The Promise

“Niagara Falls is an unclaimed promise.”  

No one has ever described Niagara Falls so succinctly or beautifully.

Those six words may just be the most intelligent ever spoken on the subject of civics. I can’t imagine they came easily to the lips. It took 86 years to perfectly form that short sentence. It was worth the wait.

The speaker of those words is Bill Feder. Lifelong Niagara Falls resident, former junior high teacher, former county legislature and candidate for multiple political offices in a day when public office meant public service.“The party asked me to run for Congress in 1964 because Bill Miller from Lockport was running for Vice President of the United States. It was an honor, but also gave me a chance to expand my knowledge. I’m forever learning. I didn’t have time to run for Congress per se, but took it on as a learning experience.”

Bill Feder is nothing if not responsive to community needs, even if it means running for congress.

A bachelor’s degree, two masters degree’s and a PhD from University at Buffalo were also crammed into his schedule. Teaching is one of the worlds most cherished professions and teachers are an educated bunch. Still, it’s hard to imagine a more educated junior high teacher. Feder’s education was also earned through experience.

“I used to print and hand out my home phone number on all my literature, which other politicians thought was crazy. But if there was a community issue or problem, I wanted to know about it as soon as possible. I never wanted to get blindsided by a problem when it was too late to solve. Tell me what’s going on. I may not have a solution immediately, but at least we can all talk about it and work towards solving whatever it was. That was my philosophy then, and it still is today.”

Notice the ‘we’ can talk about it part. A discussion not a lecture. That seems to be the essence of Bill Feder and the concept behind all of us being smarter than any of us.

The arc of Bill’s life is also the arc of the modern Niagara Falls. He experienced the post WWII industrial boom on Buffalo Avenue, the construction of the power plant and the challenge that effects the Falls to this day – urban renewal. 

“I served in the County Legislature when urban renewal was being implemented. It’s hard to describe it to people today. It was simply what was going to be done. There was no stopping it. Government was saying that if we tear everything down we’ll be better, and of course they were throwing money at tearing things down, and money dominates.”

“It seems crazy, but people took the money to tear things down without commitments to anything being replaced. Money is not leadership. We don’t have a leadership problem in government because we don’t have any (leadership).”

Money to tear things down sold as a jobs program. Ludicrous in hindsight, but so very real.

Bill seems like a very practical thinker. Still, he knows the level of passion required in order to change.

“We need a movement as large and passionate as the Second Great Awakening,” says Bill. “That started right here, not only in the United States but predominantly in New York State. People debated and argued about religion – types, forms, best practices, theories – but they didn’t debate much about getting rid of religion. The thing they accepted is religion is vital. That’s how we should be discussing civics today. It’s vital, and let’s explore all aspects of it. And most of all let’s not disrespect it.”

Imagine if we could build interest in civics to the level of fantasy football or reality television? Could we capture more interest and uncover more leaders that way?

“I don’t think there’s any doubt Niagara Falls has lost it’s way,” says Bill. “But the entire country has lost its way. Could we lead the entire nation in the debate to reclaim our promise?”

I’m still searching for what makes any community special, and specifically what is the “special sauce” of Niagara Falls. But that’s because I’m younger than Bill and less educated. Where I’m still searching, Bill has no doubt

“The soul of Niagara Falls has always been the way people have fought to get here, live here, make industry here and build communities and churches here. The opportunity to believe in those things is gone. The desire to build, create and own their own community is missing in people right now. We have a crisis of hope, and that can be devastating. Government can’t replace religion or family, and can’t impose an economy. It can create the framework for society, but then needs to stay out of the way”

Bill Feder is showing us that civics is not just government. In the way that a garden is not just dirt, the molecules of society are multiple, varied, precious, and dependant on each other. We need some more Bill Feder in this discussion. He’s far too valuable to keep on the bench.

This resonates so perfectly to our discussion of civics and the choice of Niagara Falls for study. Civics proves we’re all better together than separate, and we all have a specific role to play. This city is the prize and the key to wealth opportunities beyond our current imagination. It doesn’t cost a dollar, and it’s not a dream. It’s real, right in front of us, but we don’t yet see it. It’s so elusive. Let’s not stop sifting through all the clutter until we find the prize. Because it’s so obviously right here in front of us.