ken cosentino

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. This past Wednesday, Niagara Falls City Council majority voted against awarding the operating contract for the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion to Legacy Hospitality & Entertainment Group. For the past 13+ years, local vendor Mike Carella’s company Niagara Sports Tournaments (NST) has held the contract rights to operate the rink; but for the past four years, there has not been an actual operating contract for the ice pavilion due to gross incompetence exhibited by the City Administration. Christopher McKendrick, the general manager of the Sheraton Hotel on Third Street, spoke in favor of

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. The contested Hyde Park Ice Pavilion operator contract was not on the City Council agenda last Wednesday. According to the current operator of the pavilion, the agenda item is presumed (though not confirmed) to have been moved to the council meeting on Wednesday, September 17th. If passed, the council resolution will award the operating contract to Legacy Hospitality & Entertainment Group, Mayor Restaino’s choice for operating vendor; according to its terms therein. Local vendor Mike Carella’s company Niagara Sports Tournaments (NST) has held the contract for the past 14 years. Among

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino (once again) publicly embarrassed himself in the media last month after he ordered the locks changed at the Hyde Park ice pavilion, just to stop a youth hockey camp from practicing. Around 75 people (including the youth athletes, their parents and their coaches); were met by DPW Director Ken Tompkins and two police officers. Despite the fact that the athletes had already paid for hockey camp, they were told that they could not enter the facility. The news flurry sent City Administrator Anthony Restaino into damage

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. THE (LATEST) INCIDENT The Restaino Brothers have once again shown their asses to our entire community. On Monday morning, dozens of youth hockey players ages 11 to 14 (along with their parents and coaches) arrived at the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion for the start of hockey camp. The athletes (who had already registered and paid for camp) were intercepted by DPW Director Ken Tompkins and four armed Niagara Falls police officers who would not allow them into the building. Mayor Restaino ordered Tompkins and co. to change the locks on the

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Niagara Falls native Gabriel Porto was a proud Italian-American. His book, aptly titled “Memoirs of an Italian American”, was self published in 2023 on Amazon. As one might suspect, “Memoirs of an Italian American” is Gabriel Porto’s autobiography. Porto was a first generation Italian-American whose parents migrated to the United States in the early twentieth century. Born in 1934, Porto shares with us his memories as an Italian kid growing up in Niagara Falls during a completely different era. My own Sicilian grandfather Anthony Cosentino was born in Niagara Falls in

The following is Part Four of an ongoing series by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Part One, Two and Three recap: Niagara Falls Department of Public Works (DPW) invaded a privately owned home sensory garden, which occupied both public and private property; and removed just about everything. The family whose garden was destroyed were fined $2,300 by the City for expenses incurred during the clean up. Some of the sensory garden was on public property which violated Ordinance 738, but it is unclear as to whether or not any health hazards which may have been discovered on private property prompted the

The following is Part Three of an ongoing series by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Part One recap: Niagara Falls DPW removed a sensory garden owned by a family whose 15 year old son has autism. The sensory garden occupied both public and private property. Local journalist Mark Scheer first reported the story on Friday, April 25th, three days after the incident. Scheer’s Niagara Gazette article and a social media uproar prompted a media frenzy, and the news was covered by WGRZ, WIVB and WKBW. As a direct response to the media coverage, the executive office of the City of Niagara Falls

The following is Part Two of an ongoing series written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Part One recap: Niagara Falls DPW removed a sensory garden owned by a family whose 15 year old son has come a long way since he was originally diagnosed with low functioning, nonverbal autism. The sensory garden occupied both public property (sidewalk/easement) and private property; its removal was conducted during Autism Awareness Month. The City then slapped the family with a $2,300 fine. Local journalist Mark Scheer first reported the story on Friday, April 25th; three days after the incident occurred. The Niagara Gazette article

The following is Part One of an ongoing series written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. THE INCIDENT Monday, April 21st – just one day after Easter, a Niagara Falls family’s sensory garden was confiscated and unintentionally trampled by Niagara Falls Department of Public Works (DPW) employees. The sensory garden occupied space on both public and private property. Adding insult to injury, they were then slapped with a $2,300 removal/clean up fee.  An uproar on social media led to two Niagara Gazette articles written by local investigative journalist Mark Scheer, who was then publicly dressed down by Council Chairman Jim Perry.

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. A.I. IS A-OK For a long time, many of us have held out hope that the City of Niagara Falls, NY could once again become a “City of the Future.” Niagara Falls provides power to roughly half of the East Coast, including New York City. Genius inventor and “Father of Electricity” Nikola Tesla gave the world alternating current; born from the hydropower generated by the mighty Niagara River. Once dubbed the “Power City”, Niagara Falls is positioned to become a global leader in a new era of technology… if elected officials

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. [Author’s Note: Several days after this article was originally published, this reporter was contacted by Michael Bagley who said that the emails containing my requests for an interview were lost in his spam folder. Mr. Bagley suggested edits regarding company roles. This article has been edited and corrected accordingly. Ultimately, the omitted information does not impact the overall story.]. MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS A new technology firm called “9 Lives Digital Group” appears to be busy at work in the old Globe Metallurgical factory, located at 3807 Highland Avenue. Locals are saying

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Picking Up Where We Left Off: Another Round of Smokescreens Last Thursday the Niagara Falls City Council voted in approval of Mayor Restaino’s $9 million+ budget items during a special meeting. After city council originally tabled these items several weeks ago due to a lack of information from the administration, Mayor Restaino released an unsettling video boasting about how he tricked the council members into voting against an RFP for the scandalous dog kennel contract. Three days before the special meeting, the Reporter exposed the smokescreen tactics Mayor Restaino was using to

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Last Wednesday’s Council Meeting In a surprising turn of events last Wednesday night, the majority of Niagara Falls City Council voted against several of the mayor’s budget line items. Local activists including City Councilman Donta Myles, Arlene Doss, Tanya Barone and others have worked hard to amplify those voices, which until now have been suppressed by the current administration. Just yesterday the Niagara Gazette reported that Council Chairman Jim Perry followed in Mayor Restaino’s footsteps when the New York Coalition for Open Government added him to the naughty list. Perry violated

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. MAYOR RESTAINO FIDDLES WHILE ROME IS BURNING As 2024 dwindles down we find ourselves staring into the abyss that is Niagara Falls politics. On a grand scale, I have hope that 2025 will rank better than all four years of Joe Biden’s disastrous presidency. Speaking of disastrous administrations; we still have three more years of Mayor Robert Restaino’s unhinged antics, lies and unchecked wanton spending. Here’s a look back on some of this year’s most notable local issues and where Mayor Restaino stands with each one. The first major local issue

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. It’s been two years since the former director of the Niagara University’s Global Tourism Institute, Pat Whalen, warned us about the looming tax burden Mayor Restaino’s Centennial Park and event center will inevitably create for us. Despite these warnings, our mayor is forging ahead with his plans which are founded upon loose and lofty sentiments.  In 2022, Niagara Gazette’s Mark Scheer reported, “Restaino, representatives of his administration and members of the city council who have agreed to pursue eminent domain for the purposes of acquiring land for Centennial Park, all acknowledge

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Rats! It’s like a scene from a horror movie, except it’s all too real for hundreds of residents living in the LaSalle area where giant hungry rats have invaded homes, cars and trash cans. In September, City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino held a public meeting at the LaSalle branch library. Also in attendance were County Legislators Chris McKimmie and Chris Voccio. None of the five members of City Council were able to attend because the meeting was scheduled for the exact date and time as the council meeting; a

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. The fight continues between (38 year) US Army veteran/community activist Arlene Doss and cowardly bully Mayor Robert Restaino over the Beech Avenue Project. Despite Arlene’s larger-than-life moral stature, it would be misleading to label this a “Battle of the Titans” due to the stark contrast between Mayor Restaino’s petty impish character and Arlene’s formidable abilities/community support. For those who are just now catching up: While campaigning, Mayor Restaino promised the good folks living in the North End of town that the City would build the Beech Avenue park and event center.

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. The Amtrak Train Station located at 825 Depot Avenue is an early polling location for voters in and around Niagara Falls, NY. Early voting began on Saturday, October 26th and “since then, every single day, at least one, and sometimes several elderly voters have violently tripped and fallen in front of the Train Station” an election machine operator at this location told the Reporter. The cause of these falls is a huge bump and sudden drop-off in the street in front of the entrance to the City-owned Train Station which runs

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. “We have been deceived on the North End of Niagara Falls. We have been defrauded,” Arlene (Jackson) Doss told WKBW earlier this month while referring to Mayor Robert Restaino’s refusal to write a letter of support for the Beech Avenue project; so that Arlene and her nonprofit Niagara United Vision can submit for grant funding from the Niagara River Greenway Commission. Mayor Restaino shook hundreds of hands, took countless photos and made all kinds of promises during his campaign trail. He showed support for the Beech Avenue project which includes plans

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. During a Niagara Falls City Council meeting on September 4th, Tanya Barone stepped up to the podium to speak for the good of the community. Once she announced that she was going to discuss a Freedom of Information Act request that she filed regarding a contract between the City of Niagara Falls and the Pit Chic, Council Chairman Jim Perry immediately interrupted her and told her that she was not allowed to speak. Even worse, Perry instructed an officer to escort Barone out of the council chambers. The following was published

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Mayor Restaino’s reckless and wanton misuse of our tax dollars seems to know no boundaries. He now wants to renovate the former DPW building in the middle of Hyde Park into an animal shelter. He’s planning on using $4.5 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to pay for this questionable project.  For our impoverished city, that’s one expensive animal shelter; Niagara Falls is now saturated with homeless people and over 25% of our community lives below the poverty line (which is more than twice the national average). But hey, let’s

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. The City of Niagara Falls, NY has been plagued by poor development deals since time immemorial. Mayor Restaino promises to keep that tradition alive by marching our city into the development business and right off a fiscal cliff.  First is his abysmal dream of Centennial Park, which appears to be nothing more than a monument to himself. It should be noted that the City of Buffalo is converting the former LaSalle Park into the Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park; so Restaino’s choice of name lacks originality.  Now Mayor Restaino has his

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Mayor Robert Restaino has been intentionally misleading his constituents for the past 3+ years by telling us that Centennial Park will cost taxpayers an estimated $150 million. When the Niagara Gazette attempted to uncover the actual projected costs of the project by a Freedom of Information Act request, Restaino’s administration rejected their FOIA. After appealing the initial rejection, the Niagara Gazette was successful in obtaining the financial information which showed that the projected cost is actually $165 million; or $15 million higher than the mayor has been telling us. Mayor Restaino’s

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. On Wednesday night, all five members of the Niagara Falls City Council voted unanimously to revoke the membership of council appointed Niagara Falls Water Board (NFWB) member Michael Asklar due to “numerous complaints” and “dissatisfactory performance,” and to replace him with James S. Dean. Mark Scheer of the Niagara Gazette called the council’s decision “a move likely to land them in court.” This bi-partisan, unanimous vote came after months of finger pointing and saber rattling between both entities. Joe Genco of the Niagara Express called James S. Dean a “Democratic political

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Once again, Mayor Robert Restaino is being accused of racism against Black people in the City of Niagara Falls. For those keeping score – this is the second series of complaints of this nature against the mayor this month. This time, the complaint is coming from members of the Niagara Falls Fifth Annual Juneteenth Committee. On June 5th, several local Black business owners told WGRZ’s Nate Benson that their businesses were unfairly targeted and issued cease and desist notices erroneously. Mayor Restaino denied the allegations of unfair treatment and racism. In

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Local taxpayers have been critical of Mayor Restaino’s administration, which has labeled the City of Niagara Falls as anti-business and pro-gentrification; utilizing the department of code enforcement to implement his agenda. Years ago I sat in on a city council meeting, listening to taxi cab owners as they tried to convince the council to ban ride share services such as Uber and Lyft. The taxi owners claimed that these services would undercut their businesses and hurt their bottom line. In actuality, those taxi owners are used to having a monopoly in

The inaugural Grey Area Film Festival will take place on June 13, 2024, from 6:00PM to 9:00 PM, celebrating the creativity and hard work of Niagara Falls High School students. This event will be held at The Capitol Theatre in Niagara Falls, providing a platform for students to premiere their films to an audience of family, friends, classmates, faculty, and community members. Since March 2024, these dedicated students have immersed themselves in the intricate world of filmmaking, learning various facets of production and cinematic arts. Their journey has encompassed scriptwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and more, enabling them to express their

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Live entertainment experts such as Christian Printup have voiced their opinions in opposition of Mayor Restaino’s proposed event center in Niagara Falls, NY. One of their key arguments as to whether or not this project is even feasible involves the saturated market for live events in immediate proximity to our community. The City of Niagara Falls already has three event centers, two of which are owned by the Seneca Nation of Indians. The first is the Bear’s Den which seats 440 people and is located inside of the Seneca Niagara Casino.

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. This past Friday, the Niagara Gazette’s investigative journalist Mark Scheer published an editorial entitled “Economists on sports venue public financing: ‘read the fine print’.” Scheer astutely compared expert analyses on the public funding of the new Buffalo Bills stadium with Mayor Robert Restaino’s proposed use of public funding for his event center. The verdict: Not so good for the taxpayers. According to Scheer, economic experts participated in a webinar presented by EconoFact this past Thursday. Those experts cautioned heavily about the use of public funding for stadiums and sports venues. And

Last night, the popular Discovery+ paranormal series “Expedition X” aired their latest episode called “Niagara Nightmare,” which was filmed in Niagara Falls, NY as well as Lockport. The description for the episode reads: “Jess and Phil dive into the mysteries of Niagara Falls. The popular honeymoon destination is also the site of a deluge of horrors. The team investigates reports of disturbing paranormal activity and the famous falls history of violent deaths.” Niagara Falls is steeped in myths, legends and historically bloody battles – and Hollywood is starting to take notice. The hosts of this series, Jessica Chobot and Phil

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. TURTLE RECAP: CENSORING THOSE WITH A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION Last week’s debacle surrounding the Turtle building should be a major wake up call for the people of Niagara Falls. A Buffalo-based group of Erie County “preservationists” failed miserably in its attempt to landmark the Turtle building which most observers believed would have inevitably led to another eminent domain lawsuit between the City of Niagara Falls and Niagara Falls Redevelopment. Wisely, the Niagara Falls City Council voted against the landmark designation. Some members of the council recognized a pattern of encroachment which

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!”  Earlier this week, Niagara Falls City Council voted against granting the Turtle building a historic landmark designation. The defeat was devastating to the Buffalo outliers behind the “preservation” movement, led by Carl Skompinski and Bernice Radle. Supporters of the “Save the Turtle” movement were also disappointed after Wednesday night’s council meeting. Some brought signs with slogans such as “Save the Turtle” and “Reawaken the Turtle.” The vote passed 3 to 1 with Councilmember Donta Myles choosing to abstain.

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. I have watched with interest as the “Save the Turtle” drama unfolds. The Turtle has no special spiritual significance to me, nor do I have any memories or recollection from its brief heyday. I was just a kid when the Turtle was foreclosed upon and forced to close its doors. Also, I am not Indigenous, so I do not feel the same connection to the Turtle that many of my friends may feel. Still, I have been contacted dozens of times over the last few months by Indigenous People from both

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the highest property taxes in the nation for a metropolitan sized city is Rochester, NY at a 2.4% effective rate. Interestingly, the average property tax rate in Niagara County is 2.89%. Niagara Falls residents have the highest city property tax rate of any municipality in the county. We are also the only municipality in the county with a two-tier tax system, and businesses pay more than double the residential tax rate. Aside from the crime, this is one reason why so many businesses flee our

Comedian Ernie Bivins, AKA “Black Ernie,” is making a name for himself in Las Vegas. “I’m 49, but I feel like I’m 29!” Jokes the Niagara Falls Native, whose career began here in his hometown in 2008. “I was doing shows for a few years and then I met Mike Epps in 2012,” says Ernie, “He gave me a shot and ever since then, Mike Epps has had me on every show of his on the East Coast.” Black Ernie is still a close friend of actor/comedian Mike Epps, whose film credits include starring and supporting roles in hit franchises

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Last night’s city council meeting was further proof that Mayor Restaino’s proposed use of CDBG funds for purchasing Parcel 0 is still on the table. Last night, Councilmember Vincent Cauley attempted to rescind the authority the council granted the Mayor last December to use CDBG funds for the purchase of Parcel 0. If the authority is not rescinded, the door remains open for the Mayor to use these funds.  Mayor Restaino has stated that CDBG funds are off the table, as the community has been very clear; they want the funds focused

As part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls, this article will focus specifically on Democratic candidate for city council Brian Archie. In this series we will examine the Black candidates and judge them not by the color of their skin, but by their own words, thoughts, ideas and platforms. A potentially historic moment is hanging in the balance for Niagara Falls politics. Two candidates for mayor, Republican frontrunner Carl Cain and underdog activist Demetreus Nix (WAWG) are both challenging incumbent Mayor Robert Restaino. Both challengers are Black men with

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Downtown Niagara Falls has effectively become a garbage dump. We’ve all seen it as we drive down streets and alleys. Old mattresses, used tires, trash bags ripped open with their contents spilling out all over the ground. The average person drives by these eyesores and wonders “Who’s cleaning all of this up?” Never in my life have I seen so much garbage littering the streets of our community. Tourists from all over the world are greeted with a whirlwind of debris that warns them not to venture deeper into our city.

This article is part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls, focusing specifically on candidate for city council Uniquia Lewis. In this series we will examine the Black candidates and judge them not by the color of their skin, but by their own words, thoughts, ideas and platforms. A potentially historic moment is hanging in the balance for Niagara Falls politics. Two candidates for mayor, Republican frontrunner Carl Cain and underdog activist/entrepreneur Demetreus Nix (WAWG) are both challenging incumbent Mayor Robert Restaino. Both challengers are Black men with almost polar

This article is part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls. This article will focus specifically on Republican candidate for city council Vincent Cauley, who is running for re-election. In this series we will examine the Black candidates and judge them not by the color of their skin, but by their own words, thoughts, ideas and platforms. A potentially historic moment is hanging in the balance for Niagara Falls politics. Two candidates for mayor, Republican frontrunner Carl Cain and underdog activist/entrepreneur Demetreus Nix (WAWG) are both challenging incumbent Mayor Robert

This article is part of a series highlighting the Black candidates currently running for office in the City of Niagara Falls. This article will specifically focus on mayoral candidate Carl Cain. In this series, we strive to examine the Black candidates and judge them not by the color of their skin, but by their own words, thoughts, ideas and platforms. A potentially historic moment is hanging in the balance for Niagara Falls politics. Two candidates for mayor, Republican frontrunner Carl Cain and underdog activist/entrepreneur Demetreus Nix (WAWG) are both challenging incumbent Mayor Robert Restaino. Both challengers are Black men with

If you believe Mayor Robert Restaino, the city’s never been safer; crime is down and all is right with the city and his administration. However, if you look at crime statistics, or even look around and see what’s really happening, an entirely different picture emerges than Restaino’s alternate reality. Here’s a video that we think illustrates nicely the two completely opposite viewpoints. One is Mayor Restaino’s view of crime and his handling of it, and the other view is the truth. Please click on the video and learn a little bit more. https://frankreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Restaino-Lies-Frank-Edit-2.mp4 (Video edited by Ken Cosentino)

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Right about now, the walls are closing in on Bobby. Even if he wins, he loses. Emails and messages have flooded in to the Reporter with tips and stories about Mayor Robert Restaino’s private life. Some are so tawdry and cringeworthy that they won’t even be mentioned here. Election season will take its toll on any incumbent. But for Bobby, this election season has been quite revealing. Despite what we see on the surface, such as union endorsements and public support, there is a very different story unfolding behind the scenes. Having

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. The following is a screenshot taken directly from the main webpage of Mayor Restaino’s 2019 campaign platform. These are his top three campaign promises: For clarity, it reads: Development. We must focus on business development that can deliver employment with wages to empower families and help stabilize neighborhoods. Transparency. The citizens of Niagara Falls have had enough “spin” from this administration. It’s time for candor, clarity, openness, honesty and accountability from City government. Collaborative Government. Residents will no longer shoulder the burden of partisanship and petty politics. Remember when Mayor Restaino

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. As the mayoral election draws nearer in the city of Niagara Falls, one can’t help but wonder what will happen if Mayor Robert Restaino gets re-elected. Aside from Mayor Restaino dishing out small business grants to locals in exchange for votes and cutting ribbons at press events, Restaino’s focus is on one solitary thought: His legacy event center. Restaino hasn’t so much as addressed the ever-spiking violent crime rate, which is at an all time high. He hasn’t addressed the poverty and homelessness which is also at an all time high.

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. MAYOR RESTAINO AND THE SO-CALLED “BLACK VOTE” Mayor Restaino has been handing out “candy,” but it’s not Halloween yet. It’s election season, and that candy is actually grant money. This past week, Mayor Restaino announced that he was awarding $100,000 to Christ Redemption Tabernacle Church, located at 339 22nd Street. While I have no personal quarrel with the church accepting our tax dollars to repair their roof, I do sincerely hope that Bishop Kevin Dobbs and his parish know that they’ve shaken hands with the devil. These types of Faustian agreements

Now is your chance to be seen on national television at The Book Corner, a three story high family-owned local book store owned by Jeff Morrow. “We’re celebrating 96 years of business,” says Morrow. On Saturday, September 23rd, Buffalo-based television series Off-Beat Cinema will be filming live at The Book Corner, located at 1801 Main Street in Niagara Falls, NY (between the Rapids Theater and the police station). The live taping will include a painting being created by five artists simultaneously, live musical performances from Mister Thank You and Joe Mombrea, door prizes, and refreshments provided by Marketside Restaurant and

One of the most common statements that I hear from members of our community is that “Niagara Falls needs younger leaders.” It’s true – we need new blood, new ideas and youthful energy to lead the rebranding of our community. To understand how this can work, one only need look at the rapid growth and expansion of the Aquarium of Niagara. 32 year old Gary Siddall has been the CEO of the aquarium since 2016. Recently, the aquarium has announced several major projects and initiatives including the $5 million Great Lakes 360 project, which will occupy the long vacant Gorge

By Ken Cosentino The Niagara Reporter spoke with one of Mayor Robert Restaino’s 46 victims from the infamous 2005 “cell phone incident.” In 2005, Judge Robert Restaino wrongfully imprisoned 46 people after verbally abusing them for two hours, in an event that was described as “two hours of inexplicable madness” by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. It’s actually quite difficult for a judge to be removed from the bench. The commission stated “removal is not normal to be imposed for poor judgment, even extremely poor judgment,” adding that Restaino acted as a “petty tyrant” and “without any

If you’ve taken the Cave of the Winds tour at any point in the last twenty years, there’s a good chance that you may have met Travis Saturley. Travis has likely greeted over a million visitors with his warm smile and in-depth knowledge of Niagara Falls history. His love for his hometown always shined through as a tour guide during the tourist season. Many times I have personally witnessed Travis engaging with tourists and giving them a memorable experience. During the off season, Travis is one of the expert deck builders responsible for braving the raging waters underneath the

Elizabeth Harris-Smoke aka Beth Smoke (Six Nations Mohawk, Wolf Clan) just won the USA Boxing Women’s Championship in the 176+ pound bracket. At 13 years old, she has a promising road ahead of her. Born in Ontario, Canada, Beth relocated to Niagara Falls, NY when she was just a baby. Her Grammie and Papa became her caretakers. At 7 years old, Beth began learning Taekwondo at Master Khechen’s Martial Arts Academy, located in the Niagara Falls city market. She started learning how to box when she was just 8 years old. Today, Beth is a first degree black belt

38-year-old Phil Gigliotti is a lifelong resident of Niagara Falls, NY who grew up on Cayuga Island. Today he is a husband and father, an avid sports fan,  and a collector and lover of nature. Over a decade ago, while living in an apartment on Buffalo Avenue, Phil experienced a brush with fate. Says Phil, “I rented an apartment on the Cayuga Creek. One night I was woken up by what I thought was a bomb going off… but what really happened was that a huge tree crashed down into the creek, likely due to shoreline erosion. A few

By Ken Cosentino After reading Matt Cole’s recent op-ed entitled “The Indifference of Good Men!” I felt compelled to reply with this, my own guest view. I intend to address Cole’s statements, but first I wondered “Just who is Matt Cole?” A quick Google search revealed a nine year old article which quoted Restaino-appointed NFWB Chairman Nick Forster, praising Cole while simultaneously endorsing him as a candidate for State Assembly. Cole was unsuccessful in his bid for office. Cole’s guest view ends with the following quote from Edmund Burke, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that

By Ken Cosentino After the video of Mayor Restaino’s meltdown was posted to Twitter, over 100,000 people viewed it online within 24 hours. Among those commenting on Twitter was Daniel Telvock, who said, “File assault charges. He cannot touch Ben or his equipment. Bizarre is putting that lightly. Still waiting on my FOIL, my Mayor. And a new one is coming, to find out how much spent on following a police officer around with narcotic detectives removed from their normal duties.” Daniel Telvock is an investigative producer with WIVB-Channel 4 news. Telvock’s FOIL request is one that has been the

Mayor’s Unpredictable Anger Strikes Again By Ken Cosentino Folks, we literally have a petty tyrant as our mayor. While awaiting election results Tuesday night, Mayor Robert Restaino could no longer suppress the impotent rage that has become synonymous with his legacy. Once again, Restaino displayed his ugly and explosive temperament to the public. In an embarrassing show of his infamous hair-trigger temper, Restaino lashed out at WGRZ-TV journalist Ben Read during an onscreen interview. Viewers quickly learned why major news outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC and The Guardian once reported that Restaino is

Mayor Restaino Declares War on Unflattering Questions with Hand By Ken Cosentino   Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino won the Democratic primary on Tuesday night. His win was majorly overshadowed by a (now viral) interview between himself and WGRZ-TV photojournalist Ben Read. That video has been viewed over 100,000 times online in less than 24 hours. When Read asked Restaino “How would you grade the city at this point,” a levee somewhere inside Restaino’s brain collapsed and he could no longer control his impish anger. Restaino lashed out at Read, saying, “How would I grade the city? The city that

By Ken Cosentino Several days ago, the Niagara Falls Reporter published a bombshell article about Nick Forster’s Niagara Falls Water Board (NFWB). The article was a deep dive into questionable spending, hiring practices, alleged micro-managing practices by Forster, and potential connections to Mayor Robert Restaino’s re-election campaign. Since publication, several readers have reached out to the Reporter to voice their disdain. Ratepayers have said that they demand a refund on their water bill. Some have suggested a class action lawsuit. During the investigation, the Reporter interviewed four current and former employees of NFWB who wished to remain anonymous out of

By Ken Cosentino Mayor Restaino is a registered Democrat, and not surprisingly he’s been endorsed by the Democratic Committee. Conversely, he was also endorsed by the Conservative Party, which will help boost his votes in the general election. Arguably, Restaino sought the Conservative endorsement in order to appeal to another set of voters who are not aligned with Democratic ideals. Restaino also sought out the Republican endorsement. He didn’t get it. This begs the question: Is Robert Restaino really a Democrat? Despite having shown support for Restaino during his first mayoral campaign, the Republican Committee has made their stance clear

By Ken Cosentino Put on your wetsuit, slip on your flippers and let’s take a deep dive into the cesspool that is Nick Forster’s Niagara Falls Water Board. As a homeowner and resident of the City of Niagara Falls, I am extremely concerned by what you are about to read. Residents of neighboring municipalities are paying a fraction of the cost that we pay for our water. Mayor Restaino’s appointed Chairman of the Niagara Falls Water Board, Nick Forster, is directly responsible for the huge increase in our water bills over the past three years. Nick Forster’s Niagara Falls Water

By Ken Cosentino Ernie Bivins AKA “Black Ernie” is one of Niagara Falls’ most recognizable citizens. As a comedian, he has shared the stage with big names such as Mike Epps. Ernie has also been deeply involved in local politics since as far back as 1992. In 2019, Ernie was a significant part of Mayor Robert Restaino’s election campaign. He put together a crew of friends and helped pass out flyers and signs in the Fourth District. He also registered new voters and helped drive people to the polls. On election night, Ernie was Restaino’s runner – meaning he picked