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North end residents want community center returned
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North end residents want community center returned

by Joseph KisselAugust 8, 2016

“I was born and raised here in Niagara Falls, the Center Avenue, Garden Avenue, Highland area,” said Donte Miles at Monday’s city council meeting in Niagara Falls.
Joined by many others, he spoke to the council regarding about the re-bourgeoning efforts to bring a community center back to the area.
“As a child the community center made a heavy impact on my life,” Miles said. “We had tutors, mentors, people that we looked up to ask them question when things was going wrong people that we trusted. We had interactions with out peers. As of late, we are losing a lot of black men to violence.”
“Once the place shut down young started trying to find things to do, and when there’s nothing for them to do, they end up doing things they shouldn’t. And once it shut down, I noticed that whole region of Niagara Falls begin to lose the village type where the village raises a child, everybody took care and looked out for each other. And the violence and the crimes wasn’t nowhere near what it is right now.”
“I’m here to say that I think it should be be put on the table whether it is to tear the old one down and rebuild up there or put a new community center there because it is very valuable for the community, especially for the next generation. I have two kids. And I choose to stay here. I’ve had plenty of other opportunities to leave and take my business elsewhere but I chose to stay here. And while I’m here I feel that I’m not just going to sit back and talk about it. We should bring it to the table.”

About The Author
Joseph Kissel
Joseph Kissel is a journalist, editor and photographer. He is also the Vice President of the New York Coalition for Open Government, a non-partisan, non-profit group that advocates for transparency and the public's right to freedom of information.