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In Our Opinion

Unfunded Mandate Hits Ellicott First; More Will Follow

New York state officials are good at writing blank checks with your state tax dollars. New state regulations that take effect this year are writing more blank checks - this time with your local tax dollars. Ellicott officials recently approved a contract with an emergency vet while also setting a maximum amount of money to be spent on the care of animals picked up by the dog control officer in need of treatment. The purpose of the secondary shelter is to have an overflow location if the Chautauqua County Humane Society is too full to take in dogs from the town, something Town ...

Federal Lawmakers’ Airport Terminal Makes Little Sense

We can’t disagree with Chautauqua County choosing to spend $31,625 in order to receive $1.265 million from the federal government. The county would, frankly, be stupid to turn down that deal, just as school districts receiving 95% state aid on a project would be dumb to turn down building projects that are largely paid for by state taxpayers. On the other hand we have no idea what the heck the federal government is thinking. In 2018 the federal government decided that Chautauqua County wasn’t meeting the requirements of the federal government’s’ Essential Air Service ...

Weapons Detection At JHS Doesn’t Solve School Safety Problem

The gun found on a student inside Jamestown High School was apparently the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. When students came back to school on Monday morning, the district was using the OpenGate weapon detection system at the front doors of the high school. It sounds as if students adapted to the change. Some were already familiar with the weapons detection system, which has been used at some extracurricular activities as well as for students entering the Fashano Tech Academy on Fourth Street. We’re sure there are many parents who feel more secure in the knowledge ...

NYS Lawmakers, Remember We Have An Affordibility Crisis

Sen. Pam Helming has a simple request of her fellow New York state lawmakers - tell people the projected costs of bills that would expand insurance coverage requirements. Last week, senators passed legislation that shines a light on why Helming’s bill (S.8619) is so desperately needed. Senators approved S.4497 to remove an existing restriction on infertility preservation services that would make more of those services something required to be covered by insurers in New York state. As is the case with most insurance coverage bills that come before the state Legislature, supporters ...

Housing Policy Is New Council’s First Real Test

We had said before the end of 2025 that new City Council members faced a steep learning curve before taking office on Jan. 1. Judging from community suggestions brought to the council recently by the Jamestown Justice Coalition, there are some who want the new four Democrats on the council to move quickly - particularly when it comes to housing. We don’t disagree that there is too much substandard housing in Jamestown. And we hear far too often about people who pay their rent only to struggle to get things like broken furnaces fixed or to have water problems fixed quickly. ...

Housing Policy Is New Council’s First Real Test

We had said before the end of 2025 that new City Council members faced a steep learning curve before taking office on Jan. 1. Judging from community suggestions brought to the council recently by the Jamestown Justice Coalition, there are some who want the new four Democrats on the council to move quickly - particularly when it comes to housing. We don’t disagree that there is too much substandard housing in Jamestown. And we hear far too often about people who pay their rent only to struggle to get things like broken furnaces fixed or to have water problems fixed quickly. ...