Editorials
EDITORIAL: NTCC's India trip worth questioning
Should John Percy, president of Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp., be making another trip to India? Maybe. There’s no arguing the importance of foreign visitors in regard to local tourism.
Should his taxpayer-funded trip be questioned?
Absolutely.
Leading the charge is City Councilman Samuel Fruscione and members of the city’s Tourism Advisory board. He says not only is the trip too costly but going twice in two years seems excessive considering the city already attracts a large base of tourists from India.
The city provides roughly two-thirds of the agency’s annual budget through hotel room bed tax and casino funds. On average, that amounts to $2 million a year.
Our biggest problem with the whole situation is Percy’s response when asked if he would be willing to make public all receipts and expenditures upon returning from the trip.
Percy declined.
He said he’s concerned some would over-scrutinize the receipts and try to create controversy that isn’t there.
“This trip is a legitimate and worthwhile effort,” Percy said.
Actions speak louder than words and the refusal to make the records public immediately call into question the legitimacy of the trip — and makes us and everyone else wonder what this week-long foray into India is costing.
In fact, we don’t know much about the NTCC’s $3 million annual budget at all. Agency officials have insisted it’s a private agency and thus its finances are not a matter of public record, despite it receiving public dollars.
Fruscione is working to change that. He’s working with the City Council to pass a resolution requiring an audit of NTCC’s expenditures.
“Once we get an audit done, then we can make some final determinations of where all of this money is going,” Fruscione said.
And answer a few lingering questions in the process.
- Editorials
-
-
EDITORIAL: Public owed answers on DWI case
After reports published Saturday, the public is owed an accounting of how the daughter of a North Tonawanda councilwoman got off on a DWI charge, even though she drunkenly hit two parked cars on her way home from a bar.
-
CHEERS & JEERS: July 16's best and worst of the week
The Niagara Falls State Park is the place to be Saturday. The downtown wonder is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a community parade starting at 11 a.m. at Main and Third streets.
-
CHEERS & JEERS: June 25's best and worst of the week
Thanks to a year-long effort between the Lewiston-Porter School District, Parent Teachers Association and Sodexo — the school’s food contractor — students have better food options, including fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as lower calorie and reduced sodium foods.
-
CHEERS & JEERS: June 4's best and worst of the week
Here’s an effort we hope will grow. Volunteers have helped transform a former municipal parking lot just off Center Street in Lewiston into a flower-filled oasis, which symbolizes the 200 years of harmony existing between the U.S. and Canada.
-
CHEERS & JEERS: May 21's best and worst of the week
Last week, about 600 people participated in the second annual Relay for Life at Niagara Falls’ Sal Maglie Stadium.
-
CHEERS & JEERS: May 14's best and worst of the week
On Saturday, postal workers collected food for the needy. This campaign has been highly successful in the region.
-
CHEERS & JEERS: May 7's best and worst of the week
A week ago, Niagara County stood united.
-
EDITORIAL: Cell phone enforcement should be constant
Much like speeding, seat belt usage and even parking violations — cell phone use while driving needs to be an everyday enforcement, instead of just a blitz one or two weeks a year.
-
CHEERS & JEERS: April 16's best and worst of the week
Signs of life are starting to percolate along the Falls’ infamous Main Street.
-
EDITORIAL: Let's rebuild Main Street
Now is the perfect time to invest in Main Street — and Falls officials are making it a little easier.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
