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In Our Opinion

North Harmony Wind Project Comes At Interesting Time

A group of Ashville residents aren’t happy with a plan to build wind turbines on Baker Road in North Harmony. Right now, the proposal from Buttercup Wind LLC, for a monopole meteorological wind tower that requires a variance from the North Harmony Town Board. Neighbors are worried approving the wind tower will open the door to wind turbines in an area that borders two state forests, especially knowing that Buttercup Wind has been inquiring about the possibility of acquiring property in Clymer for a wind farm as well. In the past we’d have been prepared to simply see the turbines ...

It’s Time To Take Politics Out Of The Local Judiciary

Was there dirty pool played in the race for Chautauqua County Family Court Judge prior to the November election? It sure seems that way. The filing of criminal charges against Sally Jaroszynski in October for allegedly illegal nominating petitions doomed an already longshot campaign. Jaroszynski, who has run for the position in the past as a Democrat, changed her party affiliation to Republican before last year’s election. She didn’t receive the party’s endorsement and tried to run on the Working Families Party line - which meant she had little chance of beating her ...

BPU Purchase Of Harrison Street Property Could Make Sense

There have been some questions raised recently about the city Board of Public Utilities’ purchase of property on Harrison Street. After all, why would a utility be buying land and acting as a developer instead of going through the usual channels of allowing a prior owner to hire a realtor to market the property? Should the BPU be in the business of land banking property rather than simply providing utility services and garbage pickup? Those are good questions to ask. No one wants to see the BPU buying up land and, even worse, derelict buildings, and having those sunk costs lead ...

Clearing City Sidewalks Is Becoming Complex Issue

City Council members want to do more to make sure sidewalks are shoveled throughout city neighborhoods. First, let’s address motivation. Council members are concerned about people walking in the street - and rightly so. But let’s not act as if cleared sidewalks will solve that particular problem. There are people who still walk in the street in areas where the city’s sidewalk plows have cleared sidewalks an hour after the plow has come through. Unless a sidewalk is cleared to bare pavement, bone dry and perfectly flat, the city will have people walking in the streets. And, ...

Prison Strikes Must Be Dealt With Quickly

In our opinion, Gov. Kathy Hochul took the wrong first step when prison workers went on strike Monday in Collins, Brocton and more than two dozen other state prisons. Because the governor didn’t immediately invoke the Taylor Act, which prohibits strikes by members of unions representing public safety workers like police officers, firefighters and corrections officers, Hochul is acting from a weaker position. That’s a problem because if this series of strikes isn’t resolved quickly, what stops a similar strike from happening in communities throughout the state? The city of ...

A Reminder That Shelter Is Only A First Step

We shouldn’t be surprised that Jamestown police officers are spending additional time patrolling near the Code Blue warming center on Washington Street. Some of the issues that are drawing police to be in the area in the morning and afternoon are similar to what was happening when the homeless were congregating in Brooklyn Square and other areas of the city last summer - fights, harassing people, littering and disorderly conduct. Extra patrols have been placed near the warming center while a two-officer car is in the area from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. when car dealerships ...