Tough year for Niagara Falls with water board, casino cash woes By Joe Kissel It’s not surprising that Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently snubbed Niagara Falls and rebuked calls for emergency state aid when that very same entity is contributing to this city’s downward spiral to a control board. Which means Niagara FallsRead More

By Joseph Kissel When the recently built $43 million train station provided lucrative employment for mostly out-of-city workers, residents from surrounding neighborhoods quickly noticed nobody from their community was employed at the site. “It’s a hard process and the biggest problem we have is to change the culture,” said outgoingRead More

“You know there was a time when public servants really did care about the public they served,” the unsigned screed that arrived in the mail this week said, “Well I guess as the song says: ‘Those times they are a changin’.” “TAKE A LOOK AT THIS EXCERPT FROM A LETTERRead More

By Joseph Kissel How bad does it have to get before the DEC steps in? For two years, the stench emanating from the Allied Landfill has been getting steadily worse. So much so, this summer tourists were seen retching by the side of the road as they hit the vileRead More

By Joseph Kissel It’s been a rough debut for artist Jeff Laramore’s “Untroubled Waters” in downtown Niagara Falls‘ Centennial Circle. Hundreds of residents have commented through social media on the $619,000 final price tag as well as the interpretive nature of the piece, which is to commemorate the obscure BoundaryRead More

There’s a saying that well sums up public opinion here in Niagara Falls with regards to the new Boundary Waters “public art” sculpture that was installed at the Rainbow Blvd. traffic circle last week – “Americans don’t act, they react.” “How could this happen?” people are now demanding of eachRead More

“We need to look forward, not backward,” said Councilman-elect Chris Voccio in offering his restrained view of the nearly $620,000 metallic artwork now sitting 30 feet high—inside and somewhat blocked from view by a ring of traffic signs—at Centennial Circle.        The new artwork has ruffled some feathers given theRead More

As part of his “Buffalo Billion II,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier this year that he had decided to purchase “distressed lands adjacent to Niagara Falls State Park” as part of a new “Strategic Land Acquisition Program” for the purpose of subsequent redevelopment, the idea being to spur economic growthRead More

By Joseph Kissel What is it about incoming councilman Bill Kennedy that makes him such a compelling figure as the city begins looking past three terms of Mayor Paul Dyster? First off, his election was a surprise and a resounding success, emerging from a crowded Democratic primary field though old-fashionedRead More

By Joseph Kissel “I’m not the axman everyone thinks I am,” said incoming Falls councilman Chris Voccio. The now-retired newspaper publisher arrived here in 2014 to turn around The Niagara Gazette (after many similar assignments in other parts of the county) and reducing expenses considerably. “Even when you think youRead More

By Joseph Kissel Kristen Grandinetti never made it easy to like or admire her as a Niagara Falls city councillor. Although she does ask relevant questions from time to time during discussions and presentations, even more so she manages to alienate nearly everyone with her disrespectful and seemingly incessant smartphoneRead More

Council vows to override possible mayoral veto on police retirements By Joseph Kissel In total, 14 positions were eliminated from the city’s 2018 budget through a $10,000 retirement incentive. “If the mayor had done it in July, he could have saved the taxpayers a million dollars,” said Councilman Andy Touma.Read More

Budget Woes lead to big Tax Increases for Residents, Businesses It took less than twenty minutes. The meat cleaver came down hard on Mayor Paul Dyster’s proposed 2018 budget Wednesday afternoon, courtesy of the Niagara Falls City Council. In short order, the council eliminated four police positions, paring the mayor’sRead More

The Niagara Falls Reporter has a solution to the budget crisis facing the city of Niagara Falls. It’s common knowledge that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is planning to run for president in 2020. The governor recently even went on a fundraising trip to California, being feted by Silicon Valley titans, HollywoodRead More

It’s taken long enough, almost ten years, but soon Mayor Dyster’s pride and joy Boundary Waters sculpture will be unveiled and subjected to a dedication ceremony, to take place at its seat of honor in the middle of the Rainbow Blvd. traffic roundabout. It was supposed to have been finishedRead More

The Reporter has it on good information that all may not have been “on the up and up” with regards to election day here in the city of Niagara Falls. “I hope the Board of Elections is looking into this,” posted Niagara Falls Police officer and Air Force Reserve TechnicalRead More

A profound sadness descended on all of us on the Reporter staff over the weekend on news of Mike Hudson’s passing. Mike was a guy much loved by everyone who knew him, even if mostly through his music, or his writing. It is here, in the newspaper that Mike founded,Read More

By Councilman Kenny Tompkins As I continue to review the 2018 Niagara Falls city budget, one word runs through my mind: Disappointed. I am disappointed in what I see. There are no tough decisions being made with regard to department and personnel expenses. There was no mention of new revenueRead More

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster knew well in advance that the Seneca Nation of Indians planned to end its revenue sharing agreement with the state in March of this year, and rejected an invitation by tribal leaders to enter into discussions that would have resulted in direct payments to theRead More

“Baby steps.” It’s a term used in Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-Step programs to warn those with substance abuse problems not to try and take on too much at once. Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster and his reliable rubber stamps on the City Council, Kristen Grandinetti and Andrew Touma, haveRead More