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Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

Thumbs up to the Fourth Department Appellate Division court for making its proceedings open to a public that can’t always get to Rochester to attend hearings. The public may watch the webcasts from most devices, including smart phones and tablet computers, by visiting the Appellate Division website at nycourts.gov/courts/ad4/ and clicking on the “Watch Live” icon, or by browsing directly to a new Internet link at ad4.nycourts.gov/go/live. Additionally, a digital archive will be available on the Fourth Department website for on-demand viewing, generally within three business days. Oral arguments will be screened for the disclosure of confidential information and may not be included in the digital archive. This is a good initiative that should spread courts throughout the state – including county courts.

Thumbs down to a proposed extension of a PILOT agreement involving the Covenant Manor Apartments in Jamestown. Millennia Housing Development received a 10-year PILOT in 2012 and sought this week to extend the agreement for seven more years through 2030. We are glad the county Industrial Development Agency denied the application. Jamestown has many reasons for its financial status, but one of the key reasons is the large number of tax-exempt properties in the city. It is important for all city taxpayers that the Covenant Manor building is restored to taxable status sooner rather than later. The county Industrial Development Agency should deny this request.

Thumbs up to encouraging signs in regard to possibly repowering the mothballed NRG power plant in Dunkirk. NRG representatives recently said they are proceeding with the early steps of their repowering project. The representatives made that clear during a conference call hosted by New York state Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean. Transition aid approved by the state Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo is helping the county, city of Dunkirk and Dunkirk City School District now, but a re-energized NRG power plant will help both keep taxes stable for all three entities while providing needed jobs in the north county.

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