A chance to make a difference

Letters to the Editor

By Mancene Sinclair

September 10, 2008

I had been a resident of Niagara Falls for 45 years, before moving to Ransomville, where I now own 5 acres more property then I did in Niagara Falls, and yet now, I pay less in taxes. For one, I do not have to pay for “city” taxes. How many winters I “weathered,” when the city streets had not been plowed for days, where the potholes were big enough to swallow a car. I have worked in the tourism field in Niagara Falls for the last 25 years, from hotel front-desk positions to working on the thruway, promoting our great city of Niagara Falls, working with Niagara Tourism Convention Corp., explaining to people from all over the world what a beautiful place Niagara Falls is, encouraging them to stay longer then a night and enjoy the many regions of our area. To be honest, being born and raised in this city, I find it harder and harder to have to make excuses why there are so many areas of our city that are poverty struck. Main Street is an embarrassment, and now we have the surrounding area of the “beautiful” casino that reminds me of the Love Canal area back in the 1970s. Homes have been purchased by the Seneca Indians but have yet to be torn down. It is to my embarrassment that I have to explain these areas over and over again. Did I forget to mention the famous deteriorating “Rainbow Mall” or the moldy, stinky parking ramp attached?

One of the only bright spots in downtown Niagara Falls right now for tourists to say: “Oh, look, let’s go there” is a place called One Niagara. A man named Frank Parlato Jr. came into our city, took our horrendous AquaFalls hole in the ground, filled it, paved it and gave many businesses, a chance to make a living. A chance to make our city look as though maybe there is something exciting outside of the beautiful Niagara Falls.

I am sure there are some of you who felt as I did that maybe the casino would help our city. That was a gamble I think we all lost as business owners, as residents. How can anyone of us who pay so much in taxes, compete with a tax-free nation? Even the very, very wealthy cannot compete with that. Is there a level playing field? No. Is there anything we, as citizens, can do? Will we ever know if we don’t try?

Parlato is holding a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at 1 Niagara Rainbow Boulevard. Those of you who feel that maybe you can make a difference, please attend. It is possible we can make this city prosper for everyone, our children, our grandchildren and great grandchildren. Or live with the fact that we didn’t even try. We hope to see you all there.

Mancene Sinclair

Ransomville