Column by Mark Scheer —
Another reporter asked a pertinent question.
He wanted to know how Nik Wallenda’s walk across the Niagara Gorge would translate into jobs.
Specifically, he wondered how the feat — which received the final go-ahead from the Niagara Parks Commission last week — would benefit Niagara Falls, USA, given the sad state the city has been in for all these many years.
Event organizers said the benefits would come in the form of increased spending at area hotels, restaurants and stores. They argued that the sharp increase in bed and sales taxes alone might make the whole thing worthwhile. Beyond that, they pointed to the crush of media attention the stunt is expected to bring, the kind of global notoriety the Niagara Tourism and Convention Center could only dream of being able to buy.
The eyes of the world will be on Niagara Falls not just for one day, but for weeks and even months, they argued.
It sounded like a can’t miss, sure-fire proposition.
But then it is Niagara Falls and, as much as anyone hates to say it, those sort of deals have been talked about many times before.
Back to the reporter’s question for a minute.
Given the condition of things on the American side, will this be another case in which Canada, once again, gets the better end of the deal?
Whether he realized it or not, the reporter articulated the community’s oldest, longest-standing recurring nightmare — the idea that the less attractive American side will lose out to its stronger, more appealing Canadian counterpart everytime.
Will Wallenda watchers — the tens of thousands of them — be so disturbed by all the abandoned houses and boarded-up buildings that they’ll drive, with haste, across the Rainbow Bridge, never bothering to check out Murphy’s Cafe or Wine on Third or any other local hotspot?
Is this project going to help fix the shortcomings in Niagara Falls, USA or only serve to highlight them?
Hmm.
“We are trying to make it better and (Wallenda) is a just a part of it,” said state Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, in response to the reporter’s question.
Maziarz and other Wallenda supporters, including state Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-Lewiston and Canadian lawmaker Kim Craitor, insisted there will be plenty of benefit to go around — for both countries.
Still, maybe what our side really needs is some serious highlighting.
Before anyone sends me any hate-filled letters, let me be clear: There are wonderful people and fantastic places to visit, eat and sleep in Niagara Falls, USA. The locals know all about them and a lot of the visitors do too.
The point is, in terms of volume, our side is still lacking.
Beyond things to do, our side also is impacted by the sight test — the rows and rows of abandoned houses, empty lots and boarded-up buildings that greet you when you come off the Robert Moses Parkway and hit you should you happen to turn down just about any local sidestreet.
As hard as a lot of good people have worked in recent years to change things for the better, the city’s image is still one of corruption and decay and despair.
Yes, there are outdoor concerts on Old Falls Street, a couple of new hotels, a culinary center and other in the works.
But the other more unsightly things still speak volumes, especially to the tourists.
Perhaps Wallenda can help in that regard.
Maybe, he’ll open the world’s eyes what so many of us see everyday.
Perhaps, once the national and international press corps gets a glimpse, people in the right positions will start taking seriously the age-old question: How can a community so close to one of the most recognizable natural resources in the world look the way it does?
More importantly, maybe they’ll all start asking the better question: What more needs to be done to fix it?
Opinion
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Mark Scheer
CITY BEAT: Wallenda walk is just a piece of the puzzle
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At one time, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars-Post 313 would march down Main Street in Youngstown on Memorial Day to the 1812 Cemetery near Old Fort Niagara. That same scenario out of the past occurred for decades in cities, towns and villages across the U.S.
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HAMILTON: Dandelions, parades, broken poles and people
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CONFER: The reality of rationed health care
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CITY DESK: A regrettable error
We owe Carol Sensabough an apology.
Several weeks ago, the long-time reader and Niagara Falls resident sent a letter to the editor explaining that she took offense to some of the things written by a syndicated columnist, Stephen Dick. -
HIGGS: Niagara Falls' own West Side story
Trusello’s Bakery was on Elmwood behind the family home at 840 19th St. The family, Richard, William (Billy) and Sam along with two sisters, lived in the house.
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GLYNN: Falls, Ont., rolls out red carpet for Wallenda
Before Nik Wallenda even started practicing his high-wire routine in downtown Niagara Falls, state Sen.George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, had noted the warm welcome the tightrope walker received across the river.
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HAMILTON: Civic ‘ParticipAction’ can work too
Back in the 1970s, our Neighbors to the North ran a national campaign called ParticipAction to encourage Canadians to get off their butts and do things for the sakes of their bodies.
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GLYNN: Graduates find they’re in staggering debt
Countless senior citizens often gripe about something, sometimes even with good reason. Perhaps they should consider themselves fortunate, compared with the younger generation.
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