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Letters To The Editor

Use Of Fusion Voting Is What Political Parties Make Of It

There has been quite a push amongst state legislators to end New York’s system of “fusion voting.” The system allows political parties to list the same candidate on their ballot lines on an election ballot and then combine the candidate’s vote totals. We agree in part with Norman Green, Chautauqua County Democrat election commissioner, who has said minor party endorsements can be a “sometimes insurmountable millstone in the way of statewide election contests.” As much as the system can be confusing, the minor parties do give rise to philosophies and policies that the ...

Lake Issues Can Be Solved As A Group

To The Reader’s Forum: Hats off to County Executive George Borrello for his newly formed committee to help manage the welfare of Chautauqua Lake. The concept is very simple. Each town that borders Chautauqua Lake along with lake agencies, will be equally represented and work together with county officials. Maybe this committee will be able to restrain the various “ABC” and “XYZ” groups around the lake and perhaps put an end to all the bickering, infighting and frivolous lawsuits that we have seen in the past. The residents of Chautauqua County deserve better when it ...

Reader Concerned By Economic Realities

To The Reader’s Forum: Farmworkers deserve to be and are treated with respect. The Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act concerns me. While its supporters mean well, the economic realities facing family farms (97% of farms are family owned) will make it difficult for many farms to survive the legislation’s higher costs. According to USDA, New York has lost about nine percent of its farms in the past five years, triple the national average, in part because of the depressed farm economy and rising labor costs. Most New York farms already pay well above minimum wage to attract ...

The Presumption Of Innocence

To The Reader’s Forum: I hear a lot these days about the presumption of innocence. This, I say, is good up to a point. But if charges have been brought against someone and that person is on trial, I believe that his/her official status should be “intermediary.” That is, guilt or innocence is in order only when a verdict is brought in. Norman Anderson Falconer

Reader Questions Use Of Vaccinations

To The Reader’s Forum: Parents who purposely choose not to vaccinate their children are not being irresponsible to their children nor to society! They are seeking to do the right and healthy thing for their children! If vaccinations are so effective then please tell me why those who have vaccinated their children are so concerned about having unvaccinated children around. Vaccinations are not a strengthening of the body’s immune system. By putting toxins and the disease directly into the bloodstream you increase antibodies, but you lower the cellular immunity. It is not ...

Documentary Highlights What Could Have Been

To The Reader’s Forum: I commend WNED public television and everyone who had a part in making “Reimagining A Buffalo Landmark,” the new Richardson Olmsted Campus documentary. It clearly and convincingly illustrates why this is a model preservation project, one most deserving of its 2018 Richard H. Driehaus National Trust for Historic Preservation Award. It also demonstrates what can be achieved when local leaders engage with their stakeholders in an honest, transparent and inclusive manner. At the same time, the film also serves as a reminder of the failure of the ...