Jul 8

2012

Interview: Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster

Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney interviewed Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster on the impact of the Wallenda Walk, the numerous challenges faced by Niagara Falls, and how the standoff between state and Seneca Nation officials is costing the city money that would otherwise be helping to promote economic development.

Dyster, in the interview that aired on WGRZ’s Daybreak Sunday, said:

  • The city is studying statistics on television and web viewership of the Wallenda walk to determine where to focus marketing efforts to attract tourists and investors to Niagara Falls.
  • Significant headway has been made to clean up corruption that has long plagued Niagara Falls government.
  • Niagara County’s fragmented political culture is partly the byproduct of not having a county executive.
  • The region is getting new and improved leadership through the efforts of Gov. Andrew Cuomo to give important roles to officials such as business executive Howard Zemsky, University at Buffalo President Satish Tripathi and First Niagara CEO John Koelmel.
  • Green economic development policies, along with tourism, are vital to revitalizing the city’s economy.

About 3:30 of interview highlights are posted above. The complete 21-minute interview is posted below.

 

Investigative Post

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