LETTERS: What has county done with casino cash?

Letters

March 12, 2009

Anonymous The Niagara Gazette Thu Mar 12, 2009, 12:19 AM EDT

What has county done with casino cash?

After reading a couple of newspaper articles recently, I became very distressed by the actions of our Niagara County legislators. If you recall, a couple years ago, the county legislators claimed they were the home municipality with regards to the casino compact and began a lawsuit to sue the city of Niagara Falls for casino money. It appears they compromised, and now the county receives hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in casino money.

What has the county done with this money? Absolutely nothing. A few projects that have been recently approved are as follows:

n Lewiston Legislator John Ceretto sponsored legislation to give $14,000 to nine various parades and festivals in Lewiston.

n Youngstown Legislator Clyde Burmaster sponsored legislation to give $5,000 to have a field day in Youngstown.

n Legislator Dennis Virtuoso sponsored legislation to spend $10,000 to build a veteran’s monument in Niagara Falls.

n Legislators Jason Murgia and Danny Sklarski sponsored legislation to give $25,000 to Community Missions.

The list goes on and on.

What is most appalling is that there is a state law that specifically states that this money must be spent for economic development. Does a parade in Lewiston or a festival in Youngstown or a monument at Hyde Park provide a catalyst for economic development? No.

This money is being used by selfish legislators to bring home the pork to their constituencies.

Meanwhile, the City of Niagara Falls is left to foot the bill for the casino infrastructure and the county spends its share doling out pork.

This is despicable and these actions need to be investigated. Where is state Sen. George Maziarz, who was so quick to condemn the City of Niagara Falls, questioning its ability to manage the incoming casino dollars properly that he held up the city receiving the funds for over a year?

The senator is nowhere to be found now that his cohorts in the Legislature are using this money disgracefully, for no such economic development.

Dani Miller

Niagara Falls

Obesity may be as deadly as smoking

What’s more dangerous — a cigarette or a fattening school lunch like the ones many kids eat five days a week?

According to a new study, it may be a tie. Researchers found that obese teens, like heavy smokers, were twice as likely to die early, compared with normal-weight non-smokers. As a dietitian, I think it’s critical that we encourage youth to stay away from unhealthy, high-calorie foods, in addition to cigarettes.

Healthy school lunches, including fruits, vegetables and low-fat vegetarian meals could help improve students’ health and decrease their risk of obesity ad other chronic diseases.

Yet, most school cafeterias continue to serve processed meat and cheese products ad other foods too high in fat and cholesterol.

Schools want to serve better food, but they need help from the government. Let’s ask Congress to help schools offer healthier options in the lunch room where so many students learn life-long eating habits. Sign he petition at healthyschoollunches.org.

Kathryn Strong, staff dietitian

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Washington, D.C.

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