A national publication recently wrote an in-depth analysis of Niagara Falls, N.Y., versus its Canadian counterpart.
Not surprisingly, the outlook was far more rosy in Ontario.
Governing.com examined the sparkling development of the Canadian side and the equally dreary crumbling of the American side, which the publication said falls far short of what a tourist destination should be.
A lack of vision by municipal leaders, the report said, is to blame.
“Simply put, Niagara Falls, Ontario, has benefited from decades of decisions by regional and provincial policy makers who have built on one another’s work,” the report said. “Niagara Falls, N.Y., has lurched through short-sighted, incompetent and sometimes corrupt municipal governance, failed stabs at regionalism and flailing, inconsistent and outright destructive approaches by various arms of state government.”
Calling the Falls the ideal place “to observe the effects of local government fragmentation and dysfunctional politics in their purest and most distressing form,” the report said that the city’s revitalization pale in comparison to Pittsburgh, Cleveland and other Rust Belt cities looking to rebound. When Canadian officials decided to prioritize tourism as a primary industry, the article said, every group that was involved in any way with Niagara Falls worked to ensure the city’s vitality — everything from water/land conservation to infrastructure and attractions.
An anonymous Canadian official was quoted as saying there’s one main reason why his nation’s prosperity in Niagara Falls hasn’t been realized stateside. Where a place such as Erie County has more than 1,000 governing entities, people wishing to do business in Ontario have only a handful of regulatory agencies with which to deal.
“If you’re an investor coming into Western New York, there are just too many jurisdictions, too may politicians to deal with, too many people who want their favor cashed in,” the source was quoted as saying. “And they don’t talk to each other very much.”
•••
While sales were logically robust locally, enhanced driver’s licenses have failed to bring in anywhere near the revenue New York state projected when the documents were introduced a year ago.
The licenses, which satisfy beefed up security requirements for entry into the United States, were expected to generate $66.4 million per year for the state. Instead, the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin reported, the state will earn only about $3.7 million this fiscal year.
About 30 percent of the 200,000 enhanced licenses that have been sold (61,392) went to Erie County residents. Niagara County (19,823) sold the second-most enhanced licenses.
Contact Paul Laneat 693-1000, ext. 116.
Lifestyle
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Politicians keep Falls falling
- Lifestyle
-
-
Family ties come in time
When it comes to genealogy, all you need to do sometimes is catch a break.
-
Imagination is a wonderful — and scary — thing
Tiger, squirrel, what's the difference when you're 2?
-
The law of conservation of energy — with kids
Watching the thundering herd pass us, the father shook his head ... and called to the children:
“How can you have so much energy when I’m so tired?”
We looked at each other and laughed, each then, perhaps, seeing our future in the tired parents. To this day, eight years later, there are still moments when we look at our kids, then each other, and repeat those words. -
Albany man visits WNY-based hockey legend
An Albany-area man was the guest of hockey legend Scotty Bowman when the Stanley Cup made what seems like its nearly annual trek to Bowman’s Amherst home.
-
NT-based service offers support, counseling to cancer patients
There used to be a time when the word “cancer” wasn’t even in most people’s vocabularies.
Rather than utter the disease’s name, according to Hillary Ruchlin, people would use the term “the big C” to denote what illness they were talking about.
Times have changed for the better, said Ruchlin, executive director of the Cancer Wellness Center in North Tonawanda. People now know that there is hope. -
Parenting can be easy to say but hard to do
The parental saying is so commonly used that it’s almost become cliché: “I would do anything for my children.”
But what they don’t tell you is that, some days, it’s harder than others to fulfill that mantra. -
Green Day is Rock Hall shoo-in
Green Day will one day see the inside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — and I don't mean merely as a visitor.
-
Tonawanda native delivers some of TV world’s biggest scoops
When people want the latest big news about the goings-on in the world of television, they generally turn to the New York Times, Variety and other major media outlets.
When the reporters at those outlets want to get informed, they have been known to turn to a one-man operation that operates out of a small Florida bedroom. -
When a dad needs to be a dad
I don't condone the actions of vigilante fathers ... but I understand.
-
Reeves’ Buffalo film tests well
Early indications are that the Keanu Reeves that filmed throughout the Buffalo-Niagara region late last fall will be worth watching.
- More Lifestyle Headlines
-
Raw Video: Hearse Arrives at N.J. Funeral Home
Authorities: Houston Found Underwater in Tub
Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death
Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J.
First Person: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Obama's New Budget: The Winners and Losers
Gregoire: Marriage Equality Is Right for Wash.
Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches
Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
