The Hidden Hand Behind Governor Cuomo's Goat Island Lodge

A year after the Jacobs family’s Delaware North Corporation lost its 22-year multibillionaire contract to operate restaurants, hotels, stores and other services in Yosemite National Park, and former Erie County Clerk Christopher Jacobs was elected to the NYS Senate,  Governor Cuomo called for a lodge to build on Goat Island at the Niagara Reservation State Park.

Director, Producer and Actor Ken Cosentino

   The Jacobs family owns the Boston Bruins, other multinational businesses and exclusive rights to concessions at the Niagara Reservation State Park until their contract is renegotiated in 2121. In regards to campaign donors, the Jacobs, as a family, under the guise of their Corporations and as individual donors have been more than supportive to Governor Cuomo. It’s also publicly known that Gov. Cuomo was the Jacobs guest of honor at their East Aurora estate fundraiser that cost $25,000 per plate; the assessed value of many single family homes in the City of Niagara Falls. The Jacobs losing up to $2 billion over 15 years to manage Yosemite, being Gov. Cuomo’s biggest financial donors and Gov. Cuomo announcing the construction of a lodge on Goat Island as a part of his Buffalo Billion development program is not a coincidence.

Niagara Reservation State Park

   What can we do about Albany’s “pay to play” geopolitical games that has virtually sucked the blood out of Niagara Falls’ local economy? Should citizens lobby as constituents and voters to leverage those State Representatives who are willing to take the fight to Albany and do what’s in the best interest of Western New York, more specifically Niagara Falls? What are local and regional public official’s stance on this and can we get their public commitment to aide our citizenry in redirecting these promised funds to our city? Addressing this problem is multifaceted and as Niagarians we must stand united in our voice to say “NO” to a lodge being constructed on Goat Island. We need to contact our local and regional representatives to let them know this is not in the best interest of our city. A Buffalo Billion development program is best served within the Niagara Falls city limits where it’s needed, not within the State Park and the Jacobs family’s coffers that continues to siphon away revenue from our local economy. On Tuesday February 21st at 5:30pm we are calling all Western New York residents and other supporters to attend our Niagara Falls City Council Meeting [745 Main Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14301] to let our voice be heard against this initiative. You can also support our efforts by signing and sharing this PETITION by my brother Director, Producer and Actor Ken Cosentino to redirect the state funds to the City of Niagara Falls.

Peace,

Saladin