Despite Big State Spending, Start-Up NY Falling Miles Short on Jobs Almost lost in the unbelievable feeding frenzy over the indictment last week of political operative Steve Pigeon was the news that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s highly-touted job-creation program Start-Up NY has created more tax-free zones than jobs. Empire State Development,Read More

If there’s one thing Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster can’t get enough of, it’s money. And not money like you work for, Dyster wants other people’s money. Those who contribute to his campaign war chest are routinely rewarded with valuable city real estate, consulting contracts and city jobs. He’s blownRead More

Robert J. Edwards Guest View Governor Cuomo has seems to have taken an interest in making a show in Niagara Falls. His most recent visit was the “fantastic” news that Albany was going to do something for the city, or so they would like you to believe. The governor’s visitRead More

Lockport, NY – The 4th Annual 2016 Sweet Chalk Festival in Lockport is slated for Sat-Sun, July 16 -17, in the municipal parking lots at Pine and Main Streets. More than 50 artists are expected to participate. This year there will be chalk recreations of works by Vincent Van Gogh,Read More

Here is a history lesson, a lesson on historical freedom principles that in our growing authoritarian state, you may want to consider. To our founding fathers, who placed the importance of freedom above the need to rule over and micro manage everyone through the force of government, the number 12Read More

The Right Side J. Gary DiLaura You have got to be kidding me! First let me say this, FBI Director Comey is human, puts his pants on one leg at a time and makes mistakes ( boy does he), the same as you and me. This was absolutely a BONERead More

Ask the Judge – Question #6   Dear Judge Bayger: What is “Lavern’s Law” and would it help or hurt injured persons in New York? Signed, L.W. in Niagara Falls   Answer:   Thank you for the question.  “Lavern’s Law” is, or was, a bill pending before the New York StateRead More

When Are You Wrongfully Terminated From Your Employment?   In New York, as in other states, employees work at will. This means an employee can generally be fired at any time and for any reason, or for no reason at all. The at-will rule is viewed as an equitable approachRead More

Niagara Falls city officials attempted to address concerns this week in the wake of an expose in The Reporter on the creation of a radioactive waste dump on North Avenue here. Approximately 100 tons of radioactive soils was excavated during the construction of the city’s new train station and dumpedRead More

Dear Judge Bayger: My son was recently in a terrible accident and sustained very serious injuries. I’ve seen various ads on television and on billboards from lawyers soliciting injured people to contact their law firm immediately. How do I choose the right attorney to represent my son in this case?Read More

  While cheap electronics, clothes and other goods come into this country in huge quantities from China every day, the emerald ash borer is the kind of Chinese import we don’t need. The small, metallic-looking green beetle – about the size of a grain of rice – previously unknown inRead More

by Mike Hudson When Niagara Falls officials say they’re “leaving $112 million on the table” because they haven’t done a reassessment since 2004, what they really mean is that the money has been left in the pockets of city taxpayers. Don’t look now, those pockets are about to be picked.Read More

by Mike Hudson It was barely three years ago. On June 13, 2013, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that a settlement had been reached between the state and the Seneca Nation of Indians that ended a long running dispute over the possible development of private casinos along the NiagaraRead More

by Mike Hudson It would be comical if it wasn’t so pathetic. Councilwoman Kristin Grandinetti, rubber stamp for anything her neighbor, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, proposes, Facebook gadabout and untiring champion for issues having to do with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community is still proposing legislationRead More

by Joe Kissel “I don’t understand the hesitation,” said councilwoman Kristen Grandinetti at Monday’s city council meeting just before changes to the city animal code regarding “community” cats got tabled. “We’ve gone to the SPCA and gotten her expert opinion,” said Grandinetti. “We went over all the language with her.Read More

The three complainants who filed charges against former city controller Maria Brown have now also filed them against Corporation counsel Craig Johnson,  reliable sources told the Niagara Falls Reporter. Who are these people? Why do they attack people in the City Hall of Mayor Paul Dyster who attempt to playRead More

by Mike Hudson So the Governor of New York State decides to spend $17 million on Niagara Falls State Park – which of course is owned by New York State – and local politicians and the media fall over swooning as though it were some kind of big win forRead More

by Mike Hudson Oh how the mighty have fallen. Robert Moses, the onetime “master builder” of New York and the subject of Robert Caro’s bestselling 1974 biography “The Power Broker,” would be rolling over in his grave. Last week, as he announced a $17 million shot in the arm toRead More

by Paul Wolf, Esq. While Buffalo and Erie County have their share of open government and ethical issues, Niagara County seems to be years behind on basic items.  Earlier this year when Wm. Keith McNall became Chair of the Niagara County Legislature he told fellow lawmakers.  “The challenges county governmentRead More

by Jim Ostrowski The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said last week that the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms means that there is no right to bear arms in public, a comforting thought for mass shooters in gun-free zones.  The vote was 7-4.  I wondered if I could guessRead More