Morinello Announces Viable Alternative to Proposed Methadone Clinic Location

[Press Release]

Retired Judge and Assembly Candidate is Working Directly with Paladino

The Honorable Angelo Morinello, retired Niagara Falls City Court Judge and candidate for the New York State Assembly District 145, announced today that he has been in contact with Carl Paladino, founder of Ellicott Development Co., which owns 606 6th Street. This building is the proposed site for the Northpointe Council’s expanded methadone clinic, a move that has sparked significant concern with city residents. Morinello stated that following his discussions with Paladino, there is a viable alternative to this issue.

“I met with Mr. Paladino recently. He indicated to me that should Northpointe Council make a request, he would be agreeable to releasing them from their legally binding lease agreement for the property,” said Morinello, a practicing attorney with significant contract experience.
Morinello cited that Paladino believes that an education center, such as the proposed BOCES nurse training center, would better serve the neighborhood’s needs.

As an alternative location for the Northpointe Council methadone clinic, Morinello recommended that the city allow the vacated police station on Hyde Park Boulevard to be offered to the agency. “It’s a vacant city property that is not in a densely populated area, easy to secure, yet conveniently located off Buffalo Avenue and Pine Avenue, and is on a bus line, affording easy access,” he explained. “The building is not only large enough to support the methadone clinic expansion, but Northpointe could conceivably locate their other services there as well.”

With regard to possible remediation needs for the building, Morinello suggested that federal funding might be available due to the federal focus on opiate-dependency treatments. “This is the right time and opportunity to make this building viable and solve a concern for this city.”

“We need an elected representative who can think outside of the box, come up with solutions, and be willing to act on them,” Morinello concluded. “This is not a time for finger pointing. This is a time for action. We can’t continue to react to issues in crisis mode. We need to be proactive and seize the opportunities so that everyone wins. This is my goal.”