If you want to sue Dunkirk for its financial mismanagement, you should pull out your own checkbook.

City resident Ryan Reading cited court costs in a statement recently updating the OBSERVER about his efforts to file a taxpayers’ lawsuit against the city. “To realistically pursue action, we estimate the need for at least 400 local petitioners willing to contribute $250 each toward the legal fund,” he wrote.

Reading said he’s continuing his petition drive against City Hall as he seeks financial support for the parallel legal effort.

Here is Reading’s statement in full:

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Following the recent article published in the Dunkirk OBSERVER regarding concerns about mismanagement and questionable financial practices within the city of Dunkirk, I had the opportunity to speak directly with Buffalo-based attorney Craig Bucki, a well-respected municipal litigation expert.

Mr. Bucki confirmed that there are legitimate legal avenues available to pursue accountability through the courts. These include filing a taxpayer lawsuit under New York’s General Municipal Law 51, or potentially bringing a broader constitutional or administrative claim, depending on the specific issues and evidence gathered.

However, the cost of mounting such a legal challenge is substantial. Based on our discussion, the total legal expenses are expected to range between $50,000 and $100,000, depending on the depth and duration of the case. These costs would cover legal filings, discovery, potential audits, expert testimony, and litigation fees.

To realistically pursue action, we estimate the need for at least 400 local petitioners willing to contribute $250 each toward the legal fund. This would allow our community to retain qualified legal representation and move forward with a claim designed to hold city officials accountable, force transparency, and potentially recover misspent taxpayer dollars.

Currently, we have collected about 30 petition signatures. While this is a promising start, if we cannot meet our target, the chances of proceeding with legal action will be slim. For this effort to succeed, we need a collective response from citizens who want to see meaningful change in our city.

We also want to clearly reiterate that this effort is pro-city employee, pro-fire department, and pro-police. This initiative is not aimed at the hardworking individuals who serve our community every day, but rather at ensuring proper leadership, financial accountability, and long-term health for the City of Dunkirk.

If you are a resident, taxpayer, or business owner in Dunkirk who believes in transparency and fiscal responsibility, I encourage you to stay informed and consider joining this effort. A united community voice is our strongest asset when seeking reform.

Those interested in supporting this initiative or learning more can contact me directly at infinitesolutions@email.com or follow upcoming notices in the Observer and local forums.