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At the conclusion of Dunkirk's Common Council meeting, department heads and elected officials gathered around to congratulate newly approved Police Chief Doug Switzer. Since the retirement of Chris Witkowski in February, Switzer had been handling the duties before being officially approved for the promotion on Monday evening.
To his credit, he has been tremendous through the transition. He's taken the lead with staff while also handling the major cases -- including two deaths in recent months -- in the city. Without question, he earned the top spot.
With the well wishes taking place in the background, Mayor Kate Wdowiasz kept her distance while preparing to exit the chambers. As department heads she appointed took part in the hand shakes, others who were present have a relationship with the top city official that is about as smooth as sandpaper. It might have created an awkward moment.
During a time of a major cash crunch, Wdowiasz has become an unfair villain while facing numerous personal attacks. In her 32 months at the helm of city government, nothing has come easy. Within her first 45 days in office in 2024, she was hit with the realization of what was unthinkable: the municipality was running out of cash and needed a serious bailout.
New York state stepped forward to help, but it has been far from generous. In loaning the city $13.7 million, that figure came with a 7.5% interest rate.
How does that compare to the recent gifts to Buffalo and New York City? Those major cities received $70 million and more than $1 billion with no strings attached.
For the record, Wdowiasz was not part of the financial malfeasance that occurred from 2020 to 2024. A lot of the blame for the city's financial woes falls to the former elected city Treasurer Mark Woods who has been charged in corruption and the theft of $120,000. That figure, through some accounts, may be just the tip of an even larger iceberg tied to two decades of overseeing the city accounts.
Previous Common Council members also bear some responsibility. Who can forget the $300,000 of federal funds through the American Rescue Plan Act that were approved to be used for bonuses? Or how about some of those same funds -- totalling more than $5.3 million to meet payroll for 2021 and 2022 for city police and firefighters.
There is an absolutely false sentiment that Dunkirk fiscally fell apart while under Democratic party rule. To be certain, party member Woods was a major part of the problem with previous Mayor Wilfred Rosas culpable due to being at the top. But the majority of the council that was consistently signing off on overspending -- without seeing or asking for real financial documentation -- were Republicans Nancy Nichols, James Stoyle and Paul VanDenVouver. Don Williams, who is part of the Working Families Party, was a proud partner to that lackluster oversight. In fact, the selfish bonuses also collected by these council members -- that this newspaper warned against handing out -- were his brainchild.
Actions of the past that contributed to the present disaster cannot be easily forgotten -- or forgiven. Previous elected leaders appear to be off the hook for their big spending sprees and consistent generosity -- to themselves and the employees.
Wdowiasz, however, is consistently on the hot seat -- almost always on her own. In presenting two budgets during the fiscal crisis, she proposed tax increases of 108% for 2025 -- that was whittled down to 84% -- and 2% for 2026 though the plan appears to be underfunded.
In proposing these amounts, she shunned what would have been a much easier solution to the city's unstoppable money woes: a control board. This entity of non-elected individuals could have come in, invalidated contracts and set a totally different course.
Wdowiasz rejected what could be a heavy-handed control board -- and also has been realistic and responsible when it comes to the city of Dunkirk's financial future. It is fragile and teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
Unfeasible demands for higher salaries that come from union workers and a lawsuit by a city assessor -- wanting a chunk of money for declining city health insurance she receives through her husband who is a Dunkirk employee -- seems to have the support of the same public that is critical of the massive 2025 tax hike. Even the current council, which barely discusses the financial plight, seems removed from the criticism.
Through it all, Wdowiasz has been forced into tough and unpopular choices by trying to rein in City Hall expenses. She has taken the heat -- and keeps showing up.
No other leader in Chautauqua County at this moment is under this type of constant pressure. Who else would do a better job of bringing stability at this moment? County Legislature Republicans and party leaders consistently tout being fiscally prudent and conservative.
This group, as a reminder, increased its payroll from $66 million to $75 million from 2024 to 2025 -- a 13.6% jump. They have no shame in doing that while stockpiling $35 million in reserves and hiking taxes.
Dunkirk, however, is depleted and consistently faces iron-clad union contracts that offer no relief.
Without a magic wand or infusion of cash arriving to fix the problem, it will not get better. That's not on Wdowiasz. That is a reality facing many other struggling state cities that shows no signs of slowing.
John D'Agostino is editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.