Archive for January, 2018

No surprise here: New taxes, fees Gov. Cuomo’s solution to budget deficit woes

No surprise here: New taxes, fees Gov. Cuomo’s solution to budget deficit woes

State and National News January 18, 2018 at 10:54 pm

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is under scrutiny by lawmakers in Albany, both Republican and Democrat, in the wake of his proposed 2018 budget which was released this past Tuesday. The Governor’s proposed budget, totaling $168 billion dollars, was highlighted by an estimated $4 billion deficit and $586 million inRead More

Mark Diodate and wife Lindsey.

Secreta(riot)

Niagara Falls January 18, 2018 at 10:42 pm

The Niagara Falls City Council is receiving harsh backlash after voting to hire Mark Diodate as their new administrative assistant/secretary. Mr. Diodate, who was ranked in each of the councilman’s top-five candidates for the position, was under fire for his lack of experience in the field. The position, which wasRead More

The 27th Congressional district battleground.

McMurray seeking Dem nod to challenge Collins

State and National News January 18, 2018 at 10:21 pm

Town of Grand Island Supervisor and occasional Niagara Falls Reporter contributor Nate McMurray has announced his candidacy for the 27th Congressional district of New York State, which spans a vast region of Western New York comprising most of Niagara County and points east all the way to Rochester, and wrappingRead More

"I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant." - H. L. Mencken

NF Reporter Agent of Change for Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls January 18, 2018 at 10:14 pm

Record of Reform continues with recent State website change The first issue of the Niagara Falls Reporter hit the newstands on June 28, 2000, and while that’s less than 18 years ago, it must seem like an eternity to many of the ruling elite of the Cataract City. Since itsRead More

Bail Reform Tops Governor Cuomo’s 2017 Agenda

Bail Reform Tops Governor Cuomo’s 2017 Agenda

State and National News January 18, 2018 at 10:08 pm

In an op-ed published in the New York Times this week, Governor Cuomo continued a fight for criminal justice system reform by pledging to propose a bill to the State Legislature focusing on bail reform, discovery reform, and changes to how cases are scheduled. Despite the fact that most peopleRead More

Learn to ID trees while hiking the Niagara Escarpment

Learn to ID trees while hiking the Niagara Escarpment

Niagara County January 18, 2018 at 8:53 pm

Most everybody can tell a maple from an oak, but would you know an American Hornbeam if you walked into one? The Western New York Land Conservancy, the organization restoring the Stella Niagara preserve as well as spearheading the $2.1 million Niagara Gorge ecological diversity project, will be sponsoring a WinterRead More

BUY AMERICAN – THE JOB YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN

BUY AMERICAN – THE JOB YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN

Uncategorized January 18, 2018 at 8:48 pm

By Randy Palladino There are no better stories on the evening news than the Made in America special assignment segments on ABC World News. We need look no further than a mirror to find a major part of the blame for any economic problem this country faces. Despite constant remindersRead More

Niagara Falls Jokes

Niagara Falls Jokes

Uncategorized January 18, 2018 at 8:39 pm

What do Mayor Dyster and a Corona have in common? They’re both empty from the neck up! *** Paul Dyster says, “I’m not an alcoholic! I only drink twice a year: on my birthday, and when it’s not my birthday.” *** To save money at City Hall, Mayor Dyster decidedRead More

Council Clashes Over Water Board Resolution, Secretary Hire, Salary Reductions, and More

Council Clashes Over Water Board Resolution, Secretary Hire, Salary Reductions, and More

Local News, Niagara Falls January 18, 2018 at 11:24 am

  Solidarity amongst the entire Niagara Falls City Council was in short supply Wednesday. The closest the council came to unity on a substantive issue was the hiring of its new assistant.   Only Councilman Tompkins voted against offering the secretarial position to Mark Diodate, who had worked at aRead More

Agenda for Niagara Falls City Council Meeting on January 17th, 2018

Agenda for Niagara Falls City Council Meeting on January 17th, 2018

Local News, Niagara Falls January 17, 2018 at 2:25 pm

NIAGARA FALLS CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR JANUARY 17, 2018 COUNCIL CHAMBERS COUNCIL CHAMBERS 6:00 P.M. – COUNCIL MEMBERS KENNEDY SCOTT TOMPKINS VOCCIO TOUMA _ __ PRAYER – CHAIRMAN TOUMA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Approval of Minutes from the Council Meeting of December 26, 2017 and the Organizational Meeting of January 1,Read More

Councilman Chris Voccio is sponsoring a key resolution.

Falls Lawmakers to Push City to Shave Expenses

Niagara Falls January 12, 2018 at 5:48 am

Resolution Expected to Pass Unanimously      Still hoping for a resolution to the gaming dispute in months, not years, Niagara Falls city lawmakers nonetheless are attempting to brace for an uncertain future by sending a message to the Dyster administration and city workers that the city needs to take actionRead More

Affluent DeVeaux (upper left, 201) and Lasalle (lower right, 222, includes Cayuga Island) are losing population, while the poverty-stricken Highland Avenue census tract (202) gains population, indicative of a city in decline. (Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey)

Latest US Census numbers Dire News for Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls January 12, 2018 at 5:45 am

Population, Wealth taking flight from City in Decline More evidence of the continuing downward spiral of the city of Niagara Falls under the Dyster administration was released last month by the US Census Bureau. According to its “American Communities Survey,” while the population of New York State expanded by 1.9%Read More

Niagara Falls Councilman Ken Tompkins

Tompkins: What I propose this coming year

Niagara Falls January 12, 2018 at 5:20 am

Councilman Kenny Tompkins As the calendar turned to a new year, we watched as Councilmembers Chris Voccio and Bill Kennedy were sworn in for their inaugural terms. As with all new beginnings, there is a sense of hope. Here are some ideas I am hopeful of implementing this year: ·      ThereRead More

The Two Faces of Ezra: Button-down Ezra (above) by day, Wildman Ezra (below) cavorts to "Phuck Cancer.

Chairman charade: Touma becomes Chairman as Scott bows out

Niagara Falls January 12, 2018 at 5:18 am

By Nicholas D. D’Angelo Managing Editor As friends, family, and elected officials walked into the City Council chambers on New Year’s Day awaiting the swearing-in ceremony for Bill Kennedy, Chris Voccio, Andy Touma, Owen Steed, Mark Grozio, and Dennis Virtuoso to begin, those who frequently attend council meetings noticed somethingRead More

Kristen M. Grandinetti

Former Councilwoman Grandinetti Appointed to Housing Authority

Community News January 12, 2018 at 5:16 am

The Niagara Falls Housing Authority gained a new member at Tuesday night’s meeting adding former Niagara Falls City Councilwoman Kristen Grandinetti, who was appointed to the position by Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster to its Board of Commissioners. Ms. Grandinetti is the seventh member of the Board, joined by AliciaRead More

Rob Depaolo, who works in the city's inspection department, addressed the board about issues regarding the city's dog population. The official number of registered dogs is 2,209, which seems low to city officials. Council President Eric Zadzilka suggested a dog census as a first step to addressing and possibly re-vamping some of the city's dog laws.

Dog Census proposed for North Tonawanda

Niagara Falls January 12, 2018 at 5:14 am

North Tonawanda council looking at dog census, higher registration fees By Joseph Kissel A census for dogs? North Tonawanda Common Council President Eric Zadzilka said on Tuesday he’d like to see a dog census take place as a first step to getting a handle on any toothy canine issues inRead More

A Talking Heads music video from the late '70's was insulting to Niagara Falls.

Talking Heads’ music video derided Falls, Moses Parkway decades ago

Niagara Falls January 12, 2018 at 5:08 am

Being a tourist destination with international name recognition can be a double-edged sword, as the city of Niagara Falls finds out on a regular basis. It seems that every time something positive around here makes headlines worldwide, such as the Wallenda walk, or the falls and Goat Island displaying winterRead More

YOUNG REPUBLICANS GROUP FORMING

YOUNG REPUBLICANS GROUP FORMING

Niagara County January 12, 2018 at 5:07 am

Niagara Falls, NY – Niagara Falls Young Republicans, a new group for people 18-40 who believe in Republican principles of limited government, free enterprise and individual responsibility, is starting a local chapter. Their first meeting will be a pizza party to be held on Tuesday, January 30th, at 5:30 pmRead More

IT’S CALLED “HARDBALL”

IT’S CALLED “HARDBALL”

Uncategorized January 12, 2018 at 5:04 am

The Right Side By J Gary DiLaura Call me a “Grinch” if you want, but what a few top executives at the FBI did was to commit multiple crimes including but not limited to obstruction of justice, interfering in a federal election, conspiring to commit both, possibly conspiring to fabricateRead More

Niagara Falls Jokes

Niagara Falls Jokes

Uncategorized January 12, 2018 at 5:00 am

Niagara Falls School Board president Nick Vilardo was the sole “No” vote last month on bringing sex ed to Niagara Falls High School, which has nearly the highest rates of teen pregnancy and venereal disease in the entire state. When asked about it, President Vilardo said it wasn’t so muchRead More

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