Fiasco at Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge. U.S. border
guards, apparently with lots of Y2K hype, mistook an abandoned automobile in a parking lot
near the bridge as a terrorist vehicle. At one point, boarder authorities even
claimed dogs had detected the odor of bomb making chemicals in the car. It turns out
the car had been sitting in the same place for eight days after Niagara Falls Police had
arrested its driver, a Pennsylvania man, for driving without a license. The Rainbow
International Bridge was shut down for two hours after authorities hit the panic button.
Finally authorities admitted their mistake, blaming it all on a
"miscommunication." And these are people who are supposed to be guarding
our borders from smugglers, terrorists, and illegals? (12/31/99)
Now, even the newspaper terms Niagara Falls Festival of Lights "a
farce." In a commentary in the Monday, 12/20 edition of the Niagara
Gazette, the paper's city hall reporter, Mike Hudson, gives an honest but blistering
appraisal of the Niagara Falls, NY "Festival of Light." Hudson uses the
terms, "tragedy," farce," and "Festival of Darkness" to describe
the dim winter tourist attraction. The newspaper report comes just days after
Festival chairwoman, Joan Conrad, was given the fourth degree in a radio appearance on
WLVL where callers flocked to telephone in complaints about the festival and its plan to
expand into lighting up Goat Island. A common theme of complaint has been the poor
condition of the city infrastructure in the area of the lighting, poorly planned
entertainment, poor and deceptive publicity, and poor quality of the exhibits and layout.
The newspaper reports estimates between $150,000 and a half million is spent
on the festival for a "dim reminder of holiday spirit." Meanwhile, across
the border, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the Canadian festival of lights flourishes.
The Gazette report pretty much mirrors a report last
winter here at the Lockport Home Page. (12/20)
Lake level at Buffalo at 80-year low (for a few hours).
Global-warming crape hangers are about to have a field day. On Tuesday, 12/14, the
level of Lake Erie at Buffalo dipped to an 80-year low of just under 568 feet above sea
level. The mean level for the lake at Buffalo is 571-feet above sea level.
Portions of the lake bed along the Buffalo shoreline that hadn't been visible
since the droughts of the 30's were visible. It will go down in the record books and
be used by pseudo-scientists as proof of the effects of "global warming."
Baloney! The real cause, according to real scientists, is the
"Seiche Effect" which is a strong easterly wind (gale force) that pushed large
amounts of lake water to the western side of the lake (where levels were up).
Conditions were back to near-normal on Wednesday morning. (12/15)
V.P. Al Gore claims credit for Love Canal dump discovery. Niagara
County residents are rolling their eyes over the latest claim by United States Vice
President (and "Internet Inventor") Al Gore. In a talk to school children
in New Hampshire this week Gore claims that he "found a little place in upstate New
York called 'Love Canal' and that a hearing he had in Tennessee in October 1978 'started
it all." That hearing, however, it turns out, came two months after President
Carter had declared Love Canal an "environmental emergency" and still more
months after wide media publicity. One of those who manufactured a career on the
Love Canal experience, Lois Gibbs, called Gore's latest claim as "pretty
pathetic." When confronted by media in Washington a day later about his claim
and various historical datemarks, Gore backed away from his claim saying it was all a
"misimpression." (12/2)
Bus driver admits she "made up" tale of boy on bus with
gun. Her claim had caused extensive school and area searches. 45-year
old Suzanne I. Aupperle had told authorities that as a Williamsville School District bus
driver, a teenage boy had waved a handgun at her on Tuesday, 11/16, and declared that he
hated the Williamsville School District. A day later she admitted to State Police
she made the whole thing up. She is scheduled to appear in court on December 2nd to
answer charges of falsely reporting an incident and making a punishable false written
statement. (11/18)
Legislators to give themselves 25% raise. The spending on political
payoffs just doesn't seem to end despite what GOP leaders were calling a financial crisis
(before election). At a Tuesday, 11/16 meeting, the Niagara County Legislature
moved to include raises for all legislators effective in January. They'll get $3000
more per year under the proposed record Year 2000 budget which soars to $202.4-million.
Under the proposed budget, the Lockport City tax rate will go up 8-cents per
thousand of assessed valuation. The Town of Lockport gets a tax cut of
43-cents per thousand. However, most other areas of the county show no increase in
tax rate thanks to the influx of millions in tobacco legal settlement money.
(11/17)
Post-election disclosure: Pols wants raises. Not to matter
that the Niagara County Republican leadership were all saying how they would have to
"fight" to avoid a tax increase for the year 2000. Niagara County Clerk
Wayne Jagow wanted a 16% raise. But not a good idea to press for that before
election, especially after arrangements had been made for him to run un-opposed. So,
two weeks after the Republicans win control of the Niagara County Legislature, favorites
of the County Republican Committee start lining up additional feedings at the public
trough. And, reported first in line is Jagow who is said to be seeking a pay boost
to $66,398. (Jagow has a second job as pastor of an area church). Real
Property Tax Services Director William F. Budde Jr. is reported seeking a 12.4% boost to
$53,640. But, political apologists say, these double-digit raises are really quite
modest compared with about a million dollars in raises to members of the Niagara County
Sheriff's Department approved before election. (11/14)
O.J.'s lawyer in town seeking $150-million. That's
what Johnny Cochran is after in a wrongful-death suit against Walden Galleria, NFTA, and a
trucking company. The matter is the death of 17-year old Cynthia Wiggins who was hit
by a truck after getting off a bus and then jay-walking across a 7-lane highway of traffic
to get to her job at the Walden Galleria Mall on December 14, 1995. The legal team
for the Wiggins family brought in high-profile Cochran to put the blame for the accident
on every entity (with deep pockets) they could tie to the incident---except the teenager
herself. Legal observers feel the Wiggins family has a chance at success in the case
because it's been turned into a racial matter with Cochran brought in to sway the favor of
the jury. Opinions base success almost solely on Cochran who "if he could win
for O.J. he can win this one, too." However, legal purists are aghast and disgusted
that a fatal accident like this can be distorted into something akin to a "racial
hate crime." The trial began on Monday, 11/8, in Buffalo and is expected to
continue for several weeks. (11/9)
Grand Island man gives up his Army arsenal. He told the Army he was
collecting the weapons and equipment for the "Western New York Military Museum"
so the Army gave Thomas Gould of Grand Island possession of some 36 vintage and other
military vehicles and weapons. Enough to start an invasion of a small country.
Or, the kind of stuff to drive around town and impress, if not intimidate, your
neighbors. Thursday, 11/4, the Army began taking back the property after being
tipped off that none of it was in a museum or on public display. Among the weapons
recovered were anti-aircraft guns, armored personnel carriers, missile launchers, tanks,
and howitzers. Mr. Gould, who, according to media reports, never served in the
military, is known as an extraordinary military buff with a collection of about 15,000
items of military origin. (11/5)
Man loses handcuffs---and his pants. Police say
they were taking 28-year old Obadele R. Barnes of Niagara Falls into custody Wednesday
afternoon, 9/29, after an alleged shoplifting incident at a drug store on Portage Road
when he broke away from them and fled on foot. Several blocks away, when police
finally caught up with him, they say he was successful in making the body maneuvers
necessary to slip out of his handcuffs. However, apparently in the process, he
pulled his pants off and had to leave them behind as the police were hot on his trial.
When finally apprehended Barnes was taken to police booking without his pants
but with a multitude of charges to keep him under wraps. (9/30)
Have they no shame? Two Niagara County Legislators (both up for
re-election this November) want to call the four New York State Legislators who represent
the Niagara County area to "testify" what the State Legislators have
"done" to save the county tax dollars when they passed the recent State Budget.
The preposterous posturing comes from Bradley Erck (D-Lockport) and Daniel Mocniak
(D-Niagara Falls). It follows an earlier but similar
political posturing, just as ridiculous, by the chairman of Legislature, Gerald Meal
(R-Royalton). Erck and Mocniak will present a resolution at the next County
Legislature meeting declaring that State Senators Maziarz and Nanula plus Assemblymen
Seaman and Daly have "negligently allowed the adoption of the state budget to occur
with the benefit of public input and in a manner that failed to protect taxpayers."
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! At least when Meal came
out with his silly talk it was original. Erck and Mocniak can't even manage to be
that. (9/19)
City getting no cash for new sports complex lease. The City of Niagara
Falls has a "contract" that calls for $40,000 a year in payments to the city for
the Adelphia Sports Complex at the Hyde Park Golf Course (built on city property). But
that's about all they have. The city hasn't received a penny in payment since the complex
opened. A former city corporation counsel said that a plan to have a bond established by
the tenants to insure the contracted payments to the city was apparently abandoned when it
was thought the tenants couldn't afford the bond. After then-City Attorney Robert Merino
complained about no bond to protect the city's interest, according to public papers, he
was fired (two days later) by Mayor James Galie. (9/18)
Farmers getting water at 2% of going rate---but still complain. The State
of New York gives farmers along the Erie Barge Canal a special deal. They can siphon off
water for land irrigation purposes and pay only 2% of what local water authorities would
charge them. But some of the farmers in the area along the canal in Niagara and Orleans
counties are up in arms and complaining to their local politicians. In previous years, the
farmers complain, they could take all they wanted for just a one-time fee, well under
$100. Usually $50 or $75. Now some farmers, who withdraw millions of gallons of water from
the canal system (and ultimately the international Great Lakes) are irate when they are
being charged amounts like $700 according to an Associated Press report. New York State
Senator George Maziarz has jumped at the opportunity to "defend" the farmers who
would much rather get the water for no charge at all. Maziarz, apparently unaware of
agreements with Canada that regulate withdrawal of water from the Great Lakes postured,
"The canal water is there. I can't understand why people can't just go in and pump it
out." (9/3)
Nuke experts to use cat litter to try to stop radioactive water
seepage. When you run out of logical solutions...use cat litter.
That's what's proposed at the West Valley Demonstration Project clean-up work
along the northern border of Cattaraugus County. Those "in charge,"
apparently desperate to stop the slow migration of radioactive ground water, now say they
are going to drive large steel sheets into the ground and surround them with cat litter to
stop the migration of waste with Strontium-90. This latest effort will cost about
$1-million. The government has spent $1.4-billion so far in attempts to
clean-up the site which once was operated by a subsidiary of the Westinghouse Electric
Corporation as a "demonstration project" on how to process nuclear material.
The "demonstration" failed, the contractor quit the job, and
government taxpayers are now dealing with the expensive corrective action to land spoiled
by the project. (8/24)
Bureaucrats don't want to give up the "one-time"garbage tax. Instead
they are pressing to make the Garbage Tax another "permanent" burden for Niagara
County. Last year the Niagara County Refuse Disposal District that takes in Lockport and
most (but not all) governmental units in Niagara County complained that they needed huge
amounts of additional money to correct leaking and other problems at its mis-managed
landfills in the Lockport area. A one-time "special assessment" was imposed on
Lockport, North Tonawanda, and Niagara Falls property taxpayers and all the county towns
except Newfane, Cambria, Niagara, and Wilson. The new garbage tax of $1.1-million, imposed
over howls of protests, added about 20-cents per $1000 assessed valuation to property
taxes collected by the county. The tax went over so well for curing cost-overruns at the
Disposal District that officials there are proposing yet another tax for next year. But
instead of an apology for hitting the county again with a tax to cover mis-management
costs, according to a report in the Buffalo News, they are claiming the tax is
being "cut 40%." Talk about political spin doctors! Of course there wasn't
supposed to any tax. The tax that will be imposed next year is said to be designed
to raise an extra $600,000 from property taxpayers in the district. After that the
district may have sold its costly ill-fated landfill operations to private business to
run. If not, the "garbage taxes" are expected to continue. (8/22)
$1-Million lost reported on taxpayer investment in Wyoming County campground.
The Buffalo News is reporting that the City of Buffalo is
unlikely to recover $1-million in taxpayers' money that got funneled into a private
campground in Wyoming County through the efforts of former city councilman, Norman Bakos.
The money had been intended for a "innovative housing program" for
the city, according to the newspaper, but Bakos got it diverted to Home Equity Living
Plans, Inc (HELP) which he once headed. From there it found it's way into a risky
private venture which called itself "Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park" near North
Java. The money was first given to HELP in 1986. The News
reports that Mr. Bakos was also affiliated with the group that (secretly) purchased
the campground. (8/10)
Niagara County Legislature in ridiculous posturing over
serious issues. Two items listed on the agenda of the Niagara County
Legislature this week are real belly-busters. Item #1: A local law is
being proposed by Legislature Chairman Gerald Meal that would "prohibit state or
federal agencies from doing anything to harm the county's financial condition."
Likely to be "arrested" if the law goes into effect are members of the
State Legislature and Gov. Pataki. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
The County continues to load on its bloated payroll of political appointees despite
a decline in county population. Item #2: Legislators Samuel Granieri
(R-Niagara Falls) and John Cole III (D-Lockport) propose that the county offer
"amnesty" for the return "within 60 days" of artifacts missing for
years from the Niagara Falls Historical Society. Not to mind that the Society has
filed no complaint with authorities. Nor that the County has no real authority over
the conduct of affairs of the independent Society (which is ignoring all demands for
copies of its membership roles and other private information). And not to mind that
any possible "theft" of historical goodies was probably years ago with the
statue of limitations having run out. Additionally, not that it matters that many of
the items were given away by the Society at a time when there was no law that prohibited
it. And finally, not to mind, that the County Legislature itself gives away
the people's money to private individuals and companies through its support of an
Industrial Development Agency which is run like an independent "Society."
Oh, but it's election time! Look for both resolutions to past by wide margins!
(8/2)
MIT "revokes" diploma of graduate involved in drinking
death of WNY teen. And they say MIT is for the "very smart."
We're trying to determine what is smart about this: Scott Krueger an
18-year old honor student from Orchard Park goes off to Massachusetts Institute of
Technology in 1997and pledges for a fraternity. Police say he died from an overdose
of alcohol he allegedly was "forced" to drink during "Animal House
Night" at the Phi Gamma Delta frat house. His blood alcohol level hit
0.401-percent --- a level that most any "C" high school student would know is
fatal. After a couple days in a coma young Mr. Krueger died as to be expected.
Then the finger-pointing begins. Authorities had to find scapegoats and
"take action." First, manslaughter charges are placed against the
fraternity which just disbanded and left prosecutors nobody to prosecute. Now,
however, nearly two years later, MIT has taken "action." It has
"revoked" the diploma it awarded Charles Yoo, a frat member claimed to be partly
responsible for Krueger's consumption of the alcohol. Mr. Yoo, now 23 and a
Philadelphia stockbroker, was summoned back to campus for a "belated hearing."
Yoo's attorney, Timothy M. Burke, declared Friday, 7/30, "They chose to
scapegoat my client and take his degree, which he had earned and been awarded over a year
ago...Frankly, it's outrageous." Probably quite illegal, too, as MIT will no
doubt find out. But in the meantime its action stands to be, "oh, so
politically correct." (7/31)
Audit reveals: Housing complex owes city $750,000.
The subsidized housing unit was called Unity Park until that name became
synonymous with trouble and the place was renamed Niagara Park. But one thing hasn't
changed for the Niagara Falls low-income housing project---they apparently have
"difficulty" paying their share of city services. Not to mind that they
get a multitude of direct and indirect government subsidies. Someone apparently
feels they deserve (almost) free water and sewer service also. The complex
reportedly has a back bill of $600,000 in water charges that have been transferred to the
tax rolls for collection (fat chance). Then there is the matter of $53,033 in
current past due water bills. And now, belatedly, the city does some checking
and claims the water meters have been tampered with at the complex and city managers claim
$104,190 in additional charges are due for the period October 1996 to date. Seems
"someone" tampered with the pins and gears in the two water meters that service
the 400-unit complex so that usage would show at much lower levels. The entire back
water bills now reach about $750,000 with all charges. The city appears helpless to
enforce collection because the residents would lose "vital services for their health
and welfare" if water were shut off. We wonder how the electric company deals
with this place. Radio talk show host, G. Gordon Liddy has a one word summation that
would fit the city of Niagara Falls in this case: "S U C K E R !". (7/22)
He's missing the best solution to his department's workload. Al
Joseph, Niagara County Human Resource Department (Personnel) Director, has been on the job
about a year. He complains about the department's workload. His solution
is hire more "professionals" in the department. He says the
"pros" would replace "clerical" employees (at much higher salaries).
He's asking the County Legislature for more money for his department budget to fund
the changes he wants to make. An alternative solution to Joseph's perceived problem
is obvious but unlikely to be adopted. Reducing the County government's bloated
payroll would not only lighten Joseph's workload but the tax burden of the county
taxpayers. The alternative, however, isn't even being considered. Even
though Niagara County population continues to decline, County government keeps getting
bigger with an expanding employee payroll. (7/19)
The "big sucking sound from Sanborn."
The Niagara County Legislature is expected to give up on trying to keep
spending in check at Niagara County Community College. It's reportedly getting to be
too much work for legislators to question what the educators are doing with $6,252,741 the
county taxpayers are being asked to fork over this year. So, reports are indicating,
the Legislature is granting the college financial "autonomy." And instead
of of what the college was asking reports are now indicating a behind-the-scene agreement
to give the college an extra near $250K over the college's "wish list"
requested budget. It's election year and Niagara County has a lot of NCCC students,
alumni, and employees. (6/19)
State pays $5.15-million for part of Knox estate in East Aurora.
There was something for everybody in the arrangement announced Tuesday, 6/15
between the State of New York and Jean Knox, the widow of multi-millionaire, Seymour Knox,
the late bank and hockey tycoon. Lt. Gov. Mary Donahue gushed that Jean Knox and
State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro sat down a couple years ago over a little
afternoon luncheon at the Knox estate and made the arrangements. The State would pay
Mrs. Knox and the Knox estate $5.15 million for 635 acres of her estate. She would
thus be relieved of paying taxes and upkeep on that property. Local governments,
including East Aurora, would see this expensive piece of property evaporate off their tax
rolls, thus leaving other taxpayers to make up the difference. Mrs. Knox would
continue to live in her home and have use of the estate as always. Those privileged
to visit the Knox's "Ess Jay Farms" to play polo, tennis, ride horses, and
whatever rich people do on vast expanses of country estates would continue to be welcome.
No, state officials promised, the Knox estate would retain its character.
There would be no golf courses or "development." It goes on
the state property list as a "State Park Equestrian Center." And, how
every nice, it will retain its defacto exclusive character. No, not just
anybody will be able to come to Mrs. Knox's house for lunch. Mrs. Castro admitted
that now that the state will be paying for all the upkeep "we'll have to start
generating some income...perhaps riding lessons could be given." And finally,
we've saved the best for last: The $5.15-million will be coming from...The State
Environmental Protection Fund!" That's the bond money taxpayers were told was
going to go to clean up all the pollution around the state. Yes, something for
everyone! (6/16)
To call it "bad taste" would be an understatement. Niagara
Falls high school prom preparations this year include "educational packets" of
material given out to students to help them prepare for the big event. Some
material, of course, warns of the dangers (and illegality) of drinking. However,
about the most tacky and morally offensive item is a package of two condoms contained in
each "educational packet." Niagara County Planned Parenthood is
responsible for providing the condoms but the school taxpayers pay the expense of
distribution. Some parents are outraged and at least two politicians are
"disturbed." Both State Senator George Maziarz and Assemblyman Robert Daly
voiced opposition to the tactic of Planned Parenthood to promote its lifestyle and
morality. Said Maziarz, "...to use the taxpayer money to give out condoms I
think is inappropriate." (6/11)
3-year old runs down his mother with family car. When 20-year old
Sharon L. Johnpier of Panama Street in Niagara Falls wanted to talk with friend late
Saturday night, 6/5, she got out of her car, leaving the motor running. She
left her son, little Michael Johnpier of Hyde Park Blvd., alone in the front seat.
Her son reportedly was neither in a child restraint seat or was he wearing a seat
belt. So, the little boy did...what little boys do. He got behind the wheel
and attempted to go for a cruise without Mom. According to police reports, in the
process he ran the car into his talking mother, getting her attention for sure. As
Ms. Johnpier attempted to get into the car, she became entangled and was dragged by the
car until it struck another car and then plowed into a building. Ms. Johnpier was
taken to Erie County Medical Center where she was listed in "fair" condition
over the weekend. Little Michael was treated and released at Niagara Falls Memorial
Medical Center. (6/7)
Couple goes shopping at mall, returns to find their car surrounded
by 10,000 bees. The tourists from New Jersey had stopped at the Prime
Outlets (Factory Outlet) Mall in the Town of Niagara Saturday evening, 5/29, for a little
shopping adventure. When they returned to their car parked in the mall lot it was
surrounded by a swarm of bees. Nobody, including a bee keeper who was called to the
scene, could provide an explanation. But the bees did not want to give their new
swarming location easily. The bee keeper managed to get a spare tire off the vehicle
which seemed to be a major attraction for the bees and encouraged them to take up new
residence in bee boxes he brought to the scene. The bees will be taken to hives at
the keepers house at 9645 Lockport Road. The New Jersey couple had to extend their
stay in the Niagara Falls area for another day. (5/29)
Fugitive from justice finally collared when he applies for "welfare." 49- year old James Harrison of Linwood Avenue in Buffalo had successfully eluded police capture since 1996. He was wanted on drug charges. In December 1998 he was arrested on more drug charges but authorities now reveal he gave them bogus ID and was let loose to walk the streets again. Thursday, 4/1 being April Fool's Day, Mr. Harrison figured he'd get the government to pay for his flight from justice. He walked into the downtown Buffalo Erie County Welfare Offices and applied for his place at the public trough. He should have waited until 2000 as the county computers were still in full operation. He was quickly identified as a fugitive from justice and taken into custody. Actually, it will cost the county more now than if he had been on welfare. Cost of hosting inmates is about $35,000 a year. (4/2)
Another sign of bloated bureaucracy. Spotted
"patrolling" Genesee Street in the Lockport Crime District, Sunday morning,
3/14: A Niagara County vehicle (complete with county seal) with the special markings
"Niagara County Security." And here we thought the rapidly expanding
Niagara County Sheriff's Department was the county's "security" force. Is
this new "security force" coming in to Lockport to help fight crime along
Genesee? Or, is the driver merely among many hundreds of others who cruise Genesee
looking for "a buy?" (3/14)
This is what happens when public "authorities" are set up. Cheektowaga
town officials felt a sidewalk was needed along Galleria Drive because of the growing
number of pedestrians on the road. Galleria Mall, where the pedestrians were going,
offered to pay the cost of constructing the sidewalks. The Niagara Frontier
Transportation Authority (NFTA) it turns out, owns some of the land the sidewalks would go
on. Yes, they would grant the town an easement to construct the sidewalk...for a
yearly fee of $2700! (3/1/99)
Latest sick leave ruse: religious service at police station
caused him harm. A Buffalo police officer, attempting to collect years,
perhaps a lifetime, of sick/disability benefits from the City of Buffalo has, with the
help of some lawyers, came up with a real doozie. The Buffalo News is
reporting he claims after a Mass was celebrated Easter Sunday in 1997 for police on duty
at a police station, he has suffered "psychological problems." The
extraordinary legal claim, still pending against Buffalo, is cited as the reason for a
recent ban on all group prayers or other religious activities in Buffalo police stations.
(2/27)
Not the kind of advertising they need. Four Middleport area
auto/vehicle dealerships have been cited for operating a "junk yard," with the
public papers referring to their business location. The citation, issued by
Middleport Police, claim the businesses were "using more than 200 square feet of
storage lot for junk, including materials and vehicles, in a zoned business district.
Cited were owners of: Elster Motors, Art's Used Cars, Middleport Tractor, and
Speedway Auto. The owner of a vacant building at 93 Rochester Road was also cited.
The matter goes next to Town Court on March 2nd. (2/23)
NiMo wants to tax anyone leaving its captive electric system. And
that includes the Buffalo Museum of Science that wanted to utilize a donated $50,000 solar
array to light some exhibits and at the same time demonstrate practical applications of
solar electric power. Niagara Mohawk saw the idea as cutting into its business.
It bills the Museum about $20K per month for electricity. For NiMo to
permit the solar power to be used, for only a small fraction of the Museum's needs,
it is charging an "exit fee" to the Museum. Neither party will reveal how
much it is but the Buffalo News is reporting that the fee for homeowners who want
to use some solar or windpower is about $150 a year. On top of already high costs
for solar panels, the new utility scheme makes alternative power options even less
desireable. (2/14)
Niagara Falls City Council members feast, taxpayers pay. This is
barely news since it comes from Niagara Falls where NOTHING should surprise you.
Yet, Mike Hudson, writing in the Niagara Gazette, 2/8, reports the
Democratic majority on the Niagara Falls City Council spent almost $2000 in 1998 feeding
themselves at taxpayer expense. The expense items were then cleverly hidden in the
city financial records under such vague titles as "Local Mtng Cost/Mi."
Hudson tracked down the entries to find that the four Democrat members of the
Council go out for dinner on a regular basis before the 7 p.m. open council meetings.
Then, Hudson reports, there was the $259 three council members spent under
the entry, "Dinner-Council Mt." on New Year's Eve at the Goose's Roost.
Only Republican, Barbara Geracitano, doesn't participate. She said,
"I don't think the taxpayers should be buying me dinner." (2/8)
Errant county departments get praise from Legislature Chairman.
It was pretty much the "same old, same-old" at the "State Of The
County" address by Niagara County Legislature Chairman, Gerald Meal, Tuesday, 2/2.
The usual series of self-congratulations to the majority party and their
appointees. Meal, a Republican, came through with about the same spiel that his
predecessors, the Democrats, produced when they were the party in power.
However, Mr. Meal didn't quite pick the best areas of county government to
praise. For example...
The Industrial Development Agency praised for reportedly being named by the state business council as the "best IDA in the state." Best for whom? This is the group that helped finance the move of Lockport Savings Headquarters out of the city and is helping a printer to move out. Then there's the Kiwi Airlines fiasco. All the money for grocery stores and other non-industrial firms who would be here with, or without IDA funding.
The Refuse Disposal District. This is the group that had such poorly maintained financial records that one legislator reported a $2.5-million surplus had disappeared. Minutes of meetings had also disappeared according to his complaint. Landfill mismanagement brings a surprise extra "garbage tax" to most Niagara County residents because the district has run out of money effectively raising county taxes again.
The Finance Committee. They sort of lost track of a million dollars in the 1999 proposed budget. When the document was released to the press and up for public hearing...oh, yes, that little mistake was only a "clerical error." The bureaucrats then had to scurry to find either another million in "revenue" or cut a million in expense so the whole budget didn't sink. Meanwhile, county revenues have been projected overly optimistic so that a tax increase would not be needed when the legislators stand for re-election. This must be what the Chairman meant by "innovative budget management."
Should we applaud, laugh, or cry? (2/3)
Proposes dumping incinerator waste, cover it with turf, call it a
golf course. American Ref-Fuel is the garbage incineration company
in Niagara Falls that burns municipal waste. They are facing increasing costs of
environmental compliance. The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency
is the quasi-government operation that is supposed to bring industry into Niagara County.
It hasn't been doing much of that so it has branched out into helping
non-industrial business such as grocery stores, vegetable stands, doctor and lawyers
offices, etc. with tax breaks. Now, these two organizations, are talking about
combining efforts to "give" Niagara County residents a new golf course.
American Ref-Fuel would take over yet another incinerator next to the one
they now have and get a place to dump the hazardous debris left over from burning. The IDA
would get their..."usual percentage" and maybe some electricity from the
process. The plan: the county gives up about 200 acres of land and the
incinerator folks get a near-by dumping ground. After the incinerator company
fills it up they add a "cap," a top layer of soil, plant grass, and turn it over
to the county as...a "golf course!" The county gets a facade with built-in
personal liability concerns and a perpetual responsibility for another hazardous waste
dump. Problems don't, how shall say, "come to the surface" for about
30 to 40 years. Ah, fellows, how about that acreage (former dump) along the Lockport
west end that the County Refuse District is having trouble managing? (1/31)
Goose attacks smoking woman. An Appleton woman was attacked by a
neighborhood goose when she lit up a cigarette in front of a relative's farm on Checkered
Tavern Road. The goose spotted her, reports say, from across the road, and rushed to
attack, giving special attention to biting her in the thigh, tearing her jeans.
Niagara County Sheriff's deputies say the goose was able to escape from its pen because of
high snow accumulations but the woman is reported headed to court to take action against
the owner. (1/18)
This is a "state of emergency?" Niagara Falls can't keep
up with demands to clear streets of snow and declared a "state of emergency" in
order to get State-ordered National Guard troops into the city to do the work that city
crews couldn't do. But regardless of that, Mayor James Galie remembered that he and
other politicians were scheduled to cut the ribbon at a new Hyde Park inside (domed) golf
course on Friday morning, 1/15. Reports say that three crews were taken off
"emergency" duty of clearing streets and dispatched to the golf course parking
lot to make sure it was fully clear of snow for the Friday morning ceremonies. The
mayor, reports say, didn't want to see anyone turned away for lack of a place to park.
(1/15)
Barker tries to grab $400K in canal grant money to fix water lines. The
village isn't anywhere near the Erie Barge Canal but it's applying for a $400,000 grant
from HUD Canal Corridor funds to pay for new water lines. At a time when
Lockport, a key canal community is faced with no money to repair its water lines except by
huge increase in rates, Barker has positioned itself "on the fast track" to get
the money to replace its water distribution system. What's Barker and its water
system got to do with the canal? Nothing. Maybe its just
"Pork-A-Rama" for everything that waddles up to the public trough and makes
enough noise. (1/6/99)
Woman kidnapped, stuffed in trunk, discovered at border
crossing. Two Afghanistan men living in Ontario had decided that
Mine Betoor of Toronto was to marry 29-year old Wahid Nader who has a home in San
Francisco. Minor problem: she refused to do so. Therefore, authorities
say, the two bound, gagged, and handcuffed Ms. Betoor in the trunk of a car. Before
arriving at the USA border New Year's Day en route to SanFran, Mr. Nader got in the trunk
with his intended. However, at the Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge customs stop,
a U.S. border agent was suspicious. He asked the driver of the car, Jamal Nasser
Aziz, to get out and open the trunk. And there were the less-than-happy couple.
The two men were arrested and Ms. Betoor was returned to Toronto. (1/3/99)
It's No Joke.
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Lockport Home Page: www.Lockport-NY.com
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