African-American activists say it amounts to the continued ghettoization of blacks in Niagara Falls as we carom into the 21st century. Local property owners argue that, with 40 to 60 percent vacancy rates in already existing rental units here, it constitutes nothing less than a predatory government program designed to put them out of business for once and for all.
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And state Sen. George Maziarz calls it a criminal misuse of casino cash revenue dollars that were clearly intended to have an immediate impact on the city's infrastructure and economic development initiatives.
Casino cash money -- $1 million in 2004 and up to $3 million slated for 2005 -- earmarked for the Niagara Falls Housing Authority to renovate the dilapidated and dangerous Center Court housing projects, represents a classic case of throwing good money after bad, all agreed.
So why would Mayor Vince Anello and state Assemblywoman Francine Del Monte be in favor of it? Maybe because it's not their money.
The Housing Authority has proposed building 282 new units at Center Court, a crime-ridden slum originally erected during World War II as temporary housing for the families of returning servicemen. Astonishingly, the Authority plans to spend a mind-numbing $54 million on the project -- or $191,489 for each unit constructed.
This would be low-income housing, not the mansions one might expect for such an extravagant outlay of cash. None of it would be on the city's tax rolls, nor would it contribute in any way to the economic revitalization of the city.
What it would do is result in the continued segregation of blacks.
"This is just insane," said Bill Bradberry, former head of the Niagara Falls Equal Opportunity Coalition and current Reporter columnist. "There's no housing shortage in Niagara Falls and everybody knows it."
Kenneth Hamilton, who serves on the Library Board and has long been active in community affairs, is more blunt.
"Niagara Falls' chief industry is poverty," he said. "The Housing Authority may well lose funding because people would rather live in dispersed housing along Independence and Pine avenues, rather than be concentrated in the high crime projects."
But the proposal also has a direct impact on many longtime and hardworking business people here. James Copia, who has owned and maintained dozens of rental units along Rainbow Boulevard and Buffalo Avenue for three decades, explained.
"They're using public money, money that we were told was going to be going to benefit everyone in Niagara Falls, to set up a business that competes directly with my business," he said.
His sentiments were echoed by other property owners. Emma Chapman, co-owner and operator of Rainbow Property Management here, nearly broke down in tears while discussing the difficulties faced by small, local landlords.
"They raise the taxes nearly every year, the sewer and water rates go up, the utilities ..." she said. "We keep our places nice and, as it is, we have a hard time finding anybody to move in. Sometimes I think, if it wasn't for my kids, I'd just walk away and let the city take it."
Vacancy rates currently hover around 40 percent, and have gone as high as 60 percent, Copia and Chapman agreed.
Sen. Maziarz drew a parallel between how the 2004 casino money was used by the Housing Authority and by another agency, the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. (NTCC).
"Both received $1 million last year. As far as anybody can tell, the Housing Authority's money went down a hole. It has not benefited anyone in the community. The NTCC commissioned a study by Niagara University, which found that the million dollars they received -- used to advertise and promote the region -- generated more than $55 million in tourism dollars here last year," Maziarz said. "That's how this money should be being spent."
Maziarz said the hoarding of the money by the Authority is exactly the reason he has opposed the unconditional turnover of the annual casino stipend to city officials.
"This is illustrative of what's wrong with that approach," he said. "There's no accountability."
Earlier this year, the Housing Authority was turned down by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for a $20 million grant to get the Center Court project off the ground.
While the Authority has announced plans to resubmit the application in 2005, there is no reason whatsoever to believe it will meet with any more success the next time around.
In a last-minute amendment to her casino cash bill, scheduled to be presented to the state Assembly, Del Monte upped the amount to be handed to the Housing Authority to $3 million. If it passes, which it won't, the citizens of Niagara Falls will have been robbed of $4 million in just two years.
The Authority is also seeking the assistance of the county Industrial Development Agency to issue a $12 million bond issue to fund the dubious project. A public hearing on that matter will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 14.
While funding for a new ghetto at Center Court has been turned into a racial issue by its proponents, it's not.
"We know that the Housing Authority has no interest in the black community," Hamilton said. "The concentrating of African-Americans is good for the politicians, providing both a base and a common complaint for them to run on. But it does little for the people."
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | Dec. 21 2004 |