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Two Democratic primary hopefuls talk Niagara Falls’ future - Niagara Falls on Astini News

NIAGARA FALLS — If Paul A. Dyster, the endorsed Democrat, becomes the city's first two-term mayor since 1991, he'll have climbed a big hill.

Dyster faces John G. Accardo, Carnell Burch and Norton Douglas in the Democratic primary on Tuesday.

The winner will face Republican Johnny G. Destino in November.

The Buffalo News asked Dyster's primary challengers to answer a series of questions about the future of Niagara Falls. Norton Douglas did not return cell phone messages left with him during the last couple of weeks and was unable to answer the questions posed to the other candidates.

John Accardo

Accardo is a Pine Avenue insurance agent and former City Council member who lost a previous contest for mayor and State Assembly. He has been endorsed by the Conservative Party. His thoughts:

What does the downtown tourism industry need most?

For decades we have talked about the need for a 12-month, family-orientated, destination-status development. No matter how much is developed in and around the casino, extended family stays will only occur when entertainment opportunities are offered for the entire family. The Great Wolf Lodge across the border would resemble a smaller version of what we need over here.

What has prevented this from happening?

It depends on who you want to believe. Developers say the city isn't business friendly, that the incentives for major developments simply are not there. The local governments will tell you that developers know the City of Niagara Falls is in dire straits and in turn arrive with hands open and short on their committed dollars.

What would you do to change that?

The answer to me is quite simple. Casino funds, casino funds, casino funds. Putting the current impasse aside, from day one, the casino revenues were to be used to spur economic development in downtown Niagara Falls. As mayor, I have every intention of working with the state to design a precise schedule of incentives to offer prospective downtown developers.

Paving roads (and) grooming parks are important, but the time has come to direct casino funds toward their intended purpose.

Should downtown Niagara Falls, N. Y., look more like downtown Niagara Falls, Ont.?

The layout of our cities is so different. Clifton Hill presents a designed commercial spillway to and from the Falls and the gorge. Our layout, with the South End, Main Street and the Pine Avenue district, creates more challenges, but at the same time more opportunity. The objective should be to develop a network of stores and services in close proximity to one another, which can provide services and entertainment for our visitors from around the world. Our committee is developing specific incentives for our "Lake George Plan," a design that will revitalize Main Street, the "forgotten downtown."

Without a major anchor store, Main Street would be reborn comprised entirely of store-front shops and services.

What would you do in your first 100 days in office?

With so many issues facing our community, this question should be a difficult one to answer. However, knowing the impact the delinquent casino funds is having on this city, its services and debt repayment, sitting down with the state and the Senecas would be high on my priority list.

What can city government do that it isn't already doing to improve the quality of life for its citizens?

One area that is seriously lacking is the human service facilities available during the cold weather months. The John Duke Senior Center is a jewel, but the Colvin Avenue Center remains vastly underused. At the same time, what has happened to our youth programs in the South End? Why has the city chosen to keep a blind eye as to why the Niagara Community Center has remained closed for three years?

What will you do to address poverty and employment?

There is no simple answer to our employment dilemma. The casino brought several thousand new jobs, yet our unemployment rate is no better than our neighboring counties. I have not given up on what Paul Dyster has called the "dirty industries." We must strengthen our campaign for cheap power. Furthermore, we must accelerate cooperative job recruitment and training efforts, not only with government agencies but with the private sector.

Do you support the holiday market and the culinary center?

This question addresses a truly strange scenario. Think about it — on one hand we are asked to underwrite part of the costs of a private developer to create this holiday market, based on measures such as the number of committed vendors. Ask anyone who has dealt with mobile vendors; the only real commitment occurs the day they show up. Do I hope this event succeeds? Of course I do. I am not so sure about the commitment of public dollars or the success of an outdoor winter event in the elements of the Falls Street wind corridor.

The second part of the question is just as complex. I absolutely welcome the educational component of Niagara County Community College's Culinary Arts School, as an anchor to revive the Rainbow Mall. Nonetheless, if public officials are totally honest, they must have heard the same concerns of local restaurateurs that I have. The restaurant portion of this facility again presents that uneven playing field. The school's restaurant costs and services are supported by public dollars. Frankly, taxpayers' dollars will help create another new option for clientele who otherwise could have ended up in a restaurant on Pine Avenue, the South End or LaSalle.

What would you do to transform Third Street into the entertainment district it was proposed as?

Honestly, I think the bar was set too high for the development of the Third Street district. The lack of adequate adjacent parking will forever remain a problem. . . . I think it is safe to say that much of people's disposable income, recreational dollars that at one time could have been spent on Third Street, ends up inside the doors of the Seneca Niagara Casino.

What would you do to spur development at Howard Milstein's properties?

If you recall, several years back, Paul Dyster bragged about meetings set up by Sen. Schumer with Milstein. I believe they met once. Nothing since. I will remain committed to opening the channels of communication with Mr. Milstein. I am not willing to sit back and wait for another four years but do acknowledge that Milstein has the resources to make something happen downtown. We have reached a point when a real negotiator can turn talk into action. Again, NFR must be taken to task and be reminded of the intentions of its original contract.

What else would you do to spur economic development?

I would work to place the city squarely in the mix of the planning and programs at the Niagara Falls International Airport.

Has Paul Dyster's administration addressed the problems sufficiently?

A train station, with no train traffic. An economic development director whose position was eliminated by the Council for non-performance. Total inactivity on the Main Street corridor. Failure to act on the stalled casino funds. The highest-paid administration in our city's history. Newly paved roads crumbling in a year. Using $200,000 annually in public monies to supplement the costs of concerts put on by a billion-dollar corporation. Blaming past administrations for his problems, while he hides the truth about the dangers of Lewiston Road.

Carnell Burch

Carnell Burch Sr. is a lifelong city resident and father of three children. He has a bachelor's in political science and a master's in executive leadership and change from Daemen College. Here's what he had to say:

What does the downtown tourism district need most?

Well-established and well-defined boundaries. If you were to ask the five councilmen and the mayor, "Where does the downtown district begin and end?," they would not be able to give you the same answer. It needs to look and act as a downtown district. The downtown district must encompass sections of entertainment for tourists and everyday people of Niagara Falls. There must be a section for family entertainment, a section for pubs, eateries and restaurants, and a section for young adults/adults/professionals and a section designed for big businesses.

What has prevented that from happening?

Leadership has been substituted for friendships and questionable relationships. That has produced weak and insignificant leaders and the lack of a strong vision for the downtown area. The electing of the same politicians with proven records of failure has greatly contributed to the prevention of a strong vibrant downtown district in the city. These current and past elected officials are not visionary thinkers — they have all been in-the-moment, for-the-moment types of thinkers.

What would you do to make that happen and spur development downtown?

First, I would establish a blueprint that will give the downtown a vision. I will identify and outline with specifics of where downtown Niagara Falls will begin and end; it will not look anything like it does today. Then I will begin the massive undertaking of creating the infrastructure that will support the establishment of districts within the downtown areas of Niagara Falls. I would work with all elected officials representing Niagara County and the state to pull resources together.

Should downtown Niagara Falls, N. Y., look more like downtown Niagara Falls, Ont.?

Niagara Falls, Ont., has established themselves as the tourist destination of first choice. Niagara Falls, N. Y., has to establish its own identity that will allow it to become a competing factor in the tourism market.

Ideally, what would the tourism district look like in four years?

It will be thriving with so much for everyone of all ages to do. There would be no mistaking that Niagara Falls, N. Y., has a downtown where tourists can enjoy their time in the region, even opting to stay just one more day.

What would you do in your first 100 days in office?

I would begin work on Niagara 2025. Niagara 2025 is a comprehensive economic development plan that will primarily focus on the restructuring and development of downtown. It will be the catalyst for creating an economic environment in which economic development can aggressively move in. Niagara 2025 will begin putting the infrastructure in place to establish and support a downtown. This comprehensive plan will be the blueprint for the city of Niagara Falls for years to come.

Are there any immediate changes you would make?

Yes! I would immediately begin to identify and establish a team of individuals who can make Niagara 2025 a reality for the city. I would seek support from all elected officials throughout Niagara County and the state regardless of party affiliation.

What can city government do that it isn't already doing to improve quality of life for its citizens?

City government needs to work together to develop a realistic plan of action to address the quality of life issues within the city of Niagara Falls. Currently, government is only operating in its own interest. . . . We do not have employment initiatives for our youth and young adults. There (are) ineffective housing initiatives to deal with abandoned properties. There is an ineffective clean neighborhood initiative (Zoom—what a joke — seems to have been created for the sake of creating) and poor city government and community relations.

What I am going to do is put abandoned properties to good use in the city, helping to address the declining property tax base of the city by putting these properties in the hands of the working poor. This will allow for struggling communities to rebuild themselves by residents/ homeowners working together to clean up their neighborhoods. The residents of these communities will begin to reinvest in their own properties, which will increase the tax base of the city and clean up the city as well. I am also going to focus on repairing and replacing the city's decaying infrastructure so that people can enjoy the beauty of their city.

What will you do to address poverty and unemployment?

The city of Niagara Falls has waste that can be better put to use to address and eliminate/ reduce poverty with the city. I am going to work with city government and the state economic department branches to work out a plan for all businesses who receive payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (deals) or any other tax breaks to pay a affordable living wage that is greater than minimum wage, preferably $9 to $10 an hour. I will also look to use casino funds as a method to assist area business within the city of Niagara Falls to put the people of Niagara back to work.

What will you do to bring jobs to Niagara Falls?

I am going to focus on job creation by creating an environment in which economic development can aggressively move in. This is and should be a priority for all elected officials. Politicians do not create jobs; they give out jobs to friends, donors and family members. This has been the jobs creation approach here in the city of Niagara Falls for far too long.

Do you support the proposed holiday market and culinary center?

I am 100 percent against the proposed holiday (flea) market. This type of venture should never be backed by tax dollars or casino dollars. It will produce very little, if any, benefit to the city of Niagara Falls and the city's investment in this project is not worth the risk. I am in support of this [culinary center] project, and I personally feel that a greater commitment from Niagara County Community College to expand its services into the area will have a even larger impact on Niagara 2025.

What would you do to transform Third Street into the entertainment district it was proposed as?

I wouldn't! Third Street was a one bad idea after another. I have no plans to classify Third Street as the entertainment district. Haven't enough money, time and resources been spent on this failed "district?"

What would you do to spur development of Howard Milstein's properties?

(The) Niagara 2025 comprehensive economic development plan will create a sense of urgency for not only Mr. Howard Milstein's properties, it will also create an urgency for anyone who owns properties within the reclassified downtown districts. These landowners will have a major stake in the development and direction of the Niagara 2025 initiative. Economic development will be spurred as a direct result of my administration's ability to bring all these property owners to the table to mutually lay out a vision for development in Niagara Falls.

What else would you do to spur development?

I would continue to seek out developers and key stakeholders for the Niagara 2025 initiative. If you are a salesman, the product doesn't sell itself—you have to sell the product using tools at your disposal.

Has Mayor Dyster's administration addressed these problems sufficiently?

How could his administration have addressed these problems, if things only continue to get worse for the City of Niagara Falls and its residents? His administration believes the product will sell itself with no work at all. His administration has been sitting idle for over three years. It's almost as if he thought the mayor's post wasn't an elected position. He has done nothing of significance to address economic development in any area of the city.

niagaranews@buffnews.comnull

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