Niagara Falls New York NY Warrant Search

Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 55,593, although a 2009 census estimate placed the population at 51,295, marking the fifth consecutive population decrease in the city. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario (also a city), both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they share. It is part of both the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Western New York region. History The City of Niagara Falls was incorporated on March 17, 1892 from the villages of Manchester and Suspension Bridge, which were parts of the Town of Niagara. New York State Governor Roswell P. Flower signed a bill into law forming the city. Thomas Vincent Welch who was a member of the charter committee and then a New York state assemblyman, but more importantly a second-generation Irishman, was there when the bill was signed, and responsible for asking Governor Flower to sign the bill on St. Patrick's Day. Historically, the city was built around factories that utilized the power of the falling water for energy. Now the downtown area borders a park (Niagara Falls State Park) affording a close-up view of the American, Horseshoe and Bridal Veil Falls. The European migration into the area began in the 17th century with missionaries and explorers. The first recorded European to visit the area was Frenchman Robert de la Salle, accompanied by Belgian priest Louis Hennepin, who was the first known European to see the falls. This influx of newcomers may have been a catalyst for already hostile native tribes to turn to open warfare in competition for the fur trade.By the end of the 19th century, the city was a heavy industrial area, due in no small part to the huge power potential offered by the swiftly-flowing Niagara River. There were many industries in Niagara Falls that used the power of the mighty Niagara River.In 1927, the city annexed the village of La Salle from the Town of Niagara. The village was named for Robert de la Salle.The 1950s and 1960s witnessed an economic boom, as construction of the massive New York State Power Authority power plant brought thousands of construction jobs to the region. This power plant also supplied millions of megawatt-hours of cheap electricity to Niagara Falls and the rest of New York State. It was at this time that the city saw its population peak at about 105,000. Many industries located in the city as a result of the readily available hydropower. Paper, rubber, plastics, petrochemicals and abrasives were among the major industries located in the city.In the 1970s Niagara Falls was given millions of dollars for a sweeping Urban Renewal project that would re-invent the fading tourist district. The city began work soon after, finishing several projects by the end of the decade. The project was passed by Mayor E. Dent Lackey and the largely corrupt City Council.The neighborhood of Love Canal gained national media attention in 1978 when United States President Jimmy Carter declared a federal emergency there, and hundreds of residents were relocated. Starting in 1920, the area had been used as a landfill for chemical waste disposal (and later, industrial toxic waste) before its development as a residential area. The Superfund law, which protects people, families, communities and others from heavily contaminated toxic waste sites, was enacted in 1980 in response to the Love Canal situation.The post-Love Canal Niagara Falls witnessed a reversal of fortunes, as what was once cheap to produce in Niagara Falls was now far cheaper to outsource to other countries. Several factories closed, and the population dropped by half, as blue-collar workers fled the city in search of jobs elsewhere. The city's economy plummeted downward when the Urban Renewal project proved ill, and most of what had been built as part of the project would fail within the next 20 years.Currently, the city's main industry is tourism. In 2004, the Seneca Nation of Indians opened the Seneca Niagara Casino in the former Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center, thereby establishing sovereign Native American territory in the midst of the city. The city, however, continues to struggle economically.In early 2010, former Niagara Falls Mayor Vincenzo Anello was indicted on federal charges of corruption. Anello had accepted $40,000 from a downtown developer and gifted him with city property. Niagara Falls has fallen victim of corruption, cronyism, nepotism, mismanagement and neglect several times.On November 30, 2010, the New York State Attorney General entered into an agreement with the city and its police department to create new policies to govern police practices in response to claims of excessive force and police misconduct. The city will create policies and procedures to prevent and respond to allegations of excessive force, and to ensure that police are properly trained and complaints are properly investigated. Prior claims filed by residents will be evaluated by an independent panel.The city has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Economy The economy for the city was originally based around the Falls itself, or at least the power generated by the massive waterfall. This cheap and abundant source of power was the driving force behind the rapid rise of area industry. Around the turn of the 20th century, thousands of immigrants from predominantly European nations such as Italy and Poland came to the area to work the chemical, steel, and manufacturing plants owned by present-day companies such as Occidental.The area is subject to the migration of manufacturing jobs to developing countries common to the rust belt. Another major toll was suburban migration, a national trend. The city, which once boasted well over 100,000 people at its peak, has seen its population decline by some 50%, as industries shut down and people left for the employment opportunities of the South and West. The unemployment rate in the City of Niagara Falls was around 10 percent as of October 2010. Approximately 60 percent of residents in Niagara Falls receive public assistance such as food stamps, welfare, unemployment insurance and Medicaid[citation needed].Because of this economic downturn, the oft-times corrupt city government has passed several tax hikes, making Niagara Falls among the highest-taxed cities in the United States. This has also kept business out and has worsened the economic condition of the city.Slowly efforts are being made to bring a new era of economic prosperity to the City of Niagara Falls and the rest of Niagara County, however minor progress is often overshadowed by larger failures. Local and state government officials have vowed to embrace the physical and cultural advantages that the Niagara region naturally possesses — whether speaking of the Niagara Gorge, burgeoning wine trail, historical landmarks, Little Italy Niagara or Niagara Falls itself. This move away from the city's industrial past to embrace a more sustainable tourism-based economy has led the city to reinvent itself in marketing in recent years. In late 2001, the State of New York established the USA Niagara Development Corporation, a subsidiary to the State's economic development agency, to focus specifically on facilitating development in downtown Niagara Falls, NY. However, the organization has been strongly criticized for doing little to improve Niagara Falls' economy and generating no significant progress since it was founded.The Falls' current development strategy is said to be focused on a pragmatic approach to revitalizing vacant and underutilized buildings in the downtown area as high profile catalyst projects with real economic impact. But the cost to demolish the city's many abandoned buildings makes it impossible for all the eyesores to be dealt with, according to officials, but some have criticized the city of wasting funds elsewhere. The opening of the new Conference Center Niagara Falls in 2005; the redevelopment of the historic United Office Building and the Hotel Niagara; the restoration of Old Falls Street, once the primary tourist thoroughfare downtown, which is now a promenade; the redevelopment of the former Holiday Inn Select as a new Crowne Plaza Resort with several restaurants including the city's first Starbucks Coffee; and other attractions such as the planned Niagara Experience Center; and of course, the Seneca Niagara Casino, attempt to reposition Niagara Falls as a premiere destination.The arrival of the Seneca Niagara Casino was considered to be what would ultimately be the catalyst for a renewal in the city's moribund downtown. However, the much-needed and anticipated renewal that the casino was supposed to catalyze has not come; Property values in the casino's area have skyrocketed, ultimately not allowing new small businesses to move into the area.Niagara Falls is currently visited by almost ten million people each year and is considered one of the United States' top ten tourist destinations.[citation needed] The official tourism promotion agency, Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation ( NTCC), was adopted in 2005. 'The Mission of the NTCC is quite simple: to enhance the economic prosperity of Niagara County by promoting, selling and marketing the County as a premier destination for meetings, conventions and leisure tourism. While everyone agrees that Niagara Falls is the region’s main attraction, there are a plethora of other attractions that make Niagara USA such a special place to visit.' The NTCC has launched several campaigns, domestically and internationally,to promote Niagara Falls Hotels, Niagara Attractions, and various events and festivals in Niagara County. The NTCC's efforts have also been criticized as the city continues to struggle financially and marketing efforts have not generated a significant turnaround. A recent audit also found millions of dollars of tax dollars spent by high-ranking NTCC officials on tuxedo rentals, trips to Europe and Asia, expensive meals and backrubs.Despite all its efforts, Niagara Falls, NY struggles to keep up with its Canadian neighbor, Niagara Falls, Ontario which has a much more vibrant tourism industry and stronger economy.From 1982 to 2000, a shopping mall called Rainbow Centre Factory Outlet operated downtown on city land leased to Cordish Companies. The mall was built in a failed effort to revitalize the downtown. The owner of that, David Cordish, was criticized for not maintaining the building. Cordish eventually shuttered the building and stopped paying rent in anticipation that the company would be bought out of the lease. The mall sits vacant and decaying to this day. In October 2010, Cordish announced that he would give the facility to Niagara County Community College for free to develop a hospitality school, culinary school, restaurant and bookstore. NCCC recently announced that they would develop 75,000 square feet of the vacant mall, giving the rest of it to the City of Niagara Falls to further develop it.There is also an outlet mall called Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls, formerly 'Prime Outlets Niagara', which is not actually part of the city, but of the town of Niagara, New York, which shares a post office with the city.The Wintergarden was an indoor arboretum designed by Cesar Pelli adjacent to to the Rainbow Centre. It operated as an arboretum from its 1977 opening until 2003, and as Smokin Joe's Family Fun Center from 2003 to 2005. The latter usage actually had to do with a corrupt plan to give the Wintergarden to developer Joe Anderson for free after he had bribed Vince Anello, a member of the City Council who would later become Mayor. Anello was later indicted on federal corruption charges, as was Anderson for bribing an official, but Anderson's sentence was shorter since he cooperated with the court, while Anello denied charges. It sat adjacent to the derelict Rainbow Centre until its being demolished. It was demolished in 2009 to make way for Old Falls Street. Geography Niagara Falls is located at 43°5′39″N 79°1′2″W / 43.09417°N 79.01722°W / 43.09417; -79.01722 (43.094305, -79.017339).The city is located at the international boundary between the United States of America and Canada.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.8 square miles (43.5 km²), of that, 14.1 square miles (36.4 km²) of it is land and 2.8 square miles (7.1 km²) of it (16.37%) is water. Topography The city is built along the Niagara Falls waterfalls and the Niagara Gorge which is located on next to the Niagara River which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Adjacent cities and towns Town of Lewiston- north Town of Niagara- northeast Town of Wheatfield- east Town of Grand Island- south Niagara Falls, Ontario- west Government The City of Niagara Falls is run using a manager-council form of government. The government consists of a mayor, a hired city administrator, and a city council. The current mayor as of 2007 is Paul A. Dyster. The City Administrator is Donna D. Owens.The council members are:Samuel Fruscione, the council chair Robert Anderson Steven Fournier Kristen Grandinetti Charles Walker On a state level, Niagara Falls is part of the 138th Assembly District of New York State. The outgoing state assemblywoman is Francine DelMonte, a Democrat. She will be replaced by Republican John D. Ceretto in January. Niagara Falls is also part of the 60th Senate District of New York State. The outgoing state senator is Antoine Thompson, a Democrat. He will be replaced by Democrat Mark Grisanti, who ran on the Republican Party line in January. Places of interest The city is home to the Niagara Falls State Park. The park has several attractions, includingCave of the Winds Maid of the Mist Prospect Point and itsobservation tower The falls are illuminated each night, and fireworks are fired from the Canadian side each week during the tourist season. Niagara Discovery Center (Also known as the Schoellkopf Center) Aquarium of Niagara Several attractions also abut the river, includingWhirlpool State Park DeVeaux Woods State Park Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Parkin nearbyLewiston, New York, commonly known as the Artpark Attractions in the downtown includeOne Niagara Center United Office Building Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel Hard Rock Cafe the proposedNiagara Experience Center the proposed Underground Railroad Museum and its accompanying train station and heritage district in the formerCustomhouse. Old Falls Street Conference Center Niagara Falls Third Street Entertainment District The Theater in the Mist Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours, which take off from the roof of theHoward Johnson Innon Main Street. Rapids Theatre on Main Street Haunted House of Wax on First Street Transportation AirNiagara Falls International Airport Buffalo Niagara International Airport Toronto'sPearson International Airporton the Canadian side offers direct service with foreign airlines to other countries. RailAmtrakhas astationat 27th Street and Lockport Road GroundNFTAis the public transit provider inNiagara CountyandErie Countywith hubs atPortage Road Transit CenterandNiagara Falls Transportation Center. NFTA replaced two local bus operators in the 1950s: Lockport Bus Lines and Niagara Falls Municipal Transit System.Major highways in the City of Niagara FallsInterstate 190(Niagara Expwy.), North-South highway through the city that runs from theSouth Grand Island Bridgefrom Grand Island north into the town of Niagara, then Lewiston and its northern end at theLewiston-Queenston Bridge. U.S. Route 62(Niagara Falls Blvd., Walnut Ave. (Westbound), Ferry Ave. (Eastbound)), signed as a North-South highway, US 62 in the city of Niagara Falls has an East-West orientation. Where Niagara Falls Blvd. ends at Packard Rd., US 62 is split among two one-way streets. Walnut Ave. carries US 62 west to its northern terminus at Main St. (NY 104), and Ferry Ave. (One block south) carries US 62 east away from downtown Niagara Falls. US 62 Business(Pine Ave.), East-West roadway in the city, this route parallels US 62 which is one block south. Its western terminus is at Main St. (NY 104) and its eastern terminus is at Niagara Falls Blvd. (US 62). New York State Route 31(Witmer Rd., College Ave.), East-West roadway from the Niagara town line near NY 31's interchange with I-190, to its western end at Lewiston Rd. (NY 104). New York State Route 61(Hyde Park Blvd.) North-South Roadway in through the City of Niagara Falls from Buffalo Ave. (NY 384), its southern end, north to the Lewiston town line where it has a short distance in the southwest corner of the Town of Lewiston where the route has its northern end at Lewiston Rd. (NY 104). New York State Route 104(Lewiston Rd., Main St.), signed as an East-West highway, NY 104 has a North-South orientation in the city that roughly parallels Robert Moses State Pkwy. and the Lower Niagara River. This routes western terminus is at Rainbow Blvd. (NY 384) at the foot of theRainbow Bridge. It heads north to the Lewiston town line. New York State Route 182(Porter Rd., Ontario Ave., Lockport St., Cleveland Ave.), East-West roadway through the city from the Niagara town line near its interchange with I-190 to its western terminus at theWhirlpool Rapids Bridge. New York State Route 265(Military Rd.), North-South highway at the eastern end of the city. Runs in the city from the Niagara town line near its intersection with Niagara Falls Blvd. (US 62) to the Town of Wheatfield where the route runs concurrent with NY 384. New York State Route 384(Buffalo Rd., Rainbow Blvd.), North-South highway (east-west orientation in city) that parallels the upper Niagara River in the city from the Wheatfield town line where it runs concurrent with NY 265, to its western end at the Robert Moses Pkwy/Rainbow Bridge. LaSalle Expressway, East-West Expressway in the eastern end of the city from its eastern end at Williams Rd. (NY Reference Route 952V) just outside the city line in the Town of Wheatfield, to its west end at an interchange with I-190 and Robert Moses State Pkwy. Robert Moses State Parkway, North-South Parkway that runs through the city from the Lewiston town line to its southern end at an interchange with I-190 and LaSalle Expwy. The Parkway parallels the Niagara River through the city. The original route also passed under the approach to the Rainbow Bridge, however that section has since been closed to traffic and is now only used for park business. The parkway therefore is interrupted because of the closed section. The two sections are still connected by the way of New York State Route 384. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 55,593 people, 24,099 households, and 14,266 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,955.7 people per square mile (1,527.7/km²). There were 27,837 housing units at an average density of 1,980.7 per square mile (765.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.21% White, 18.72% African American, 1.64% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population.There were 24,099 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.2% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.96.In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.The median income for a household in the city was $26,800, and the median income for a family was $34,377. Males had a median income of $31,672 versus $22,124 for females. 23% of the population was below the poverty line. Media NewspapersThe city has two newspapers, the Niagara Gazette, which is published daily, and the Niagara Falls Reporter, which is published weekly. With a circulation of 25,000, the Reporter has managed to become the dominant newspaper.The Buffalo News is the closest major newspaper in the area and once had a Niagara County, NY bureau that extensively covered Niagara Falls and its surrounding communities.It still covers the community with a variety of reporters on a part-time basis.RadioWHLDAM 1270 WJJLAM 1440 WTORAM 770 TelevisionLockport Community Television is the only local station. All other feeds are from Buffalo, NY or from stations within Southern Ontario.The Our Schools Channel 21 (OCS-21) is a High School run Television Station that broadcasts on the Educational Public Access Station (Channel 21) through out Niagara County. All work is done by Niagara Falls High School Media Production Students under the direct supervision of Media Education Director; Mr. Rich Meranto. The station broadcasts programming both LIVE and Pre-Taped featuring school performances, Community events, school video announcements, sports programming and shows with many community leaders. Education Residents are zoned to the Niagara Falls City School District. When LaSalle High School closed in June, 2000, a new Niagara Falls High School was built at 4455 Porter Road. The new school merged LaSalle and the former Niagara Falls High School. The old Niagara Falls High School building at Pine Avenue and Portage Road became an Art and Cultural Center.Niagara University is the closest post-secondary/college in the city. Religion Niagara Falls has a number of places of worship, including the First Unitarian Universalist Church, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church and the Conservative Jewish Temple Beth Israel. Sports Niagara Falls Sox- Class AMinor League Baseballteam Niagara Falls Rapids- Class-AMinor League Baseballteam left city in 1993. Niagara Power-New York Collegiate Baseball Leagueteam founded in 2007. Notable people R.J. Adams(Bob Shannon) Film/TV actor and Radio personality. Attended Bishop Duffy High School Thomas Aquinas Daly, contemporary landscape and still life painter Dan DeSantis, football player for thePhiladelphia Eagles Rashad Evans, mixed martial artist Jonny Flynn, former basketball player for theSyracuse Orangeand starting guard for theMinnesota Timberwolves Barbara Frum, deceased Niagara Falls NY born Canadian television Journalist John Gabriel, Emmy nominated Television actor Lee Hyla, composer Ellis Hobbs, cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles Rachael Lillis,voice actress Antonino LoTempio, musician, singer, actor Stefano Magaddino, an American mafia boss Sal Maglie, baseball player Rick Manning, baseball player Marc Mero, former WWE professional wrestler Johnny Pasek, baseball player Bobby Previte, drummer and composer Lynn Samuels, WABC and Sirius Radio personality. James Starks, football player for theGreen Bay Packers April Stevens, singer Tommy Tedesco, most-recorded guitarist in history Franchot Tone, film actor