There may be a world wonder in its midst, but the City of Niagara Falls is no world wonder, rather a city falling apart and getting worse by the day. The population, once more than 100,000, is now below 50,000 and the residents who still live in the city witness the decline up close and personal every day. They see the boarded-up homes, cracked sidewalks, trash blowing across the street, and potholes deep enough to damage cars.
Unfortunately, they get no help from City Hall which residents say favor the wealthy, punish the critics, ignore basic services and watch as neighborhoods slip deeper into decay. After tourists and visitors leave the state park and see the mighty falls, there is not much else for them to see in the city and they don’t stay around long.
The situation, according to the street talk, is because Mayor Robert Restaino’s administration ignores resident complaints and favors the wealthy. The critics contend the mayor’s attention is not focused on their complaints but is much more focused on affluent hoteliers, upscale restaurateurs, and connected developers. It is not a formula that works for residents but rather the opportunists who enjoy the mayor’s attention.
The mayor has made highly publicized appearances with major hospitality operators, celebrated grants for well-publicized businesses, and championed incentives through agencies like the NCIDA that overwhelmingly benefit the tourism elite.
While the mayor lavishes attention on the wealthy, the nonprofits and community groups that support children, seniors, low-income families, and vulnerable residents say they have been sidelined or ignored…