NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WBEN) – City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said the city will have to cut many programs and services in the wake of the pandemic that has crippled government finances to the tune of millions of dollars.
"While I fully expect the federal government will provide some form of relief…that is something we cannot rely on in order to fix what is a structural difficulty in our budget as a result of the downturn in our revenue," Restaino said.
"The longer the Canadian border stays closed, the more difficult it will be for Niagara Falls to simply get ahead of the problem that was created with the closure of all the businesses," he said.
Restaino also announced the paving schedule for 2020, which includes areas like 61st Street and Gerard Avenue, Lindbergh Avenue, Rivershore Drive, and more.
Even then, some plans for road improvements have been put on hold due to cuts statewide.
The mayor announced on Monday his goals for a social justice initiative in the wake of the ongoing struggles between police and minorities. Restaino said the initiative addresses health care, housing, employment, and economic disparities in addition to building the relationship between police and minority communities.
"It's going to be a group that will head up those five different sectors," Restaino said. "Then dividing into smaller workgroups to develop strengths, weaknesses in that current area…then develop recommendation to how it improves and becomes better."
