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The mayor's been hard at work, we hear.
Not working to encourage downtown development or improve the lives of the people living in the city's neighborhoods, but working instead to put the Niagara Falls Reporter out of business.
You may remember a couple of months ago, when she and Nancy Joseph, the city's economic development director, attempted to pressure a news stand operator into dropping the paper. He refused and the plan backfired, illustrating once again the depths to which this administration will sink to achieve its petty aims.
Over the past two weeks, we've heard from four separate advertisers, all of whom have contracts or other business with the city. Each had been chastised by the mayor for supporting the paper, which she said was "immoral," "anti-government" and "anti-administration."
She was partly right, at least.
The threat implicit in the mayor's attempted interference with our business is clear. She was not talking to these people as a private individual with an opinion, but as the Mayor of Niagara Falls with the power to make their dealings with the city more or less difficult.
Another thing that should be very clear is that we're not going to put up with it. This week, our attorneys, Merino & Merino, sent letters to the mayor, city administrator, corporation counsel and members of the city council advising them that we're prepared to seek legal redress for Elia's reckless actions, should they continue. A copy also went to the U.S. Attorney's office in Buffalo.
The last thing in the world this city needs is to become embroiled in a costly lawsuit based on nothing more than the mayor's inability to handle criticism. Should we have to initiate such a suit, it would be with the deepest regret.
Obviously, the mayor isn't going to listen to us, but we would hope that one of her more rational and courageous advisors might attempt to reason with her. It would save everybody a lot of trouble.