The World According to Bob

(Editor’s note: Each week, Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino posts a Youtube missile pontificating upon what went on in the city this week. The Express, when time allows, transcribes so you can read rather than listen.)

Beware potholes

First we are all enjoying a bit of unseasonable weather these past few days but with this unseasonable weather comes potholes with expansion and contraction and potholes popping up. Crews are out to address potholes but the plant that provide hot material for patching won’t be open for a few more months. So they are out there, attempting to address the potholes with what is referred to as a cold-patch substance. When you drive over it, is what causes that noise in your undercarriage because it is a bandaid and to a degree, not the greatest thing. So having said that, let me just say a couple things: 1) They are out there and they are working. 2) This isn’t the greatest weather for them to be doing this kind of work but they will continue to do it. 3) We know we are in this particular strange weather pattern. Please, drive more carefully. You know that the roads are going to be a little bit more tricky because of this change in the weather that has exposed these holes so just be safe and careful as you drive around but know that the Department of Public Works crews are out there doing their best with the material that they have at this time of year.

Buffalo Niagara Partnership supports Centennial Park

The Buffalo Niagara-Niagara Partnership has included our event center among its regional advocacy items. That means a partnership of businesses and government leaders is working collectively on a series of projects to advance for completion and our event center project is included in their advocacy. That is a good thing because the more voices we have advancing the need for this in the region the better. Additionally, it really reflects what we all hoped for with this project, that it is a regional one, one that helps all of the communities around us.

I have said this in the past so I am repeating myself for sure but successful areas throughout the country have that regional approach. It isn’t one city winning because another is losing or one town winning because another is losing. Rather, they work in concert to compete against other regions and so that is really where the competition should be rather than among ourselves.

We appreciate the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s willingness to include our project, the event center project in their advocacy program for this year.

NFR resolution coming?
Speaking of the project, we are working toward a resolution in some form on the land claims over the course of the next couple of weeks. So hopefully we will have some more information for you as this month unfolds but we are working to see if we can resolve all of this for the benefits of our residents and our community.

Watch for bikes

Please watch for bikes, scooters, disabled people and those with whom cars share the road. If you have not joined the city text-alert system, please do so. Text the word “resident” 716-325-5723 and you will be a part of it.