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In Our Opinion

Without Consequences For Not Filing, Fiscal Stress Rankings Are Pointless

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office released its latest fiscal stress rankings last week. Don’t look to see Jamestown, Fredonia or Dunkirk on the lists though. They didn’t file the required reports in time to be included in the rankings. Those who pay attention to local budgets know the news isn’t good for Dunkirk, which is getting by on loans from the state while staving off a financial control board by the skin of its teeth. Fredonia’s village budget approved in April came with a 65% tax increase. Jamestown, meanwhile, is in the best shape of the three but ...

Enforcing Traffic Laws Is Answer To Falconer Traffic Complaints

Central Avenue in Falconer isn’t the only street in the area where residents want something done to calm traffic. But ultimately, all of the new stop signs, reflective strips or new speed limit signs posted every 20 feet won’t slow down traffic the way neighborhood residents expect them to unless we’re talking about the installation of speed bumps. That’s not to say speed or failure to obey existing signs aren’t a problem. They are, whether we’re talking about Central Avenue in Falconer or Newland Avenue in Jamestown or Norby Road in Kiantone. The behavior of drivers is ...

Democrats Need To Learn Their Lesson From Bail Reform, Halt Act

A state prisons panel is recommending changes to the state’s HALT Act that governs the way state prisons use solitary confinement. The panel is requesting state legislators make 10 changes, most notably clarification that sexual harassment, lewd conduct, extortion, and attempted escape are behaviors that make someone eligible for solitary confinement greater flexibility in allowing solitary confinement for acts that are heinous and destructive modifications to existing positive incentive programs. It remains to be seen what the state Legislature does when it has the opportunity to ...

Chautauqua, Mayville School Merger Can’t Be Last Of Its Kind

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since Chautauqua Lake Central School opened its doors. School officials plan to host an open house on Oct. 4 to commemorate the occasion complete with a video presentation, guided walking tours of the building, and a brunch. Festivities will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude around noon. Twenty five years is a long time, and we hope the Mayville and Chautauqua communities take a moment this year to celebrate both their school building and the vote that created it. Because if you think 25 years is a long time, consider the fact that February ...

If Continuum Of Care Program Remains It Could Help County

Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition officials think they’ve found a way to bring additional efforts to the county’s attempts to lessen the number of homeless. The coalition is poised to ask Chautauqua Opportunities board members to approve an application to join the Balance of State Continuum of Care, a federally funded program offered through the state Office of Temporary Disability Assistance that would open Chautauqua County up to funding for an array of programs. Currently, the Balance of State Continuum of Care program has nine counties as members - Cattaraugus, Clinton, ...

Fly Car Program’s Financial Health Is Good News For Rural Residents

For the first time in its history, Chautauqua County’s Fly Car program is running in the black. The change in the program’s financial health is due in part to increased revenues as county officials and its billing partner have done a better job of capturing money owed for services as well as a realistic 2025 budget that increased up-front county spending rather than simply planning on a late-year budget adjustment to pay the fly car program’s costs. It’s good to see, because for much of the county the fly car program is a literal lifesaver. The fly car program supplements ...