New York missed out on night tours and $100 million with Maid of the Mist - THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS FAIR
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THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS FAIR
FREE FREE
New York missed out on night tours and $100 million with Maid of the Mist
JUN 30 - JUL 08, 2015 VOL. 16, NO. 25
2
NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JUN 30 - JUL 08, 2015
Hornblower Operation a Pleasant Sight
For One Veteran Newspaperman Here
Mike Hudson agara, offered to pay the Ontario government
$500 million over 30 years, some $300 million
more than Glynn proposed in the Maid of the
It was a sight to behold. Mist's original deal.
A beautiful, balmy Saturday night at Ni- In New York, Hornblower offered to pay
agara Falls State Park, the falls themselves il- $100 million more than what Glynn had of-
luminated majestically and the fireworks fered.
display exploding overhead. And down in the “Oddly, we’re a New York newspaper
basin, two gaily lit cruise boats, carrying 700 that, in this case, seemed to have far more in-
tourists apiece, made their way to and from fluence in Ontario than we did in New York,”
their Canadian docks at the base of Clinton Hill Parlato said. “We helped open up the basin to
for the best view of the awesome spectacle. competition, which is always a good thing, but
The brand new catamarans are owned and the better tour being offered only on the Cana-
operated by Hornblower Cruises and operate dian side just gives tourists another reason to
from docks formerly used by Jimmy Glynn’s avoid Niagara Falls, New York.”
Maid of the Mist boats. On this side of the river, people still wait
Now confined to some hastily constructed in long lines under a blazing sun for a chance
makeshift docks on the American side of the Hornblower did everything they promised, plus paid $300M more! to ride on the Maid of the Mist.
Niagara River, the Maid of the Mist boats don’t Another Hornblower innovation, comput-
sail at night, offer no seating or lavatories and The nightly Falls Illumination Cruise is a tour operators could provide superior service erized timed-ticketing, has eliminated much of
don’t have a licensed bar, food service or other truly extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experi- at reduced cost were it not for the fact that the discomfort on the Canadian side.
amenities. ence, and the ultimate in Niagara nighttime en- Glynn’s undue influence prevented open and “Stay on the Canadian side,” is a trope
Glynn lost his contract to operate on the tertainment. Set to starry skies this 40-minute competitive bidding. dating back as far as the 1970s, uttered by ex-
Canadian side following a government inquiry cruise provides stunning panoramic views of On this side of the river, political leaders perienced travelers to Niagara Falls neophytes
into his company’s relationship with members the dazzling city lights and famous colored il- had long argued that, since Glynn had the con- asking advice. The actions of the local and state
of the Niagara Parks Commission, who were lumination of the falls. tract on the Canadian side, it only made sense governments to protect and preserve Jimmy
ultimately removed from the commission or By contrast, the Maid of the Mist’s day- that he would have the American side as well. Glynn’s cash cow here serve merely to rein-
forced to resign. The contract to operate the time only tours last but 20 minutes, and sight- There simply wasn’t room in the basin for two force the accepted wisdom.
tour boat service in the park was let on a com- seers are packed like standing room only different companies, and the American side Following the Canadian decision to termi-
petitive bidding process that saw Hornblower sardines onto the decks of the smallish boats. lacked dry dock facilities for the storage of the nate the Maid of the Mist contract and open the
blow the Maid of the Mist out of the water. This past Saturday evening, Parlato took boats in winter months. process up, Parlato wrote an editorial summing
The inquiry stemmed from a series of in- a visiting friend to the park for the fireworks After Glynn lost the Canadian franchise, up the situation, and the Reporter’s role in it.
vestigative articles written by the Niagara Falls display. politicians tripped over each other in their ef- “The fault of the Maid of the Mist scandal
Reporter Publisher Frank Parlato and published He hadn’t gone to see the boats, but the fort to construct a new paradigm and new dry doesn't lie with (Glynn),” Parlato wrote. “He
on these pages. sight of 1,400 tourists enjoying themselves docks on the American side, trampling the is, after all, a businessman doing what he can
Things were different on the American conjured the memory of the long battle to im- usual environmental impact studies that nor- to serve his own interests. Who can blame him
side, where Glynn’s political campaign contri- prove the quality of tour boats in the basin. mally accompany major construction projects for taking sweetheart deals, or even facilitating
butions and association with the Buffalo Niag- “Sometimes in the newspaper business, on state park land. them?
ara Partnership allow him to wield you wonder whether or not what you’re doing And suddenly, the decades old argument “The fault lies with us, our failure to de-
considerable clout. Politicians from Niagara has an impact,” Parlato said. “I hadn’t even that only one tour boat company could operate mand transparency, our passivity over the fact
Falls Mayor Paul Dyster to Gov. Andrew thought about it in quite awhile, but seeing in the basin disappeared as though it had never that government makes secret deals with pri-
Cuomo and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer those two beautiful catamarans brought the existed. vate businessmen for leases on public land. No
threw their full support behind him. whole thing rushing back.” Hornblower sued the state in an attempt to businessman could have gotten a no-bid sweet-
There were no official calls for an investi- The Reporter got involved with the situa- open the bidding process up in New York, but heart deal at the public's expense without se-
gation, and no open, competitive bidding tion after whistleblower Bob Gale, who had their case and a subsequent appeal was rejected crecy. The public has the right to know every
process. been removed from the Niagara Parks Com- by judges who essentially said that the state nuance of every deal involving public land.”
New York State awarded Glynn the con- mission, came forth with allegations about im- Parks Commission knew what was best. His words now ring true on the Canadian
tract despite the fact that Hornblower represen- proprieties in the relationship between the In Canada, after the contract to run the side of the mighty Niagara River. On the Amer-
tatives had publicly said they would offer $100 agency and Glynn. Over the course of more tour boat concession beneath the falls was ican side, not so much.
million more. than 70 stories, Parlato made the case that other thrown open to public bidding, Hornblower Ni-
NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER
“The Truth is Always Fair”
CHAIRMAN & EDITOR IN CHIEF
Frank Parlato
Managing Editor Senior Editor
Dr. Chitra Selvaraj Tony Farina
PHONE: (716) 284-5595
P.O. Box 3083, Niagara Falls, N.Y. 14304
E-mail: news1926@gmail.com
Website: www.niagarafallsreporter.com
All contents copyright © 2015 Niagara Falls Reporter Inc.
3
NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JUN 30 - JUL 08, 2015
Parking Plan Will Not be Approved Until After Election Council Majority
Say; Meanwhile Dyster plans second RFP with more meters in city
Frank Parlato parking violations.
The only thing known so far – and the one thing Dyster
wants the council to vote on – which they say they won’t - is
A surprise is in store for those who want to rush the Ni- that the phase one parking meter installation which is
agara Falls parking plan through. $258,950 by Ber National Automaton of Rochester.
Three councilmen – constituting a majority – Chairman That figure does not include the meters – but only the in-
Andrew Touma, and councilmembers Glenn Choolokian and stallation.
Robert Anderson- have told the Niagara Falls Reporter that Touma joined Choolokian and Anderson in questioning
they are not going to approve any parking plan until after the the administration’s plan to have the meters installed before
election. having a plan for how the maters will be handled by a private
“The trash plan, it’s done, ” said Touma. “ it was improp- operator and how enforcement will be handled.
erly rushed by the Dyster administration. But nobody’s going “That means the tourist season will be missed any way
to hold my feet to the fire again. There are too many unan- you look at it,” Choolokian said. “Hence there is no rush.”
swered questions about the parking plan and anybody who Touma agreed pointing out that the meters are only good
studies it seriously can see that.” for about seven years.
Among the concerns are that the city’s parking consult- “Why put them in now? The revenue is in the summer.
ant, Desman Associates, admits the parking plan is three years So if we put them in now we put them through a winter and
away from seeing a profit. get instead of seven years of revenue, only six years,” Touma
That’s assuming Dyster won’t screw it up. said. “The consultant said it only takes a few weeks to install.
Secondly no one has seen the private- public partnership We can decided in the spring and still get them in on time.”
contract. Shumate says it will take at least 60 and perhaps up to 90
That’s because there is no contract. days from the approval of an agreement before the 40 meters
Still since the plan won't turn a profit for at least three – which each will handle between 4 and 12 spaces each could
years and yet there is this rush to get the plan passed- that be in place and operational downtown.
alone should make people wonder. Desman is encouraging the city to install pay-by-license
The argument is that the city needs to earn money that plate machines that would allow users to pay by either cash
was falsely put into the 2015 revenue line for a program that or credit cards.
won't turn a profit for years to come. Dyster said that the city has been informed by represen- (Above) The first phase of the parking plan will see
Back in May four of five city councilmen questioned the tatives from Ber-National Automation, Inc. that the company meters on these downtown streets. The Dyster ad-
plan set forth by Dyster, including how much revenue a pri- is prepared to hold its $258,950 bid price for only another 45 ministration through the Niagara Falls City Clerk will
vate parking meter operator would take and what role a pro- days. be sending out a new RFP for phase two which will
posed parking manager might play should the position be call for more city streets to have meters. To date the
Touma said, “I’m not worried about the price going up. Dyster administration is not saying where those
added to the city’s payroll. I’m not going to rush on account of that. Let’s face it, the price streets will be. Whether it will be Pine Ave. or merely
Only Kristen Grandinetti voted in favor of the Dyster is not going to go up in the winter when the demand is less.” surface parking lots is unknown at this time.
parking plan that she admitted she did not understand. Today nobody has the answers.
She said she found the proposal “very confusing” but Where are the ultimate boundaries of the parking plan? Darro's remarks on air prompted an immediate call from
voted for it anyway. Should there be public hearings? a man who said the city should be charging to launch boats at
Last week Dyster called upon the city’s parking consult- Will the new parking employee need a city vehicle to Griffon Park.
ant, Desman Associates, to provide the council with more in- monitor the private parking company? The caller also said "parking meters are everywhere and
formation. What is the split between the company and the city? we should have them here too."
Gregory Shumate, an associate with Desman, told the How long will the deal be? Darro said "so that's another revenue stream for us!"
council that a private firm handling meter collection and en- It can’t be called a deficit plugging measure since the A revenue stream that wouldn't be enough to cover min-
forcement would get a share of the money. parking plan won’t turn a profit for three years. imum wage pay for an attendant at the launch site.
The plan – which is not in writing and not defined - calls So what’s the rush to cobble together a parking plan that Councilman Anderson, who opposes the rush to imple-
for the city to hire a parking manager to oversee the private in three years will have an $80,000 profit to put toward the ment a half-hatched plan, said, “There is no demand in the
operator and the formation of a parking committee consisting $7.6 million deficit? winter for downtown parking. It could be a deterrent to busi-
of city officials who might get stipends for their added work. Tom Darro was on his WJJL radio show promoting Dys- ness in winter. Think about it. Suppose you are thinking about
Desman believes the city should add a parking manager ter’s parking plan. meeting a friend at Starbucks in January. You can go down-
position to its payroll. Darro said it will only cost $1 to park. town and pay $3 each to park for two hours or you can go to
That will cost between $70,000- 100,000 a year counting Shumate said that the meters will probably be calibrated Strabucks in LaSalle and park for free. So which are you
health insurance and pension benefits – eating up most of the to charge $1.50 per hour for parking. going to choose?
profits. Darro said he can't understand why they only want to “You have to remember that the demand for parking is
Desman has estimated annual expense for the program at have 40 parking spaces. only for 60-90 days in the summer. Aside from Memorial
about $100,000, conservatively suggesting that once fully in- It's going to be over 400 spaces. Each of some 40 meters (continued from page 3)
stalled the meters could return a little more than $176,000 in will accommodate 4 – 12 parking spaces.
revenue for a full year, not including funds collected through (Continued on page 4 )
'Just Walking in the Rain,' Choolokian Gets Signatures,
Makes New Friends Everywhere
Councilman Glenn Choolokian is run- things and bad things too.
Won't You be My Mayor
ning in the Democratic Primary for mayor “Personally I like to go to every neigh-
Mayoral Candidate Glenn
and he is known for his love of walking door borhood. It's nice to hear everybody's neigh-
to door. Choolokian greets Alice Stopa, borhood voices.
Four years ago when he ran for council, who signs his nominating peti- “There are still so many good people
he went to more than 5,000 doors. tion for Mayor. left in this city. If only we put them first and
That may be because he knows it is an Her French bulldog Camille not outside consultants and out of town de-
effective method of campaigning. wishes she could vote too. velopers.
It may also be because he feels an affin- "Our people - the ones I meet - from day
ity with the people he connects with as if He said he already has about 900 sig- to day - at their beautiful homes. And re-
they are his own people. natures he got personally at hundreds of member the beauty of a home is the people
In any event, he walks even when it doors. who live in it and the friends who visit it. "In
rains. bors – I enjoy seeing old friends and meeting this respect Niagara Falls has the most beau-
"I will be waking all the way until Sep-
Last Saturday Choolokian was out get- new friends, that’s why I like going to door tiful homes anywhere.
tember," he said. "I walk every day. I meet
ting wet and getting signatures in the rain in to door,” Choolokian said. “Let us not forget this ever again and
people and hear their problems. You hear a
LaSalle. Choolokian said he expects to visit forget to put our people first."
lot of things when you walk. You get com-
“The people of this city are my neigh- about 15,000 doors this season.
mon sense perspectives. You hear good4 NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JUN 30 - JUL 08, 2015
Will Pine Ave. Have Meters?
(Continued from page 3 ) LLC paid the city $1.2 billion, which Mayor leases. pany may not be compatible with the software
Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day, Daley said he would tuck away, using the in- used for the meters. First you have to deicide
downtown parking is rarely a problem. Pri- terest to replace the $20 million the city col- One of the bidders on the Niagara Falls enforcement then you install the meters. The
vate parking lot operators earn the bulk of lected annually from the meters. Instead, the parking meter installation, Karen Cardillo, meters are the easy part of this whole equa-
their annual revenues on a dozen or so week- city ran through nearly $1 billion of the pay- who represents Hectronits, and who did the tion.
ends each year. This has to be considered be- out within two years of adopting the deal. meters for Niagara Falls Ontario, Austin “When I asked the Dyster administration
fore we rush into a plan,” Anderson said. Chicago Parking Meters LLC doubled Texas, Waterbury Connecticut and other cities how they were going to enforce they said they
One of the big things being pushed by the meter rates, then doubled them again, to and said she plans to bid again if and when didn’t know.”
Desman and Dyster is the possible privatiza- $2 an hour in most parts of the city, and as the city puts the parking meters out to bid Cardillo also said she was recently
tion of all or part of the parking in Niagara much as $6.50 an hour downtown. after the mayoral election, said the present alerted by one of her industry websites such
Falls. In 2008 the city collected $23.8 million Dyster plan is wrong. as Bidnet.com that the city was putting out a
Chicago sold control of the city streets to from the meters. “I think the city put the cart before the second bid for more city meters at more loca-
a consortium of investors. Four years later Chicago Parking Meters horse,” Cardillo said. “If you are going to put tions other than those covered in the down-
The issue goes back to the 2008 meter LLC collected $139.5 million, according to meters out there, if you don’t enforce it, town bid she won but was disqualified.
privatization agreement rubber-stamped by audited reports filed with the city. you’re not going to make money. Enforcing “I was surprised to see the second notifi-
the Chicago City Council at the urging of for- Not only are drivers paying more to park, is the most important thing. The second thing cation. It doesn’t make sense,” she said.
mer mayor Richard M. Daley. they're forking it over to Chicago Parking is what is the city going to do with these funds Cardillo did not know where phase two
It turned over 36,000 parking meters for Meters LLC instead of providing the money once they have it? That depends on the busi- of Dyster’s parking meters will be located or
75 years to Chicago Parking Meters LLC, a for basic city services—like filling potholes. ness community, and what the voters want. whether Pine Ave. was included in the second
group of investors led by Morgan Stanley, an Chicago made that kind of deal. Those questions have to be answered first be- phase.
investment bank; Allianz, a German financial Desman Associates, the parking consult- fore you rush to put in meters. She said the bid has not been released
firm; and the government of Abu Dhabi. ing firm for Mayor Dyster, was part of the ‘If you put in the meters before you de- yet, but it will become public soon, according
In exchange, Chicago Parking Meters Morgan Stanley team that landed the Chicago cide how to enforce, the enforcement com- to her industry website service.
Sheriff’s Work Release Program Stands in Sharp
Contrast to Flawed Welfare Work Program
This newspaper’s probing of questions Jastrzemski said both the savings from skills of inmates where possible, so that they
surrounding the management of a state-man- not housing Alternatives to Incarceration de- The attached photo shows have some basic familiarity with the task at
dated program where welfare recipients were fendants and the overall amount of labor per- North Tonawanda Legislator hand. In 19 years, there have been zero
required to perform physical labor at county formed in the community was relatively Rich Andres giving guidance to safety incidents. That’s something we’re
sites prompted interesting comparisons to a consistent, year to year. a Sheriff's Department work proud of, but it’s something my team always
similar, but seemingly better-managed pro- “Many of these people made a mistake crew supervisor last summer works at.”
gram operated under the auspices of the Ni- or a bad choice, but have skills and want to as the Sheriff's Work Release Jastrzemski declined to speculate about
agara County Sheriff’s Office. make their actions right,” Jastrzemski said. Program helped clean the Lum- what went wrong with the county’s welfare
That program—technically the Alterna- “We had skilled painters repainting the in- ber City's farmers market site. work program, but offered this insight: “I
tives to Incarceration Program, but known side of a local building, for instance. We try have three supervisors who work for me who
colloquially as the Sheriff’s Work Release to align skills where it’s possible with the understand that, while they are on a job site,
Program—has produced millions of dollars tasks at hand.” those inmates, those convicted defendants,
in savings, yet has been free of safety inci- Jastrzemski—who in his spare time is no matter what they might have done, are
dents and public safety concerns for the past Wilson’s Republican supervisor and that their charge. I expect that, at the end of the
two decades. party’s candidate to replace outgoing Niag- day, while they should be tired out, they
This, despite running three crews five ara County Clerk Wayne F. Jagow—showed should come away having had a rewarding,
days a week. us a folder containing at least 100 letters fair work experience and an opportunity to
Joe Jastrzemski, the coordinator of the from nonprofits and local governments in pay their debt to their community.”
Alternatives to Incarceration program, told every corner of the county thanking him and The Reporter can’t help but wonder if,
us a bit about what has been his charge for Sheriff James R. Voutour for the assistance had that attitude been in place among man-
the past 19 years Monday, explaining that the provided by the sentenced offenders. A agers of the county’s welfare work program,
goals of the program are twofold: to give quick review of its contents found letters
Joe Jastremski the entire asbestos matter might have been
those who have broken the law an opportu- from dozens of volunteer fire companies He noted that, in 19 years coordinating avoided.
nity to make their misdeeds right with the thanking Jastrzemski and Voutour for pro- the program, there had never been an inci-
community, and to help save local govern- viding labor for everything from repainting dent where an inmate or an Alternatives to
ments and nonprofit agencies the costs asso- fire halls to setting up fire company field Incarceration defendant had ever acted out.
ciated with hiring laborers for many menial days, as well as from town supervisors and NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A
“There is absolutely no benefit to be had
tasks. then-Mayor Robert G. Ortt of North in abusing this privilege,” Jastrzemski said.
DOMESTICLIMITED LIABILITY
“These are non-violent offenders who, Tonawanda, all praising the program for “We are giving non-violent inmates an op- COMPANY
in many cases it makes no sense to put be- lowering costs. portunity to get some fresh air, and other
hind bars at expense to the taxpayers,” Jas- One letter, in particular, caught our eye. The name of the limited liability com-
convicted individuals—again, non-violent—
trzemski told us. “Just last year, participants Written on the letterhead of Niagara Catholic pany is 777 Holdings LLC with an of-
a way to avoid seeing the inside of our jail.
in this program saved the taxpayers of Niag- High School, the letter noted that “the con- fice to be located in Niagara County.
It’s a pretty good bargain.”
ara County a little over $1.6 million that we tribution of workers enabled us to redirect The Secretary of State is designated
Jastrzemski also noted that demand for
would have spent housing and feeding them funds to other educational endeavors.” as agent for the LLC upon whom
inmate labor was being driven partly by so-
in our county jail. Instead of costing the tax- Similar was a letter from the Lockport process against it maybe served.
cietal trends, with many community and
payers for their care, they produced 13,949 Police Department that praised the convict The address within or without this
civic groups unable to muster adequate vol-
hours of free labor for local governments and labor for having detailed the city’s fleet of state to which the Secretary of State
unteer labor for community goals. His pro-
non-profits.” squad cars: “Our fleet looks great inside and shall mail a copy of any process
gram tends to fill that gap nicely.
The program also utilizes low-risk out when they are done,” wrote the then- against the LLC served upon him or
We raised the issue of worker safety
county jail inmates, offering them a few head of the LPD’s Traffic and Support Serv- her is: David G Boniello, 1406 Hyde
with Jastrzemski, noting that many sugges-
hours of supervised work in the fresh air in ices Division, Amy Wiltse. Park Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY 14305.
tions pointed to a callous attitude toward the
exchange for their labor. The inmates pro- Even public libraries got in on the act, The purpose is to engage in any
welfare work details that had entered the
vided an additional 8,960 hours of free labor. using inmate labor to help organize their lawful business practice. The LLC is
Shaw Building and likely come in contact
Jastrzemski says that, assuming a $10 Friends of the Library books sales. to be managed by one or more
with asbestos insulation.
per hour average wage, the inmates and Al- “In many cases, these are people who members.
“Safety is always a top concern,” Jas-
ternatives to Incarceration labor saved city know they made a bad choice, and want the trzemski explained. “I have three supervisors
and town governments and various nonprofit opportunity to put it right. We give them that 6/30/15, 7/7/15, 7/14/15, 7/21/15,
under me, and they are all trained on work-
agencies $226,000 in outlays. chance,” Jastrzemski said. 7/28/15, 8/4/15
site safety. And, we also try to utilize the5
NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JUN 30 - JUL 08, 2015
Librarian Petrazzoullo Joins Flight
Away From Declining City, Region
Mike Hudson “I know, many people here think I am
crazy for giving up such a salary. I am taking Schoellkopf Health
OK. So there’s the crushing poverty,
a big pay cut but, to me, life isn’t so much Center Residents
Welcome New
about money. It’s about happiness,” she told
lack of business opportunities, obscene
the Reporter.
Accommodations
taxes, brutal weather, high crime and
She will be moving to Eaton, a small
crooked politicians. But a lot of places have
town in northern Colorado, and a place
those things and they thrive, don’t they?
where the scenic splendor, booming econ- Ruby Dillon, left, a licensed practical
What is it about Niagara Falls, specifically,
omy and demographically young population nurse at the Schoellkopf Health Center, wel-
that makes it virtually unlivable?
combine to make much of what transpires at comes resident Rose Maselli to her up-
Certainly not the sausage at the Como,
the local city hall seem a little less important graded private room with its new lighting,
which may be the best in the world, or the
than it does in a declining cultural backwater flooring, wall coverings and furniture. The
pies at Pizza Oven, which are, without a
like Niagara Falls. new look is part of a $1.5 million project
doubt. It’s not the mighty Niagara River, the
“My plan is to be out in the boonies, tak- now under way at Schoellkopf, located on
spectacular Cataracts themselves or the close
ing photographs, hiking the occasional trip the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
proximity to some of the most beautiful
to the coffee shop or microbrewery, planting campus. In addition to the room renova-
beaches in the world.
a garden and perhaps raising a few chick- tions, all lounge and dining areas are being
Since the early 2000s Niagara Falls has
ens,” she said. upgraded and the center’s bathing and
been blessed with two top notch profession-
“There’s just so much more positivity in shower areas are being modernized. The
als to run the library system here. While
Colorado. I definitely am looking forward to project is scheduled to be completed in Oc-
Mayor Paul Dyster has said that he wanted
the change,” she said. “A new adventure!” tober.
to conduct nationwide searches for depart-
And the public libraries, those vestiges
ment heads that would produce only the
of civilization in a city becoming increas-
“best and the brightest” candidates to help
ingly feral, now find themselves on the en-
him run the city, the results have more often
dangered list themselves.
than not looked as though they were picked Michelle Petrazzoullo says
"I think the city should take a strong
from the rubbish bin. goodbye to Niagara Falls. look at the libraries and decide if they want
Who can forget Ali Marzban, the unli-
them,” Betty Babanoury told the Reporter
censed “city engineer” who signed off on the trazzoullo’s tenure was controversial from when she left town five years ago. “Because
disastrous Lewiston Road project or Roger the start. I think they don't"
Melchior the unemployed “fire chief” with She’d left Niagara Falls to pursue an ed- Nothing has happened in the five years
serious medical problems, an attitude to- ucation that would allow her to work with since to change her bleak assessment.
ward race that would have more properly fit the one thing that had been a constant in her
in the 19th century and a largely invented re- life since she was a little girl: Books. Petraz-
sume? zoullo received her master's degree in library
But our two librarians, the veteran Betty and information studies from Greensboro
Babanoury and the younger Michelle Petraz- College after obtaining an undergrad degree
zoullo carried no such baggage. Both were in psychology from SUNY Albany.
young, possessed of advanced degrees and, "I grew up on 72nd Street, and I would
as the city’s librarian, each made a high five- ride my bike to the LaSalle Library," she
figure salary that definitely put them into the said. "I'd sit at the round table by the window
monied class. Babanoury owned a two-bed- and read my books and get lost here for
room condo at the Parkway and Petrazzoullo hours on end."
has a place by the river in Lewiston. It was while studying psychology in Al-
Babanoury resigned five years ago after bany that she made the decision to become a
Dyster, very publicly, called her a liar. Pe- librarian.
trazzoullo replaced her, and has since strug- “When I was in college, I did a work-
gled with the same nickel and dime study in the library,” she said. “It didn't occur
But the rampant anti-intellectualism, the to me that this would be a career. While I al-
petty, money based political system and the ways loved books, it was sort of like destiny
hopelessness that often leads community was standing right in front of me, and I didn't
leaders to tear each other apart over the most see it at first."
inconsequential trivia imaginable takes its Petrazoullo made up her mind to leave
toll, leading Babanoury, Petrazzoullo and Niagara Falls months ago.
who knows how many other rational, think- “When I was younger, I swore I would
ing human beings to flee the Niagara Fron- never come back to Niagara Falls, but I had
tier as though the place were the center of a a good opportunity and I took it” she said. “I
smallpox epidemic. had a lot of plans to change things here. I feel
Five years ago, Michelle Petrazzoullo that I was able to do so in many ways but
returned to Niagara Falls with high hopes. looking toward the future, I just don’t see
Slight and attractive, the single mom’s myself retiring here.”
homecoming was front page news. She’d The navel gazing parochialism inherent
been selected to head up the Niagara Falls in a municipality that proudly claims petty
Public Library system. local politics as its most popular spectator
She’d spent 14 years in the Charlotte sport made working and living here difficult,
Mecklenburg Library System in North Car- Petrazzoullo said.
olina before agreeing to take the position fol- “Niagara Falls is so self contained and
lowing the departure of the popular Betty insular,” she said. “They don’t value the li-
Babanoury, who said that Mayor Paul Dyster brary in this community. And then I feel that
cared less about providing library services to the Library Board is too political.”
the people of Niagara Falls than any of his Petrazoullo, exactly the sort of hip,
predecessors she’d worked under, including young urban professional Dyster says he
Vince Anello, Irene Elia, Jim Galie and Jake wants to attract to the city he governs, is so
Palillo. Her departure was sudden and acri- anxious to get the hell away from her home-
monious. Big news. town that she’s accepted a pay cut to do so,
As an incoming department head, Pe- she said.6 NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JUN 30 - JUL 08, 2015
Lewsiton’s Conrad Gives His Point of View
partment Heads, Town Staff and Commit- ships with the leadership in the Village and Instructor at Buffalo State College and Ni-
tee Members. That belief is one of the Art Park as well as our own Department agara University, and Leadership Niagara
ideas that separates me from my oppo- Heads. We are in a much better place than Graduate. Currently I work in Construc-
nents, which leads me to my next point. we were last year and I am glad that I have tion Management for the Dormitory Au-
What some are claiming as “their” accom- had the opportunity to be a part of it. thority. I have nearly 30 years of
plishments, are more accurately described Over this past year and a half I have Architectural Design, Planning and Con-
as the accomplishments of the entire five- learned quite a bit from my fellow Board struction Management experience. Of all
member Board and our Town Team. As a members, Town Staff, Department Heads, the current members and those running for
Town Board member, I am part of a team and residents throughout our great Town. the Board I am the only candidate with
and a single vote. I alone do not make I feel confident that I am even more pre- professional experience in Land Planning,
things happen, and I am humble enough to pared than before to be a strong Town Design and Construction. I believe it’s
Bill Conrad know that. It takes many people to make Board member and to keep moving our very important to have someone on every
things happen in our Town. I am a leader, Town in the right direction. I have sup- municipal Board with this type of experi-
a coordinator, a problem solver, a consen- ported the Town Board process being as ence.
Hello, my name is Bill Conrad and I
sus builder and sometimes a motivator. transparent and fiscally responsible as pos- My wife Lynne and I have three bio-
would like to formally announce my can-
Fortunately, our Town Board has good sible. As always I will remain accessible logical children, four older adopted chil-
didacy to run for re-election to the Lewis-
chemistry, cooperation and communica- and responsive to your concerns. I hope to dren and three foster children. We have
ton Town Board. I was appointed to the
tion. We don’t always see things the same see you this summer as I walk door to door been foster parents for over 15 years, car-
Town Board early last year to fill a seat va-
way, but we are able to discuss the facts getting to know you as you get to know ing for more than 135 children during that
cated by Ernie Palmer. Following that I ran
and sometimes agree to disagree. It’s not me. time. Motorcycle riding is my favorite pas-
a successful campaign to finish the final
personal or political, it’s five independent My experience outside of Town Hall time along with my new hobby…beekeep-
year of that 4-year term. Thanks to all of
minds with differing opinions, experiences is fairly extensive but well rounded. I am ing.
the support I received from the commu-
and views hashing it out in the democratic a Licensed Architect, retired U.S. Army of- This is our Town from the River along
nity, friends, neighbors, and family, I won
process. As they say, there’s no “I” in ficer who proudly served for 24 years. I the Village to the farm fields in Sanborn,
that election and am now serving out that
“Team.” am a former School Board President, Ni- and I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful
final year.
I am also proud of what the Board has agara County Planning Board member, place to live and raise my family. Please
I am running again, this time for a full
accomplished since I have been a member. Rivershore Inc. Board member, Orleans- help me to continue our good work as
4-year term. Over the past year and a half
We have been successful in resolving the Niagara BOCES Board of Education member of your Town Board. I would be
I have worked hard at listening to every-
Joseph Davis State Park issues, reducing member, Zoning Board Chairman, WNY very proud and thankful for your contin-
one who has contacted me or stopped me
the Town Budget Deficit, Defending our Veteran’s Housing Coalition Board mem- ued support in November.
on the street. I have tried to resolve the is-
Environment against the CWM expansion, ber, Chairman of the Tower and Wind En-
sues you have made me aware of with the
and the Spreading of Equate. Our Board ergy Committee, Ransomville Free
help of my fellow Board members, De-
has also worked hard on mending relation- Methodist Church Board Member, ROTC
DEC Releases Final Northern Cricket Frog Recovery
Plan to Restore Amphibian's Population
The northern cricket frog will be pro- The northern cricket frog is New York’s northern cricket frogs in New York survives
tected and its populations restored in New only endangered frog and is limited to a at Orange County's Glenmere Lake/Black
York State if the management plan for the handful of breeding populations in south- Meadow habitat.
amphibian released by the DEC this week is eastern New York. The plan includes: protecting and man-
implemented and it works. The largest remaining population of aging remaining northern cricket frog popu-
Northern Cricket Frog, or Acris
crepitan
lations and habitats and to work with
landowners to protect suitable and unoccu-
pied habitats and facilitate the colonization
of these sites by northern cricket frogs.
Recovery plans are not required for en-
dangered species in New York State. How-
ever, under regulations implementing the
New York Endangered Species Law, a recov-
ery plan can be prepared to provide guidance
for activities to improve the status of the
species and establish a strategy for securing
the species and removing it from the NYS
Endangered Species List.
DEC biologists will now develop spe-
cific steps to implement the recovery plan,
beginning with research to quantify the up-
land habitat requirements of the frog.
The final Northern Cricket Frog Recov-
ery Plan is now available on DEC’s website
a t
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7120.html.7
NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JUN 30 - JUL 08, 2015
As Recycling Industry Crumbles Nationally
Dyster’s Plan Here Becomes More Bizarre
Mike Hudson
Timing is everything, a wise man once
said, and the timing of the Niagara Falls
Mayor Paul A. Dyster’s recycling initiative
couldn’t possibly have been worse.
Startup costs of $2.3 million to buy and
deliver some 10,000 new blue (64 gallon) re-
fuse totes and (96 gallon)recycling green
totes and $78,000 a year for city employees
to oversee the program came at a time when
the recycling industry is slumping badly. The larger one (left) is for recy-
As more and more paper, glass, plastic cling and the smaller one
and metal for recycling has come onto the (right) is for refuse, the oppo-
market, prices for the commodities have site of every other city in Amer-
dropped precipitously.
ica. And even Dyster's moral
Executives at the nation’s largest recy-
righteousness about recycling
cling company, Waste Management, an-
nounced in April that tumbling prices of has proven to be false. See
recycled materials and lower recycling vol- Washington Post's investiga-
umes cut into its revenue in the first quarter, tive series on the bogus
leading the company to lower its profit fore- claimed benefits of recycling.
casts. Executives also pointed to worsening
economics around handling glass, which has landfills, labor costs, amount and method of
become a money loser for the Houston-based recycling and real estate prices.
company. "Recycling has failed as an economic
Four of the company’s largest recycling proposition for municipalities," said Jerry
sis,” said Steiner. tions show that taxpayers will be socked
plants were closed earlier this year. Taylor, director of natural resource studies at
Dyster’s recycling program went into with a whopping $3.6 million to $3.8 million
The average prices of recycled com- the Cato Institute, a conservative think tank.
effect of August of 2014. tab.
modities fell 14 percent from January to "It's not a question of whether we want to
Although Dyster claimed the program And that doesn't even count the $2.3
March, a decline that was hard for Waste pay, it's how do we want to spend scarce re-
would save the city $500,000 annually, it million the city paid for the ridiculously
Management to absorb, Chief Executive sources. Is it worth teachers, firemen, police
quickly became apparent that the city would small, micro chipped totes in the first place.
David Steiner said. on the beat?"
lose money. Small businesses faced in- If the average tote lasts 7 years that
“Recycling is in a crisis,” Steiner said in John Tierney, a reporter who wrote a
creased costs and residents faced fines and means in addition to the increased costs, the
an interview. “It isn’t profitable for us, and controversial and influential 1996 New York
other sanctions for not complying. Outraged lessening of services, the loss of 100’s of
we have to react to that by shutting down Times magazine story titled "Recycling Is
taxpayers, led by Third Street businessman businesses that do not get service, the city
plants.” Garbage” wrote, “Mandatory recycling pro-
and longtime Dyster supporter Craig Avery, must budget for about $300,000 per year for
Steiner said Waste Management’s recy- grams… offer mainly short-term benefits to
called publicly for the resignation of Donna new totes as old ones are worn out or bro-
cling division lost $13 million during the a few groups – politicians, public relations
Owens who Dyster credited for creating the ken.
quarter. More plant closures are planned, he consultants, environmental organizations
plan. Something no one but the Reporter
said. and waste handling corporations -- while di-
Prior to the new trash program being bothered to mention to this date.
“It’s as low as it’s ever been, but we verting money from genuine social and en-
implemented, the recycling rate in Niagara That’s right there was a decrease in
haven’t seen any indication of a bottom,” vironmental problems. Recycling may be the
Falls was the lowest in Western New York at garbage service, a stupid plan for the reversal
Steiner said of prices for recycled materials. most wasteful activity in modern America…
an estimated four percent. A 47 percent in- for the standard tote sizes – with the recy-
Market values of used plastics have ”
crease announced by Dyster brought the rate cling totes larger than the refuse totes – a de-
fallen sharply, a decline some in the industry A common statistic cited by recycling
up to just below 6 percent, which is still crease in the number of taxpaying businesses
have attributed to lower crude oil prices, critics is that the next 1,000 years-worth of
about the lowest in the region. that got service, a decrease in bulk trash re-
which have pushed down the cost of produc- trash would only fill a 35-square mile landfill
In 2013, the last full year prior to Dys- moval, a decrease in the amount of trash peo-
ing new plastic and left manufacturers less that is 100 yards deep. Not something you
ter's bright trash idea, the city paid Modern ple could throw out, and an increase in price
keen to work with recycled material. Slower want to live near, of course, but not exactly
Disposal Inc. of Lewiston $2.9 million for – not counting the totes.
economic growth in China and other coun- Earth-swallowing, either.
trash collection. And it was all built around Dyster’s
tries also has reduced demand for used paper By creating a problem where none ex-
In 2014, with the recycling scheme claim about the importance of recycling!
and other recycled commodities. Even prices isted, Dyster has led the city into an expen-
going into effect in August, the cost to city Meantime glass, metal and plastic recy-
of used metals are down. sive crisis he refuses to see.
residents was $3.1 million. cling costs around $240 per ton, almost dou-
“If people feel that recycling is impor- And, in 2015, the first full year city res- ble what it costs to just throw it away.
tant — and I think they do, increasingly — idents will get to enjoy the fruits of Dyster's Recycling costs vary by city according
then we are talking about a nationwide cri- garbage collecting scheme, reliable projec- to a set of factors, including proximity to
Take my City Hall Website Seriously Please!
A very serious new news website says. Walker, without a hint of irony. "So is
on the serious topic of Niagara Falls Here is one of the impressive late payment for these meters similar
City Hall has just been launched by breaking news stories on this informa- to the penalties for late payment of
Signor Pete Niagara AKA Pistol Pete, tive site. Property Tax? Or City Taxes? Or
a man of journalistic means by all Woken From Sleep in Council School Taxes? Cause if that's the case,
means. Meeting I want to see exactly where these
We don’t know why he calls it Ni- By Pete Niagara spaces are going to be so I can pick out
agara News Parody when the website In a meeting last week on the issue my spot"
is named http://www.niagarafall- of parking meters, Charles Walker was The Mayor assured Walker that he
snynews.com. roused from his nap as the Mayor an- would request a change order from the
Whether or not he thinks it is par- nounced more unapproved spending. consultants on the next round of no-bid Charles Walker has unusual
ody we prefer to believe every word he "Now Wait, Wait, Wait" said studies. parking questions....8 NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JUN 30 - JUL 08, 2015
Feds Interviewing Witnesses In
Mike Hudson
County spin doctors went into overdrive last week as
federal criminal investigators interviewed witnesses and col-
lected evidence relating to the likely illegal removal of dan-
gerous asbestos from the basement of the Shaw Building by
a crew of untrained and unskilled welfare recipients.
While County Manager Jeffrey Glatz and Risk Manage-
ment Director Jennifer Pitarresi said a probe of the case may
result in disciplinary action against whomever directed the
removal, they maintained that no health risks resulted from
the cleanout of the Shaw Building basement, which involved
some 20 welfare recipients working for several days over a
two week period in May and removing enough possibly con-
taminated material to fill three dumpsters.
Meanwhile, NYS state investigators informed the
county late Thursday that repeated testing of the Shaw site
had found no airborne contamination and tests of surfaces
found that only a small portion of floor immediately adjacent
to a basement door indicated minimally positive tests for sur-
face contamination. The dumpster was covered sort of....
That information, released by the county to local media,
came in a telephone conference with asbestos experts em- the seal off the door?”
ployed by the state’s Public Employ Safety and Health Bu- A spokesman for the county, speaking on condition of
reau (PESH). anonymity, said, “56 Services is conducting an asbestos sur-
PESH also advised the county to continue monitoring vey—something that apparently was never conducted under looks like asbestos to us....
via a company licensed in handling asbestos. Public Works Commissioner Kevin O’Brien, despite 15
The county hired 56 Services Inc., a Buffalo based con- years’ employment with the county during which he ac- bestos actually turned out to be a commercial spill removing
sulting firm specializing in asbestos and hazardous waste knowledges he was aware of asbestos at the Shaw Building.” product called “Speedi Dri.” That product is used to clean
abatement projects. Bill Rutland, president of the county’s The county uses welfare recipients to perform menial up oil, grease, anti-freeze, and solvents—materials all com-
blue collar worker’s union, said that 56 Services should have jobs in return for benefits, normally sending crews out to monly found in automobile garages.
been called in prior to the project. mow lawns, pick up litter and do painting jobs, under a state- “It’s disturbing that Mr. Rutland, an auto mechanic on
“The first thing they did was seal off the door leading mandated welfare-to-work requirement. But during the third the county payroll, can’t recognize a product he is supposed
to the basement,” he said. “If there’s no hazard, why would week of May, 20 workers assigned to the Shaw Building to be around and use pretty much every day,” a source close
were ordered into the base- to Glatz’s office said.
ment and told to remove Last week, Adam Buchbinder of the Environmental Pro-
whatever they found there. tection Agency’s Criminal Investigations Division, and NYS
The dumpsters were placed DEC Environmental Crimes Investigator Charles Lohr in-
in the parking lot, and the terviewed a number of witnesses in the case.
workers, carrying everything Attempts to reach Buchbinder and Lohr at press time
from old furniture to insu- were unsuccessful, but their investigation comes on the heels
lated pipe, walked through of probes into the asbestos removal by the Niagara County
the basement door and out to Sheriff’s Dept. Crime Scene Investigations Unit, the state
the lot. Department of Environmental Conservation’s Bureau of En-
Rutland said he believed vironmental Crime, and the U.S. Dept. of Labor.
the activity put his union County officials should have known about the haz-
workers in the building at ardous conditions in the basement of the Shaw Building, an
risk and reported the activity 84 year old edifice that once served as the county sanato-
to the state. Members of the rium.
public were also in the build- In 2002, monitoring uncovered toxic levels of asbestos,
ing at the time the work was mostly from the crumbling insulation placed around the
taking place, and the welfare building’s plumbing in the days before the danger of asbestos
workers spent hours in the was known.
basement with no overalls, The basement door was padlocked and the asbestos haz-
boots, respirators, gloves or ard was largely forgotten until last year when the county’s
even surgical masks to pro- maintenance supervisor, Thomas Williams, ordered two
tect them. county laborers (AFSCME union) to go down in the base-
Rutland scoffed at the ment and hook up a sink he wanted installed on the first floor.
county officials’ talk of “dis- The men refused, and Rutland became involved.
ciplinary action.” Rutland said he and Williams discussed the asbestos
“The federal govern- hazard at length.
ment does not have criminal Another way to hook up the sink was found that didn’t
investigators looking into involve going into the basement and, again, the matter was
this in the interest of taking forgotten until the welfare workers were ordered in last
someone’s job,” he said. month.
“They clearly think that County officials privately acknowledged being con-
crimes have been committed cerned about Williams’ activities, and one suggested he may
here.” very likely face disciplinary action based on Rutland’s
A top county official we claims.
spoke with noted, however, County investigators’ crosshairs also seem to be lined
no individuals from those up on O’Brien, who, they claim, acknowledged to Glatz that
agencies have indicated any he was aware of asbestos at Shaw but had never conducted
criminal investigation under- a required asbestos survey of the building.
way to county leadership. Conditions in the basement were bad.
County officials also “There were only a few lights, spaced about 50 feet
claim that PESH testing of apart, and unless you were right by them you couldn’t see
material Rutland says is as- anything in the dark,” said Ryan Mack, one of the cleanup9
NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JUN 30 - JUL 08, 2015
Lockport Asbestos Investigation
One worker said, “one guy ----- remod-
eled his entire home with county supplies
stolen from the job.”
Another witness said he watched a cer-
tain county worker take the scrap metal from
the Shaw Building job and put it in his vehi-
cle instead of the dumpster.
County officials indicated to the Re-
porter that they were well aware of these al-
legations and were conducting an
investigation into this matter.
and more asbestos...
workers. “Then the basement turned into a
crawlspace and there wasn’t any light there
at all.
The dust was thick in the air, and be-
came worse as workers began moving items
out for disposal, he added. NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A
Federal law provides strict guidelines on
and more.... yeah... more asbestos... DOMESTICLIMITED LIABILITY
the responsibility of employers where as- COMPANY
bestos exposure is concerned.
“Where there is exposure, employers that asbestos laden objects were “planted” at that no significant asbestos contamination
ATTIVO LLC has been formed as a
are required to further protect workers by es- the scene to make the situation look worse was uncovered.
limited liability company (LLC),
tablishing regulated areas, controlling certain than it actually was. County officials’ statements and press
withan office located in Wheat-
work practices and instituting engineering “This was not an asbestos abatement releases have contained information that
field, Niagara County by filing Ar-
controls to reduce the airborne levels,” the project. It was a ‘moving some old furniture’ makes it seem as though Rutland’s concerns
ticles ofOrganization with the New
department warns. “The employer is re- project,” Pitarresi told the county Legislature are overblown.
York Secretary of State (NYSS) on
quired to ensure exposure is reduced by last week after Niagara Falls Legislator Den- In the end, it will be neither the officials
June 16, 2015.NYSS is designated
using administrative controls and provide for nis Virtuoso asked for an update on the proj- nor Rutland’s assessment of what happened
as agent for the LLC upon whom
the wearing of personal protective equip- ect. that matters. The answers provided by a
process against it maybe served.
ment. Medical monitoring of workers is also She did not indicate who ordered the multi-agency criminal investigation.
NYSS will mail a copy of any
required when legal limits and exposure welfare workers into the basement, or who In a further development, several county
process against it served upon himor
times are exceeded.” removed the padlock that had closed it off and welfare workers have contacted the Re-
her ATTIVO LLC, 3877 Loveland
Clearly, none of these protocols was fol- for more than a decade, since evidence of as- porter claiming that it is common practice for
Road, Wheatfield, NY 14120. The
lowed by whomever ordered 20 welfare re- bestos contamination was first discovered certain county workers assigned to oversee
purposeis to engage in any lawful
cipients into the basement. there. the welfare workfare project to steal scrap
business practice.
Since the story of the asbestos abate- A release sent out by the county’s infor- metal to sell privately, take free food from
ment project was first reported on June 9, mation officer, Christian W. Peck, claims the food kitchen and to secrete supplies
6/23/15, 6/30/15, 7/7/15, 7/14/15,
triggering the expanded investigation into that officials were told verbally by state Pub- meant for county projects for their personal
7/21/15, 7/28/15
the matter, county officials have insinuated lic Employee Safety and Health investigators use.10 NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JUN 30 - JUL 08, 2015
Preserve Our Parks Launches
Campaign Opposing Zip Line
Mike Hudson & ice Employees Union joined in and called
upon the minister of tourism to dissolve the
Frank Parlato NPC.
Union president Warren "Smokey"
It’s like déjà vu all over again. Thomas, posted our stories on union web-
Preserve Our Parks, a grassroots Cana- sites and announced to the Canadian media
dian organization that worked hand in glove that the Niagara parks are "deteriorating
with the Niagara Falls Reporter in opening while the commission makes irresponsible
up to competitive bidding the tour boat busi- spending decisions," like its "decision to
ness once dominated by Jimmy Glynn’s renew the lease of the Maid of the Mist with-
Maid of the Mist, has embarked on a new Visitors to Grand Falls, New attractions are in keeping with Niagara Parks out going to tender."
crusade, this time to stop the development of Brunswick, can view the water other natural attractions and provide another Alcatraz Media spokesperson Bill
a zip line attraction on the Canadian side of from a new zipline that trans- unique way to interpret the falls, the Niagara Windsor filed suit with the Ontario Superior
the gorge without proper vetting and envi- Gorge and all the lands along the Niagara Court seeking to set aside Glynn's lease and
verses the falls
ronmental study. Parkway, without impacting views or access let other companies, including his own, bid
“Unfortunately, Niagara Parks, as an will be run for profit -- a great deal of profit enjoyed by other visitors to the falls.” on it.
agency of the Ontario government, comes -- in which we hope NPC will share. How- Preserve Our Parks was remarkably ef- Kim Craitor, a member of Parliament
under the Ministry of Tourism,” wrote James ever, in the interest of transparency, pro- fective in organizing against the NPC, a whose Niagara Falls riding takes in all NPC
Bannister on behalf of the organization. jected revenue, profit and profit-sharing campaign that led to the state of the art Horn- parklands, announced plans to reintroduce a
“Throughout the life of the NPC there has figures should be released before final ap- blower Niagara Cruises vessels being avail- bill requiring openness from provincial
been conflict between the mandate for stew- proval is given.” able to tourists on the Canadian side of the agencies. The secret no-bid lease renewal,
ardship and environmentalism and the per- In late May, the NPC announced they river. Craitor said, "doesn't shine a positive light
ceived necessity (for reasons of revenue received approval from the Province of On- The current NPC board was put in place on the parks commission. (The Niagara
generation) of including in NPC operations tario to enter into an agreement with Niagara in the aftermath of the Maid of the Mist scan- parks are) the jewel of our community. These
a number of ‘tourism and adventure attrac- Adventure Excursions to develop and oper- dal, and they and the developers of the proj- types of things start to tarnish that jewel."
tions.’” ate the zip line attractions. However, the ect would do well to make sure that NPC Commissioner Bob Gale, who
The proposed attraction would consist NPC acknowledged that additional studies everything is open and above board this time owns a chain of gas stations in Ontario, was
of four zip lines running approximately 2200 are required before a final agreement can be around. the whistle-blowing commissioner who went
feet along the west wall of the Niagara signed and construction can begin. In a letter to the Niagara Falls Reporter public (to the Reporter), alleging that then
Gorge, from the Grand View Market in To date the NPC has downplayed any last week, Bannister wrote, “Your article NPC Chairman Jim Williams, Vice Chair-
Queen Victoria Park to the base of the old potential adverse visual impacts the zip lines (Will Canadian Zip Line Blemish New York man Archie Katzman and NPC General
Ontario Power Company generating station and their riders may have on the views of And Canadian Views of Falls? By Frank Par- Manager John Kernahan worked furtively to
facing the Horseshoe Falls. millions of visitors to Niagara Falls who are lato and James Hufnagel published JUNE 9, ensure that world-famous Ripley Entertain-
Harnessed tourists attached to the line drawn here because of the visual resources 2015) was a big factor in spurring our group ment -- which expressed interest in bidding
will be able to descend the gorge in front of of the area, instead focusing on the views zip to send a protest to the Environmental Com- on the lease -- was excluded, while simulta-
the American Falls in record time and pro- line riders will enjoy. missioner of Ontario. neously neglecting to tell other commission-
vide an experience that will undoubtedly be Banister said Preserve Our Parks objects “I'll keep you posted as to any response ers about Ripley's interest.
thrilling. to the process by which the project has been we get. The Reporter continued to write stories
The attraction will be clearly visible to developed and approved. “Jim Bannister” (some 80,000 words). Finally the Toronto
passengers on the Hornblower Niagara “We object to the lack of public input Gee whiz. Globe and Mail picked up one of our stories
Cruises and the Maid of the Mist excursion and lack of transparency,” he wrote. “Even This was how the Maid of the Mist lease about how the rent to the Maid of the Mist
boats, and also visitors to the New York State more strongly do we object to the approval was unraveled. was secretly reduced while they publicly
Park on the east side of the gorge. of this project without any assessment of its Back in 2009, when Jim Bannister and claimed they had raised the rent. The Globe
“To say that it will not enhance the impact on the environment of the Niagara Pat Mangoff and the rest of the group at Pre- secured an accountant that proved our asser-
beauty of the gorge is an understatement,” Falls World Heritage Site, designated by serve our Parks contacted the Reporter with tion that the rent was reduced by at least
Bannister wrote. UNESCO as being in danger.” almost the identical message. $600,000 per year.
A second attraction, an aerial adventure "The new zip line attraction at Grand The powerful activist group Preserve The rest is history.
course, will allow customers to move from View Marketplace and aerial adventure Our Parks wrote to the premier, the Integrity Now in the exact same order Preserve
tree to tree using log ladders, rope swings, course at Thompson Point will provide visi- Commissioner and the minister of tourism Our Parks (there is nothing like these folks
scrambling walls, hanging nets, spinning tors with a breathtaking, authentic Niagara "demanding" the lease be sent back for com- on the New York Side – so don’t hold your
logs, wobbly bridges, tightropes, monkey Falls and Niagara Parks experience,” said petitive bidding. breath- Americans round these parts don’t
bars and zip lines rising above the forest NPC chair Janice Thomson. “These two new Soon enough, the Ontario Public Serv- have their kind of gumption) is involved in
canopy, is also planned above the Niagara a story that we wrote that we “smelled some-
Whirlpool at Thompson Point. thing funny about these zip lines.”
While most details of the attractions They may be great or they may make
have not been made public, it is known that the falls into even more of a circus side
if approval is granted by the Ontario govern- show.
ment, the project will be designed, built and But where are the visual simulation
operated by a partnership consisting of Wild- studies needed to show what this is going to
Play Ltd., of British Columbia, a developer look like when you have hundreds of people
of zip line / aerial adventure parks, and a daily gliding down the gorge in front of the
startup company called Niagara Adventure falls?
Excursions Inc., founded in 2013, whose Where is the disclosure of revenue shar-
corporate officers have not been publicly ing in the Zip Line deal – also absent in the
identified. Maid of the Mist deal that got it set aside.
The Reporter has identified at least one It’s like Déjà vu.
of the corporate owners of the secretive Ni- All, over, again.
agara Adventure Excursions, whose own
website names no board or directors or own-
ers – while bragging that the company has
loads of development experience- as the Di-
Cosimo family - owners of the 965 room
Hilton Hotel and Suites/ Fallsview in Niag-
ara Falls, Ontario.
“The nature of the ‘Zipline and Aerial
Adventure Course’ is clear. It is a tourist at-
traction and only that,” Bannister wrote. “ItYou can also read
