NIAGARA FALLS —
Amidst all the tumult and shouting about the Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp. and its hefty expenditures to market the Cataract City as a travel destination, there is the inevitable flow of misinformation.
Case in point: More than once, a caller to Tom Darro’s popular “Viewpoint” program (WJJL) or to a radio talk show in Buffalo have suggested the NTCC was unnecessary because the Chamber of Commerce could easily handle all the visitor inquiries.
That’s about the zaniest idea that I’ve heard since former Gov. Pataki predicted that Third Street would be revitalized as the Entertainment District with bustle — on a smaller scale — akin to Times Square. Pataki added, “If they can do it in New York, they can do it in downtown Niagara Falls.”
For the record, travel destinations across the U.S. have established separate agencies to market their attractions. In this area, the NTCC replaced the former Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In no way does a chamber of commerce fit into the scheme. It would be insane to direct motorists to Sanborn to get information about the falls. (Some of those self-styled experts probably don’t even know where the chamber is these days.)
For too long, this city’s tourist industry was controlled by individuals with selfish interests. Their short-range vision of doing business was never conducive to encouraging visitors to stay longer. To compound matters, the city and county were constantly wrangling over who should have the lead role in spending tourism dollars from Albany.
Ironically, the NTCC was envisioned as being free from such politics. Today though it is virtually entrapped by people looking only to the next mayoral election and jobs for friends.
As for that suggestion that the chamber step into the fray, it should be noted the tourist industry here was so highly rated at one time that the director operated out of a City Hall basement office. That was in the days when several major manufacturers (e.g., Hooker, Carborundum and Union Carbide) employed thousands in their local operations.
Tourism then was basically a sideline industry providing summer jobs for students. Most of the tourism operators rolled up the sidewalks after Labor Day, closed their establishments for the year and headed south.
Now, in the wake of the industrial exodus, tourism is more than ever a lifeline for the local economy. But with all the infighting, it’s future is clouded.
•••
A REAL WINNER: The late Bob Summers, 66, the Buffalo News sportswriter who died Sunday (Sept. 5, 2010) after suffering a heart attack at the Seneca Niagara Casino was a witty and skilled journalist with an in-depth knowledge of thoroughbred racing.
He attended the Triple Crown — the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes — virtually every year for more than three decades.
He also was a familiar figure at Fort Erie Race Track, even on his days off.
One of Summers’ memorable stories from the 1960s was Puss n’ Boots, a horse that took a dive in the home stretch and slid on the turf course into the infield lake for a swim in front of 10,000 fans. Years later he often told about meeting the 40,000 people who claimed they were at the track that day.
Bob started his reporting career at the Niagara Gazette and worked at the now-defunct Buffalo Courier-Express. He joined the News staff in 1977.
Many of the track people, from the owners, trainers and jockeys, knew Bob as a friend of their industry. Perhaps Fort Erie officials will name an annual race in his honor.
•••
HELPING HANDS DEPT.: The staff at Gerber Small Animal Hospital, 3316 Military Road, and friends at the SPCA are sponsoring a fundraiser for Herb Messing from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Lewiston No. 2 Firehall, 1705 Saunders Settlement Road. Messing, a patient at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and his family have also been struggling with a financial burden due to his illness and lost work time. Tickets to the event ($20) include dinner, desserts and a sheet of basket raffle tickets.
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