Niagara Falls COVID efforts ignored by coverage

Re: Pandemic deaths and political silence in Niagara, Jan. 29

My heart is broken. It’s broken for the 316 families and counting in the Niagara Region who have lost a loved one to this virus. I know the people of our communities have been at this, dealing with the challenges for a year. I know people are tired, exhausted and anxious, and families are struggling to keep children away from friends and family, doing their best to stop the spread.

To add to the frustration and suffering of those who have lost a loved one, families and residents open their local newspaper to find articles like “Pandemic deaths and political silence” (Jan. 29) and others from Jan. 26, Jan. 30 and Feb. 1 which falsely indicate complacency by some of Niagara’s elected officials.

The City of Niagara Falls was among the first to lower our flags to half-mast to recognize the deep loss throughout Niagara and acknowledge the deaths in our community. This recognition was officially announced at the Niagara Falls council meeting on Jan. 19. Further, the Niagara Falls Illumination Board elected to light the falls amber in recognition of our lost lives on Jan. 19 and stand with communities that have lost loved ones throughout the pandemic in Canada and internationally.

I sincerely hope our residents have confidence in knowing their elected officials have been hard at work, united, doing their best to keep communities safe but also recognize and feel the pain of loss.

We may not all agree on our approach to COVID-19, but to insinuate elected officials are cold and indifferent is unfortunate.

Just like yours, our hearts are broken by the losses suffered in our community — and whether on the front page of the newspaper or not — we stand with you. Mayor Jim Diodati Niagara Falls