Citizen advocates visit Falls council

The ongoing battle between citizen activists upset over the handling of a contract for sheltering Niagara Falls dogs took another turn Wednesday.

Two weeks ago, Council Chairperson James Perry banned Janine Gallo and Tanya Barone from speaking for the good of the community until June.

Perry used his prerogative as chairman, as interpreted by Deputy Corporation Counsel Thomas DeBoy.

Barone and Gallo were both present last night. Gallo is a former associate of current shelter operator Kelly Swagel, who operates the Pit Chic.

Last night, Gallo was handing out cards for Paws Inn the Falls Animal Complex, a boarding, rescue and training complex she is opening at 2070 Cayuga Drive which formerly housed a John Deere dealer.

She and Barone were both signed up to speak but never called to the podium. DeBoy, at the start of the meeting, explained his interpretation that there is no right expressed to speak at a meeting guaranteed by federal or state law.

The council was addressed at the end of the meeting by a pair of citizens concerned with corruption. A gentleman from Acting Out Media called the council corrupt and said government is a conspiracy.

Daniel Warmus, (AKA Daniel Erie County) was at the meeting in support of Gallo and Barone. Warmus operates a Youtube channel called “Auditing Erie County” and had his camera rolling.

He addressed the council expressing his contention that not allowing citizens to speak is a violation of Constitutional rights.

Warmus is a well-known activist whose activities have led to legal action against him in Erie County as well as Lockport. As he ranted, Perry called uniformed officers to the front of the chambers and requested he be removed. The microphone was shut off. Warmus finished speaking, loudly and clearly as police stood by.

After the meeting, Warmus stayed and and spoke to Barone, who said she was unfairly targeted by Perry because he did not like what she had to say.

Warmus publicly thanked officers for allowing him to finish his times.

Interestingly, Perry has allowed former council member Vincent Cauley to speak at every meeting, expressing grievances over the dog shelter as well as unaccountable spending by the council. His presentation has been at times as caustic and hostile as Barone but he has not been banned from speaking.

The city’s department of public works is in the process of renovating a Hyde Park building to be a new dog shelter. When that facility of ready, a request for proposals will be released to find a new operator. Pit Chic, as well as Gallo, are potential bidders.