Way back in 2009, Walt wrote "Power to the people of Niagara Falls", about the sleaze and corruption surrounding the decision of the Niagara Parks Commission to renew its lease contract with the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Company.
The company, owned by the Glynn family of Niagara Falls NY, had managed, by hook or by crook -- mostly crook -- to secure a sweetheart deal for the continued operation of the famous "Maid of the Mist", while sharing less of the revenue with the NPC, which depends on revenue from that and other attractions to keep its magnificent parks open without government (meaning "taxpayer") funding.
The whistle was blown by an NPC commissioner, Bob Gale, who quit in disgust, and by William Windsor, who thought than an open competition for the right to operate the boat tour would have been a better idea than nailing the puck to the Glynns' stick.
In the aftermath, the provincially-appointed commissioners were sacked, and two very senior managers were either fired or quit in disgrace. A proper -- open and transparent -- competition was then ordered by the Ontario government. Today the result was at long last announced.
And the winner is -- envelope, please! -- not the Glynns! The Niagara Parks Commission announced this afternoon that Hornblower Canada -- their American parent runs boat tourst to Alcatraz and the Statue of Liberty -- gets the new 30-year lease. Visitors to Niagara Falls get a new and improved boat ride, and the NPC gets an estimated $500,000,000 in revenue.
Everybody wins, except those who sought to give and get corrupt benefits to line their own pockets.
Bribery, corruption and sleaze happen to be the subjects of Bill Windsor's website "Lawless America", to which Walt's attention has just been drawn. Check it out for Windsor's crowing comments on today's decision. Hey, he has a right to crow!
And while you're there, read about GRIP, the Government Reform & Integrity Platform. Think it can't work? It worked at Niagara Parks in Canada. Are Americans not at least as committed to honesty in openness in government as their neighbours to the north?!
This took courage from many people to stand up to years of corruption! Congratulations to those who stuck it out over the years of struggle against the powers.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Walt. What a great article! Thank you SO MUCH for your kind words. It's been quite an ordeal. This new contract will pay the NPC five-times what the Glynn's contract paid. Just an extra $400 million over 30 years. If the NPC ever even thinks about violating the laws on competitive bidding again, I hope all my neighbours to the North will give me a shout. Bill Windsor www.NiagaraFallsBid.net
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow Founding Director of GRIP with Bill Windsor I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am with this announcement. Bill is living proof that one person can make a difference. There are brighter days ahead because of people like Bill. He is an inspiration to (almost) all who know him.
ReplyDeleteLarry Hohol-Author
When it comes to the "Power of the People", the "teeth" of power always reside in the Truth (and independent GRAND JURIES). Bill Windsor and his family stood his ground on Truth (as God is "truth") and lost his entire life savings. Yet he - and many others who side with him against corporate, government, and judicial corruption - continually strive to restore the integrity in business, in government, and the courts. GRIP is the best way for going about this.
ReplyDeleteIt's no secret that Bill Windsor and others are working to expose the criminals for who they are - and they are everywhere (i.e., let's not kid ourselves) - at all levels of government and throughout the judicial system, which are otherwise supposed to be the systemic backbone for exposing Truth and resolving differences and punishing the criminals. The system is entirely broken (i.e., you should see what I have exposed about the Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit, the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Michigan, and the U.S. District Court and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Detroit and Cincinnati).
There are many - whose numbers are NOT ENOUGH - that are paving the way, through GRIP and by creating a new "mainstream media" from the grassroots to offset the criminal "cover ups" of the institutionalized "mainstream", to more honest business practices, a more honest (and far less tyrannical) government, and independent GRAND JURIES of the We The People to hold even judges accountable (whereas they currently receive "immunity" for their crimes from the bench) for their corrupt racketeering actions.
Bill Windsor, you and your new network of Freedom Fighters ROCK! Enjoy your new venture to tour all 50 states while creating your new movie (title?) using interviews from people in each state who, like you, are battling corrupt government and gathering mounds of further evidence that our State and United States judges are operating criminal rings and using "The People's" courtroom as their own fiefdoms and alter-ego, for destroying families and ruining lives, for imprisoning innocent people and depriving the elderly of their life savings and what remains of their lives, and for lining their own pockets and the pockets of their fellow BAR members of attorneys.
Keep that fight going. I'm with you in the battlefield and preparing for your visit to Michigan to conduct "corruption" interviews. "I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille".
Walt endorses Wayne Gates (NDP) in the Niagara Falls by-election to be held on 13 February 2014.
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