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Thanksgiving, Deer Season Go Hand In Hand

It is Thanksgiving and another deer season is upon us. Many around here will likely spend some time at deer camp that day. In reflecting back, though I have no historical proof of it, I have always thought that the pilgrims likely ate venison along with turkey on that first Thanksgiving Day. Looking forward to deer season, I guess, is part of my DNA. I was once Chairman of the Subcommittee on Fish and Wildlife in the State Assembly. Every year we would have discussions with the DEC Division of Fish and Wildlife about setting the fish and wildlife seasons in New York, including the big ...

It’s Still The Economy

In 1992, James Carville coined the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid,” referring to how the economy affects one’s personal finances. This phrase was credited with playing a big part in getting Bill Clinton elected President. The economy means different things to many people. Some give their attention daily to the stock market, i.e., the Dow, S&P, NASDAQ. Economists talk about the gross domestic product (GDP), tariffs, trade deficits, the Federal Reserve, and the national debt. While each of these aspects of the economy may be important to the economic engine of the country, ...

Like Trump, upstate must root for Mamdani

New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump certainly knew how to put on the charm last week in the nation’s capital. During a visit held at the Oval Office, both were stunningly able to find common ground despite publicly stating their grievances against each other ...

Let’s Celebrate The Spirit Of Thanksgiving

This week kicks off the busy holiday season, although, considering the many Early Black Friday sales that have enticed shoppers in recent weeks, many people no doubt wonder whether the holiday season somehow expanded to a quarter of the year, rather than having remained confined to about a month and a half. Traditionally, the shopping boom began the day after Thanksgiving - Black Friday - but no more is that true. The non-stop home-shopping channels and online sales have changed all that. Unfortunately, local brick-and-mortar shopping, which helps to keep strong the economic ...

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 ...

Shrinking City Surplus Is A Symptom Of A Bigger Problem

Jamestown City Council members are expressing concern over the city’s shrinking surplus. They’re right to be concerned. The city should have roughly two months’ worth of savings to be able to keep the city running in case something catastrophic happens and anticipated revenue doesn’t come in. That would mean carrying about $7.5 million in its surplus at any given time. Jamestown will head into 2026 carrying about half of that amount after allocating an expected $3.5 million from the surplus to lower a nearly 10% tax hike. While the fund balance is a concern, it isn’t the ...