The World According to Bob

(Editor's note: Below is a transcript of Mayor Robert Restaino's weekly Youtube missille to his Apostles. It's easy to second guess the timing or the special meeting. The transcription was created using AI but was still edited. If you want real danger,  trust the summary artificial intelligence creates. )

Air quality

A couple of things just to go over with you.

First and foremost, obviously, has been the air quality over the last few days. I hope that everyone has been mindful. For some, it is just a matter of inconvenience. For others who may have breathing issues, I hope that you've exercised the appropriate caution as you move about outside.

I know that the air quality should be improving over the next days as smoke from the wildfires begins to sort of move south of our area.

So again, just be mindful. Exercise common sense on what you need to do.

About that meeting

Today, we have a special meeting called with the city council.

Several very important items are on this agenda, and so we're hopeful that we can conclude some of the items that are important to all of you.

One will be to get some additional help mowing. We not only have the clean team out there cutting grass, we have a contractor cutting grass, we have the parks department cutting grass, but because our clean team is small, obviously there are still many private property owners that choose not to take care of their responsibility, we're gonna need some additional help.

My hope is that following this afternoon's meeting, we'll be able to get some additional help for those issues.

In addition, we are again, looking to make sure that we can double up on the type of road paving that we're able to do. You may recall that there were even some sort of misinformed and misguided comments about the commencement of road paving. So I guess I would ask residents.

You know, you remember in May and June, our streets crew, was out there filling potholes, many, potholes.

In fact, there are still some they still have to get to, but that's gonna have to be postponed for a minute in order for them to begin to start doing, uh, the road work that the road crew has indicated they are capable of doing.

It really is a silly suggestion given the significant road potholes that every community was experiencing.

So, you know, those who want to just start chaos are gonna say what they say, and I just know that there are so many of you that look past it to understand that you know, there are practical considerations and all of the things that we have to do.

So we're hopeful that the council will also acknowledge the importance and move forward with the private contract.

About the settlement

In addition, again, even with a memo from the controller's office indicating the importance of using fund balance as the appropriate location for the payments pursuant to the stipulated settlement order.

Again, we're hopeful that the city council will understand the importance of complying with the judge's order.

This will be the second time that this administration puts it in front of them.

And so we're hopeful that the council will understand the importance of it and move forward with it.

Pools

Other than that, let me just tick off a couple of other things.

As you know, pools remain open.

They will be open as always today and this weekend.

So if you'd like to get out to one of the three municipal pools, please feel free to enjoy that opportunity to cool off.

World Cup

Additionally, for those of you that are following the World Cup, um.

It's my understanding that out on Old Fall Street for the championship game, which will be Sunday, there will be an opportunity to view it outdoors to see the championship game with Spain and Argentina.

I know many have been following it. I've enjoyed many of the games. If you're interested in getting out there, um, it'll be on the big screen on Old Fall Street.

DEC and EPA meeting

Just a reminder that the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency will be holding an informational session at the Niagara Falls Convention Center this Monday afternoon at 5 p.m.

More information is in the local newspaper.

If you're interested in learning more or understanding where the process is, step on down.

Information potentially ease some of the confusion, and obviously some of the grave concern.

You know we should all be attentive to it.

We should all make sure that we have as much information as possible that we were not subjected to, you know, any fear and hysteria that some might want to generate.

It's a serious matter, but let's make sure we get all the information. I think that'll be better for everybody.

On to the weekend

While there are a few things going on this weekend, you know, Saturday might be a little bit of a touchy day in terms of the weather.

But if you're gonna be out and around, again, as I often do, please remember we share the road, with pedestrians, with e vehicles, with bicycles.

So all of us, motor vehicles, and all road users need to make sure that we attend to traffic controls proper operation on the roadway, and let's avoid any other difficulties with our road.

Let's make it a safe summer. A safe summer is really important and it can be achieved only through all of us working together.

So again, please make sure that you're careful out there if you're out and around the city streets.

And enjoy the weekend.

Perhaps we'll see you down by on Old Fall Street for the championship.

I look forward to talking to you next week.