Dyster’s Casino Plan Makes Private Corps. Rich While Doing Little for Residents

Glenn Choolokian Niagara Falls Council Member

The current leadership of Niagara Falls must stop the free-for-all spending of the casino money. I was in total shock to see the Dyster Administration wanted to spend a half million dollars on the Highland Avenue fire hall. [Editor’s Note: Choolokian was lone negative vote Monday night]

The current administration’s casino cash plan continues to make private companies and private groups money and they never make a major commitment to our local families and local businesses here in Niagara Falls.

Our leadership should have a casino money spending plan that is a commitment to rebuilding our cities streets and sidewalks, creating community anchors and improving the quality of life across our entire city.

This commitment must be more than bricks and mortar. It must represent a commitment to improve all parts of our communities. It means improving the life of our children, it means improving the life of our families and small businesses, but most important this current leadership must continue to look for new ideas that will strengthen all our communities as a whole.

Creating a strong mix in our communities is essential to the health of Niagara Falls.

We must work hard and always work together to address our problems and meet the challenges that this once great city faces.

As a city we must have a vision and we all must dedicate ourselves to help change the things that will improve our city and make life better for all.

I was in shock when I learned that the Dyster administration wants to spend $500,000 in casino money to fix up this long abandoned, relatively small old fire hall and then give it to a not-for-profit corporation. A brand new building could be built for far less than what the city plans to invest in this old structure. One should carefully monitor what is actually invested in this and see where the fat and the waste will be as half a million is spent on this derelict structure!