What Happened to Niagara Falls New York?
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- Опубліковано 18 чер 2022
- The story of Niagara Falls New York…
References:
www.niagarafallsinfo.com/niag...
remoteswap.club/toxic-history...
www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-...
buffalonews.com/news/local/hi...
Statistics Canada
US Census
www.meengineering.com/project...
www.enr.com/articles/46472-be...
www.wivb.com/news/niagara-fal...
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"Niagara Falls State Park" by Northfielder is licensed under CC BY 2.0. - Розваги
As a Buffalonian I can say poor city management and corruption have plagued a city with what should be a garunteed tourist money maker
That is exactly what I was going to say.
You are correct
I hate how New York politicians are so entrenched that they think they can do anything.
Exactly
There can be a specific reason but similar things happened in cities all across the country (declining downtown core and heightened crime) but particularly notable in the great lakes region.
For those that grew up there in the 50's and 60's, we remember how great downtown and Pine Avenue was...."was"...all those great little shops...but then Mayor Lackey decided that the town needed to get rid of all those small businesses and build a convention center, which was a joke from day one! Since then, it has been the victim of horrible town management and political hacks who thought nothing of all the businesses running out of the area and with it, chasing out an entire generation of people that had to go elsewhere to find work! We left our parents behind and watched the city fall further into decay, doing absolutely nothing to try and attract new businesses. The icing on the cake was giving away the convention center thinking a casino was the answer. Had they gotten off their butts and gone to Atlantic City to see the results of what happens, perhaps they would have known better...but, no, they just let it happen. When I go back there, it makes you cry seeing boarded up stores, empty streets and closed schools. Now the city no longer even has a decent tax base so the future looks bleak, to say the least!
I'm 38 but grew up on pine avenue..it was great as a kid.. food everywhere!! Awesome park.. Now it's a shithole
So yer saying the baby boomers destroyed the city
@@SillyBillies1 No he's saying corrupt politics and big business did . But you can look at it any way you want .
@@SillyBillies1 don't make the mistake thinking only the old can be curupt very easy way to get tricked by a young person
Urban renewal. Same as Ogdensburg NY.
I lived down the street from a family that was moved out of Love Canal. They all died from cancer. The youngest Rosan, my friend passed 2 years ago.
26 year old Niagara Falls local here. I've always been so jealous of the Canadian side because it looks so fun and it's not as ghetto as our side, but we poured BIIIIG money into revitalizing our gorge trails and viewing areas, I think our side is alotmore naturey. It just sucks that when you leave the touristy areas there's basically NOTHING over here besides the mall. You'd think there would be more to do after you cross that border, like Buffalo.
Dude, me being from Miami, I actually got to enjoy the city just the way it was right now. Calm, quiet, closer to nature, I even took that hiking trail. Still though, I do wish all prosperity to the city man. Seeing all those empty stores, not too many people anywhere that is not the park really got me off guard, especially for such a nice place man.
I visited Niagara Falls almost twenty years ago. Even then, the contrast between the U.S side and its Canadian counterpart was conspicuous. On the Ontario side, it was a beehive of activity. The New York side, by comparison, was a sleepy little town with entire stretches of downtown streets boarded up and abandoned. It looked like a third world country... and I was flaberghasted, because I actually live in a third world country...
Gotten worse since,
And yet, there are people commenting here who say that the U.S. town is better because it has a state park, but nothing else other than that, as if that'll help the town out. 🙄
Totally spot on, everything I was going to say.
looking across at Canada all green and scenic while driving along i90 with constant abandoned buildings and factories with windows busted out is depressing and embarrassing. we really trashed this entire area
Hahahaha….👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Grew up in the Falls, moved out of state at age 18 though I still visit family there. Glad I moved to where opportunities were better, but I still feel a connection to the city. I remember hearing older people talk about how great a place it was to grow up in years ago. I've lived away for decades but I still have that melancholy that so many NF people feel when they think about their once glorious city and its decline. Like them, I wonder how much better it could have been if things had gone differently. There's a lot to criticize about Niagara Falls as a city, but part of me will always love it and hopes that someday--even if not in my lifetime--it will better live up to its potential. Great video, by the way.
While the Love Canal was certainly a negative for this area, I believe that presently and within the past decade or two, good old New York state government and its infinite wisdom has allowed all of these Western and Central New York towns and cities to decline and crumble, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Binghamton, the Buffalo area, lots of these areas in New York state which were once goldmines of industry and hard workers are now derelict and run down and it's very very sad to see, politicians can ruin anything that they touch and always do!
buffalo has recovered alot. they have done a bunch of stuff along the lakefront.
Your so right about Syracuse and other cities in NY. The taxes are so incredibly high up north, where does all that money go?? Here in south GA-our taxes are reasonable and they really seem to be putting the money back into the city...now if only we could find a solution to the 100 degree days🤔
Another negative factor are the militant NIMBYs who oppose every damned new thing and obstruct progress and development with frivolous lawsuits causing costly delays. It is no wonder that major new investment avoids most of upstate NY.
buffalo is kinda bouncing back the issue with these cities is that they were all rust belt cities. they all declined afterwords
I remember reading that these cities are grubhubs for underworld activities in Upstate NY in the mid-50s to 70s. As opportunities dried up, people moved away and the local Mafia “regimes” died. Nowadays who knows what’s happening there?
I grew up in WNY and have seen how the Canadian side has turned into a tourist trap with every sleazy carnival attraction known to man. Last summer, I visited the State Park on the US side. It was my first Falls visit in years and was absolutely gorgeous! The park offers everything in a beautiful setting, without the Ripley freak show museums and trashy side show attractions.
Americans love the trashy touristy stuff. Why is Las Vegas thriving again?
Also Americans get value on their dollar due to the low value of the Canadian Peso.
If you go north of Niagara Falls, take the Niagara Parkway. This are parks, trails, zip lines, wineries, Niagara-On-The-Lake which are less trashy. Hope to see you soon!
Ms Peach the jobs have to come from somewhere, so those "sleazy" tourist attractions help give people employment opportunities.
@Ms Peach All that you have to do is go outside of the Niagara Falls State Park and into the actual city, you will find the" Freak Show" and "Trashy Side Show Attractions." This place is bazaar, filled with sickness and brilliance. I love it and pity it at the same time. Within the last year, the love that our residents have for themselves and for our city has noticeably manifested. Some people and areas will further thrive while others will remain the same and even decline. Such is life. Most of the remaining residence here have been forced to dig deep within themselves, to find their creativity, to do the best with what limited means that they have. Desperation can often breed brilliance. We're not too different from quite a percentage of the rest of our country. However, because we are an impoverished community our defects may appear a bit more glaring to certain eyes. More will be revealed, more is always revealed.
@@betsyl8632 I agree with your statement. Desperation can often breed brilliance. This is true of my era where we all grew up poor in the Lower East Side of NYC. Not having money and wanting the good life produce some criminals but mostly academics within the Chinese American community. We were desperate for a better life and so we studied hard and found our fortune in life that way.
Gay comment, lady. Lots of beautiful nature on the Canadian side too. If you don't like the carnival, then just go for a little drive towards Niagara-on-the-Lake or somewhere. I, and many others, find the carnival quite fun. Tourists seem to agree.
Went home to visit Buffalo NY, and literally went to the Falls two days ago before heading out to Georgia. I have to say that I miss living in Niagara Falls, NY. I prefer to visit the Canadian side rather than the American side but overall it is worth to experience both side at least one time! 😎
So many days in the late 1970s and 80s, drinkin beer at Niagata state park, Bbq, frisbee, and of course, enjoying The Falls, whirlpool, observation tower, cave of the winds....The Nikola Tesla statue, maid of the mist, and the girls. Then back to Buffalo for wings and things.
My bf and I went to Niagara Falls a few years ago. Despite having fun there with exploring everything along the canal, we did notice a lot of vacant buildings and closed stores. Which were all heartbreaking :( We did go to the Canadian side for one day and we just didn’t have enough time to see everything there. It’s crazy on how different two cities can be when they’re pretty much side by side.
Governance. One side of the river embraced tourism and commercialization; the other resisted it for decades.
I live in Buffalo NY! My Dad worked on the Love Canal trial when he was a law clerk. All of that is so interesting to me, but very depressing to watch Niagara fall from grace. All of those deals for people to dump a lot of money into Niagara goes nowhere.
NF is a world wonder, but it's treated as one.
I’m from your area! My mom is a canal kid, she has to get a physical for the health department five years to track the after affects. That’s so cool your Dad clerked for that!
I remember reading once that Niagara Falls is the reason why the United States established national parks, to protect natural wonders from being industrialized like the Niagara Falls was back in the day.
It is the oldest State Park in the USA.
To keep us trapped from progressing beyond 19th century energy and social paradigms? yeah, sounds like something they would do.
Ya, rich guy convinced other rich guys to do it to create a legacy.
@@pwhitaker1963 i thought Yellowstone was first? I could be wrong i just remember hearing that somewhere
@@BendyDH Yes, Yellowstone was the first National Park.
The mob, corruption and incompetence is what ruined the falls.
The Whole State !!
I was waiting for this video!
Depressing and sad, even when I went to college in nearby Buffalo in the mid 1980’s
I live just an hour away and visit often. Great journalism. I was skeptical of your video at first but you hit the nail on the head. There are some more improvements happening further in the neighborhoods. Now, if they could work on the roads, that would make a huge difference!
I'm a lifelong resident of Western New York..born in Niagara Falls, NY and now residing in northern Niagara County. I remember when Niagara Falls, NY was a thriving busy city. On any day you could walk down Main Street, Falls Street and Pine Avenue there would be throngs of people patronizing businesses and visitors from around the world seeing the falls. Now you can walk down those same streets and see many boarded up vacant store fronts and derelict buildings. It's really sad as to what has happened to the city of Niagara Falls, NY. The falls are still an awe inspiring sight to see and truly a world wonder so I hope that things can turn around and return the city of Niagara Falls to it's former better days.
If you saw both sides in the mid 90s, you'd see which way each was trending. But, man, the Canadian side literally exploded from them to the mid '00s. Stunning growth, really.
thank you for sharing this video.
Just got back from there and it’s a night and day difference from both sides. Canada is packed with people with loads of things to do and NY was way more mellow which is more my style.
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this information.
i live in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Only a few km away from the US border.
As a kid, i used to visit Niagara NY and buffalo a lot.
The Canadian dollar was stronger than the US, as we used to do a LOT of shopping and dinning in the US.
There was a beautiful mall (Rainbow Mall) which had a huge indoor tropical garden.
i'll remember those days fondly.
As the US dollar increased in value, and left the Canadian dollar behind in value, there was a correlation with the city losing its prestige and attractiveness.
During my childhood i watched the city go from a nice, prosperous city to (i'm sorry to say) a dilapidated dump.
As mentioned in this video, the Casino really did revitalize the dying city and at the very least put it on life support, but it alone isnt enough to bring back prosperity.
(i actually really dislike that Casino from my own personal experiences there).
I hope Niagara Falls NY does better,
Casinos never revitalize cities and communities they suck every last dollar out of them and leave them impoverished and addicted to gambling.
Born and lived in Los Angeles California I did visit Niagara Falls. Rode the Maid of Mist boat at the bottom, it was incredible.
A road trip across country was amazing.
In fact I thanked my Mom for taking us on that trip.
As a property manager in WNY, people don’t move into the falls area without a connection in family. Those that live in the city now often only move in line of site, or within a few blocks. Investment risks are high.
Just visited Niagara Falls, Buffalo Ny. Really had a nice time, the place was hopping and the parking lots were full, but not too far from city parking anyway. I recommend stopping at the Visitors center first, very helpful, pleasant staff. We also hit the original Anchor Bar afterwords, great food!
A lot of interesting information packed into a four minute video🙂👍
Very Interesting, Great Video🙂👍
I live in Niagara falls NY... Our city is sad... It's getting worse
I grew up near Niagara Falls in the 70s and you are 100% correct.
The only things to do/see in NF is the falls themselves and the outlets. That's it!
@@juancarlosnegron2358 Restaurants pretty much blow too besides maybe a few. Mexican spot and Fuji grill maybe.
My marriage didn't last long , but I enjoyed the time I spent at Niagara Falls. I grew up in the Adarondack Mountains in New York. The little town I grew up in there has gone way down in jobs and all. Now it's tourists. The only jobs are park service and government jobs. Welfare office,Post office and local or State Police. There's a prison job not far away. I left young,and get messed with about everytime I go home. It's just busyness for government to take more than they diserve I guess. Take your labor wages from taxes to finger pointing arrests to make local lawyers money and let me go. They need to find a real job actually working to produce food clothing or something useful. I'm sorry to hear that things are getting harder there. It's a nice place in my memories. I hope our Father will Bless You and the area there again. Perhaps the grain and freight will come back to life bringing prosperity back to the Niagara area being as trucking is falling apart. We need Trump back in office.
@@myemail5457 Sorry to say, I think you’re looking at God’s blessing right now.
Thanks for this -- I had no idea. Interesting and sad.
Growing up here it’s heartbreaking to see what it’s become I remember a thriving beautiful little town until urban renewal destroyed this beautiful city. Sad what filling your pockets with deceitful money can do
You are right, one of the loveliest places in the U.S. destroyed by politicians.
Nicely done!
I was born and raised in Niagara Falls, N.Y. , graduated in 1983 from Trott Vocational High School, and joined the US Army 1984, after I spend almost six months looking for a job without success. I retired in 2004 , and hardly go back because it's : boring, rundown, streets are bad, crime is high, and is just nasty .
Retired at 41? Not bad.
I lived in the Buffalo area for 19 year before finally being able to flee the rust belt. The biggest reason why NF is failing is Albany. The whole state is being run into the ground by those morons, who are mostly controlled by NYC. So glad I don't live there anymore.
One of the main problems with NF is, no money is flowing through the city. No big employers & city officials still can't figure out how to capitalize from the falls. Tourist cm here but leave quickly when they see their's nothing to do & streets adjacent to downtown are ran down with abandoned properties. Tourists leave & go right over the bridge to Canada as I do myself. We do hv a Casino but that's the seneca nation Casino & NF doesn't really benefit from the casino. NYS does, they just got paid $500 million from the senecas while NF gets pennies! Crime has also increased. We hv shootings here almost everyday now, it was never like that growing up in the 80s & 90's.
well done. thank you.
Good job!
I’ve never been there but I have friends that grew up there…
New York State’s politicians throw money at problems, and pass laws that don’t seem to have been looked over by anyone of wisdom.
New York also ignores its obligations to The Iroquois.
The state also ran a lot of self employed people out of business by auditing about 10 years ago.
The governor is giving tax dollars to build The Buffalo Bills a new stadium, she talks about how many jobs it will make, but only union worker can work on it. (So common tax paying contractors have to look elsewhere).
I think The Fingers Lake are the only part of the state that’s growing.
Don't forget bail reform and trippling of murder and other crimes😄 Lastly, the rural areas ...we make all the products and grow ALL the food and pay extremely high taxes for fuck-all. City folk wanna move here. Farmers meet regularly to discuss and reinforce: do not split or sell off your land to leftoid city dwellers. If it needs to be sold, it's sold to a fellow rural person.
You said what I was thinking
@@RunninUpThatHillh agreed. There's been a bunch of houses being built by NYC people out where I am. Not a fan of it at all. Nobody wants them here.
@@parkyt13 then buy the land yoirself or stfu
Dont worry, farms will be large high rises before long and cities of them will exist and the inefficiant and forign chemical ferilizrr and insectocide/herbicide reliant american farming culuture can vanish along with theit crooked televangelists with all th3ir money snd their sister wives
Democrats, New York is ran by democrats
Urban renewal gutted the NY side downtown too
More like urban removal. Moved everyone out to build a mega mall that never materialized and had no backup plan in place. Plus the revolving door of mayors who do nothing more than line their own pockets with the money meant to help revive the city.
That is the primary cause of the decline of Niagara Falls NY.
On and around Goat Island is nice as is taking a ride on the Maid of the Mist.
Made of the mist is a must.
Also on Goat Island take a visit at The Cave of the Winds
I remember the Love Canal incident, but I don't think I ever knew what it was really about. This was interesting. Thanks.
my Grandfather owned a barber shop on Pine Ave. its where my Mom grew up, my Aunt and Uncle lived 4 streets from Love Canal right up to last year, I live down state in Binghamton now, they did it to us too, EJ Shoes, IBM, Singer Links Kodak, Ansco I can go on about what happened here too, the industry here is Bars LOL because if your still here you drink!
I was in Niagara Falls Ontario five years ago and wish I was on the USA side. The Canadian side is so busy you can’t move. I said to my wife the USA side looks so much more chill.
It's definitely not as nice on the USA side. You get a good view but it's at an angle and you can't see the whole thing.
Lol what a bitter old loser
You have the Olmsted parks on the U.S. side. A couple blocks behind the buildings on hill in Canada is a rundown city.
In an ideal world I propose rebuilding the Toronto-Hamilton-Buffalo-Hoboken high speed line that uses the Lakawana cut off... 200 km/h minimum electric double tracked service between NYC and Toronto to revive the region and make Scanton a hipsters paradise halfway between Toronto and NYC! Aka NW version of Albany!
that would make the state good again and thats not what they want
What also hurts the US side is the historically low Canadian dollar value vs the US. It is just cheaper for Americans to go to the Canadian side and get more value for their dollar. Tough to compete with that.
They could compete. Most of the hotels and restaurants there started to price gouge on the tourists. If they could build up the NY side and keep the prices down, to start, they could get traction.
Just booked in Canada for Laborday 33% taxes crazy
My Ex lives in the falls on the ON side, she came over here a few weeks ago for our Sons 8th grade graduation and forgot to bring cash so she stopped at an ATM bahaha wont do that again, with ATM Fees and exchange rates cost her $32 canadian! our Youngest spends summers up there with her, he likes going to Sweet Jesus Ice Cream and ON on the lake
niagara on the lake ONtario is a great tourist place and the parkway on the cnadain side is very nice
yo this was awesome! The Falls will always be that place were my Aunt lives :)
Demolishing Falls Street was a huge mistake. But opening the casino killed any hope for the future near the Falls. And the gigantic toxic waste dumps, corruption and high taxes keep outside investment away. Its a tragic shame. Its location and geography are spectacular and it could have been a real jewel of a city. George Bailey (from Its A Wonderful Life) never survived in Niagara Falls.
Totally agree , especially the part about Falls St. As a Toronto born boy we regularly visited Falls St. , usually on foot . Walking across the Rainbow Bridge. I believe it cost a dime . But that demolition along with plopping that huge casino in the middle was a tragic mistake.
However, on the positive side, you still have Goat Island which is a beautiful spot were you can get up-close to the river and falls.
That entire Rainbow Center Urban Redevelopment Project with the massive convention center was the huge costly mistake that killed Niagara Falls NY.
Taxes are the greatest scam in history. Think about ALL the taxes there are, where the hell does all that revenue go?
@@r.pres.4121 The convntion center was a good idea. Handing it over to the Senecas was idiocy born of corruption.
The fact is the views of Horseshoe Falls, which is by far the most amazing part to look at, can’t be seen as well from the US side as it can from Canadian side.
Yes but on the other hand you can only get up close to the falls there at one spot while on the american side you can get close to both falls at multiple locations
There's an old saying...the US has the Falls, but Canada has the view!
You can experience the energy of the falls more on the NY side. There's value to both.
The getto took over bottom line
Literally just visited the Ontario side this past week. Not bad for just a weekend getaway. Wunderbar is now one of my faovirte candies and now I have to find it in the us (Florida)
just over the bridge on the Canadian side there is an ice cream place called Sweet Jesus ice cream, oh you will be back LOL
Blamed the "expensive unions" but not the greed, corruption and fleecing of public funds by organized crime.. smh..
Exactly
Niagara Falls State Park is a state concern and the Seneca Niagara Casino is on Seneca Nation territory. Neither of which benefits the city all that much. The city has been stuck and can't get out of its own way.
Niagara Falls has never been properly governed or managed. Corruption and incompetence was rampant, organized crime controlled most of the area, corners were cut in the urban redevelopment process, the same entrenched career politicians kept getting re-elected and younger people were discouraged from trying to get involved.
Niagara Falls Ontario is rough too... got some gangster looking areas on queen street
Interesting!
US side of Niagara Falls is a sprawling slum now. Similar to large swathes of Buffalo NY and the surrounding communities.
I grew up in Western NY in the 1970's and 1980's. Between 1976 and 1980, Jimmy Carter sent some money north and Niagara Falls created the Winter Garden shopping center. No description of mine can do this place justice: it was a mall, but with elevated walkways and jungle trees, etc. It was a blast. So I go back to Niagara Falls in 2005 or so and it was boarded up. By 2016 it's gone and a new building is there. What a waste, that place was awesome.
The difference is that NFNY is in the United States where many cities look like that and NFO is in Canada where many cities look like that.
Twenty years ago went to the falls with great joy - loved both sides and all the added attractions..I went one year ago and spentby time crying over the beauty that was all gone - the NY falls is surrounded by ugly casinos obliterating the one time beauty. I will never go there again. Thank God i took a lot of pictures.
Niagara Falls, NY has only one casino. Otherwise it is nothing but urban decay and abandonment along with toxic waste dumps.
Born in Niagara Falls, love both sides. Sometimes you wanna walk up Clifton Hill and do crazy stuff,sometimes you want to commune with nature. Goat Island is my favorite on the NY side. You can sit in total peace and just feel the falls all around you. Most of the rest of town is pretty trashed but seems to me everything is pretty trashed everywhere.
I was born in Niagara Falls NY in 1971. I had a great childhood there. The city did deteriorate over the years and I moved out in 1995. It's a shame because my parents did well in their time there. But most of the good jobs were gone by the 90s.
One of my most memorable breakfasts was had at the Red Coach Inn. It was fantastic in a dining room from yesteryear.
As a Canadian (living in Toronto about 2 hours from Niagara) - there are a few things I would like to comment on about Niagara Falls, NY,
1. We do not get any joy in Niagara Falls, NY being a tragic place. Being there - fills most of us with empathy and not celebration. There is celebration at the great value we get at the fantastic Outlet Mall on Military Trail off of the I-190.
2. I know it has to do with our taxes (to help pay for our Health Care - of which I am grateful) but it always amuses us that Canadian beer is cheaper in Niagara Falls, NY than it is in Niagara Falls, ON.
3. The Niagara River is less than 500 feet wide - and yet it is remarkable how the accent changes from "Ontario Upper Canada English" to "Western New York English".
4. For those that think Niagara Falls, ON is such a Utopia: That really changes when you cross Stanley Avenue. Beyond that, along with the old downtown - it is pretty gross in places.
5. In closing, I love Niagara Falls, NY as it is "somewhat" friendlier and way less crowded, or busy, than the Canadian side. I also love the whole Niagara Frontier. From Fort Niagara all the way to Buffalo. My only complaint: In places - it really smells bad.
I do hope - that someday soon - the Niagara Frontier will see a Renaissance and bloom again. Better than ever before. That might happen with manufacturing coming back to North America from the Far East. Clean manufacturing would be better.
Niagara Falls Ontario compared to Niagara Falls New York is a utopia, yeah Niagara Falls Ontario has an older downtown that is rundown especially near the train station but in my understanding there is no such thing as a perfect city. Niagara Falls Ontario is friendlier, violent crime rate is very very low and is relatively a safe place overall. A busier city is also a sign of a successful one with jobs and prosperity. Actually if you go to Niagara Falls Ontario during the week outside of the summer season an go out in the early mid evening period it will be quieter.
You outline so many of my thoughts, and capture the spirit of our neighbor to the North:)
Might happen? Americans and probably Canadians can't live on minimum wage. Chinese min wage about 300$ a month. Nothing is coming back.
Clam down it’s like an hour away lol
Good show! Could have been 5 minutes longer. Maybe you add a redux to this one down the line
In 1992 I drove through both sides of NF on my way to Rochester, NY. The Canadian side looked great, the US side was genuinely scary. It was late at night, so I'm sure that didn't help, lol.
I remember the Love Canal disaster, but did t know it was that close to the falls.
I was here a couple months ago. Beautiful place, but also run down too. Sad to see so much beauty with a rundown rate
What happened was it's in the state of NY. Corruption did it in, high taxes and no leadership. However, the parks along the falls are beautiful, and some great hiking.
What I'd love to see you do is perhaps a solutions video where you propose a few ideas that might turn things around. Try and stimulate some local civics debate on how to revive the region... I have so much hope for it! Good urban bones are good urban bones! And you can't beat that view or access to Canada!
The solution: i) close the casino, ii) make the parks “National Parks”, iii) bankrupt the city or otherwise restructure its finances and lower taxes, iv) close the existing toxic dumps (they’re the size of ski mountains of toxic chemicals, still growing), v) demolish dilapidated abandoned buildings, house, and factories (clear the blight), and vi) establish policies and plans and controls to enable and encourage fair business investment. Once started in earnest, it will take at least 10 years to reshape the screwed up political, public and private environments. Until they make dramatic changes, it will only get worse (its hard to imagine it getting worse, but it will). Also, zone out any toxic factories- they’re still polluting the air and water, and vistas. With some of the best fishing in the world, the fish all contain poison toxins.
@@johnr5312 Thank you!! This are actual helpful solutions that the city needs! I love it!! Clearly if Niagara Falls was run by you it would probably be a second Toronto. I agree with the National Park concept. Edmonton is doing the same things its valley to become the Capital City National Park or some variation on that old chestnut of a name for the same concept that dates back to the 1970's here!
Donald Trump is the answer for everything, apparently he has never declared bankruptcy and has paid all his taxes too!
I've vacationed many of times in Niagara Falls and I've always stayed on the Canadian side. What I usually do is drive up (from the DC area) and spend some time in the Niagara Falls State Park in NY, then cross the border to check in to my hotel, and spend all my time in Ontario.
That makes sense, you're from Washington DC and you spend your money in a foreign country when you spend it in Americs . . Please tell me you don't work for the government because if you do you're an A-hole . And if you don't I apologize. 😁
@@toddbrooks2063 I'm not actually from DC, but that's the closest major town that everyone in the country does know. I don't work for the federal government. But that still shouldn't affect where I spend my money, it's mine and I should be able to spend it where I like. Niagara Falls in Canada is vastly more popular than the New York side so yeah I'd rather spend my money there. And I do spend money on the New York side, just not as much. It's not my fault you don't want to travel the world (or even North America). We share soo much in common with Canada that it doesn't make sense to just shut out 35 million people. There are a lot of amazing places outside this country that you'd be missing out on if you just stayed in the US. London, Cancun, Jamaica just to name a few.
@@LtexprsGaming I've traveled the world probably before you where born . Well you're correct when you say it's your money and spend it the way you see fit you earned it I guess . But in my opinion if you work for the government and brag about spending my tax dollars in a foreign country when you could spend it here you're an asshole . How's that get ya ?!?!
Very beautiful
Great video:)
I just went to the NY side last weekend on vacation for a few days, beautiful views and had no issues, the Goat island park is nice, food and lodging close to the falls are expensive. Had a great two days and would return again 👍
I live in the area on the US side. Crime, gang activity, and illegal drugs are common here. If you don't have family here don't bother coming for safety sake honestly.
My family and I went to Niagara Falls in 2018...We spent the first day on the American side, which was mostly a park...the next day, we went to the Canadian side...and what a difference!!! there where shops, restaurants, attractions, and even the tower!!! We spent the rest of our four days on the Canadian side...they had much more to offer...the gardens...the light show...everything...so why didn't the American side not do the same??? All they had was a souvenir shop...sad...
Ask the Elia’s. Their rotten ex-nun relative had a ball messing up the falls. That family sucks. Look them up, you’ll see what I mean. Her name I believe was Irene Elia.
I've grown up here my whole life and I can say im glad that the tourism is mostly on the canadian side, it has obviously declined in population over time, however most of the people that still live here dont live here because of industry or tourism or anything like that, we all live in niagara falls just like anyone else would live in their hometown, and im glad i grew up here because its a pretty diverse neighborhood so you can get a lot of experiences that you wouldn't typically experience somewhere else. Also love canal kind of killed that nieghborhood and that area is very quiet now with very few residents, so that part is accurate.
Forgot to mention but we also have a giant garbage dump in THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY, whoever thought that was a good idea deserves to be fired.
Visit Niagara Falls NY, but keep your blinders on.
And your kevlar
I grew up here and still live here. Niagara Falls is a sad place, definitely forgotten.
didn’t really tell us what happened, but as a former resident i know what happened. New York State happened, it was sad to watch
Have been through many times on trips north to Ontario side. Buffalo and Niagara area has declined over the decades. Was really shocked how Niagara, NY was so run down on most recent trip. Have many friends in Raleigh area that are Buffalo/ W NY transplants.
Sad for Raleigh.
Tapping in from Mexico City
K onda?
The Canadian side is far superior to the American side of the falls. I visited Niagara Falls, ON back in 2015, and I loved every second of it
The American side, although corrupt and run down, has a very different perspective than the Canadian side. Both are great but the American side get you closer. The Seven Sisters (formerly Squaw Island) its amazing.
As a dual US/CAN citizen from Niagara Canada, it is truly upsetting to see what has happened to Niagara Falls NY relative to the Canadian side. While the Canadian side is definitely "better", I do believe no trip to Niagara is complete without visiting the park on the US side. It offers an experience you just can't get on the Canadian side because of the heavy development. Although it is true that there are beautiful parts of Niagara on the Canadian side too, especially if you drive a bit south on the parkway, hike the gorge (my personal favourite thing to do in Niagara), or visit Niagara On The Lake. Being able to have a picnic right next to the biggest waterfall in North America is undoubtable awesome and should be on everyone's list to escape the hustle of the Canadian side for a little while.
With the money they used to build that ugly casino, they could have built a mini Rivendell and gotten millions of Tolkien tourists. Additionally, until they have had a media blitz to assure potential travelers that the chemicals that nearly killed the former residents has been effectively cleaned up, I'm not sure it's going to be at the top of any to-do lists. Seriously, I wouldn't get out of the truck on my way through with the reputation NFNY has earned.
are ya old enough to remember the TV commercials? I love New York, you sang that didnt ya :)
That's the natives money
The Casino wasn't built with public money. There 's a lot of corrupt politics involved, think Sheldon Silver. Albany is this area's biggest problem.
My wife and I visited Niagara, NY just a few days ago and looks like to me like the city have been trying to pick back up from whatever the hell it's been going through. Pretty nice and clean but still a lot of vacant buildings, some places that I thought were open turns out it's either been out of business since I wonder when or I don't know. Looking from the Falls park over to the Canadian side, I did noticed a lot more going on there. Anyway, regardless of all that, me being from crazy ass Miami, Florida, I did enjoy my stay there with all the calm and quietness, hearing nothing but the falls the closer I would get to the park 😀 And that chilling weather was nice too.
I had this in a comment but I think it super important here too There is a reason why there is a movement to do a state split again. All of our laws and money spending is determined by nyc. And is always to benefit the city, not the rest of the state. It’s insane they even have different higher minimum wages then the rest of the state. That being said Niagara and buffalo has definitely cleaned up recently (I preposed there in October) and Syracuse and Rochester are trying there hardest too. But the city just raises the state taxes and then gives it to themselves when there is any improvement in the rest of the state.
No mention of politics, greed and unregulated factory emissions? The powers that be sold a lot of property to outside investors and gave them massive tax breaks, only to have project after project fall through. The factories that lined Buffalo Avenue and others dotted around the city polluted the air, water and land. Residents used to get letters advising them to not eat anything grown in the ground. I remember racing to roll up the car windows when my parents drove through certain parts of the city, and holding my breath because the stench was so bad. Even now, it doesn't matter which route you take into the city, you can smell when you're getting close. Love Canal was terrible, but there was no magic force field around it. Those problems are all over NF. I watched the landfill on Packard Road grow from flat land to a massive hill in only a few decades. Poverty, drugs and slumlords, not to mention hundreds of documented sex offenders, are par for the course around here. Take a walk around if you dare, and you're likely to see used needles, used condoms and broken liquor bottles hidden in the uncut fields. Ask anyone in the south end how hard it is to keep their windows and cars clean. Go to any real estate site and see how many houses are for sale. Drive around and see how many dilapidated and boarded up houses there are. Drive down Falls Street, a block from the casino, and take in the sights. Don't linger too long if you don't want any trouble. Niagara Falls is a cesspool.
Jeeez, and you didn't blame a political party.
@@thatguyoverthere8355 It's impossible to point fingers. Since the establishment of mayorship in Niagara Falls, NY, there have been 15 Democrats and 16 Republicans serving as mayor. The City Council holds similar demographics. Right now there is a Democratic mayor and a Republican-majority Council. No one can come to an agreement concerning the betterment of the community. Steady, well-paying jobs are scarce. The taxes are high and the services are low. Niagara Falls is no longer the tourist destination it once was.There have been so many half completed projects and failures throughout the years that have cost millions upon millions of dollars. State parks are overpriced, the Wintergarden and adjacent Rainbow Center are gone (although I hear that there's a $3.99 million contract for the Center's "restoration design," whatever that means (we shall see), the Splashpark failed, there was a huge pit dug for a new aquarium that remained a downtown eyesore for years, Old Falls Street looks like a bomb hit it, buildings are either boarded up or sit there with broken windows, even the Turtle and hot air ballon ride are gone. No worries, though, tourists can still take a 20-mimute helicopter ride for as little as $198+tax per person to see Niagara Falls in all it's failed glory. It's sad that the two best things downtown are the casino and Twist O' The Mist ice cream, although I do enjoy both immensely. This city has gone to hell and it doesn't look like it's ever coming back.
Lived in buffalo for afew years then moved to NYC. Honestly there isn't anything in the falls worthwhile. Unless your coming to see the waterfall & can be fascinated by that alone there's really no other reason to waste your time going 🤷 hate to say it but it's a shit hole.such a waste of beautiful space honestly
My, my, aren't WE condescending? There's the Whirlpool Area with the cable car over the gorge, the butterfly conservatory and the boardwalk alongside the rapids. The view from the Skylon Tower is still stunning, and while the restaurant up there is a bit pricey, it's worth it. There's the Shaw Theatre Festival up in Niagara-on-the-Lake every summer. There are wineries in the area. The Hockey Hall of Fame is not that far up the road in Toronto, nor is Woodbine or Ft. Erie Racetracks, or Rogers Centre with the Blue Jays, or Canada's Wonderland (got some awesome coasters there).
I'm guessing your $h!t attitude stems from the fact that you now live in a $h!th0!e city like Noo Yawk. Been to both, and I'll take Niagara Falls over NYC any day.
Well put.
For me the biggest mistake made in Niagara Falls NY was that the falls and park are run by the NY state park service. It should be a National Park and there for be owned and operated by the National Park Service. As a Nation we can not allow the State to continue to poorly own and operate a National treasure.
NY state park service make an incredible job.
The park is the _only_ thing over there that’s well-run. Don’t muck with what works.
I'm right here from dirty water herself NIAGARA FALLS it's the casino that fuck up everything up.
Casinos suck out the little money left in a depressed community and cause more problems like gambling addiction, increased poverty and crime. Plus casinos are aesthetically hideous and garish structures.
My dad was born and grew up in Niagara Falls. I visited in early 2000's. That town was dead. The Falls were amazing but the surrounding area was hurting.
I used to work at the Niagara Falls State Park as a photographer right outside the Cave of the Winds right when they started renovating the park, my boss had me lie to tourists and when the sales were great he had me upcharge the customers who wanted to buy their photos. It all left me with a bad taste in my mouth, but thanks to that job I got to take my time exploring the park on my breaks. They did a great job conserving the area, if only the rest of the city didn't look like a dumpster.
I was a young guy in Niagara Falls NY in the 1960s and it was one of the greatest small cities in the world - not a bad neighborhood to be found. It was vibrant with industry, shopping, cutting edge research and development and a train mecca.
NOW; it's mostly a ghetto.
I'm about 30 min drive from Niagra Falls. And I must agree the falls does look better on the Canadian side. The only reason that is, Is because your looking at America
This city will never improve. The biggest issue is local politics. The current mayor doesn't care about crime and drugs running rampant becauseeeeeee.....I'll tell you a secret....he makes money off of it. That's all I'm gonna say.
You also forgot to mention when they tried building that huge aquarium in downtown Niagara Falls and stopped production once they dug a huge hole in the ground and then left it there for years as the ground around it crumbled and fell in. A few people even got hurt because they fell as the ground kept crumbling around it.
It's NY politicians in general. On a local level they're useless. And on state level all they care about is NYC and how can we fuck over everybody that doesn't live in the city.
Let me guess, NFNY is a "Blue City?"
thats how the whole state is run, its N.Y
@@russs7574 of course lol
They?
Thank you.. my family use to go to NFny every year in my youth we use to stay at the old hojo..I was there in the 60s when the fall were dry.. the area in the mid to late 60s was booming..the main change was in the mid 60s early 70s there was a great tourism area untill they decided to rip apart the whole area kick out all the store block by block of empty lots( changed street layout) because they had the grand urban renew program. There was many small store and museums like Clifton Hill, one was there was a Niagara's museum with thing from the Marilyn Monroe movie the women who owned it and two stores refused to sell at the price the state was offering, the state basically pushed her out and paid her pennies on the dollar.. the state did it to many store. The tourism plan kept changing pushing business north beyond the falls or upriver. Then the green winter garden casino plan, that the first como started was implimented and failed, the great convention center plan(now owned by Indian casinos) had a skating rink and shows, although never lived up to it's expected volume and hotel promise never built the mall built to be like maple leaf village park mall failed..I could tell more I even went to school at UB had relatives living in Tonawanda.. again thank you.. love ya pal..
I lived in Niagara Falls for 20yrs and i loved living there. I had to come back home to indiana because my dad had cancer and he died. I can't seem to save enough money to move back there and get a place until i get on my feet.
I grew up in Niagara Falls NY. and I still go back to visit. Unfortunately the city has been in decline for years.
When I was young the city was a booming tourist attraction and there was plenty of good paying jobs.
These days the city is a shell of what it used to be especially downtown.
There are abandoned buildings throughout the city and due to lack of funds they cannot tear them down.
Unemployment and high crime have taken its toll on a once prosperous city and its a shame.
Niagara Falls ON has plenty of tacky attractions, but it also has the 1,000 Buddhas Stupa, the butterfly conservatory, the drive along the Niagara Gorge, including the great view from the Brock Monument, and then to Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is definitely not low-rent. And everywhere people are smiling.
These abandon NY state cities are the perfect candidates for urban revitalization, affordable housing, walkable cities for working and middle class families. High speed rail that would connect people to NYC could be the difference. It just takes some planning and imagination.
How sad such a lovely place once long ago! I grew up in Rochester New York my great Aunt lived in NF NY she owned a home! It was a darling place! Growing up in Rochester New York we went to the falls often! Def once a yr! We loved going to Canada too! You could cross the boarder with ease! I remember that nasty love canal mess the poor people! Once Kodack bailed from Rochester this city has gone WAY downhill too:( My home my sweet home it is heart breaking! Once a safe prosperous place keep clean and neat! I am thankful I remember it when it once was loved!
lived in upstate New York in the mid 1970s, visited Niagara falls, the new York side was the pits, Canadian side, beautiful, even that long ago.