Falls director of Public Works resigns is wake of controversial social media post

Rick Pfeiffer -, Niagara Gazette, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
·2 min read

May 15—Falls Director of Public Works Anthony Feagin has stepped down from his post.

Feagin's resignation was confirmed Wednesday night by Mayor Robert Restaino.

"Anthony has elected to resign," Restaino said. "We have appointed an acting director and begun an active search for a replacement. We're going to post (the vacancy) and see what comes of it."

The mayor said former City Council Member Kenny Tompkins, who has been serving as the assistant director of Public Works, will be the interim department head.

Feagin, who also serves as a bishop at a local church, has been under fire for comments he made about LGBTQ individuals in a video posted to Facebook in March. In the video, Feagin warned of an "exposure" that he said was coming to the "House of God" that will "expose all the homosexuals, all the liars and everyone who would be contrary to His word."

In the video, Feagin also predicted that 2024 would be a "year of exposure" for "those who continue to hide," lie and continue to cover up the "homosexual acts" of "husbands, pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelists, apostles, bishops, archbishops, chief apostles and even the Pope." Feagin encouraged viewers of the video to "get their house in order," suggesting that when the "exposure" comes it's going to "shake the very foundation underneath your feet."

At the time the video was posted, Feagin declined to comment on it when questioned by the Gazette.

City Council Chairman Jim Perry said he had discussed the contents of the video, and possible discipline of Feagin, with the mayor. However, Restaino said the controversy played no role in Feagin's departure.

"That's not what really drove (his resignation)," Restaino said. "Certainly all that chatter will lead to that conclusion, but that's not what drove it in my mind."

Perry had proposed a city council resolution that would have condemned the social media post. The council chair said the resolution would have made clear that the comments contained in the video were not acceptable for a department head working in city government.

"As public figures, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard," Perry said at the time. "I will speak for myself in saying there is no place in government for bigotry."