Potpourri for a Sunday

About the Gill Creek grant

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has received a $2 million grant for restoration of Gill Creek.

Online, the project received lots of criticism. Most of it was “why spend money there instead of tearing down buildings and fixing potholes?”

While I understand the emotional response, the restoration of Gill Creek is state-funded and not discretionary funding controlled by the city.

‘Gardengate’ follow up

Among the scandals under the administration of Mayor Robert Restaino was “Gardengate” whereby the goonies from the city Department of Public Works destroyed a family’s garden at 2627 Ontario Ave.

I favor gardens over grass in every instance and will be embracing “No Mow May” as the entire city does. The DPW already participates. Just look around at city-owned property. (Please forgive the sarcasm).

That said, the rental property on Ontario Avenue is listed for sale online. The two-bedroom, 1-bath 1,000 square-foot home started out listed at $99,000 in January. The listing includes no interior photos. It last changed hands for $29,500 in 2018.

Sources tell the Express the back taxes, waterbills and that cleanup charge encumber it with more than $25,000 in charges that need to be satisfied before a sale can close. Rent is list at $1,100 monthly.

The tenants on the property, Justine Burger and Ken Johnson said last year after the cleanup that the garden was important to their autistic child and the complaints were from a politically connected, overly nosy neighbor who should mind her own business.

The overly zealous Public Works Department bullies, led by Kenny Tompkins, were responsible for a massive disruption in the lives of an innocent family.

Charges for the cleanup were $2,300. Burger and Johnson solicited donations of garden materials to restore the garden and funds to pay the fine. $2,867 was raised according to the still-live campaign which had a goal of $10,000. Here is a link to the GoFundMe.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ape2ep-our-family-garden?lang=en_US

When people say rents are too high and home ownership is not attainable, consider a home like this one. Here’s a link to the real estate listing. https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2627-Ontario-Ave_Niagara-Falls_NY_14305_M44073-51290

Signs of spring

Robins in Niagara Falls are meaningless because they stay here year-round. On the other hand, red-winged blackbirds and killdeer both migrate, are real harbingers of spring, and returned within the last week.