Once Dyster protégé Seth Piccirillo announced his candidacy for his job, Mayor Paul Dyster said he had not decided whether he was going to seek re-election and would announce his intentions when the budget was adopted. Well, the budget was adopted a month ago Mr. Dyster. What's up??
Insiders indicate that Dyster was blindsided by the man who he has praised profusely since he hired him. In fact, Dyster submitted a budget request which would have put the unqualified Piccirillo in charge of the City's Code Enforcement Department. While Piccirillo is trying desperately to distance himself from Dyster, the fact is he has been tied to the Mayor at the hip since he was hired in 2010.
So the question is, why hasn't the Mayor announced whether he was going to run for re-election for a fourth term? Some say that he is seriously considering another run and that he is pissed at the upstart Piccirillo who he has bent over backwards for. There are others who say that he will run because the long rumored State position is not going to happen. And, there are those who believe he's waiting as long as he can to see if Piccirillo can generate enough support to further Dyster's legacy and if not, then Dyster will jump in the race. One thing to consider, if Dyster does not run will he endorse Piccirillo and would Piccirillo want his endorsement?
Well, for the time being we wait to hear from Dyster. As usual, Dyster and Piccirillo continue to play the shell game that they have played for the last 12 years. One thing is for sure, the 2019 Mayoral race won't be boring.
Showing posts with label mayor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mayor. Show all posts
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
NYS Says No To Niagara Falls
http://niagara-gazette.com/local/x1503758131/State-to-forward-2-5M-to-Salamanca-until-Seneca-dispute-ends-no-similar-deal-for-Falls
An article in today's Niagara Gazette (see above) gives a pretty clear indication of what New York State thinks of Niagara Falls. While the State once again found it within its heart of hearts to front $2.5 million to Salamanca, Niagara Falls is left to sit and wait while volunteer agencies get cut and more reductions of services are on the horizon. As Governor Cuomo continues to let Niagara Falls hang by a thread, our elected officials standby hoping for a miracle.
On the one hand you have Mayor Dyster who is telling everyone who cares to listen that the Governor is doing all he can to help the city. He keeps on pointing to the ridiculous offer to accept an advance on the money due the city from the NYPA. This offer is typical NY State. You see by taking the advance the city actually loses money in the long run because as a penalty for receiving this advance what is actually due the city would be reduced. How the Mayor can continue to advance this is simply the act of a politician looking to save his own skin because he certainly does not want to propose service and staffing reductions.
Then of course we have our esteemed State Assemblyman John Ceretto. If you recall Ceretto, along with Councilmen Choolokian and Fruscione, went to Albany last April to discuss with the Governor the prospects for an advance from the State. Of course, despite Ceretto's claim that he speaks with the Governor regularly, when the Terrific Trio went to Albany they ended up meeting with an aide to the Governor. There was plenty of huffing and puffing from the Terrific Trio about how they really got the point across and how they were confident that the Governor would come through. Well, that didn't happen and then in June Johnny Boy wrote a letter to the Governor about an advance.
In today's article, Ceretto touts that he sponsored a bill to have payments be made directly to the city and not have to come through the State. However, what Johnny Boy forgets to tell everyone is that his bill never made it out of committee. Now, once again, he says that if the arbitration isn't settled soon that he will re-introduce legislation to have the city get direct payments from the Senecas. With the Democrats having an even larger majority in the Assembly, what makes you think that a new bill from Ceretto will ever see the light of day.
Finally, we have Council Chairman Glenn Choolokian saying that the State doesn't seem to care about the city's financial problems. My question to Glenn is: why aren't you asking your friend John Ceretto what he is doing about it?? It was you, Fruscione and Ceretto who were on local cable television talking about your efforts to bring these payments to the city. Of the three of you, Ceretto is the state official. He claims every time he sees the Governor he brings up the city's financial woes. Really??? If we are to believe that, then its obvious that Cuomo doesn't give a damn about what Ceretto has to say or about Niagara Falls. It would seem like these 2 political wizards, Choolokian and Fruscione, were taken in by old Johnny Boy.
In the end, all of these local officials posture like they are fighting the good fight for Niagara Falls but in reality they don't have the ability to do anything to break this stalemate. In truth, if this bunch were for sale, I'd like to sell them for what they think their worth and buy them for their real value
An article in today's Niagara Gazette (see above) gives a pretty clear indication of what New York State thinks of Niagara Falls. While the State once again found it within its heart of hearts to front $2.5 million to Salamanca, Niagara Falls is left to sit and wait while volunteer agencies get cut and more reductions of services are on the horizon. As Governor Cuomo continues to let Niagara Falls hang by a thread, our elected officials standby hoping for a miracle.
On the one hand you have Mayor Dyster who is telling everyone who cares to listen that the Governor is doing all he can to help the city. He keeps on pointing to the ridiculous offer to accept an advance on the money due the city from the NYPA. This offer is typical NY State. You see by taking the advance the city actually loses money in the long run because as a penalty for receiving this advance what is actually due the city would be reduced. How the Mayor can continue to advance this is simply the act of a politician looking to save his own skin because he certainly does not want to propose service and staffing reductions.
Then of course we have our esteemed State Assemblyman John Ceretto. If you recall Ceretto, along with Councilmen Choolokian and Fruscione, went to Albany last April to discuss with the Governor the prospects for an advance from the State. Of course, despite Ceretto's claim that he speaks with the Governor regularly, when the Terrific Trio went to Albany they ended up meeting with an aide to the Governor. There was plenty of huffing and puffing from the Terrific Trio about how they really got the point across and how they were confident that the Governor would come through. Well, that didn't happen and then in June Johnny Boy wrote a letter to the Governor about an advance.
In today's article, Ceretto touts that he sponsored a bill to have payments be made directly to the city and not have to come through the State. However, what Johnny Boy forgets to tell everyone is that his bill never made it out of committee. Now, once again, he says that if the arbitration isn't settled soon that he will re-introduce legislation to have the city get direct payments from the Senecas. With the Democrats having an even larger majority in the Assembly, what makes you think that a new bill from Ceretto will ever see the light of day.
Finally, we have Council Chairman Glenn Choolokian saying that the State doesn't seem to care about the city's financial problems. My question to Glenn is: why aren't you asking your friend John Ceretto what he is doing about it?? It was you, Fruscione and Ceretto who were on local cable television talking about your efforts to bring these payments to the city. Of the three of you, Ceretto is the state official. He claims every time he sees the Governor he brings up the city's financial woes. Really??? If we are to believe that, then its obvious that Cuomo doesn't give a damn about what Ceretto has to say or about Niagara Falls. It would seem like these 2 political wizards, Choolokian and Fruscione, were taken in by old Johnny Boy.
In the end, all of these local officials posture like they are fighting the good fight for Niagara Falls but in reality they don't have the ability to do anything to break this stalemate. In truth, if this bunch were for sale, I'd like to sell them for what they think their worth and buy them for their real value
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Niagara Falls Is Doomed With Current City Leaders
Yesterday at City Hall, everything that is wrong with city government in Niagara Falls was on full display. Let me be clear, this rests on both the Mayor and the City Council. Let's start with the Mayor. The City Council invited the Mayor to come to their work session at 4pm to discuss the city's fiscal situation. Specifically, the Council wanted to know what the Mayor will do if the City does not receive casino revenue this year. The answer given, as reported in the Niagara Gazette, illustrates why Paul Dyster is in over his head.
The Mayor told the Council that he has been given every indication that the arbitration between New York State and the Seneca Nation will be settled by summer. If this does not come to pass, Dyster indicated that his administration is looking at various scenarios including re-visiting the offer made by the New York Power Authority which was to accelerate payments to the City as a result of the re-licensing agreement. This is what you call leadership???
I have stated many times that Dyster has not come up with one proposal to reduce City expenditures. He continues down that path with his "hope and a prayer" that the arbitration is settled and if that fails he is prepared to take money from the Power Authority in a ponzi scheme that ends up short changing the City in the long run. The Mayor's idea of leadership is to continue to kick the can down the road and hope someone will save him from having to make tough decisions. With leadership like that the City of Niagara Falls will never create a business climate that will be attractive to developers. The Mayor and his Administration should be ashamed of themselves. Maybe when Dyster and his City Administrator go to these conferences they should attend meetings where they can learn about ways to consolidate city services.
The City Council is no better. In their defense, they really need to take lead from the Mayor in order to deal with the fiscal situation. But their ham-handed approach in how they have dealt with local volunteer agencies smacks of political retribution which typifies the political environment for the last 50 years in Niagara Falls. This toxic political environment is as big of a detriment to economic development in this City as the inability to make government more cost effective.
The Gang of 3's rejection of the Oshei Foundation's offer to co-fund the NACC further illustrates that this is all about taking a shot at Dyster. First, the money that is used to fund the NACC is bed tax money. This has no impact on city property taxpayers. Bed tax comes from people who stay at local hotels and motels. Let me say it again: there is NO impact on city property taxes. Second, Oshei's offer was to put up $15,000 with the City coming up with $15,000. This means only using $15,000 of bed tax revenue and keeping the City landmark open.
What is abundantly clear to me is that there are no adults running city government. On the one hand, you have a Mayor who is hoping that the Easter Bunny will come and leave him chocolate, Easter eggs and casino cash in his Easter Basket. And on the other hand, you have the Gang of 3 who are the schoolyard bullies that are going to extract whatever they can from their political enemies. If you wonder why Niagara Falls has not prospered, last night gives you the answer. Incompetence, lack of courage and political vindictiveness are the plagues destroying the City. It's time boys and girls in City Hall to put your big boy and girl pants on and do what's right for the people you serve. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening.
The Mayor told the Council that he has been given every indication that the arbitration between New York State and the Seneca Nation will be settled by summer. If this does not come to pass, Dyster indicated that his administration is looking at various scenarios including re-visiting the offer made by the New York Power Authority which was to accelerate payments to the City as a result of the re-licensing agreement. This is what you call leadership???
I have stated many times that Dyster has not come up with one proposal to reduce City expenditures. He continues down that path with his "hope and a prayer" that the arbitration is settled and if that fails he is prepared to take money from the Power Authority in a ponzi scheme that ends up short changing the City in the long run. The Mayor's idea of leadership is to continue to kick the can down the road and hope someone will save him from having to make tough decisions. With leadership like that the City of Niagara Falls will never create a business climate that will be attractive to developers. The Mayor and his Administration should be ashamed of themselves. Maybe when Dyster and his City Administrator go to these conferences they should attend meetings where they can learn about ways to consolidate city services.
The City Council is no better. In their defense, they really need to take lead from the Mayor in order to deal with the fiscal situation. But their ham-handed approach in how they have dealt with local volunteer agencies smacks of political retribution which typifies the political environment for the last 50 years in Niagara Falls. This toxic political environment is as big of a detriment to economic development in this City as the inability to make government more cost effective.
The Gang of 3's rejection of the Oshei Foundation's offer to co-fund the NACC further illustrates that this is all about taking a shot at Dyster. First, the money that is used to fund the NACC is bed tax money. This has no impact on city property taxpayers. Bed tax comes from people who stay at local hotels and motels. Let me say it again: there is NO impact on city property taxes. Second, Oshei's offer was to put up $15,000 with the City coming up with $15,000. This means only using $15,000 of bed tax revenue and keeping the City landmark open.
What is abundantly clear to me is that there are no adults running city government. On the one hand, you have a Mayor who is hoping that the Easter Bunny will come and leave him chocolate, Easter eggs and casino cash in his Easter Basket. And on the other hand, you have the Gang of 3 who are the schoolyard bullies that are going to extract whatever they can from their political enemies. If you wonder why Niagara Falls has not prospered, last night gives you the answer. Incompetence, lack of courage and political vindictiveness are the plagues destroying the City. It's time boys and girls in City Hall to put your big boy and girl pants on and do what's right for the people you serve. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Dyster Goes At Them & Meals/Conferences
For weeks now I have been calling out Mayor Dyster for not addressing the blatant attempt on the part of the Glenn Choolokian-led Gang of 3 to supersede the current form of government in Niagara Falls. The Gang's lack of understanding of what their role is in city government is only matched by their ignorance in the importance of volunteers to a city that needs all the help it can get. Especially when its cheap help.
Well, today in a Gazette Guest View, the Mayor laid the whole thing out in black and white for all to see. The Gang of 3's feeble attempt to use the Police Department as its reasoning for eliminating funding to the block clubs, the Beautification Commission and the NACC was exposed big time. This was all about political axes to grind on the part of Choolokian, Sam Fruscione and Bob Anderson.
It is apparent that Choolokian & Company wanted to use the new Police Chief Bryan DalPorto as the face of their ill-conceived plan to get back at the Mayor. Well, finally the Mayor is taking them to task and he shouldn't stop with a guest view. What the Mayor now should do is ask this question: where was the City Controller and Chief Lawyer when the Gang eliminated money that was already approved in the budget. A budget that Choolokian, Fruscione and Anderson voted in favor of. Both of those positions have a duty to speak out if either branch of government is doing something wrong. In this case, that doesn't appear to have happened.
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There was an article in the Gazette which also brought to light the expenditures of the Mayor and the Council as it relates to meals and conferences. Let me start out by saying that it is in the best interest of the city that city officials attend conferences to learn about new ideas and processes to make government more efficient and provide better services. In addition, it also provides an opportunity for networking which can bring dividends as it relates to getting help from the state or federal government. As long as the Mayor and the City Administrator are prudent with the costs and they actually attend the conferences, then calling it into question is penny wise and pound foolish.
With respect to the city picking up the tab for council members and city employees to eat before the City Council meeting, the only ones who benefit are the people who are eating. For Glenn Choolokian to say that its not a big deal because they are underpaid is a slap in the face to every hard working person who lives in the City. You knew what the salary was Glenn when you ran for office. Choolokian previously said that what's the big deal if the City pays for him to eat a sandwich. Well, it must be pretty expensive sandwiches when the bill comes to $179!!!
The icing on the cake is that Choolokian justifies this by saying that this has been going on for 50 to 60 years and he didn't make the rules. Really Glenn?? What rule is there that says the City must pay to feed council members before their meeting?? You are so concerned about rules and not breaking them, then why did you violate a local law called the Budget which established funding levels for the block clubs, beautification commission and the NACC. This practice needs to stop NOW!!!
Well, today in a Gazette Guest View, the Mayor laid the whole thing out in black and white for all to see. The Gang of 3's feeble attempt to use the Police Department as its reasoning for eliminating funding to the block clubs, the Beautification Commission and the NACC was exposed big time. This was all about political axes to grind on the part of Choolokian, Sam Fruscione and Bob Anderson.
It is apparent that Choolokian & Company wanted to use the new Police Chief Bryan DalPorto as the face of their ill-conceived plan to get back at the Mayor. Well, finally the Mayor is taking them to task and he shouldn't stop with a guest view. What the Mayor now should do is ask this question: where was the City Controller and Chief Lawyer when the Gang eliminated money that was already approved in the budget. A budget that Choolokian, Fruscione and Anderson voted in favor of. Both of those positions have a duty to speak out if either branch of government is doing something wrong. In this case, that doesn't appear to have happened.
*********************************************************************************
There was an article in the Gazette which also brought to light the expenditures of the Mayor and the Council as it relates to meals and conferences. Let me start out by saying that it is in the best interest of the city that city officials attend conferences to learn about new ideas and processes to make government more efficient and provide better services. In addition, it also provides an opportunity for networking which can bring dividends as it relates to getting help from the state or federal government. As long as the Mayor and the City Administrator are prudent with the costs and they actually attend the conferences, then calling it into question is penny wise and pound foolish.
With respect to the city picking up the tab for council members and city employees to eat before the City Council meeting, the only ones who benefit are the people who are eating. For Glenn Choolokian to say that its not a big deal because they are underpaid is a slap in the face to every hard working person who lives in the City. You knew what the salary was Glenn when you ran for office. Choolokian previously said that what's the big deal if the City pays for him to eat a sandwich. Well, it must be pretty expensive sandwiches when the bill comes to $179!!!
The icing on the cake is that Choolokian justifies this by saying that this has been going on for 50 to 60 years and he didn't make the rules. Really Glenn?? What rule is there that says the City must pay to feed council members before their meeting?? You are so concerned about rules and not breaking them, then why did you violate a local law called the Budget which established funding levels for the block clubs, beautification commission and the NACC. This practice needs to stop NOW!!!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Fruscione's Arrogance On Display
Today's Niagara Gazette reports that two-term Councilman Sam Fruscione sent out a campaign announcement on city council stationary. This is in clear violation of State Election Law. Fruscione says he didn't realize that he put the announcement on the city council stationary template. Really?? And this guy is a school teacher??
I don't buy what Fruscione is selling. In my mind, the arrogance of Fruscione and his co-horts Glenn Choolokian and Bob Anderson is at an all time high and they believe that they can do whatever they want. Just look at what has been going on since January. They have usurped the Executive Branch's authority by reducing budget lines and re-allocating money to a program that they want to see expanded. I thought the Council's chance to influence initiatives was during the budget process.
What's funny is that the Gang of 3 talks about being the watchdogs for the taxpayer. But actions speak louder than words. Choolokian arrogantly said that he will continue to have City taxpayers pay for his dinner before the 7pm Council meeting. Fruscione uses city stationary to send out a campaign notice. They have made it clear that they are going to fund programs that they deemed necessary. They don't say anything about how they are going to control the cost of City Government.
The Buffalo News this morning says that Mayor Dyster will be at the Committee of the Whole meeting at 4pm on Tuesday to discuss the city's fiscal situation. Apparently, the Council is concerned about the $5 million that Dyster put in the 2013 budget as revenue from the Senecas. My question is: if they were concerned why didn't they remove it from the budget in November and come up with reductions in expenditures?? The answer is they nor the Mayor had the guts to make the necessary reductions. Eliminating funds for USA Niagara was easy because it did not effect city services. What should have happened was that this reduction should have been made with further reductions. But making reductions means eliminating jobs and reducing services and there is no appetite for that by the Council or the Mayor.
At the end of the day, residents of the city are left to watch an arrogant Gang of 3 on the City Council and a Mayor who doesn't want to restore his leadership. Tuesday will be an interesting day as the arms negotiating Mayor will meet with the roguish Gang of 3. This may be the biggest negotiating session that Dyster has ever been involved with as his legacy as Mayor may be determined by it.
I don't buy what Fruscione is selling. In my mind, the arrogance of Fruscione and his co-horts Glenn Choolokian and Bob Anderson is at an all time high and they believe that they can do whatever they want. Just look at what has been going on since January. They have usurped the Executive Branch's authority by reducing budget lines and re-allocating money to a program that they want to see expanded. I thought the Council's chance to influence initiatives was during the budget process.
What's funny is that the Gang of 3 talks about being the watchdogs for the taxpayer. But actions speak louder than words. Choolokian arrogantly said that he will continue to have City taxpayers pay for his dinner before the 7pm Council meeting. Fruscione uses city stationary to send out a campaign notice. They have made it clear that they are going to fund programs that they deemed necessary. They don't say anything about how they are going to control the cost of City Government.
The Buffalo News this morning says that Mayor Dyster will be at the Committee of the Whole meeting at 4pm on Tuesday to discuss the city's fiscal situation. Apparently, the Council is concerned about the $5 million that Dyster put in the 2013 budget as revenue from the Senecas. My question is: if they were concerned why didn't they remove it from the budget in November and come up with reductions in expenditures?? The answer is they nor the Mayor had the guts to make the necessary reductions. Eliminating funds for USA Niagara was easy because it did not effect city services. What should have happened was that this reduction should have been made with further reductions. But making reductions means eliminating jobs and reducing services and there is no appetite for that by the Council or the Mayor.
At the end of the day, residents of the city are left to watch an arrogant Gang of 3 on the City Council and a Mayor who doesn't want to restore his leadership. Tuesday will be an interesting day as the arms negotiating Mayor will meet with the roguish Gang of 3. This may be the biggest negotiating session that Dyster has ever been involved with as his legacy as Mayor may be determined by it.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Gang of Three Pushing Dyster To Irrelevance
The announcement by the Niagara Falls City Council's Gang of Three, Bob Anderson, Sam Fruscione and Glenn Choolokian, that they will be allocating $75,000 for a new community policing program is a sure sign that the balance of power at City Hall has shifted away from the mayor's office. The Gang of Three is moving $50,000 from the contingency fund and taking $25,000 from bed tax money to fund this initiative which is suppose to put more police officers on the street. This whole thing brings several questions to mind.
First, why didn't this happen during the budget process? According to the Niagara Gazette, money was placed in the contingency fund to provide additional funding for public safety and particularly the police department. Don't tell me that the Gang wasn't aware of this program in November. Second, if the City's financial situation is as bad as Chairman Choolokian says it is, how can you justify taking $50,000 from the contingency fund for a new program when you may need that money to make up for any revenue shortfalls??
Third, how can you use bed tax money for a police program?? I don't buy the interpretation that it can be used because the program will cover the tourist area. If that is the case, then how do the residents of the City benefit from any of this?? How does this help address the drug and gang activity that exist in the neighborhoods?? The fact is that the justification is B.S. and maybe the State Comptroller's Office needs to get involved as this appears to be a misappropriation of bed tax dollars.
Fourth, since when does the City Council develop and establish programs?? It was my understanding that the Council's main function is to develop a budget and oversee expenditures by the Executive Branch. It is not their function to develop programs. That must come from the Mayor and his Administration. Which leads to my fifth question: Where is Mayor Dyster??
It appears that the Mayor has basically abdicated his authority to the Gang of Three. The little dictator Choolokian seems to be the person calling the shots on how the City operates. How does Dyster allow the Gang to establish a program that he did not initiate? Why isn't he publicly questioning the use of bed tax money for this initiative? And why isn't he asking his new police chief what the hell is going on?? It would appear that the new chief may have cut a deal with the Gang.
Dyster has failed to call the Gang out and take any action. It is apparent that Choolokian and his Gang have taken over City Hall rendering Dyster totally irrelevant. It is only mid-February but if things continue the way they are going, residents of the City will begin to wonder who is the Mayor: Dyster or Choolokian. As it stands now, it looks like the little special crew leader at the Sewage Plant has outsmarted the genius beer maker.
First, why didn't this happen during the budget process? According to the Niagara Gazette, money was placed in the contingency fund to provide additional funding for public safety and particularly the police department. Don't tell me that the Gang wasn't aware of this program in November. Second, if the City's financial situation is as bad as Chairman Choolokian says it is, how can you justify taking $50,000 from the contingency fund for a new program when you may need that money to make up for any revenue shortfalls??
Third, how can you use bed tax money for a police program?? I don't buy the interpretation that it can be used because the program will cover the tourist area. If that is the case, then how do the residents of the City benefit from any of this?? How does this help address the drug and gang activity that exist in the neighborhoods?? The fact is that the justification is B.S. and maybe the State Comptroller's Office needs to get involved as this appears to be a misappropriation of bed tax dollars.
Fourth, since when does the City Council develop and establish programs?? It was my understanding that the Council's main function is to develop a budget and oversee expenditures by the Executive Branch. It is not their function to develop programs. That must come from the Mayor and his Administration. Which leads to my fifth question: Where is Mayor Dyster??
It appears that the Mayor has basically abdicated his authority to the Gang of Three. The little dictator Choolokian seems to be the person calling the shots on how the City operates. How does Dyster allow the Gang to establish a program that he did not initiate? Why isn't he publicly questioning the use of bed tax money for this initiative? And why isn't he asking his new police chief what the hell is going on?? It would appear that the new chief may have cut a deal with the Gang.
Dyster has failed to call the Gang out and take any action. It is apparent that Choolokian and his Gang have taken over City Hall rendering Dyster totally irrelevant. It is only mid-February but if things continue the way they are going, residents of the City will begin to wonder who is the Mayor: Dyster or Choolokian. As it stands now, it looks like the little special crew leader at the Sewage Plant has outsmarted the genius beer maker.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
So Much For Working Together
City Council Chair Glenn Choolokian said after Mayor Dyster's state of the city that the Council must work with the Mayor to address the city's fiscal situation. Well, apparently Councilman Sam Fruscione wasn't listening or Choolokian's comments were nonsense. I'm betting on the latter. According to a Sunday Niagara Gazette article, Fruscione is questioning funding for the Art of Beer Festival that has been held at the NACC since 2007. Fruscione said that Dyster secured funds improperly and that his wife's business directly benefits from the Festival.
It's somewhat ironic that Fruscione is bringing this up now. Fruscione has been on the City Council since at least 2009. Why wasn't he raising a fuss for the last four years?? Maybe it was because old Neville Chamberlain Dyster was allowing Fruscione to employ his buddies. It looks like Dyster's policy of appeasement has backfired just like it did for Chamberlain.
Among political types it is common knowledge that Fruscione is planning to run for Mayor in 2015. It appears that he is going to use his re-election campaign for city council as a referendum on Dyster. It will also be a re-affirmation of the new City Council "Majority" otherwise now known as the Gang of Three. This issue raised by Fruscione is nonsense.
If Fruscione wants to go at Dyster there is plenty of fodder. He could question the Mayor's department head appointments, Dyster's lack of a plan to address the revenue shortfall as a result of the casino impasse and the Mayor's inability to work with other government stakeholders like the County and State Senator George Maziarz. Instead, Frsucione decides to get into name-calling and personal smearing of Dyster and his wife. Typical Niagara Falls politics.
There are many local food vendors who also participate in the Art of Beer Festival. They have the opportunity to promote their business and make a little money. Must be that none of Fruscione's cronies have been able to take advantage of it.
While Fruscione, Dyster and Company play political games, the residents of the City sit idly by wondering how the City will deal with the many issues that it faces. There is an election this November and three current councilman will be running for re-election. It's time to think about who will do what's right for the residents of the city as opposed to doing what's right for their own political gains. Maybe it's time for a wake-up call for Mr. Fruscione. You will have your chance in November.
It's somewhat ironic that Fruscione is bringing this up now. Fruscione has been on the City Council since at least 2009. Why wasn't he raising a fuss for the last four years?? Maybe it was because old Neville Chamberlain Dyster was allowing Fruscione to employ his buddies. It looks like Dyster's policy of appeasement has backfired just like it did for Chamberlain.
Among political types it is common knowledge that Fruscione is planning to run for Mayor in 2015. It appears that he is going to use his re-election campaign for city council as a referendum on Dyster. It will also be a re-affirmation of the new City Council "Majority" otherwise now known as the Gang of Three. This issue raised by Fruscione is nonsense.
If Fruscione wants to go at Dyster there is plenty of fodder. He could question the Mayor's department head appointments, Dyster's lack of a plan to address the revenue shortfall as a result of the casino impasse and the Mayor's inability to work with other government stakeholders like the County and State Senator George Maziarz. Instead, Frsucione decides to get into name-calling and personal smearing of Dyster and his wife. Typical Niagara Falls politics.
There are many local food vendors who also participate in the Art of Beer Festival. They have the opportunity to promote their business and make a little money. Must be that none of Fruscione's cronies have been able to take advantage of it.
While Fruscione, Dyster and Company play political games, the residents of the City sit idly by wondering how the City will deal with the many issues that it faces. There is an election this November and three current councilman will be running for re-election. It's time to think about who will do what's right for the residents of the city as opposed to doing what's right for their own political gains. Maybe it's time for a wake-up call for Mr. Fruscione. You will have your chance in November.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Falls Bond Rating Goes Down & Blame Goes All Around
Last week or so, Moody's announced that the City of Niagara Falls' bond rating was lowered as a result of the casino revenue being withheld because of the stalemate between the State of New York and the Seneca Nation. The significance of this is that it will cost the City more money if they want to borrow for capital projects. It's no different than if a person has a bad credit rating: it is going to cost them more in interest if they want to borrow money.
The blame for this situation goes up and down the food chain. The fact that Governor Cuomo has not had the decency to address this issue publicly is a slap in the face to the residents of Niagara Falls. His lone visit to the City since becoming Governor was to give a sweetheart deal to Jimmy Glynn. He never addressed the dire financial situation the City is in and of course none of the "hard-hitting" media in Western New York pushed Cuomo on it.
Then of course we have our local state representatives. Neither Senator Maziarz or Assemblyman Ceretto has done anything to ratchet up the heat on the Governor to provide relief to the City. The hair-brained scheme to advance NYPA money was a terrible deal for the City but it appears that it was the best that could be done by these two powers of state government.
Our city government has created this mess by spending casino money like drunken sailors. Mayor Dyster is clueless. He has lived off the casino revenue thinking that it was an endless source of revenue. As a result, he never took measures to actually try to make government more efficient. Tell me one initiative that Dyster has put forth that would reduce the cost of city government. I don't think you can find one.
As far as the City Council goes, they are complicit with the Mayor in the fiscal mismanagement of this city. They have gone along for the ride, holding the Mayor hostage by getting jobs for their friends. The image that Glenn Choolokian and Sam Fruscione are protecting the taxpayers is bogus. Particularly when you consider their actions in the formulation of the 2013 budget. While the Mayor wimped out in dealing with the loss of casino revenue by making hard choices, Fruscione and Company did the same thing by cutting the funding to USA Niagara. That reduction is simply a one-time fix. They, like the Mayor, are banking on getting casino money to save them for 2014. But there is no guarantee that will happen when you have a Governor who is more concerned about being President, 2 state representatives who have absolutely no ability or desire to place enough pressure on the Governor to get something done and a Mayor & City Council who are viewed as being backwater buffoons.
Of the whole group, there are 3 council people who will be running for re-election this fall: Fruscione, Kristen Grandinetti and Charles Walker. Unless we send a message that we have had enough of the grandstanding and lack of courage to address this issue, we will be facing more of the same ineffective leadership and the City will continue on its downward cycle.
The blame for this situation goes up and down the food chain. The fact that Governor Cuomo has not had the decency to address this issue publicly is a slap in the face to the residents of Niagara Falls. His lone visit to the City since becoming Governor was to give a sweetheart deal to Jimmy Glynn. He never addressed the dire financial situation the City is in and of course none of the "hard-hitting" media in Western New York pushed Cuomo on it.
Then of course we have our local state representatives. Neither Senator Maziarz or Assemblyman Ceretto has done anything to ratchet up the heat on the Governor to provide relief to the City. The hair-brained scheme to advance NYPA money was a terrible deal for the City but it appears that it was the best that could be done by these two powers of state government.
Our city government has created this mess by spending casino money like drunken sailors. Mayor Dyster is clueless. He has lived off the casino revenue thinking that it was an endless source of revenue. As a result, he never took measures to actually try to make government more efficient. Tell me one initiative that Dyster has put forth that would reduce the cost of city government. I don't think you can find one.
As far as the City Council goes, they are complicit with the Mayor in the fiscal mismanagement of this city. They have gone along for the ride, holding the Mayor hostage by getting jobs for their friends. The image that Glenn Choolokian and Sam Fruscione are protecting the taxpayers is bogus. Particularly when you consider their actions in the formulation of the 2013 budget. While the Mayor wimped out in dealing with the loss of casino revenue by making hard choices, Fruscione and Company did the same thing by cutting the funding to USA Niagara. That reduction is simply a one-time fix. They, like the Mayor, are banking on getting casino money to save them for 2014. But there is no guarantee that will happen when you have a Governor who is more concerned about being President, 2 state representatives who have absolutely no ability or desire to place enough pressure on the Governor to get something done and a Mayor & City Council who are viewed as being backwater buffoons.
Of the whole group, there are 3 council people who will be running for re-election this fall: Fruscione, Kristen Grandinetti and Charles Walker. Unless we send a message that we have had enough of the grandstanding and lack of courage to address this issue, we will be facing more of the same ineffective leadership and the City will continue on its downward cycle.
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