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By Tony Farina The Niagara Falls State Park, located in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and created in 1885, is recognized as the oldest state park in the U.S. and contains the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and a portion of the Horseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls). Following a $44-million refurbishment of the 221-acre park in 2003, in 2007 it was named the 10 th most beautiful spot in America by “The Today Show.” According to the state’s Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the State Park receives more than nine million visits each year. It is

By Tony Farina There is much excitement in the airwaves at WEBR The Breeze as station manager and program director Frank Miller has announced that beginning on Monday, Aug. 24, the talent he has been hoping to bring in for some time will be joining the WEBR midday lineup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every weekday. “We’re just thrilled to be launching the Kadie Daye show on Monday, and we are so looking forward to having a talent like Kadie on our airwaves at WEBR AM 1440, FM 105.3 and FM 106.9,” Miller said in talking about the new

By Tony Farina Promises are nice and they bring hope for the future. But unfortunately, most of the time, promises have fallen flat for the City of Niagara Falls, some succeeding but many turning out to be empty promises and major disappointments. At this point, Niagara Falls doesn’t need more failed promises. What the city needs is progress to build a better future and a plan to make it work. City leadership must bring it all together. While there are promises to build a better future on the table and being talked about, like Centennial Park and the Niagara Digital

By Tony Farina The radioactive slag bubbling up across Niagara County in recent weeks, triggering state and federal testing and some remedial work and family relocations, is the ongoing and seemingly never-ending legacy of the environmental desecration of the past 100-plus years by massive corporations dumping toxic waste that was the subject of Christen Civiletto’s book Thundering Waters. “What we have again is an environmental storm,” said attorney and former Grand Island Supervisor Nate McMurray, a candidate for election to the 45th District State Assembly seat now open because of the retirement of Angelo Morinello. McMurray will run for the

Dear Governor Kathy Hochul, I am writing regarding the recent investigations by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) into toxic waste, hazardous contamination, and radioactive materials in Niagara County. Combined with the longstanding legacy of Love Canal, Cayuga Island, and other areas of potential contamination, I believe this is no longer simply a local issue. It is a regional—and perhaps national or even international—challenge that deserves sustained leadership, transparency, and attention. Before writing this letter and recording the accompanying video, I made every effort to reach you through other channels.

By Tony Farina Let’s begin by recognizing that Niagara Falls needs affordable housing like every growing community, housing designed to assist low-income tenants who are limited to paying no more than 30 percent of gross income for housing costs, including utilities, because families deserve safe, quality places to live. There is no issue with the need for affordable housing. What this is about is location. It should not be put in the wrong place to send a mixed message on investment opportunities. And it should be part of a long-term plan so that businesses, neighborhoods, and attractions all work together

By Frank Parlato A privately funded campus would draw on hydropower four miles away, build its own substation, and return $414 million to a city designated as disadvantaged. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — A $1.5 billion private investment proposed for 53 acres in the heart of Niagara Falls would deliver 550 permanent jobs, more than $400 million in tax revenue, and a modernized electrical backbone for a city the State of New York has formally designated a Disadvantaged Community — without a dollar of public money for the grid. The Niagara Digital Campus, proposed by Niagara Falls Redevelopment in partnership with

By J Gary DiLaura THE REAL CONTAMINATION IS IN THE REPORTING AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE SCIENCE, STOP PRETENDING… You are scaring people, damaging the value of very expensive homes…for what…to fuel a few ignorant, “wanna-be” egos? That may come to be a VERY expensive mistake!! I retired from the FBI as Supervisor of the Bank Robbery Squad, with a bachelor’s degree in Material Science (Metallurgist) and a minor in Organic Chemistry. In the late 1970’s after the President signed into law the “Big 8 Laws” and created the EPA, I was assigned the task of creating the EPA

By Tony Farina Two outstanding summer concerts are on tap beginning this Saturday, July 11, at the Public House on the Lake in Hamburg followed two weeks later on Saturday, July 25, at Marge’s Lakeside Inn in Irondequoit, famous for its casual “dive bar” atmosphere. In both concerts, the featured attraction, and a good one, is the rock band SoleTurn out of Hamburg, known for new and re-imagined rock music led by lead vocalist Vik Bhargava, a creative artist of the first order. SoleTurn is unique and lots of fun and is also known for a strong audience connection which

By Tony Farina Mighty Niagara Falls is a natural wonder spanning the international border between the United States and Canada. The focus of the world was riveted on the mighty waterfall by aerialist Nik Wallenda, who in June of 2012 became the first person to walk a tightrope directly over Niagara Falls, an incredible feat that was broadcast live on ABC. It was a huge boost to what makes Niagara Falls a tourism mecca and a place that attracts approximately 22 to 24 million visitors annually across both the United States and Canadian sides. That incredible tourism attraction gives the

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 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

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 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

Two cities share the mighty natural wonder of Niagara Falls, but they differ in many ways, and the stark reality is the city north of the border, Niagara Falls, Ontario, is light years ahead of the city on the American side of the falls, Niagara Falls, N. Y, and the differences are more than just population although the Canadian city has close to 100,000 residents, more than double Niagara Falls, N. Y., which is steadily losing people. Let’s begin by looking at the Canadian city famous for the iconic Niagara Falls, which attracts millions of tourists with attractions like boat

We all need a healthy balance in life, or success in moving forward will not be possible. Whether playing sports, spending time with family, or working, balance is the key, and that is true beyond individual lives. It is also true when it comes to a city, a state, or a nation. Balance is the key in all of it. No balance, no success. With that premise, let me move to the City of Niagara Falls, N. Y., where a major world attraction and a bustling tourist trade make up so much but like in a successful life, the balance

The City of Niagara Falls doesn’t need a one-shot miracle project to get back in the game and help the city get on the road to recovery. It needs a clear, disciplined, and predictable plan that private investors can trust. Until it develops that trustworthy plan, development will remain episodic, fragile, and dependent on subsidies rather than sustained private confidence. One of the best examples that Niagara Falls might look at is Kansas City, a city that decided years ago to stop chasing one-off projects and instead focus on becoming investable. So what did Kansas City do to make the

It is extremely clear that the City of Niagara Falls must be about growth, not continuing the path of managing decline as has been the case for years that has resulted in stagnation with decisions often made to preserve short-term stability instead of long-term opportunity. It is the hope of many city observers that 2026 will somehow change thinking about how to make Niagara Falls a better place for residents and taxpayers by understanding that city leadership must nurture a vision that economic development is not a favor or a risk to be avoided, but rather as a tool to

The only Black reporter trying to cover the exoneration of two Black men wrongfully prosecuted by John Flynn’s uncle was barred at the door. Two months later, Flynn would prosecute her. He would lose in court. And the bar would discipline him for it. But first, he would commit the same ethics violations—nine days apart—against two different targets. One was a 73-year-old journalist and civic leader named Betty Jean Grant. The other was his political enemy, Steve Pigeon. The Buffalo Five and Uncle Cosgrove In 1977, five Black teenagers were implicated in the death of William Crawford in Buffalo. Two

900 Victims. Zero Prosecutions. The Diocese of Buffalo and the DA Who Protected It Former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said it at the press conference announcing charges against his political enemy, Steve Pigeon. “I stand with the child.” He said he believed the accuser. He required no corroboration. But when more than 900 people filed abuse claims against priests of the Diocese of Buffalo under New York’s Child Victims Act, Flynn did not stand with them. In seven years as Erie County District Attorney—from January 2017 to March 2024—John Flynn did not prosecute a single priest. Not one.

By Frank Parlato Ryan Flynn was moved out of Delta unit. For weeks he had lived without running water in his 5×7 cell. The heat was shut off while the temperature dropped to twelve degrees outside at night. Another inmate threw feces for days. Guards rewarded the man with ramen noodles. The transfer followed publication of detailed reporting by The Frank Report. Only then did county officials act, and even then they did so silently. There was no announcement. No apology. No explanation. The Erie County Holding Center is so outdated that it could not legally be built today, yet it

By Frank Parlato Kevin O’Leary stood at the podium at Data Center World 2025 in Washington, D.C., and declared the obvious to anyone paying attention: “This is the new gold rush.” The “Shark Tank” star was announcing Wonder Valley, a $2 billion AI-powered data center planned for Alberta. But he was also describing a global phenomenon. Thirty-six states have enacted laws to attract data center developers, including tax exemptions for equipment and construction materials and job-creation credits. Virginia’s Loudoun County built “Data Center Alley” and has seen property taxes decrease because the facilities pay so much in taxes. Governors are

It began with a headline. On April 5, 2024, Politico published: “Sexual harassment allegations made against top Biden nuclear official.” Frank Rose had been the number two official at the National Nuclear Security Administration. Now he was radioactive. Politico’s audience—policymakers, insiders, the custodians of Washington reputation—understood the implication. In the months that followed, Rose applied for more than twenty positions within his field. He has been met not only with rejection, but with silence—which, in this climate, is worse. A career erased—not by judgment, but by suggestion. He is now suing the federal government and his accuser, Kathryn “Kate” Hewitt. The

By Frank Parlato Complaint names judge’s prior professional ties to former DA On January 7, 2026, John Rendina filed a formal ethics complaint with the Rochester office of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct against Judge J. Mark Gruber of the Town of Tonawanda Court. The complaint asks for the judge’s removal from the bench. Rendina is the uncle of Ryan Flynn, who has been held without bail at the Erie County Holding Center since October 21, 2025—more than eleven weeks—after accusing his cousin, former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, of sexually molesting him as a child.

Shortly after 9:00 AM on March 11, 2005, Judge Robert Restaino took the bench in Niagara Falls City Court. Approximately 70 people filled the courtroom—46 defendants in a domestic violence diversion program, plus attorneys, court staff, and counselors. For 45 minutes, proceedings went normally. Then a cell phone rang. “Everyone is going to jail,” Restaino announced. “Every single person is going to jail in this courtroom unless I get that instrument now.” No one came forward. What followed was an hours-long descent into collective punishment that would end Restaino’s judicial career—and reveal a temperament that should concern every resident of

By Frank Parlato Ryan Flynn called me from Erie County Holding Center last night and told me he’s going to die there. “I’m going on a full hunger strike, no food or no water,” he said. “I plan to die in here.” He started at 11:00 AM yesterday, January 3, 2026. “Get your headline ready,” he told me. “Inmate dies in Erie County Holding Center after three series part.” He’s referencing the three stories I’ve published about the events that led to his arrest and remand after accusing his older cousin, former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, of sexual

By Frank Parlato The Flynn Doctrine “Grandfathered In” Ryan Flynn Describes Jail Conditions While Held Without Bail This is the third installment in a series examining former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn and the doctrine he established in prosecuting political consultant, and former Erie County Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon: believe the accuser, disregard denials, act without corroboration. In Parts 1 and 2, I examined Flynn’s prosecution of political adversary Steve Pigeon and his cousin Ryan’s accusation against Flynn. Ryan Flynn remains jailed on charges tied to an anonymous social media post prosecutors claim he made threatening John Flynn’s wife.

By Frank Parlato PART 2: The Flynn Doctrine  Ryan Flynn Speaks: Two Accusations, Double Standard On December 15, I published a story about former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn and two cases involving him. In it, I described how Flynn prosecuted political consultant, former Erie County Democratic Chairman and longtime adversary Steve Pigeon in 2021 on uncorroborated allegations of child sexual abuse, justifying the prosecution with a phrase that required no proof and permitted no dissent: “I stand with the child.” The story also described how Flynn’s younger cousin, Ryan Flynn, accused him of sexually abusing him when Ryan

By Tony Farina If you are looking for fun, excitement, great food, and a chance to win some money, you might try Batavia Downs Gaming just off the Thruway beginning this Saturday, Dec. 20, to start your holiday off on the right foot and maybe walk away better off financially with all the opportunities to make a buck. In fact, many people do just that. The holiday excitement kicks off with Racing Appreciation Night on Saturday, the last night of live racing for the year, with racing resuming Jan. 13. On this Saturday, you can meet the riders at 4:15

By Frank Parlato THE FLYNN DOCTRINE — AND THE MAN NOW CAUGHT IN IT By Frank Parlato Two cases center on former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn. In one, Flynn brought the accusation. In the other, he is the accused. He set the rule. Believe the accuser. Act fast. Don’t wait. Now the rule comes back to him. RYAN FLYNN — THE ACCUSER THEY CANNOT EASILY EXPLAIN AWAY Ryan Flynn, 32, the younger cousin of John Flynn, alleges that the former DA sexually abused him twice when he was around 10 years old during visits to his father’s home.

By Tony Farina As we have written recently, the City of Niagara Falls has a pretty much empty development pipeline in large measure to the unwelcoming and often politically adversarial and combative reflexes of city leadership, a problem that presents many unnecessary obstacles to incentivize deep-pocket investors from coming forward. The development pipeline is in a negative state. The ghost-town picture paints a gloomy forecast for the city and its beleaguered residents, but not far away, in another struggling city, there is a change in the wind. Incoming Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan has recently rolled out a business development plan

By Tony Farina When writing about Niagara Falls, N. Y., it is most often the case of writing about things gone wrong, whether with the empty development pipeline because of City Hall’s unwelcoming investment posture or because of missed opportunities by misguided leadership that continue to this day. Yes, the majestic tourism attraction is still there, drawing people from around the world to see the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world, but not much else is exciting in a city now less than 50,000 strong that has seen the Canadian side of the falls featuring the booming

By Tony Farina The City of Niagara Falls has land, location, and market potential, but unfortunately, city leadership is unpredictable, adversarial, litigious, and strategically incoherent, making it a poor city for long-term investment possibilities. Investors who might be willing to commit to Niagara Falls in effect are turned off by the city’s unwelcoming posture and preference for using lawsuits rather than collaboration to manage public policy disputes. What has happened is that the city’s developmental pipeline—a steady flow of projects in planning, construction, and financial backing stages—is deteriorating and getting worse the longer the city manages the process unprofessionally, and

By Tony Farina 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

By Tony Farina There was a time in the middle of the last century that the City of Niagara Falls was a powerhouse of American industry, home to more than 100,000 people, and a tourist attraction featuring one of the most powerful and majestic waterfalls in the world. People were drawn to make the city home with one of the world’s wonders on its doorstep and all the electrical power it delivers along with the stream of millions of tourists every year. There was steady factory work, reliable wages, and bustling business corridors on Main St. and Pine Ave. with

By Dave Seminara I’m a mad traveler who has visited 85 countries and is never happier than when I’m in an unfamiliar place. My travel addiction was born in Niagara Falls in the 1980s. As a kid growing up in nearby Williamsville, my mom — a fellow compulsive traveler — would take me to both sides of the Falls often. I loved the waterfalls, of course, but what fascinated me even more was hearing foreign languages and feeling like I was on an exotic vacation so close to home. Now I live in Florida but come back to Western New

For about five years now, Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino has been pushing his $200 million Centennial Park legacy project—at the expense of looking at potentially much more financially worthy projects like the $1.5 billion data center proposed by NFR—and so far there are no legitimate financial backers for the mayor’s plan even given a new feasibility study that delivers no commercial foundation for success.  No commitments to support the project financially from anybody. The feasibility study is a narrative that delivers more of the same wishful thinking that the mayor has been selling but nothing concrete that investors can