NF Mayor Scolds Downtown BIA

Wednesday, 14 December 2022 07:17

By Geoff Waterfield

Jim Diodati says downtown BIA has more problems than all other BIAs combined

Niagara Falls downtown BIA has been given an earful by the mayor, following a recent contentious vote for BIA Board of Governors.

City council voted 6-3 last night for all 12 candidates for the board to be appointed, as requested by the current board. However, seven were elected last month, with many BIA members saying to appoint the remaining candidates is not right.

Mayor Jim Diodati pointed out there have always been problems with the BIA. Council received an email from someone during the discussion asking to speak, to which the mayor turned down due to a 24 hour pre-register period for council.

"You guys gotta have a better system downtown, because there's more problems downtown than all other BIAs combined. So, I'm putting that back on you guys, not on us. We're not going to referee, you guys referee yourselves," he stressed.

The mayor also pointed out the city is too busy working on revitalization, including the University of Niagara Falls. "We've got major proposals that'll be coming forward with 15,000 students living and working in the downtown. It'll bring grocery stores, specialty stores, and these kind of nonsense discussions will go away, because we're going to have a vibrant downtown."

A few BIA members were in the council chamber, pointing out their frustration with the way the board is operated. They say the budget was put forth for approval without members voting on it, and that's just one issue. Councillors voting in favour of the 12 candidates said more people involved in the BIA will be helpful as the downtown faces major growth in the coming years. They added the new board can decide on the number of elected members, as well as focus on the budget problems.

NF Mayor Scolds Downtown BIA

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