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In Our Opinion

There Never Will Be Consensus On Medical Aid In Dying Law

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature on legislation approving Medical Aid In Dying was, to put it nicely, not universally approved. Many state lawmakers didn’t like the decision. More importantly, tens of millions of state residents didn’t like it either. And the chances are they won’t change their mind. We won’t sit here behind our collective keyboard and try to sway anyone on either side of the issue. People have their own, perfectly logical, reasons for their views on medical aid in dying whether they’re for or against. What we can say is that the legislation that will ...

Sports Gambling Debate Is Far From Over

More than $2 billion a month is spent on sports betting in New York state - including a record $2.64 billion in October 2025. Needless to say there was pent-up demand when state legislators approved online sports betting back in 2022. And, let’s be honest, the state was looking for a new revenue stream to pay for new programs. It was a match made in heaven. But the longer we go down the road with mobile sports betting the more some legislators are having second thoughts. It’s obvious that, in their zeal for new money to spend and the cacophony of people pushing for mobile ...

Punishments Must Be Harsher For Student-Teacher Sex Crimes

Twice in less than two months, area teachers have been accused of inappropriate conduct with students. First came news that the Westfield Academy and Central School Board of Education was aware of claims against a current staff member accused of inappropriate behavior. Then, just a couple of weeks ago, a Pine Valley teacher and coach was charged with charged with third-degree sexual abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. Slisz turned himself in at the Chautauqua County Jail for central arraignment. He is to answer the charges in the Town of Cherry Creek ...

Addressing Tuition Costs Should Be A Top Priority

Though a well-trained, well-educated and skilled workforce is more important than ever, students seeking a higher education to prepare them for their careers are having a harder time being able to afford it. Sure, many people still believe having a college degree will translate to higher earnings, but students are increasingly challenged to decide whether the expense of that education (or the long-term debt they may incur) is worth the risk. According to WalletHub, the cost of attending a four-year public college has risen by an average of 30% over the past 20 years. And that cost eats ...

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Clause

In September 1897, 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon asked a now-famous question in a letter to the New York Sun. Is there a Santa Claus? Not only did the letter make young Virginia O’Hanlon a celebrity, but it prompted one of the famous newspaper editorials ever written with an answer to O’Hanlon’s question. It is reprinted today, a tradition our sister paper in Warren, Ohio, takes part in each year in part, the editorial page said, because it’s entirely possible that no one has answered the question better, nor has anyone better described the spirit of Christmas. The ...

Director’s Request Is Valid, Though Not Possible

We have a feeling many city residents agree with the city development director’s standing request to hire six to eight more code enforcement officers. Frankly, we can’t disagree with Crystal Surdyk’s request either. But we know just as well as Surdyk does that more code enforcement officers aren’t walking in the Development Department’s doors anytime soon, just as the additional police officers that are continually part of every Jamestown police chief’s budget request for the past three decades aren’t on the way anytime soon either. It would help, we note, if the city ...