Opinion

City Must Act Now To Avoid Dunkirk-Type Shortfalls

In Our Opinion February 11, 2026

Mayor Kim Ecklund’s 2026 State of the City address well describes Jamestown’s financial status - too little money to pay too many bills. As we’ve written before, the story is familiar. Between 2021 and 2023, minimal tax increases largely paid for with ARPA-related lost revenue funding has now left essential services underfunded and created a structural imbalance that persisted. In 2024, a 1.44% tax rate reduction as well as unbudgeted costs, further weakened the city’s financial footing. The city has relied on its fund balance, one-time revenues like ARPA funding or temporary ...

Unfunded Mandate Hits Ellicott First; More Will Follow

In Our Opinion February 10, 2026

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

In Our Opinion February 9, 2026

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

In Our Opinion February 7, 2026

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 ...

The Exciting World View From The Cockpit

Local Commentaries February 7, 2026

Those were the days. Before the savagery and idiocy of 9/11, the aviation world was calmer. More relaxed. Nicer. And w-a-a-a-a-y before, when I flew as a stewardess in the ‘60s, and ‘70s, the atmosphere allowed for lots of wonderful experiences. Every flight has a designated lead flight attendant. In those days we were all women. We bid for specific positions on trips – each position has slightly different job responsibilities. I enjoyed bidding for the #1 position for a few different reasons. In my early flying days, I was airsick. A lot. I didn’t mind working the ...

Finding Old Mexico

Local Commentaries February 7, 2026

By Margot Russell I wish more people could see Mexico as it would surely be seen if we lived in a world without corruption. Or greed. The real Mexico is not Cancun. Cancun is a wonderful place if you’re looking for a margarita and a wide beach, but it actually rose up from a Mayan jungle that once boasted a small fishing village and was surrounded by pristine undiscovered shores. Today it looks like Las Vegas but with a lot more water. And like Vegas, the 25 million Americans who visit Mexico each year head to the resorts. And drug cartels do not tell Mexico’s story very ...