12/17/2025
Tonight marks my final meeting as your Third Ward Alderman. Serving the people of North Tonawanda has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I remain deeply proud of the work we’ve accomplished together.
Throughout my time in office, my focus has always been simple: listen to my constituents, help solve problems, and move our community forward. I approached every day with the same principle—service above self.
As many know, since the beginning of this century, North Tonawanda has undergone a historic transformation. A city with its lineage tied to industry and commerce, like many small communities across the country, found itself at a crossroads when industry up and left and closed their doors. Many of us can remember a time when there was no struggle to find parking downtown in front of one of the many empty storefronts. Our parks were dormant, unkempt, and underutilized. There was almost no reason to visit North Tonawanda—it was simply a “pass-through town” between Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
Now, because of the vision and care of the last two decades of multiple mayors, council members, and department heads—both Democrat and Republican—North Tonawanda has successfully adapted and overcome. We are now a nationally recognized destination for visitors, while offering a strong quality of life for our residents.
We leveraged our waterfront and green spaces, reinvigorated our Botanical Gardens, and expanded recreation by working with state officials, county legislators, and department heads to grow amenities like bike trails, kayak launches, our golf course, playgrounds, and parks—amenities that continue to expand and improve.
Through those same collaborative efforts, we continue to make our downtown a destination for those near and far by investing in and supporting our local businesses. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds we received four years ago continue to make Webster Street the place to be—not just on Saturday nights, but any day of the week. Whether it’s seeing a show at the Riv, grabbing a bite to eat, or attending a Gateway Concert, downtown is alive again.
We are growing our tax base by supporting both residential and commercial development. New phases of the 600 River Road Apartments, the redevelopment of Colonel Payne School, the Metzger Property project, and the sale of former city property on Tonawanda Island are just a few examples. We have continued investments by both small and large businesses—too many to name—which are providing jobs and economic growth throughout the city.
I am extremely proud of all that we have accomplished, and all that we continue to accomplish as a city. However, challenges still lie ahead. We continue to work and make headway on the issues that impact our residents most. Both quality of life and affordability are paramount for any community. If people won’t live here, businesses won’t open here, visitors won’t come here, and a community can easily spiral economically and socially. That is why we worked hard to hold the line on taxes and find cost-saving measures, ensuring responsible fiscal management while continuing to invest in and protect our essential services our residents both need and deserve.
I am proud of our work toward safer streets, quieter neighborhoods, and combating blight through increased resources for our first responders and DPW, updated noise and nuisance ordinances, and regulations like the rental registry to ensure every measure is taken to protect the residents of this community.
As we look ahead, it is important to remain vigilant and engaged. Success is never guaranteed, and the gains we have made as a city require continued care, transparency, and accountability. Short-term thinking, unchecked spending, or losing sight of the needs of everyday residents can quickly undo years of hard work. The strength of North Tonawanda has always come from an informed, involved community, and I encourage residents to stay engaged, ask questions, and hold their leaders to the highest standard—because the future of this city depends on it.
Thank you to my colleagues in city government, department heads, and city staff for your collaboration and dedication on the issues that remain important to our citizens.
I would be remiss if I did not thank the people who made this journey possible—my family, friends, and supporters. To my family, thank you for your love, sacrifice, and constant encouragement. To my friends and supporters, thank you for believing in me, standing with me, and keeping me grounded. Your trust and support meant more to me than I can express, and I am deeply grateful.
Although my time on this Council ends on January 1st, this is not goodbye. I love this city, and I love this community. I will continue to be here—supporting its growth, standing up for its future, and working alongside anyone who shares the goal of making North Tonawanda stronger.
And while I may be leaving office, I am not leaving the work of making our community a better place.
Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the City of North Tonawanda.
