Why Is This Petition Important? Niagara Falls residents, small business owners, and taxpayers deserve a local government that operates with integrity, fairness, and fiscal responsibility. Over the past several years, investigative news reports (WGRZ, The Niagara Reporter, The Buffalo News) and direct public testimonies before the City Council have exposed a troubling pattern of behavior from the executive branch of the City of Niagara Falls.  We are demanding an immediate, independent State Investigation and Special Fiscal Audit to address four critical areas of concern: 1. Selective Code Enforcement & Small Business Retaliation Local entrepreneurs and grassroots community organizers report being targeted by arbitrary cease-and-desist notices and multi-agency raids: Unannounced Shut Downs: Business owners along Pine Avenue and the South End report code enforcement notices being taped to doors without prior warnings or clear administrative pathways to appeal. Targeting of Minority-Owned Businesses & Organizers: Local business owners and civic leaders have raised concerns over unequal application of permits, event restrictions, and immediate code sweeps on minority-owned venues compared to other local entities. Political Interference: Investigative coverage detailed multi-agency code inspections deployed against political competitors and independent candidates during active election cycles. 2. Misuse of Taxpayer Dollars & Eminent Domain Spending While basic city infrastructure and youth services struggle for consistent funding, millions of taxpayer dollars have been directed toward legal disputes: Eminent Domain Litigation Liabilities: The city has accumulated multi-million-dollar court judgments and mounting external legal fees tied to contested land acquisitions for proposed projects like "Centennial Park" without secured private financing. Sequestered Casino Revenue: Millions in 99H tribal casino funds have been held up or shifted away from local healthcare, education, and neighborhood development to cover legal and municipal liabilities. 3. Lack of Transparency & Restrictions on Public Input Good government requires open doors and accountability: "Special Meetings" & Bypassed Comment: Critical municipal actions and budget transfers have repeatedly been called under short-notice "Special Meetings," limiting public debate. Gagging Department Heads: Council members report that city department heads have been restricted from speaking directly to elected Council representatives without executive pre-approval. 🎯 WHAT WE ARE DEMANDING By signing this petition, you are joining local taxpayers and business owners in demanding that state oversight bodies execute the following actions: 1. NYS Attorney General Civil Rights Audit: Launch a formal inquiry into the Niagara Falls Department of Code Enforcement intake process (Form 16B) to investigate potential civil rights violations and retaliatory enforcement. 2. NYS Comptroller Fiscal Audit: Conduct a full state audit of all municipal legal expenditures, external legal retainer fees, eminent domain court judgments, and the accounting ledgers of sequestered casino funds. 3. Internal Moratorium: Put an immediate hold on politically contested code enforcement actions pending an independent administrative review. 4. Public Hearing on Permitting Equity: Host open legislative hearings to allow local business owners and event organizers to share testimonies without fear of municipal retaliation. ✍️ Sign today to demand fairness, transparency, and accountability for Niagara Falls!