'A ways to go': Niagara Falls taking steps to stop illegal dumping

本站添加: 2026-05-06

[00:00:00]Now, to Niagara Falls, where we have an update on a story we brought you last month, when some city leaders and neighbors called out issues with abandoned buildings, illegal dumping, and trash.

[00:00:11]It's terrible.

[00:00:12]Terrible. The grandkids can't even play outside because of the um animal Now, Mayor Robert Restaino tells us DPW crews are constantly out in neighborhoods responding to resident concerns. The city also deploying a clean team to go out and remove trash from the streets, but now the mayor is proposing increased fines for those who allow their properties to fall into disrepair. Niagara County reporter Derek Hyde explains.

[00:00:41]Piles of trash continue to be a problem all around the city of Niagara Falls, but I'm told it is an issue on the mend.

[00:00:49]Just ask Shane. Oh, so much better.

[00:00:51]Compared to the first time they come and complained about it on the news. There used to be garbage everywhere. Now, A little over a month since my colleague Taylor Anthony shined a light on illegal dumping in the Falls, and neighbors are taking notice. But really before that, I think they really weren't looking into it. But since you know, people made it aware there was some bad garbage in the alleyways, the they're doing a real well job on picking it all up. Since that first story, the city has unveiled a clean team, posting almost daily about their work cleaning up streets. They're doing a great job, but we still have a ways to go. If you look at this, this is just it it's sad. It's terrible. It's disgusting. City Council member Bridget Miles took me down an alley off 15th Street, one she's been calling about for a month. It's heartbreaking. Her hope, hire more workers for those clean teams.

[00:01:37]Well, okay. We have to go find those people to to work. People will work.

[00:01:43]We just have to find those people. We have to kind of redo our priorities and and get the city clean. Meanwhile, Mayor Robert Restaino, writing in the Niagara Gazette, asking residents to take some pride in keeping our streets clean, saying, quote, "Although we are encouraged by the progress our clean teams are making, we also need the assistance of our residents to step up and help keep our neighborhoods clean."

[00:02:05]Also adding that he will propose increased fines against property owners who allow their land to fall into disrepair. Currently, fines for homes that look like this start at $250.

[00:02:16]Later down the road. Later down the road, but we have to kind of regain control. As for Miles, she thinks that kind of enforcement is a few steps away, with streets still looking like this.

[00:02:26]And we need to have solid a solid plan to keeping our city clean.

[00:02:33]After that, we need to enforce it. If you witness illegal dumping, you're asked to tell the city at the email on your screen right now. Derek Hyde, 7 News, Niagara Falls.