The operator of the Canadian Maid of the Mist was prepared to pay $100 million more than what the Glynn operated American Maid of the Mist is paying NY State but was rebuffed by state and local officials. In a state that is hurting for revenue and a city that is broke, every elected official has backed the closed door deal between the Maid of the Mist and the State of New York.
The state justifies the no-bid deal because it claims that the Glynns have exclusivity because of the long term contract currently in place. However, the exclusivity was based upon the fact that the Glynns were also operating the Maid of the Mist on the Canadian side. That is no longer the case as Hornblower Tours won a re-bid a year ago. If our elected leaders were truly representing our interests, they would have followed the Canadians lead and re-bid the contract.
The only rationale explanation as to why this didn't happen is clear: campaign contributions. I'm sure if you checked you will find that the Maid of the Mist and/or the Glynns have contributed to Cuomo, Maziarz, Ceretto, Dyster, etc. Not even those two taxpayer watchdogs, Choolokian and Fruscione, had any questions as to why there was no bid.
Hornblower Tours is known around the world, doing boat tours in New York City and San Francisco. They are making a substantial investment in Niagara Falls, Ontario. So why would we be interested? What a joke. Shame on every elected official from Cuomo down to Choolokian.
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