Niagara Falls Hosts Oldest State Park But State Needs to Provide More Assistance

By Tony Farina Acclaimed attorney Kenneth A. Manning, who recently retired after more than four-decades of much-honored and distinguished service at the Buffalo Law firm of Phillips Lytle, is retiring from the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (PBA) after 10 years as a board member following his appointment in June of 2016 by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He was reappointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul after she replaced Cuomo as governor. Manning, who is also a trained engineer, was cited by CEO Thomas A. Boyle for his decade of distinguished leadership and dedicated services to the Authority, where he served

By Tony Farina Tourism is still a pillar of the Niagara Falls economy, but the city needs a more diverse economy to move forward in today’s world, and that means creating different kinds of businesses and creating different kinds of jobs that pay more than seasonal wages. Most tourism jobs do not pay living wages, only seasonal dollars that don’t provide enough to sustain families. Niagara Falls has a majestic world wonder that attracts millions of people every year to see the beauty and the power of the Falls. The visitors stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, shop in stores,

By Tony Farina Niagara Falls has the name recognition, the location, and the tourism appeal to compete, and if the city is willing to do the hard work and planning necessary to turn possibility into reality, an amateur sports facility could be a big success. But if not done properly, a large, costly sports facility that sits empty could become an expensive project that fails to deliver on expectations and becomes an eyesore that all can see and not admire. So there are two sides to this issue, and Niagara Falls must do the work necessary to make sure that

Now that the Niagara Falls City Council has approved a land dispute between the city and Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR) that seems to clear the way for NFR to move forward on the company’s plan to build a $1.5 billion data center at 10th and Falls St., there is one more potential obstacle for the Niagara Digital Campus: a statewide moratorium for a one-year freeze on construction of large data centers to allow time for more study. The pause now before the governor. The data center construction freeze is fiercely opposed by tech industries and labor unions, and the IBEW,

By Tony Farina It may not be an impregnable “iron fortress” in a historical literal sense, but residents and visitors to City Hall in Niagara Falls, New York may find that navigating the hallways and the rest of the city government’s headquarters is a very difficult endeavor. And I mean lots to overcome to witness the way government works and to be a part of it. Not long ago, during the COVID crisis, limiting access made sense in the name of public health. Residents accepted those measures because the situation demanded it. But that was years ago. Times have improved

By Tony Farina As one veteran developer said to me, “economic development doesn’t fail in the boardroom—it fails in the permit office.” And that’s the case right now in struggling Niagara Falls, New York, where development is stalled because permits and inspections cannot be executed at exactly the time the city claims it is ready for growth. Worse yet, $10 million in Main Street state funding could be at risk if permits and inspections cannot be executed and that means a slow down to other projects as well. So what gives? Let’s give it a shot here. An architect submits

By Tony Farina Niagara Falls, N. Y., has the ability to build on its history at the Adams Power Plant and show exhibits where people could see electricity in action, see sparks fly, see how motors spin, and learn how power moves from one place to another. Kids could learn through simple, fun displays. Adults could explore deeper ideas about science and technology. This would not be just about the past; it would also be about the future. Exhibits could explain how power is used today in data centers, advanced technology, and new industries. It would connect Niagara’s history to

By Tony Farina Kenmore Broadcasting is relaunching The Breeze easy listening brand of soft rock from the 1970s and 1980s and you can enjoy the terrific sounds on WEBR 1440 AM and 105.3 FM and 106.9 FM, says program director Frank Miller. Positioning as Buffalo’s “Smooth Hits,” Kenmore President Bill Yuhnke announced it brings the “Breeze” brand back to the market after previously being used by Townsquare Media’s 96.1 WMSX from 2018 until 2023. Yuhnke said in his post on Facebook it follows Kenmore’s recent acquisition of W295BW, bringing the station into Buffalo proper. “It’s a pleasure to bring The

By Tony Farina A tourist-driven city like Niagara Falls, N.Y., should make every effort from the top on down to put on its best face for visitors, perhaps giving them pause to stick around for a while before leaving after seeing the natural world wonder and the marvelous State Park.  Sound like a good idea?  Well that’s what I decided to concentrate on today, cleaning up the city with graffiti and illegal dumping as the targets. Cleaning up the city was actually brought to light recently by Mayor Robert Restaino in his weekly podcast when he talked about a new

By Tony Farina Niagara Falls, N.Y., is good at getting the short end of the stick and that was the case once again in the power project relicensing deal with Buffalo getting the big payoff while Niagara Falls is still waiting for a visible transformation. If the Niagara Power Project is in the Falls and the turbines, land and water impact are in the Falls, why did the Falls come out on the short end again? Buffalo got a relicensing deal that was large, centralized, and easy for the public to see. It is commonly described as a $279 million,

Poloncarz says Erie County spends $40 million on indigent defense. The books say $25.8 million. His plan to replace the Assigned Counsel Program would cost more, deliver worse representation, and saddle taxpayers with pension obligations for decades.

By Tony Farina While Niagara Falls, N. Y., is known far and wide for its beauty and natural world wonder, the real story of its incredible journey is about power where more than 100 years ago that power helped change the world when the Adams Power Plant was built in the late 1800s, just a couple hundred feet from where a new data center is being proposed today. Adams Station -Historic view of the Adams power complex on Buffalo Avenue, showing the scale and permanence of the industrial buildout. And indeed the location matters today. The power plant was one

By Tony Farina I’ve written extensively the past several weeks about the failure of Niagara Falls USA to fully commit to a better path for the future by turning around its fortunes, escaping a mostly tourism-based economy by building the kind of attractions, density, or experience that keeps visitors staying overnight and spending real money. Most people come, look at the Falls, and leave. That translates into seasonality, and it doesn’t work as a year-round economic engine. Niagara Falls should be one of the strongest small cities in America, with many advantages like the attraction of a natural world wonder

Sometimes, no matter how well-intentioned, new projects don’t make good policy and must be tweaked or changed to fit the desired objective. And if you have two projects with the same objective, there should be a blending of efforts to make them more in harmony and perhaps, ultimately, a successful policy. That seems to be the case at hand in Niagara Falls, where it seems there are two projects getting attention at City Hall, looking to provide structured late-night recreational opportunities for teenagers, one from Mayor Robert Restaino’s office and the second being talked about by city lawmakers. While the

In today’s world, the enormous renewable hydroelectric power along the Niagara River is still here, the same power that helped the city on the American side of the Falls attract industries from around the world that kept workers getting a paycheck from plants powered by that energy. But while that power is still here, the industrial base has declined dramatically and tourism has become the city’s main economic engine and strong as it is, with the beautiful State Park and the mighty world natural wonder attracting visitors from around the world, many don’t stay long, and tourism alone can’t carry

By Frank Parlato Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz wants to replace or drastically reduce the Assigned Counsel Program with either a government-run public defender’s office or an expansion of the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo. He thinks it will save money. Or if he doesn’t really think it, he says it anyway. Perhaps he really doesn’t know, because after all, he has published no studies. The comparison he makes – that of the model of nearby Monroe County – he makes without factual accuracy, along the lines of omitting half the truth or comparing the eating apples to onions and

By Tony Farina The Niagara Aerospace Museum planned for downtown Niagara Falls might be the best bet for state investment over Mayor Robert Restaino’s Centennial Park arena project to attract more visitors to the city, but both projects are definitely worthwhile, and both would be of great economic benefit. Both would attract tourists and give people more reasons to spend more time on the American side of the Falls. So the question for leaders in Albany is not whether the state can afford them but rather which project would give the best return for tourist dollars? There is a great

By Frank Parlato Please stop an insane mayor from destroying the city with a hockey arena that the city cannot afford. He’ll do it if he can. He wants a legacy, maybe. It’s hard to even explain. Mayor Robert Restaino of Niagara Falls, in a city that can’t afford it, wants to build a two-hundred-million-dollar-plus hockey arena. He doesn’t have the money to build an arena with no team to play in it. An arena that will cost fifteen million dollars per year in deficit spending. Operating losses because arenas lose money, plus the financing costs. And he wants to

By Tony Farina As he says in his television commercials, former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, the president and CEO of Batavia Downs, wants folks not just to like coming to Batavia, his new home, he wants them “to love coming here.” And in accordance with that theme, he has given customers what they want when it comes to the Rockin’ the Downs summer concert series, this year offering the most diverse lineup in the concert’s nine-year history. “This year’s seven-show lineup will present artists spanning country, ‘80s rock, classic rock, Motown, and disco—genres our guests have been asking for,” said

By Tony Farina We wrote recently about strength in unity, and we’d like to follow that up in commenting about the region with the idea that unity in tourism promotion between Buffalo and Niagara Falls, or between Erie and Niagara County, would be of great benefit to all, given the natural wonder of the mighty falls and the huge appeal of professional football and hockey in Buffalo. Wouldn’t more cross-town promotion make sense? Unfortunately, the promotion is sometimes more competitive than in harmony, which, if coordinated, would make more sense and perhaps have a broader reach and benefit the two

Two legal developments unfolding overseas, one in Switzerland and another in Russia, are drawing attention to an unlikely but critical component of the United States’ defense industrial base: titanium. At first glance, the cases appear to involve a commercial dispute between a metals trader and a global producer. But the companies and materials involved sit deep inside the supply chain that feeds America’s aerospace and weapons industries, including manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing and RTX (Raytheon). As the United States ramps up missile and interceptor production following recent conflicts and global tensions, the stability of those supply chains is

By Tony Farina Three issues could very well decide the future of Niagara Falls, N. Y., when you look past daily headlines and day-to-day political debates. The long-term future comes down to: electric power policy, upstate economic development strategy, and population decline. Those factors will determine whether Niagara Falls remains primarily a tourism city with a shrinking population—or whether it becomes, once again, a place where power fuels industry, technology, and long-term growth. Much of how that future will largely be shaped by policy decisions in Albany. And those decisions will matter for decades. Long before tourism took control, the

By Tony Farina We have written a lot about what it would take to help Niagara Falls, N.Y., recapture the glory of past years with jobs that exist year-round with steady pay and career opportunities beyond the tourist trade. We’re talking about industries that operate all year, not just during tourist months. It also means a stable tax base to support police, fire, schools, and public services. Hydropower still exists, meaning new industries can grow here, such as technology facilities, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and clean energy projects, including cooperation between National Grid and the state working together as part of

By Tony Farina The incredibly talented and creative rock band SoleTurn will perform a very special three-hour concert on Saturday, March 14, beginning at 7 p. m. at the Public House on the Lake at 4914 Lake Shore Rd., in Hamburg. If you like new and re-imagined rock, you’ll love this group as they are among the best in the area, playing to a standing-room only crowd at the Caz in South Buffalo last May for the release of their debut album, the Soundtrack of Our Youth. The group is led by lead vocalist Vik Bhargava and backup singer and

By Tony Farina With pizza donated by Little Bakery and the hospitality provided by Wilbur’s pub on Cayuga Dr., Republican candidates and supporters gathered on Saturday afternoon for a petition drive start as the political season now begins in earnest. Petitions must be submitted by April 3, with the primary vote on June 22. Among the endorsed candidates in attendance were Dennis Hannon (Congress); State Sen. Robert Ortt; Becky Wydysh (Assembly); Chris McKinnon (legislature); Sean Mapp (legislature); Robert Petrozzi (legislature); Tim Huether (legislature), Amy Chmiel (coroner), and Kyle Andrews (county treasurer). CPA and former city lawmaker Michael Gawel and McKinnon

By Tony Farina There’s a simply terrific new book out on one of Buffalo’s most amazing historical figures, Harry Altman, the son of Jewish immigrants who was the amazing showman who dazzled in the 50s and 60s with the Town Casino and the Glenn Park Casino, treasures from Buffalo’s past. The book is titled “Harry Altman, Buffalo’s Master Showman,” and indeed that’s who he was and the book and author, historian Susan Fenster, have caught the attention of Liberty cab and radio entreprenuer Bill Yuhnke because of the connection between the casinos and long standing WEBR Radio, now part of

By Tony Farina Cross-border traffic between the U.S. and Canada is changing as political tension between the two countries continues over trade and tariffs, and the result has seen a decline in crossings on both sides, which in the short term means a change in the cross-border economy and, in some cases, changing habits. The border tensions have prompted some Canadian leaders to encourage Canadians to spend more money at home, and less across the border, and some travelers are choosing to stay in Canada now. That has resulted in fewer shopping trips and fewer visitors coming into Western New

By Tony Farina It may not be another world wonder, but the idea fomenting these days about the Niagara Aerospace Museum for Niagara Falls, N. Y., is important because it is another way to connect tourism with education, workforce development, and regional identity. With long, cold winters, the reality is that indoor attractions matter, encouraging overnight stays, supporting nearby restaurants and hotels, and creating educational opportunities for local students. Western New York has a long history in aviation, engineering, and manufacturing, and an aerospace-focused attraction fits naturally with this history and is extremely worthy of serious discussion, which we heartily

ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. — A jailed Erie County man has filed papers in federal court alleging that Gov. Kathy Hochul had a sexual relationship with Tonawanda Democratic Chairman John Crangle when both worked in the Erie County Clerk’s Office, and that local political figures later retaliated against him after he accused them of corruption. Hochul is married to former US Attorney for the Western District of NY, William Hochul. An extramarital affair is not a crime. But the allegation, if substantiated, would place Hochul’s early political career inside the same Tonawanda patronage network that Flynn alleges has protected insiders and

While the state debates how to regulate a booming industry, the mayor of its poorest city is fighting to destroy a $1.5 billion project that fits every criterion Albany now says it wants. A proposed three-year moratorium on data center development in New York State has generated headlines. Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Anna Kelles introduced legislation that would freeze the siting and permitting of new data centers statewide while the state conducts a comprehensive environmental and economic study. It isn’t going to happen. A realistic assessment of Albany dynamics, executive policy, and existing regulatory authority puts the probability of