Indian Trading Zone
The view below shows a part of the emerging Indian Territory in
Niagara Falls. The city's now-tallest structure, the Seneca-Niagara Hotel
is the dominant feature. The ground floors attach to the former Niagara
Falls Convention Center, converted a few years back to an Indian gambling casino.
The sign at right show the hype of efforts by a government-funded development group
very active in attempts to redevelop area surrounding the now-so-called "sovereign"
territory of the Seneca Indians. No success by this group of any significance,
yet. Just visible to the lower left is remains of the "splash park"
that went B/R reportedly owing the city huge amounts in back taxes. The city
is now rumored to have given up its tax claim on the property to that it can be sold to
the Indians for a multi-million dollar sum. The city will eventually get its back
tax money but that will end it. That property, like the hotel, and the gambling
casino will be off the tax rolls forever. (2/3/06)
$200-Million Indian hotel open. The new Seneca-Niagara Hotel, connected to the Seneca Niagara Casino is reported "sold out" for New Year's Eve. The 26-story facility with 604 rooms reportedly employs about 1,000 persons (full and part-time) and has $100/night as its lowest winter room rate. Other hotels in Niagara Falls (NY) are not happy. They cite a 30% financial advantage the Seneca Indians have since they do not have to comply with many New York State laws (sales tax and smoking to name a couple). Additionally, the Seneca's escape other taxes, too since they claim to be a sovereign nation. The prime downtown property they control is off the tax rolls of the city, school district, and Niagara County. (12/29/05)
Airport plans still in limbo. The Niagara Falls "International" Airport is still in "limbo" even after over $1-million of taxpayer money was spent developing plans for its expansion for use with charter flights into the area for tourism and gambling. The sleepy facility is controlled by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) which also runs the "Buffalo-Niagara International Airport" at Cheektowaga. Cost of a new terminal at Niagara Falls, to meet increased federal security standards, would be funded in part by up to $13-million from slot machine revenue at the Indian-run casino and from State of New York monies. Very little traffic moves in the Niagara Falls airport at present due, some say, because NFTA is not anxious that the Falls' facility, with a super-long runway suitable for big jets on international flights, compete with the Cheektowaga facility only about 11 miles away. Flights going in there now are generally cargo flights and some private aircraft. There are no regular public flights. Attempts, NFTA claims, continue to bring charter flights and a scheduled discount airline into Niagara Falls. (12/27/05)
Teen shot dead. 17-year old Gerald Cannon of Pierce Avenue in Niagara Falls reportedly shot himself dead in the head Wednesday morning, 11/30. Police reports first indicated he had been shot by a man seeking revenge. Those reports, it's now said, were based on witnesses in the 1100 block of Linwood Avenue, where the shooting took place, who lied to police. Now reports indicate the shooting may have been an "accident" while Cannon was playing with a weapon. Cannon was a school drop-out who some said had been hanging out with "the wrong crowd." (12/1/05)
Politicians agree to split spoils of Niagara gambling. The
Seneca tribe of Indians runs a gambling casino in Niagara Falls, New York---city taxpayers
having given up their long-standing Convention Center for the site. The tribe is in
the process of expanding the 24/7 gambling operation into hotels, restaurant, retail
stores and other operations. They pay no tax on the property they have acquired, it
just disappears off the tax rolls and increases the burden that other Niagara Falls and
Niagara County property owners must shoulder. As partial compensation for this cost,
and the cost of increasing welfare and police activity, the tribe had agreed to give up a
portion of the gross revenue from the casino. It amounts to about $24-million a
year. But the politicians have been fighting over than money for about two
years. Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte (D) has blocked efforts for a resolution by
demanding all the money goes to the city of Niagara Falls, where her reputed mentor, Mayor
Vincent Anello hold control. GOP power king, State Senator George Maziarz (R) who
neither lives in the Falls or represents it in Albany has held thing up as he's tried to
grab a portion of the money for Niagara County where his cortege hold control.
After months of sometimes bitter bickering, DelMonte and Maziarz have
reportedly reached an agreement. Anello will get 75% of the bounty to dispense to
his political favorites and Maziarz will have the remaining 25% funneled into Niagara
County government which is turn will give about 35% to the Niagara IDA, 25% to the NFTA,
20% for Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital, and 20% for Niagara Falls City Schools. The
agreement, subject to sign-off by Gov. George Pataki (R), will reported stand for about
eleven years into the future. (11/24/05)
Niagara Falls budget under State audit. In what surprised no one, the New York State Comptroller's Office has announced its disapproval of the financial affairs of Niagara Falls in a published examination of Mayor Vincent Anello's $78-million budget. Anello would boost real estate taxes by 8.3% and push the city close to its constitutional tax limit. It is now at 91% of that limit. The State audit has a laundry list of serious problems with the budget which it suggests be immediately corrected. (11/24/05)
NF School employee charged in drug bust. Police say 33-year old Cortez Bradberry of Niagara Falls has been arrested after he and a San Diego, CA man allegedly were involved with the pickup of about 270 pounds of Marijuana this week in Buffalo. Authorities indicate the weed has a street value of about $200K. Bradberry, who works at a Niagara Falls elementary school, will be on paid suspension while his case (felony charges) plods through Federal Court. (11/24/05)