City needs independent investigation

In light of the ongoing budget saga here in the city of Niagara Falls, one question comes to mind: Why do we, the citizens of Niagara Falls, not have a full and detailed accounting of the expenditures of the previous casino cash totaling $69 million dollars?

These funds were earmarked for economic development and it’s rather obvious to me and the rest of the city that this hasn’t happened. If they were used for their intended purpose we should have a growing tax base and increased revenue; instead we have declining levels of both. Businesses continue to close, taxes continue to rise on our existing businesses and residents, and our infrastructure continues to be in a deplorable state of disrepair.

I am therefore calling for an immediate and independent investigation into how those monies were used.
I believe the city may have violated the terms of the gaming compact, in which there are specific guidelines for how that money is to be spent.

There are possible illegalities regarding using them to pay for increased salaries of government bureaucrats in direct violation of the terms of use. Is the lack of transparency covering up possible criminal misuse of funds?

We, the residents of Niagara Falls, are owed a full and detailed accounting of how these funds were used. It should cover where the money has gone and what the economic impact of that use was.

We also want to know why, in the face of $69 million in economic investment, we continue to have a shrinking commercial base, shifting the tax burden to the residents and causing ever rising economic burdens on our existing businesses.

Government only works when the people are given a fair shake, and we have been denied one.

(Swartz has announced he will be a candidate for Niagara Falls City Council in 2013)