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Opinion

City’s application earned DRI funding. Now it must deliver

In Our Opinion

City residents should have cautious optimism following the announcement that Jamestown has received another $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant from New York state. City officials put together a pretty impressive application. For that, Crystal Surdyk, city development director, and her team deserve a lot of credit. Surdyk and Jason Kulaszewski, city principal planner, had talked publicly about the plan having 24 distinct projects in the past, but simply having 24 projects doesn’t guarantee a big impact on downtown. Seeing the 24 projects makes one think that the ...

Graduation is more than Pomp and Circumstance!

Local Commentaries

“Kids these days (fill in the blank with some negative statements) …” is a bone of contention with me. If you are wondering what kids are up to these days, I encourage you to look at your local public school because I guarantee there are amazing students doing impressive things. On June 26, we are celebrating over 100 students at Southwestern that are graduating with their high school diploma. “What’s the big deal?” some people say. “The kids are just doing the bare minimum of what they are supposed to do. When I was their age, I walked uphill both ways in 6 feet of ...

The president has learned the reality of war

Local Commentaries

Even having been in one, Vietnam, I cannot say that I am an expert on war. The only thing I know for sure is that it should, if possible, be avoided at all costs. War represents a breakdown in diplomacy and civil discourse—the rule of law is forgotten and the rule of war, destruction, takes the fore. Thus, it was, with a sense of relief, that I was pleased to see the announcement that Iran and the United States had come to some kind of understanding to cease hostilities. I think it likely, though we will probably never know, that President Trump got talked into the massive attack ...

Unpredictable Iran keeps U.S. on defensive

Editor's Corner

Nothing is ever a certainty when dealing with Iran. Despite more than a week of waiting for an agreement with the Middle East power and nemesis, President Donald Trump’s team led by Vice President JD Vance, were in gridlock earlier this week. Iran is a master of deception. Even when it ...

Subversion Exploits Americans’ Openness, Generosity

Local Commentaries

CHAUTAUQUA—Chautauqua Institution’s 2026 season kicks off this weekend. Among the first speakers is Peter Schweizer, president of the Government Accountability Institute, who addresses Advocates for Balance at Chautauqua, or ABC, at 3 p.m. Monday in the Athenaeum Hotel. * * * Before ...

Maybe the second time is the charm for Furniture Mart

In Our Opinion

Ten years ago city officials had high hopes for the redevelopment of the Furniture Mart building. At the time, the $19 million project was going to be led by Ellicott Development with $1.5 million of DRI money earmarked for the project. The proposal was for two floors of office space, a 100-room hotel spread over five floors and rental apartments on the remaining three floors. The parking lot next to the building was to see a parking structure with 354 spaces, including 90 spaces available to the public. Retail space would have been created on the first floor. A decade later, ...