Niagara Falls: A City Lost

Today in both the Niagara Gazette and the Buffalo News, the City of Niagara Falls suffered another black-eye as the City Council Majority, otherwise known as the Gang of Three, made complete morons of themselves as they called into question a grant provided to the City to pay for Mayor Dyster's participation in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.  According to City Council Chair Glenn Choolokian, the $4,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo was an attempt to "buy favors from your administration."  Choolokian went one step further calling into question whether it was necessary to call the FBI in to investigate the matter.

Let me ask a question: what do you think a developer from another part of the country or an overseas investor must think of Niagara Falls when they see the leader of the legislative branch call into question a $4,000 grant to participate in a bi-national initiative that could impact a major industry in this County: Sportfishing.  If I had to bet they would probably be saying: if these people represent the City then the whole place must be inhabited by knuckle-dragging Neanderthals.

As I have stated over and over again, there are plenty of things to criticize Dyster about, particularly his fiscal mismanagement.  But the fact that the Mayor has the wherewithal to enlist outside sources to fund quality of life programs (the NACC) and initiatives is a credit to him and should be applauded not questioned as being illegal or unethical.  Say what you want about Dyster, I don't believe he is unethical or has done anything illegal.  Has he mismanaged the City's finances?? Yes.  Does he need to get a backbone?? Yes.  But is he a crook?? No.

Choolokian and Company are a disgrace.  If I was a resident of Niagara Falls I would be totally embarrassed.  How can this City survive when you have leaders such as Choolokian and Fruscione and a Mayor like Dyster.  Two thugs and an absent-minded professor.  Good luck Niagara Falls, I think you will need it.