A half-million dollars here, a half-million dollars there. Pretty soon, we’re talking about real money.
That’s what the city is facing in its latest effort at handing out corporate welfare. The most recent dash for cash involves the grand old lady of downtown Niagara Falls hotels, the Hotel Niagara. It was built back in the 1920s and has been alternately a beacon of grandeur and a symbol of decay in the downtown area.
Its new owners, James and Judith Cook of Houston, want to restore it to its former glory. They’re proposing putting more than $15 million into the building in order to bring it back.
That’s wonderful. We wish them well and hope their venture succeeds. Fifteen million dollars in new private investment is a real shot in the arm to the region.
Where we have a problem is at the point where the private investment turns public. The city of Niagara Falls is being asked to kick in $500,000 to aid in the hotel’s renovation. Why? Mayor Paul Dyster supports the cash grab. The money will come from that old standby, casino cash. He says it is a proper use of that money; to aid the development of downtown and create jobs.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen that $500,000 figure thrown around. There’s a proposal still on the table that would shovel a half-mil to the owners of the Four Points Sheraton for a similar purpose.
We hope there’s room on that table for the Hotel Niagara plan as well and urge the City Council to send it there and allow it to die a natural death. We think public money, from slot machines or any other source, should be used for public purposes. Here we go again: Fix the streets, trim the trees, clean up vacant lots and demolish abandoned buildings.
This city has so many needs that have been neglected for so many years. It’s foolish to give away hundreds of thousands of dollars to private businesses who will probably go ahead with their plans whether they get the money or not.
Niagara Falls should take care of its own unfinished business. There’s so much of it.
Opinion
EDITORIAL: It’s time to stop giving away cash
- Opinion
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HAMILTON: The SPCA and the pineapple upside-down pie
It is said that, as free Americans, we often get the things for which we ask; we also often get exactly what we deserve. Sometimes it works out to our good, and sometimes it doesn’t.
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CHEERS & JEERS: Feb. 10's best and worst of the week
As Ken Hamilton so eloquently puts it in his column on this page — the SPCA of Niagara would probably be in a lot better shape if everyone took care of their pets.
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GLYNN: Slim chance now for a real thick ice bridge
If you’re not convinced about the unpredictability of Western New York weather, consider that this area was experiencing temperatures in the mid-40s on the 100th anniversary of the ice bridge tragedy in the gorge.
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EDITORIAL: U.S. has a lot of catching up to do in War of 1812 bicentennial
Almost 200 years after President Madison declared the War of 1812 there is a distinct lack of interest on this side of the border in commemorating that milestone.
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BRADBERRY: Is Black History Month Still Relevant?
I am uncomfortably recovering and slowly recuperating from a relatively minor, but medically necessary procedure which has kept me out of circulation, out of touch and essentially on my back for a lot longer than I have personally believed was justifiable; however, in this case my opinion matters not; the doctor’s diagnosis and promising prognosis trumped mine, so here I lay almost completely befuddled, nearly unable to pen a clear sentence.
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CONFER: Time to end the NFL’s blackout rule
Long ago, in a much simpler time, ticket sales accounted for the majority of revenues for professional football teams.
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EDITORIAL: Times up for SPCA board
This is no time for subtleties or polite requests.
We are now demanding the resignations of the members of the board of the Niagara County SPCA. -
CITY BEAT: Stuck on traffic
Sometimes I feel like the traffic signal reporter in Niagara Falls.
Traffic signals have been making a lot of news around here lately. There’s the whole flap about what to do to improve public safety near the Como Restaurant in the 2200 block of Pine Avenue. -
HIGGS: Discussing crime and punishment in the Falls
Have to take a detour off Pine Avenue in 1956 this week to report on an event held by the Niagara Falls Block Club Council for its member clubs and other interested citizens.
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GLYNN: Hotel Niagara plan exciting for the Falls
It all sounds like a re-run of a TV program you’ve seen a dozen times. This time, however, there is every reason to believe that the landmark Hotel Niagara on Rainbow Boulevard will be restored to the splendid atmosphere that guests enjoyed for decades.
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