As chairman of the Niagara Falls City Democratic Committee my job is to represent our democratic committee members, they are the voice of their neighborhoods. These citizens value leaders who work together to solve issues in our community, and they value results. I wish that political agendas could be separated from the issues our community faces concerning water infrastructure. Unfortunately, we all know that is especially unavoidable during election season.
Serious issues for residents have been used for political diversion without solving problems. Councilman and water board employee Glenn Choolokian initiated negative campaigning against the mayor on the issue of frozen pipes. As the mayor positioned to identify complaints of foul odors abnormally emanating from the wastewater facility, Niagara Falls Water Board Chairman Ted Janese joined in on the mudslinging. At that point it became clear that foul politics were emanating from the water board as well. The negative campaigning was intended to help the water board shirk responsibility and to serve Choolokian’s campaign. They failed to work together with the mayor to bring about a satisfying and timely outcome for our community. We have heard more from Janese and Choolokian during this election season regarding these issues than ever before, but they still fail to offer solutions. Thankfully for citizens who have suffered without water for two winters that our mayor is taking action to solve the issues without the cooperation previously sought from the water board. Election season or not, the problem is being addressed with action, and action is the only thing that matters to residents. I’m assuming that on other pages of this newspaper today the mudslinging continues surrounding this issue, now from the tip of creative pens. As everyone spins the issue let’s hope for the sake of our community that it will end with solutions. The only one striking to resolve our current issues with the water board happens to be Mayor Paul Dyster.
I wish these issues had been solved sooner and I believe they could have been if politics were set aside. As citizens we expect our leaders to remove political barriers and to find solutions. Two candidates who are current elected officials stand before you, and only one of them is solving these issues through action while the other points his finger. Let’s end the finger pointing and have Councilman Choolokian and Chairman Janese join Mayor Dyster in working together to solve these issues for the sake of our community.