Local News

Falls Mayoral Candidate Carl Cain’s Wisdom Sharpened by Heart and History

Falls Mayoral Candidate Carl Cain’s Wisdom Sharpened by Heart and History

Community News, Elections 2023, Featured, Local News November 4, 2023 at 10:37 am

By Brandon M. Stickney “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson For a time, human rights activist Malcolm X meant trouble for young Carlton “Carl” Cain. Malcolm’s autobiography, co-authored by Alex Haley, was nearly 500Read More

"Niagara Digital Campus" digital rendering courtesy of PRCG | Haggerty LLC

GUEST VIEW: Niagara Digital Campus will improve power infrastructure and help us meet climate goals

By Dennis Elsenbeck I have lived and worked in Western New York for decades now. Many in the area know me from the nearly 30 years I spent at Niagara Mohawk and National Grid (culminating in the position of regional director for Western New York), or from my role onRead More

Vincent Cauley Challenges Mayor’s Planned Misuse of CDBG Funds for Event Center

Vincent Cauley Challenges Mayor’s Planned Misuse of CDBG Funds for Event Center

Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News, News, Niagara Falls, Parcel 0 November 2, 2023 at 4:30 pm

Last night’s city council meeting was further proof that Mayor Restaino’s proposed use of CDBG funds for purchasing Parcel 0 is still on the table. Last night, Councilmember Vincent Cauley attempted to rescind the authority the council granted the Mayor last December to use CDBG funds for the purchase ofRead More

Brian Archie: Trust, Accountability and Building Bridges

Brian Archie: Trust, Accountability and Building Bridges

Elections 2023, Ken Cosentino, Local News November 1, 2023 at 11:03 pm

As part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls, this article will focus specifically on Democratic candidate for city council Brian Archie. In this series we will examine the Black candidates and judge them not by the color of theirRead More

Mayor Restaino’s ‘Generous’ Tax Cut: Smoke and Mirrors in Niagara Falls

Mayor Restaino’s ‘Generous’ Tax Cut: Smoke and Mirrors in Niagara Falls

Featured, Local News, Niagara Falls November 1, 2023 at 8:59 am

Niagara Falls, NY – Mayor Robert M. Restaino, just in time for the election, has announced a modest decrease in residential property tax rates. Yet, since his inauguration in 2020, the city has been plagued with soaring crime rates and rising taxes. First, let’s dissect his “generous” tax cut. AlthoughRead More

Niagara Falls is a Horror Show

Niagara Falls is a Horror Show

Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News, Niagara Falls October 31, 2023 at 12:28 am

Downtown Niagara Falls has effectively become a garbage dump. We’ve all seen it as we drive down streets and alleys. Old mattresses, used tires, trash bags ripped open with their contents spilling out all over the ground. The average person drives by these eyesores and wonders “Who’s cleaning all ofRead More

District Attorney John Flynn Stands by Accusations Against Pigeon Despite Lack of Physical Evidence, as Family Members Question Credibility of Teen Accuser

District Attorney John Flynn Stands by Accusations Against Pigeon Despite Lack of Physical Evidence, as Family Members Question Credibility of Teen Accuser

A Miscarriage of Justice, Erie County, Local News, News October 30, 2023 at 6:27 pm

Erie County – Nearly two years ago, former Erie County Democratic Chairman, G. Steven Pigeon, was indicted on charges related to an alleged one-time rape of his niece when she was nine years old. His trial is in 35 days. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn announced the charges on DecemberRead More

Gawel Raises Questions About Archie’s Role at Housing Authority

Gawel Raises Questions About Archie’s Role at Housing Authority

Local News, Niagara Falls October 29, 2023 at 5:49 pm

By Tony Farina Niagara Falls GOP City Council candidate Michael Gawel has raised questions in a Facebook post about Democratic council candidate Brian Archie’s role at the Niagara Falls Housing Authority where Archie serves as secretary. Gawel asks if the Housing Authority still owns a single family home, and is formerRead More

Uniquia Lewis: Fairness, Equality And Transparency

Uniquia Lewis: Fairness, Equality And Transparency

Elections 2023, Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News October 28, 2023 at 12:11 pm

This article is part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls, focusing specifically on candidate for city council Uniquia Lewis. In this series we will examine the Black candidates and judge them not by the color of their skin, butRead More

Carl Cain is set to become the next mayor of Niagara Falls

Is Restaino’s Centennial Park Raising Cain in the Polls?

Local News, Niagara County October 28, 2023 at 12:14 am

 With Crime So High, What Do We Have to Lose? By Ken Hamilton Niagara Falls, NY. What an unusual city we live in, especially when it comes to the dynamics surrounding its minority population. Mayor Robert Restaino, a Democrat currently facing re-election in just 10 days, has accomplished something thatRead More

NFMMC Leads Niagara County in Preparation for Medicaid Doulas

NFMMC Leads Niagara County in Preparation for Medicaid Doulas

Community News, Niagara Falls October 27, 2023 at 10:56 pm

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — “Everyone should have a doula,” noted one mother who birthed with a doula from the Every Woman & Child Counts project. New York State lawmakers agree. Recently approved in the New York State budget, doulas across New York State may begin to certify as Medicaid providersRead More

Transparency in Short Supply in Niagara Falls Government

Transparency in Short Supply in Niagara Falls Government

Local News, Niagara Falls October 27, 2023 at 6:29 pm

By Tony Farina Mayoral GOP candidate Carl Cain said at Wednesday’s mayoral debate that open government is important to building good relationships with taxpayers. Cain hit hard at that message, saying “we need to build bridges and transparency” if we are going to be successful, and that’s my pledge toRead More

Vincent Cauley: Sticking Up For The People

Vincent Cauley: Sticking Up For The People

Elections 2023, Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News, News October 26, 2023 at 7:48 pm

This article is part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls. This article will focus specifically on Republican candidate for city council Vincent Cauley, who is running for re-election. In this series we will examine the Black candidates and judgeRead More

Carl Cain is set to become the next mayor of Niagara Falls

Carl Cain: The Smart Choice For Mayor

Elections 2023, Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News October 26, 2023 at 7:25 pm

This article is part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls. This article will specifically focus on mayoral candidate Carl Cain. In this series, we strive to examine the Black candidates and judge them not by the color of theirRead More

Very Little Common Ground in Political Debates

Very Little Common Ground in Political Debates

Elections 2023, Featured, Local News October 26, 2023 at 12:48 pm

By Tony Farina The New York Coalition for Open Government has long called on Mayor Robert Restaino to stop calling so many special sessions with the council where the public cannot comment on the issues of the day, effectively being shut out from participating on important matters at the specialRead More

Erie County DA Bets on Teen’s Word Against Pigeon: Lack of DNA Evidence and Witnesses Complicates Case

Erie County DA Bets on Teen’s Word Against Pigeon: Lack of DNA Evidence and Witnesses Complicates Case

A Miscarriage of Justice, Featured, Local News October 25, 2023 at 10:13 pm

Almost two years ago – in December, 2021 – Erie County District Attorney John Flynn announced rape charges against Steve Pigeon. Next month, he goes on trial. Pigeon, 62, a former Erie County Democratic Party Chairman, is accused of first-degree rape, predatory sexual assault against a child and first-degree criminalRead More

Video: Restaino in Denial About Crime

Video: Restaino in Denial About Crime

Ken Cosentino, Local News, Niagara Falls October 25, 2023 at 12:03 am

If you believe Mayor Robert Restaino, the city’s never been safer; crime is down and all is right with the city and his administration. However, if you look at crime statistics, or even look around and see what’s really happening, an entirely different picture emerges than Restaino’s alternate reality. Here’sRead More

Cauley Stresses Watchdog Role and Cooperation In Campaign for Niagara Falls City Council

Cauley Stresses Watchdog Role and Cooperation In Campaign for Niagara Falls City Council

Elections 2023, Local News October 24, 2023 at 12:49 pm

  By Tony Farina Politics is definitely in the air in Niagara Falls with the election just around the corner on Nov. 7. Two council hopefuls working very hard to reach voters are Vincent Cauley, an engineer by trade, and CPA Michael Gawel, with both running on the Republican andRead More

Niagara Falls School Board Member Michael Gawel

Michael S. Gawel: The Experienced Choice for Niagara Falls City Council

Elections 2023, Featured, Local News, News October 23, 2023 at 1:29 pm

Michael S. Gawel, a former councilman and current candidate for the City of Niagara Falls Council, has a clear vision for the future of the city. Having served the community before, he is no stranger to the challenges and opportunities that come with public service. He has extensive knowledge inRead More

HUD Ignores FOIL Request, Appears to Help Mayor Keep His Financial Plans Secret

HUD Ignores FOIL Request, Appears to Help Mayor Keep His Financial Plans Secret

Data Campus, Local News, Niagara Falls October 22, 2023 at 12:00 pm

By Tony Farina Simply stated, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has now become part of the story of the competing Niagara Falls development projects, one supported by the mayor and the second by Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR). In denying a FOIL request by the Niagara Gazette,Read More

.wpzoom (color:black;}