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In Our Opinion

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 ...

It’s Time To Reopen Lake Alliance Meetings

One criticism of the Chautauqua Lake Watershed and Management Alliance board over the past couple of years has been the board’s lack of public accountability. That has changed with recent bylaw changes that pack the board with town and village officials as well as representatives from lake agencies. Approved in October, the new alliance board will consist of 18 members: three county seats, a seat for each of the five lakeside towns and four lakeside villages, and two seats each for the Chautauqua Lake Association, Chautauqua Lake Partnership and Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. ...

Accident Is Reminder Of Importance Of School Zone Safety

The Fletcher Elementary School community is mourning the loss of a 4-year-old who should have been part of the school for the next five years. There’s a lot that we don’t know about the tragic accident that left a family mourning their 4-year-old child and a neighboring school district in shock that one of its bus drivers was involved in such a tragic accident. Some aspects of Monday’s accident will become clearer as the New York State Police, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and Jamestown Police Department finish their investigation. There will surely be calls for change, ...

Low Turnout Is Disappointing, But Appreciate Voters Who Are Engaged

Roughly a quarter of registered voters took part in the Nov. 4 election. It’s disappointing, of course, to see so few participate in the election of local leaders who will decide the future of Chautauqua County and its cities, towns and villages. We’ve made it easier than ever to vote, but turnout in local elections barely budges. It’s obvious that the issue isn’t how people cast their votes but rather a lack of interest in local issues that are decided in odd-year elections.It’s disappointing, though not surprising, that local elections generate little interest from many ...