported, “Dyster said. ‘…the question of who pays for it and why is clearly up in the air. Early on, there were assurances given by people who said security costs would be covered. What’s the mechanism for that?” 

But not a word on what to do to make money for the people of the city from the crowds. 

In fact he expressed worry that Niagara Falls would get too many people. 

 “Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster says, this could all backfire,” reported WIVB News on May 2, “‘If we don't have rooms to sell to people, then the benefit is less. To us, to do it off of peak helps us,’ said the mayor.”

 As the walk came closer to reality, Mayor Dyster sounded dire about the prospect of tragedy. 

He told the Buffalo News, “’I think the story line is man versus Mother Nature,’" he said, pointing out that it's no secret people have fallen to their deaths at the falls, either in accidents or in suicides.

"’If Mother Nature wins, maybe, in a way, that heightens the mystery of the falls,’ Dyster said. He quickly added: ‘I'm not suggesting I'm rooting against him.’"

And he expressed worriment about Frederick Law Olmsted who originally designed the Niagara Falls Reservation, which was later altered to become the highly commercialized Niagara Falls State Park, as the Mayor absented himself from press events for Mr. Wallenda.

 Don Glynn wrote in the Niagara Gazette, on May 3, “By the way, it shouldn't have come as any surprise that Mayor Paul A. Dyster was missing from VIPs at the (Wallenda walk) press session. It is common knowledge that Dyster was opposed to the Wallenda walk from the outset. The mayor, a staunch preservationist, is a firm advocate of Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect whose 1880’s plan was to preserve the beauty of the falls and surrounding parklands.”

 After stalling for almost a year and voicing every conceivable objection, he finally joined in. While tempering enthusiasm with the disclaimer that the city cannot do much given its late start and lack of Seneca Casino money, he told WIVB on May 14, "We're going to do the best that we can with the resources we have available and I think it's going to be a lot of fun for everyone."

 Fun, indeed, yes, and I suppose better late than never.