Random thoughts

Gazette redevelopment

Great to see the Gazette building on Niagara Street pegged for redevelopment. I just wish that didn’t mean residential upstairs, vacant retail space on the ground floor like a lot of the real estate fixed up on Third and Niagara.

Teletech space

Also great to see redevelopment of the Teletech space at 1st and Niagara. It is fun to see the transformation of the way the project is described. The Gazette ran a “Staff Report” which conveniently omitted how the project was first announced to include low-income and subsidized housing about a year ago.

As the project moves forward, the emphasis from the writer at project sponsor USA/Niagara Development, in that “staff report” didn’t mention accommodations for the less fortunate.

In the end, it is another project that will result in rented apartments upstairs, vacant retail downstairs.

Half a billion

If you add up all the projects happening along the Niagara River, on Pine Avenue and in the entertainment district right now, public and private investment will result in something more the $500 million in the next decade.

Riley brothers update

Riding to lead a “Mobsters and Mayhem” tour last night on Goat Island I saw people posing for photos in front of the “Take a Smie, Leave a Smile” mural on Main Street by the Whirlpool Bridge. I could not chat for long but the folks included the mother of Josh and Nate Riley brothers and artists. They are Niagara Falls and Cornell grads who majored in public policy and are in San Francisco for the summer, likely working on public policy advocacy and, of course, making more art. They are prized students of Rob Lynch.

Texas Guests

I had tour guests last week notice those murals are not tagged with graffiti as they would be in a place where they came from in Texas. The father said he works as a police officer and lives in the community where he serves. New Braunfels is one of the fastest growing communities in the country. It is hot, and dry. Because he lives there, he said he carries a firearm everywhere he goes. “I can never tell when some gangbanger I put away 10 years ago is going to confront me in public.”

His wife shared a novel thought about January 6: "The police should have started shooting people as they attempted to invade the Capitol. We need to let people know that is not acceptable."

I don't engage by sharing my opinion but like to get people like her to share thoughts like that because it is important to understand some people feel that way.

Georgia Guests

Other fun tour guests from Georgia were 1) Amazed at how friendly everyone in the Falls is “no one seemed aloof or arrogant. Everyone just wanted to help.” and 2) Very interested in the Underground Railroad Heritage here.

Branding problem

The Falls Police blotter on Shredd and Ragan is a tired schtick that reflects poorly on Niagara Falls and must go. I hope that doesn’t mean the Gazette needs to die first but it has done 20 years of damage in convincing people the Falls is a shithole. Hopefully it will be enough when Rick Pfeiffer retires. If "Community Matters" as is emblazoned daily on the top of Page 1 then the paper shouldn't be playing a part in making our city a regular punchline.

Visitor thoughts

When go on vacation, be it Maine, Bruce Peninsula, San Francisco or even Newfoundland we often look at each other ad say “wouldn’t it be great to live here.” Then we look at real estate prices and reality. How would we make a living? Could we afford a house? If we had visited the DeVeaux neighborhood of Niagara Falls more before we moved, we would have had the same fantasy. Only we can not only afford to live here but at less cost than Clarence. I love telling people on tours that story.

“I work a full-time job and sneak away a few times a week to lead tours, because I want to tell people how wonderful my city is. It’s not about getting paid by the tour company or collecting tips. It is about making sure people have a good time and know there are legit family businesses owned by entrepreneurs here you can visit and support and people like me who are grateful for your visit.”