While an Event Center would be a wonderful addition to Niagara Falls, residents have made it known that spending local Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money is simply irresponsible. Especially when NY State is already working with the city to build an Event Center in DiFranco Park.

If you are concerned about the continued lunacy of the de-benched judge and now Mayor of Niagara Falls's proposal to take out a Section 108 loan that will require annual repayments of somewhere between $478,522.38 and $957,044.76 for the next 20 years to acquire land for the proposed Centennial Park by borrowing against future CDBG funding sign this petition. 

CDBG funds are essential for local community organizations to provide vital services to low-income families with an annual allotment of about $2.35 million. If the maximum Section 108 loan is approved, it would result in a 42% reduction in the pool of CDBG funds for the next 20 years. The detailed CDBG funding proposal provided at a recent public hearing is available here. 

The city hasn't identified where the $150 million to build the proposed park/event center will come from. Additionally, while there is a chance of the City successfully using eminent domain to acquire the property owned by Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR) the costs and risks are very high.  That's because it requires going toe to toe with the very wealthy NFR owner, Howard P. Milstein , who has done nothing with the 140 acres it has owned in Niagara Falls since 1997. 

Tell the Mayor and City Council it should not fund the land acquisition for Centennial Park by borrowing against future CDBG funds that the most vulnerable Niagara Falls residents need.