We understand and respect the fact Jamestown Community College officials are advocating for a new soccer field/athletic complex for the Jamestown campus.

They should. It’s in the college’s best interest to have a facility that is on par with other newer complexes throughout the SUNY chain — the very types of colleges that JCC is competing against for new students interested in athletics. It’s in the college’s best interest to increase its marketability. The field under discussion is projected to cost about $4 million, with $941,500 coming from Chautauqua County. County Executive PJ Wendel recently included the field in his recommended capital projects list that will be part of his 2023 budget proposal.

But Chautauqua County officials shouldh’t lose sight of other viable projects that could also use an infusion of nearly a million dollars, either. A couple of weeks ago the Chautauqua County Land Bank approached the Jamestown City Council looking for $1 million in federal stimulus funding. Land bank officials would use the money to demolish properties in the city of Jamestown, create a first-time homebuyer rebate program, a “Hands on Neighborhoods” program, a new home buyer mentorship program and pay for other Land Bank expenses.

“Housing is a very expensive thing to intervene,” Gina Paradis, land bank director, told City Council members. “It’s very difficult for municipalities to have the resources, much less the land bank, but what we are trying to do is to leverage what we are doing.”

In our view, there are many benefits investing a million dollars of county money in the land bank, and it makes sense countywide if those programs are offered throughout the county rather than being limited to Jamestown.

Housing is a need throughout the county. If Chautauqua County legislators want to lead on an issue, let’s not forget the many other projects that can have a significant impact on the lives of county taxpayers.