As members of the Niagara Falls City Council, we feel it is important that we comment on, and express full support for, Gov. Cuomo's appointment of Howard Milstein as Chairman of the New York State Thruway Authority.
While public sentiment concerning the appointment has ranged from enthusiastic support to disappointment in Gov. Cuomo, we have no reservations in supporting Mr. Milstein as Thruway Authority chairman.
Niagara Falls Redevelopment has been a lightning rod for criticism, and by extension Mr. Milstein has shared in that criticism. While as city taxpayers and elected officials, we are less than pleased with the state of development in our city, we do not blame either Niagara Falls Redevelopment or Mr. Milstein for the failures of our city. There are many reasons why growth has either stalled or failed in Niagara Falls, and this lack of development predates NFR, Milstein and Cuomo.
We do want to point out that NFR has purchased several hundred parcels of land in our city. They have secured those structures that remain standing and they have taken down the dilapidated buildings that had to be removed, while paying taxes on all parcels without fail.
While our city is frustrated with the current economic climate, we believe that NFR and Mr. Milstein are sincerely interested in bringing development to our city. NFR is heavily invested in Niagara Falls, and Mr. Milstein's strong background in investment and construction are not to be denied. We trust that Gov. Cuomo has made a well-informed appointment in placing him as chairman of the Thruway Authority. We feel it is in the best interest of our city to keep the lines of communication open with NFR, Mr. Milstein and the Governor's Office.
It's critical that elected officials, businesspeople and our residents move forward together in a spirit of cooperation and understanding to help Niagara Falls reach its potential.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | June 21, 2011 |