A Lot Has Happened In Four Years, Let’s Continue The Progress.
Join Bob as he strives to continue to restore hope and opportunity to the citizens of our City.
- Development. For too long the city has depended upon large out-of-town developers who ultimately do nothing with the land they have acquired. This administration has been committed to holding developers accountable for their inaction. We need actual business development that can deliver employment with wages to empower families and help stabilize neighborhoods.
- Communication. One thing that we learned from the pandemic was the importance of getting information to our residents. As a result, Bob pushed forward to create a city public information officer position, City-Wide Text Alert Program & an official City presence on social media platforms.
- Collaborative Government. For years, Niagara Falls did not engage with other local governmental entities or community agencies. Upon taking office, Bob changed that quickly and the results have been a major benefit to the City and it’s residents.
- Budget. Four years ago, Bob promised to bring fiscal accountability back to City Hall. Now, for the first time in years, the City has experienced two consecutive SURPLUS budgets and is no longer classified as a “Financially Distressed City” by New York State. Mayor Restaino kept his promise!
Development
Creating Opportunities
- Four Years ago, Bob talked about the importance of putting people to work and the need to diversify the city’s economy. The need to address the issue of poverty was a key component to improve our neighborhoods. Over the last four years, this Administration has partnered with Niagara University, the Iron Workers Local #9 and the Niagara County Building & Construction Trades Council to address opportunities for our residents.
Since being in office, Bob has created, in partnership with Niagara University, a Workforce Development Consortium. The purpose was to coordinate the different agencies that were providing workforce training and providing information to assist people on what programs are available. Just as important, they went out to employers in various industries and businesses to determine what skills they were looking for in a new hire and then developing training programs for their needs.
Bob and his administration worked with the Ironworkers Local #9 to fund a training program at its building at 412 – 39th Street. But developing a training program for local people interested in learning a trade didn’t stop with the Ironworkers. Working with the Niagara County Building and Construction Trades Council, the City is turning the old Junior’s Truck Stop on 56th Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard into a training center for anyone interested in learning a trade. The Trades Council will be providing the training and it is a great opportunity for apprenticeships for those who are in the program.
Holding Developers Accountable
- For too long the city has depended upon large out-of-town developers who specialize in providing beautiful renderings of what they are proposing, only to do nothing with the land they have acquired. Under this administration, these developers are being held accountable for their inaction and any new developer will have tight timelines to begin meaningful development otherwise they will lose their development rights. No more never-ending long-term development deals.
Tourism will always be a large part of our city’s economy. Currently, our tourism season runs from mid-April to early November. Just after Election Day, almost half of the workforce in the tourism industry is laid off. That needs to change and that is why I am strongly advocating for indoor attractions in the downtown area such as the Event Center and Centennial Park. The Event Center will bring activity to the downtown area through concerts, sporting events, family entertainment, like the Ice Capades, and the opportunity to work with the Seneca Nation to accommodate the Nation’s events. This will keep people working in the hotels and restaurants downtown, help businesses in the winter months and give new businesses a reason to invest in downtown Niagara Falls.
In working with the Niagara County Economic Development Department, we are providing opportunities for the development of a business park at 5000 Porter Road with interest from companies in Canada and other parts of the United States that will provide good paying jobs for our residents.
Local Development
- Mayor Restaino and his administration are hard at work with new development opportunities downtown: The Centennial Park & Events Center; An Outdoor Gorge View Amphitheatre (between Discovery Way & Whirlpool Street), and The the Skating Sport Pad at the proposed Hydraulic Canal park site (between 1st and 2nd Street). These proposed projects will not only benefit the City's hotel and tourism industry, but they will also serve as additional attractions for residents and locals.
Hospitality is a key component of our local economy and yet every year, in late fall, 1/3 to ½ of our workforce is laid off because there has been no effort to find a way to engage the 12 million residents, living 90 miles east and west of our City, to come to Niagara Falls in the winter. Our administration has proposed a plan to bring year-round entertainment downtown and change the hospitality industry from being seasonal to providing year-round employment to those who wish to work in that to deteriorate industry. The park and event center plan would help engage the winter season, first as an outdoor location for locals to enjoy year-round and the event center would provide a venue, unmatched in the region, for entertainment, year-round. There are no other plans proposed or presented and our City needs to think boldly if it is going to move forward – the actions of the past and the empty broken promises of outsiders have yielded nothing.
Bob and this administration’s partnership with State officials has never been stronger and our message of creating a City not for tourists only, but entertainment for residents to enjoy – year round – has resulted in tangible products, the proposed outdoor Gorge view Amphitheatre at the former DeFranco park site (between Discovery Way and Whirlpool Street) and the skating sport pad at the proposed Hydraulic Canal park site (between 1st and 2nd Streets downtown).
The Mayor and his administration has also created a solid partnership with the Niagara-Orleans Land Bank, a formerly untapped resource, to move dormant city owned parcels into the hands of home builders to create single and multi-family homes in areas long left neglected. While the process is methodical it is a partnership with the City that has opened new opportunities for neighborhood development.
Communication
Keeping Residents Informed
One thing that we learned from the pandemic was the importance of getting information to our residents. As a result, Bob pushed forward to have a city public information officer position created with the express purpose of providing our residents with what they need to know from road work locations to a festival taking place on Old Falls Street.
The importance of providing information to residents is what led to the creation of the City’s Text Alert system, the first of its kind for any municipality here in Niagara County. Road closures, community events, weather emergencies and other items are what is texted to those residents who sign up for the text alerts.
As more and more people get information on social media, the city now has an official City Facebook page which is another vehicle to get information to the residents.
Weekly Updates
Every Friday, Bob provides a weekly YouTube video where he provides information about what has happened that week in city government and what to look for in the upcoming week. It’s a great opportunity to connect with residents and share his thoughts on City issues.
Collaborative Government.
Put Petty Politics Aside
- For years, Niagara Falls did not engage with other local governmental entities or community agencies. Upon taking office, Bob changed that quickly by meeting with Niagara County officials to discuss ways that the County could assist the City in various areas. The relationship has been a good one for the city in economic development.
Working together, the County Economic Development Department has provided leads on various business opportunities, and expertise on brownfields and environmental issues. Bob has enthusiastically welcomed the assistance of the Niagara Orleans Land Bank to rehabilitate the housing stock in the city with the goal of revitalizing neighborhoods.
Bob’s leadership has brought a great relationship with the County’s Emergency Management Department that have assisted the City in various weather related events.
The Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, Border Patrol, NYS Police, city and town police departments and the Niagara Falls Police Department all working together under the under the Mayor’s call for collaboration.
The City’s Summer Youth Program is another example of working together to provide services to city residents. The city partnered with the Niagara Falls School District, the Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club, and other not-for-profit organizations to provide various activities for kids here in Niagara Falls. The district also offered the use of their swimming pools during the pandemic.
The relationship between Niagara University and the City has grown under Mayor Restaino’s leadership. Niagara has worked with the city to examine possibilities to address student housing and making Sal Maglie Stadium a venue that city residents can be proud.
Under Mayor Restaino’s Administration, Niagara Falls is no longer going it alone which has expanded services and programs for city residents.
The Impact Of Working Together
- Regions that are expanding and developing have learned the lesson that by working together, we can achieve more than by operating in our own bubbles. In the Mayor's first term in office, by advancing opportunities to work cooperatively with other government, private and non-profit partners, we have established meaningful opportunities for development and job creation for our residents.
Since being in office, Bob has created, in partnership with Niagara University, a Workforce Development Consortium. The purpose was to coordinate the different agencies that were providing workforce training and providing information to assist people on what programs are available. Just as important, they went out to employers in various industries and businesses to determine what skills they were looking for in a new hire and then developing training programs for their needs.
Bob and his administration worked with the Ironworkers Local #9 to fund a training program at its building at 412 – 39th Street. But developing a training program for local people interested in learning a trade didn’t stop with the Ironworkers. Working with the Niagara County Building and Construction Trades Council, the City is turning the old Junior’s Truck Stop on 56th Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard into a training center for anyone interested in learning a trade. The Trades Council will be providing the training and it is a great opportunity for apprenticeships for those who are in the program.
This includes:
for the greater Niagara Falls region with together with neighboring communities. Through cooperation, Niagara Falls can lead the growth of Western Niagara County. Achieving this will take rejecting the old days of political division and recognition that there isn’t a Republican answer or a Democrat answer… there is only the right answer for Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls deserves a mayor who will put the partisanship “on the shelf” for the benefit of the residents of Niagara Falls, a mayor that has proven the willingness to work with and for all individuals regardless of political party.
In my private practice and public service I have measured my commitment not by political affiliation of the person or group, but rather by what is right or by the good that it will bring to the community. I can assure as the mayor of Niagara Falls I will continue to assess efforts to improve our community on those same terms and work toward bringing growth and prosperity to our City.
Budget.
Promises Kept
- Four years ago, Bob identified that putting the City’s financial house in order was a top priority as he inherited a budget that relied heavily on casino revenue, increased deficit spending and the constant worry of large tax increases or cuts in services. That all changed with the Restaino Administration.
As was promised, Bob brought the City Council early into the budget process. This led to open dialogue between the legislative and executive branch of government which led to three consecutive years without one budget amendment!
The goal for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Budgets was clear from the Mayor: the tax levy not to exceed the 2% state property tax cap and conservative revenue estimates. Departments were challenged to examine ways to reduce expenditures, including reorganization, and where applicable, look for additional revenue.
Despite the deficit this administration inherited, coupled with the challenges presented by the pandemic within the first two months in office, we have successfully accomplished the following:
- In 2021 we eliminated the 2020 pandemic caused budget deficit and ended the 2021 budget year with a budget surplus.
- In 2022 we ended the budget year with a budget surplus and for the first time in half a decade Niagara Falls was removed from the “fiscally distressed cities list” issued by the NYS Comptroller.
- These budget surpluses are the first time in years that City government has had a budget surplus, and the two consecutive years, while coming out of the fiscal impacts of the pandemic, is a substantial accomplishment while we continue to drive down budget dependence on casino revenue.
- As a result, we have achieved an upgrade in our fiscal outlook by bond agencies due to our fiscal management.
Promises Made, Promises Kept.
- In 2021 we eliminated the 2020 pandemic caused budget deficit and ended the 2021 budget year with a budget surplus.
Focus on New Revenue
- You often hear politicians talking about Shared Services, but instead of talking about it, Mayor Restaino did it by establishing partnerships with the Niagara Falls School District, Niagara County, the Town of Niagara, the Niagara Falls Housing Authority, Niagara University and a number of not-for-profit organizations. These partnerships either reduced costs or increased revenue for Niagara Falls.
For years the City talked about increasing parking revenues in the downtown area. Once again, Mayor Restaino took the initiative to have automated parking controls at the Rainbow Ramp and all city surface lots. With this initiative, the City was able to reduce expenses and almost double revenue which helps to reduce the need for higher property taxes.
With this philosophy of conservative revenue estimates, keeping within or below budgeted expenses, engaging the City Council in the budget process early, slowly reducing the City’s reliance on casino revenue to fund the budget, continuously seeking new revenue possibilities and partnering with community partners, Mayor Restaino has turned the City’s negative financial picture into one that is positive which is an incentive for potential new investors to come to Niagara Falls. The fact is that under Mayor Restaino’s leadership, the city has had two surplus budgets, been removed from the NYS Comptrollers Fiscally Distressed List and has produced an uptick in the City’s Bond Rating.