Niagara Falls Mayor Vincenzo Anello is under investigation by the FBI and a grand jury impaneled by the U.S. Attorney.

While several issues are being investigated, the “smoking gun,” is said to be $40,000 Anello received from developer, Smokin’ Joe Anderson, and, what Anderson’s got in return. 

True, in 2003 – shortly before becoming mayor -- Anello received $40k from a company controlled by Anderson.

When it became public, Anello explained it was a no-interest loan for his business, and he hadn't made repayment.

To suggest that Anello took this money secretly is absurd. 

Anderson operates- on the Tuscarora reservation- a tax-free gas and cigarette store. Much of his business is cash.

If there was a secret plan, why didn’t they do what others did in Niagara Falls --put cash in an envelope?

Instead, there were checks, and official check request forms on file with Anderson’s corporation.

Anello reported the loan on his disclosure form at city hall -- where anyone could see it.

Still, Anello did official business as Mayor with Anderson!

Of course.  

Anderson is one of few developers doing anything in Niagara Falls.

But, did Anderson get preferential treatment?

In 2004, the Anello administration (and the council) approved a lease with Anderson for the East Mall walkway – running from The Family Fun Center to the Seneca- Niagara Casino.

Anderson's no-bid contract called for initial payments of $7,500 a year which some say is low.

But it is not a precedent.

Lou Antonacci, owner of the Como restaurant, leases a similar (and connecting) walkway -from the Family Fun Center to the State Park, which is closer to the falls, and more traversed. He pays less than Anderson.

Besides, leasing rights require the developer to maintain and bring attractions to a three-months- a- year active sidewalk area. He rents spaces to vendors and provides amusements and entertainment, and hopes to make a profit, after expenses.

Before Anderson took over, his walkway was nearly a ghost town. Now, combined, the two walkways create a  sort of “honky-tonk” district connecting the Casino to the park.

Anderson has more than 30 events planned this season, and so far every one has drawn thousands and filled local hotels.

Anello did well getting Anderson to work the area.

And work he does. Last Saturday, Anderson was at his walkway at 9:59. By 10:01 he was on the phone with manager Mike Gawel demanding to know why the garbage was not emptied – as he required -by 10 Am.

Consider: much of Niagara Falls’s best downtown property is owned by billionaires and multi- millionaires and have been vacant for years – the United Office Building, the Nabisco property, the Turtle, the Rainbow Mall.

This kind of developer is refreshing.

Still, critics allege favors: Anello helped Anderson Graphics get a $70,000 low-interest loan from NFC Development, the city's lending arm.

NFC was developed to assist new businesses. And Anderson was developing a new company in Niagara Falls- a novelty, in an area hardly in high demand.

And Anderson’s t- shirts are on sale right now in Niagara Falls.

Or, again, Anderson's Club Malibu on Third Street received grants of $90,000 from the city and state for façade improvements. While much of Third Street’s properties are rough - Anderson’s are well-kept – with brand new facades.

That’s why these grants were funded.

But, Anderson's properties did not see a raise in tax assessment! It was argued that the reassessment of the Family Fun Center from $1.6 million to $1 million was a special favor.

After Anderson purchased it (before Anello was mayor), he invested $2 million, and converted a vacant downtown property into a popular venue. So he should be punished with super- high taxes because he invested in the area, while others disinvested?

Anello should be blamed if he helped make taxes fairer to foster an important tourist attraction?

As it is, Anderson is paying more in taxes than his neighbor. If Anello was secretly trying to help Anderson, he could structure a sweetheart deal like those negotiated for past developers in previous administrations   – such as the Rainbow Mall giveaway lease.

If Anderson got a little help from the Anello administration- that’s good -- since many developers have gotten a lot of help from a lot of previous administrations, and have done nothing in return.   Million dollar giveaways – and the developers milked them and did nothing in return, scandals really, the real reason why Niagara Falls is broke and dying.

For a while, Anderson has been practically the only living thing in downtown Niagara Falls. If such as he are not helped- what are these economic development programs for anyway?

Anderson got less than he was entitled to from the city.

Investigators will need a lot more than this smoking gun aimed at Joe Anderson and Mayor Vincenzo Anello.

Frank Parlato is a developer and owns the former Occidental Office building- renamed One Niagara- in downtown Niagara Falls