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In Our Opinion

It’s Time To Reopen Lake Alliance Meetings

One criticism of the Chautauqua Lake Watershed and Management Alliance board over the past couple of years has been the board’s lack of public accountability. That has changed with recent bylaw changes that pack the board with town and village officials as well as representatives from lake agencies. Approved in October, the new alliance board will consist of 18 members: three county seats, a seat for each of the five lakeside towns and four lakeside villages, and two seats each for the Chautauqua Lake Association, Chautauqua Lake Partnership and Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. ...

Accident Is Reminder Of Importance Of School Zone Safety

The Fletcher Elementary School community is mourning the loss of a 4-year-old who should have been part of the school for the next five years. There’s a lot that we don’t know about the tragic accident that left a family mourning their 4-year-old child and a neighboring school district in shock that one of its bus drivers was involved in such a tragic accident. Some aspects of Monday’s accident will become clearer as the New York State Police, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and Jamestown Police Department finish their investigation. There will surely be calls for change, ...

Low Turnout Is Disappointing, But Appreciate Voters Who Are Engaged

Roughly a quarter of registered voters took part in the Nov. 4 election. It’s disappointing, of course, to see so few participate in the election of local leaders who will decide the future of Chautauqua County and its cities, towns and villages. We’ve made it easier than ever to vote, but turnout in local elections barely budges. It’s obvious that the issue isn’t how people cast their votes but rather a lack of interest in local issues that are decided in odd-year elections.It’s disappointing, though not surprising, that local elections generate little interest from many ...

Pause On All-Electric Homes Mandate Is A Temporary Win

News last week that the state will pause enforcement of its All-Electric Buildings Act was cheered by many. Those cheers are warranted and, unfortunately, likely only temporary. Reducing emissions is a laudable goal. It’s good for all of us and for future generations if we emit less carbon dioxide into the environment. We should want to be more environmentally friendly in the cars we drive, the homes we live in and the power that we use. The problem is New York pursues those goals in the most ham-handed ways possible. The All-Electric Buildings Act is no different. Forcing ...

Replacing Rick Huber’s Voice Won’t Be Easy

The fight against addiction lost one of its most stalwart members recently with the passing of Rick Huber. For years Huber was director of the Mental Health Association. But serving as director of the MHA didn’t mean Huber sat in his office while others did the work. Huber was on the front lines, answering phone calls in the middle of the night when someone needed help. Huber worked the phones to help those who needed professional help find their way to treatment facilities. Were it not for Huber, the greater Chautauqua County community may not have realized quite how bad the ...

It’s Time For Newly Elected City Dems To Get Up To Speed

What really changes in Jamestown’s elected politics if Democrats keep their slim majority on the City Council after absentee ballots are counted in the at-large race between Democrat Daniel Gonzalez and Republican Michael Zanghi? Likely not much. In our opinion the issues the city faces are less about direction and more about resources. Many of the candidates - both Republican and Democrat - agree on many of the issues facing city residents. Many want to see more housing demolitions. Many would love to add police officers. They want increased code enforcement. Additional ...