08/15/2026
READ this whole thing and SHARE this if you really want to know what’s going on! We MUST REMOVE THEM ALL and built a New Niagara Falls no party leaders in the Niagara County Democratic Party or the Niagara County Republican Party are speaking up for us!
THE NIAGARA FALLS COUP: HOW A $3.9 MILLION PAVING JOB EXPOSED A CITY RIGGED AGAINST ITS OWN PEOPLE
By: RTA Niagara
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – On paper, this city is a tourist destination. In reality, it is a case study in systemic inequality, political dysfunction, and executive authoritarianism—disguised as a crumbling road repair.
What keeps me up at night isn't the sirens, the chemicals in the air, or the crime. It's the math.
540 people working for the City of Niagara Falls make a combined $38.8 MILLION per year. Not in Finance. Not in Tech. Not in Skilled Trades. They work at City Hall.
Meanwhile, 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line. The most impacted demographic? White women between 25 and 45—the very backbone of our working-class neighborhoods. The median income in the majority of this city hovers under $39,000. The only census tracts where household incomes exceed $62,000 are LaSalle, DeVeaux, North Hyde Park, and Cayuga Island. Why? Because that is where the majority of the highest-paid public employees reside.
The city isn't failing by accident. It is failing by design.
---
THE CATALYST: JULY 10, 2026
On July 10, the Niagara Falls City Council—your elected representatives—did something radical. They tried to do their job.
Faced with a $3.9 million paving contract and a brewing dispute with the Department of Public Works (DPW) union over the use of outside contractors, the Council voted to postpone the award. This wasn't obstruction; it was oversight. They wanted answers. They wanted to protect taxpayers from a potential giveaway to union insiders.
That act of fiscal prudence set off a ticking time bomb inside City Hall.
---
THE POWER PLAY: JULY 20, 2026
Just ten days later, Mayor Robert M. Restaino executed a textbook political bypass that would make Washington insiders blush.
On the morning of July 20, the Mayor's office contacted Police Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari and Fire Chief Pochatko—both of whom serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. He needed a paper trail, and he needed it fast.
· The Police Letter: Ligammari penned a memo warning that potholes were slowing emergency response times and that overgrown vegetation was providing "concealment for criminal activity," citing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and the "Broken Windows Theory."
· The Fire Letter: Pochatko warned that high grass in low-income, older wood-frame neighborhoods was a "severe fire hazard" as August approached.
Hours later—on that exact same day—Mayor Restaino signed a formal Declaration of a State of Emergency, invoking NY Executive Law Section 24.
Read Section (3) of that declaration carefully. The Mayor explicitly blames the "crisis" on the City Council's "failure, if not outright refusal, to award contracts."
Let that sink in. The Mayor used the badges of our Police and Fire Departments as political props to manufacture an "emergency" specifically designed to strip the legislative branch of its constitutional power over the city's purse.
---
THE WHISTLEBLOWER WHO SAID WHAT NO ONE WOULD SAY
But the Police Department the Mayor so readily weaponized for his political agenda? It turns out, it's rotting from the inside.
On September 1, 2025—nearly a year before the emergency declaration—Niagara Falls Police Lt. Troy Earp sent a six-page, scathing email to Mayor Restaino, City Administrator Anthony Restaino, Police Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari, and more than 20 others. His subject line: "questionable behavior within the police administration grievance". His message: the police department is a den of corruption, and leadership is either complicit or "completely absent".
Earp's allegations are devastating:
· "Fraudulent" overtime and "pension padding" that helped at least two city police officers rake in more than $200,000 each last year.
· Grant funds diverted to administrators. State money provided through the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative—meant to curb gun violence—was allegedly paid to police administrators supervising the program, raising serious questions about whether anti-violence dollars were actually reaching the streets.
· Nepotism running rampant. Earp alleged the wife of an administrator received a promotion in violation of civil service laws. He also claimed a daughter, a wife, and business partners of police brass were all "taken care of".
· City resources stolen for private gain. Officers and departmental equipment—including a city laptop—were allegedly being used by a private security company run by a member of the police force.
· A "completely absent" Chief. Ligammari, whom patrolmen have reportedly nicknamed "Sleepy Joe," has turned a "blind eye" to administrative "thievery".
Earp didn't mince words. He wrote that the police administration's "main priority is putting money in their own pockets". He accused them of substituting their actual job duties with "money-making schemes on overtime". And he described an environment of "zero accountability, zero consequences, just overtime sheets to pad their pensions".
When the Niagara Gazette asked the city for comment, Corporation Counsel Tom DeBoy dismissed it as a "personnel matter" and refused to engage. Council President Jim Perry claimed he stopped reading the email after spotting "a couple of things that were not right" and called the messenger "questionable".
But Former Councilman Myles took it seriously. He formally requested all documents related to the GIVE grant program, demanding expenditure reports, audits, and a full list of every city employee who received compensation under the program. His words should echo in every resident's mind:
"As a duly elected member of the Niagara Falls City Council, it is my fiduciary and ethical responsibility to ensure that all grant funds — especially those intended to address gun violence and community safety — are being used for their intended purposes and in full compliance with both state and federal requirements."
One councilmember asking for transparency. One whistleblower risking his career. And an administration that refuses to answer.
---
THE GIVE GRANT SHOWDOWN: OVERSIGHT OR OBSTRUCTION?
Fast forward to August 2026. While the Mayor was busy declaring emergencies over grass, another battle was brewing—one that would expose the exact same fault line between executive power and legislative accountability.
On the table: $1,177,700 in state funding through the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative. The grant would support hotspot policing, focused deterrence, community and youth engagement, nonfatal-shooting investigations, two crime analysts, a dedicated detective, and the city's GIVE coordinator. The police department argued the funds help them hire staff, conduct investigations, and connect with the city's youth. Former police chief and now anti-violence coordinator John Faso pointed out the grant saves the city money—covering salaries, overtime, and equipment "with no impact on the city or county budget".
So what happened? The resolution failed on a 2–2 deadlock. Council Chair Brian Archie was absent due to a death in the family.
Mayor Restaino was furious. He held a press conference alongside Police Chief Ligammari, calling out Councilmembers Myles and Cauley by name.
"Councilmember Cauley has had the chance to vote on the GIVE grant twice and both times he voted no," Restaino said. "I am bewildered that we are here to talk about whether the GIVE Grant should or shouldn't be a part of the city's toolbox here in Niagara Falls".
But here's the part the Mayor didn't tell you: the Councilmembers weren't opposing public safety. They were asking for basic accountability.
Councilmember Vincent Cauley told BTPM News he is not opposed to GIVE itself—he wants a more detailed accounting of where the money goes and whether the funded programs are actually reducing gun violence. "I was on the council in 2023, and I voted no to the GIVE grant back then because I didn't see the effectiveness of how the money was being spent and where it was being spent," he said.
Cauley acknowledged that GIVE coordinator John Faso previously briefed him and presented to the full Council. But his follow-up questions to the Restaino administration have gone unanswered. He called the Mayor a "gatekeeper of information".
"Not to use that as a leveraging tool, and that's not what I'm doing. But I'm just saying, when I vote on things—I don't speak for the rest of the council—but when I vote on things, I take taxpayers' dollars seriously, and I like to see accountability, oversight, and effective and efficient spending." — Councilmember Vincent Cauley
Councilwoman Bridgette Myles echoed the sentiment. On Facebook, she wrote that her vote was "not a vote against public safety. It was a vote for accountability, transparency, and making sure that we fully understand how public funds will be used to address one of the most serious issues facing our city".
Myles pointed to the two Independence Day weekend shooting deaths and asked: how is this money impacting preventive measures and helping families of victims? Is there aftercare? Is there counseling? Are there case managers? "Give me the plan. Once we approve it and authorize it, we don't have any say after that. I want these answers upfront so the community can receive".
The Mayor and Police Chief held their press conference—and then refused to take any questions from the media. Restaino dismissed the Councilmembers' concerns as "excuses".
And here's the kicker: the delay in approving the GIVE funding is already hurting community programs. Councilmember Myles revealed that Police Superintendent Ligammari informed representatives from Men Standing Strong Together that the police department would be unable to provide $500 to support their upcoming Youth Community Fun Day. Myles had to ask residents to donate $20 each to cover the loss.
So let's get this straight: $1.17 million in state funding is being held up because two Councilmembers want to know where the money is going—and the Mayor's response is to publicly shame them, refuse to answer questions, and let a $500 youth event suffer?
That isn't leadership. That is punishment for asking questions.
---
THE AUTHORITARIAN BLUEPRINT: HOW TRUMP PAVED THE ROAD
If this feels like a page ripped from the national news, it's because it is. Mayor Restaino didn't invent this playbook. He inherited it from Donald J. Trump.
The parallels are not coincidental—they are structural. Both men faced a hostile legislative body that refused to fund their priorities. Both responded not with negotiation, but with the nuclear option of an emergency declaration. And both used the cloak of "public safety" to bypass the constitutional power of the purse.
Parallel #1: The Manufactured Crisis
· Trump: Declared a National Emergency over the southern border in 2019—despite border crossings being at a 40-year low. The crisis was political, not factual.
· Restaino: Declared a City Emergency over potholes and grass—despite these being routine, predictable, seasonal maintenance issues. The "crisis" only emerged after the Council said no.
Parallel #2: The End-Run Around the Purse
· Trump: Congress explicitly appropriated $1.4 billion for the border wall. Trump wanted 6.1 billion** from military construction and counter-drug accounts—funds Congress had specifically designated for other purposes.
· Restaino: The Council exercised its charter-given authority over the budget by postponing the $3.9 million paving contract. Restaino responded by invoking NY Executive Law §24 to unilaterally award the contracts, stripping the Council of any say whatsoever.
Parallel #3: Weaponizing the Bureaucracy
· Trump: Used the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to produce "justifications" for border wall funding, often overruling military brass who deemed the projects low-priority.
· Restaino: Tasked his appointed Police and Fire Chiefs to produce letters on the same morning as his declaration. These are his subordinates, not independent watchdogs. He used their badges to manufacture the legal predicate for his power grab. And when the GIVE grant was stalled, he deployed the Police Chief again—this time to hold a press conference and shame Councilmembers publicly.
Parallel #4: Attacking Dissent as "Dereliction"
· Trump: Routinely attacked congressional oversight as "witch hunts" and "obstruction," painting any check on his power as an attack on the American people.
· Restaino: On August 15, issued a press release accusing the Council of "dereliction of duty". On the GIVE grant, he called their oversight "excuses" and said he was "bewildered".
Parallel #5: The Perpetual Emergency
· Trump: Suggested the border emergency could last indefinitely, with no clear off-ramp.
· Restaino: The declaration is set to renew automatically in 30-day increments. There is no sunset. No trigger for rescission. It can persist as long as the Mayor deems it necessary.
Parallel #6: Refusing to Answer Questions
· Trump: Frequently walked out of press briefings, refused to take questions, and attacked the media as "enemies of the people."
· Restaino: Held a press conference to attack the Council over the GIVE grant—and then refused to take any questions from reporters. He dictated the narrative and walked away.
The Bottom Line on the Comparison:
Political scientists describe Trump's governing style as "personalist directorship" —ruling by executive fiat through a permanent state of exception. Mayor Restaino has imported that exact model to Niagara Falls. The scale is smaller—a $3.9 million contract vs. a $6.1 billion fund transfer, a $1.17 million grant vs. billions in diverted military funds—but the constitutional logic is identical. When you cannot persuade, you declare a crisis. When the legislature checks you, you nullify them. When they ask questions, you call them obstructionists and walk away.
This isn't about partisan politics. It is about whether we live in a democracy or a fiefdom.
---
THE SYSTEMIC CONNECTION: FOLLOW THE MONEY
Now, connect the final dot.
Why are 540 city employees making $38.8 million in a city where 25% of the population lives in poverty?
Because the system is rigged to protect the insiders. The police overtime abuses Earp exposed—officers clearing $200,000 a year on the taxpayer dime—are just one symptom. The nepotism, the grant diversions, the private security company using city laptops—all of it feeds the same machine.
The GIVE grant fight is the same story: the Mayor wants $1.17 million in state money with no strings attached, no oversight, no accountability. Councilmembers ask where it's going. The Mayor calls them obstructionists. And when the Council delays, community programs suffer—not because the money isn't there, but because the Mayor would rather punish the community than provide answers.
The city is not incentivized to create new jobs or support local businesses. It is working perfectly for the people in power—as long as the rest of us stay poor, quiet, and distracted.
They don't want you to vote. They want you to believe nothing will change.
---
THE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
The proof is in the public record:
· September 1, 2025: Police Lt. Troy Earp sends a six-page whistleblower email exposing overtime fraud, nepotism, grant abuse, and a "completely absent" chief.
· July 10, 2026: City Council postpones $3.9M paving contract amid union dispute.
· July 20, 2026 (Morning): Police and Fire Chiefs issue letters framing potholes and grass as life-threatening hazards.
· July 20, 2026 (Afternoon): Mayor signs State of Emergency, explicitly blaming Council for the crisis.
· August 5, 2026: Mayor Restaino and Police Chief Ligammari hold a press conference attacking Councilmembers Myles and Cauley for not approving the $1.17 million GIVE grant—and refuse to take questions.
· August 6, 2026: Councilmember Cauley responds, explaining he wants accountability and oversight, not opposition to GIVE itself.
· August 15, 2026: Mayor issues press release calling Council "derelict."
And the payroll data that exposes the inequality?
🔍 https://www.seethroughny.net/payrolls/387186210
---
WHAT WE MUST DEMAND
1. Immediate Council Action: Every City Councilmember must publicly declare how they intend to reclaim their constitutional authority over the budget. Will they file an Article 78 legal challenge to the emergency declaration?
2. Charter Reform: We must amend the city charter to define precisely what constitutes a "routine" vs. "emergency" contract. This loophole must be closed.
3. Full Investigation of the Police Department: Councilmember Myles has requested documents on the GIVE grant program. Every councilmember should join her. We need a full audit of police overtime, promotions, and grant expenditures. Lt. Earp risked his career to speak the truth. The least we can do is investigate it.
4. GIVE Grant Transparency: The Council should not approve the $1.17 million GIVE grant until the Mayor's administration provides a full accounting of how every dollar will be spent—and how success will be measured. Councilmember Cauley is right: taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going.
5. Payroll Transparency: We need a full audit of the $38.8 million payroll. Why are 540 employees earning six-figure salaries while a quarter of the city struggles to afford groceries?
---
THE BOTTOM LINE
This isn't about potholes. This isn't about grass. This isn't even about the GIVE grant.
This is about whether Niagara Falls is a representative democracy or an executive dictatorship.
Mayor Restaino used the trusted badges of our Police and Fire Departments as political battering rams to silence your elected representatives. He manufactured a crisis to protect a bloated, insular bureaucracy that is bleeding this city dry. And the very police department he weaponized is, according to a lieutenant who works there, a cesspool of overtime fraud, nepotism, and "zero accountability".
When Councilmembers ask for transparency on a $1.17 million grant meant to stop gun violence, the Mayor holds a press conference, refuses to answer questions, and lets a $500 youth event get canceled out of spite.
They don't want you to share this. They don't want you to vote. They want you to stay poor, distracted, and silent.
Do not let them.
📢 SHARE THIS. DEMAND ANSWERS. VOTE THEM OUT.
