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City Administrator Al Joseph's been running around town lately telling people why the city should retain control of the public library. He and Mayor Irene Elia want to retain control because, of course, they're control freaks. Were it up to them, they'd be in control of what we watch on television in our living rooms at home.
Personally, I wouldn't give them control of a paper route. And I don't think any other businessman in town would put them in charge of anything, either. In the 18 months since the current administration has taken office, the city has lost more than 1,000 jobs, the streets, parks and recreational facilities have fallen into disrepair, taxes have skyrocketed and the only light at the end of the tunnel seems to be coming from the state takeover heading this way.
The city's budget alone amounts to $2,400 for every man, woman and child living here. In Utica, a city of similar size, the rate is about $800 for each resident. Are the poor, benighted Uticans being denied the high level of first-rate city services we here in the Falls have come to expect?
The administration's stooges on City Council--Fran Dyster and Paul Iusi (what difference does it make?)--are unconcerned about these unpleasant facts. Like the mayor and her lackluster appointees, they devote their attention to the burning issues of eco-tourism, "saving" vacant buildings nobody wants and wasting time on the hoariest chestnut of them all, the city charter.
Sometimes I feel as though I'm living in an alternate universe. Don't these people read the foreclosure notices that regularly take up a full page in the daily newspaper? Do they really believe that the best way to utilize precious state resources here would be to tear up the Robert Moses Parkway?
Why would they want to run the library--or Sal Maglie Stadium--when they've shown a complete inability to deal with the delivery of even the most essential services?
Meanwhile, the three long-termers on the council, John Accardo, Barbara Geracitano and Tony Quaranto, appear to be ready to quit in disgust. I've criticized all of them from time to time, but compared to Dyster and Iusi, they look like the framers of the Constitution.
Eighteen months ago, the people of Niagara Falls were sold a bill of goods. Elia's slogan was "Let's get down to business," and Iusi promised to "bring a businesswoman's perspective to City Hall."
Dyster touted his questionable background as an "arms negotiator" and "college professor," and said that dealing with the problems of Niagara Falls would be a piece of cake compared to dealing with the godless Commies of the former Soviet Union.
We voted them in and, a year and a half later, the city is in worse condition--in every way imaginable--than it ever has been before. Ask anybody who's trying to do business here. Ask any homeowner who hasn't been retired for 10 years. Ask the dispossessed in the South End or up on Highland Avenue.
And ask those of the Diaspora, now living in Nevada or California or North Carolina. According to the latest Census figures, between one and two people have fled the city each and every day, week in and week out, for the past decade.
The appallingly low turnout in the recent School Board election--about one in 10 registered voters bothered to cast a ballot--was an ominous message for elected officials here. Ninety percent of the populace said, in effect, "You all suck."
The turnout for the City Council election in November is not likely to be much better. At least one of the three open council seats probably will be won by someone from the Dyster-Iusi school of government, giving the mayor a majority that will result in even higher taxes, greater costs for water, sewer and other services and another two years of surreal nonsense.
Who but a fool would run for City Council this year, anyway?
As for me, I think I'm going to hang around. Every dog has its day, and I like seeing idiots get what's coming to them. In that respect at least, there should be plenty to like in the coming year.