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In Our Opinion

Social Media Warning Labels Are Well-Meaning, But Useless

We can’t disagree with a state bill that would require social media companies to post warning labels on their websites for users who live in New York. There has been more than enough study on the matter. Social media can be lousy for one’s mental health, and parents should do all they can to make sure children under the age of 18 are ready for the good and the bad that a life lived on social media can entail. It’s great to connect with friends or follow one’s interests via social media. But the pressure to keep up with the social media horde can feel crushing, and we know the ...

We’ve Seen The Gas Price Signs. It’s Time For Some Answers

People in Chautauqua County have seen the signs - the gas price signs, that is. And they want to know why they’re paying more for a gallon of gas in the Jamestown area than they do in Westfield. We’ve heard the complaints. We’ve seen the social media posts - gas sign selfies are almost as popular as vacation selfies these days from county residents who can’t believe the prices they’re finding when they’re out on the road. And it’s not like we’re talking about trips to the Carolinas here. The price in Allegany County is $3.115 compared to our $3.395. A short drive north ...

Repealing Arcane Gas Hookup Rule Could Have Big Impacts

What, you may ask, is the 100-foot rule and why are Republicans making such a big stink about Democrats’ move to repeal it? In a nutshell, New York’s “100-foot rule,” passed in 1986, prohibited utility companies from charging individual customers for the cost of a new gas service as long as the new customer was within 100 feet of an existing gas line. It’s a rule reflective of its era in time. New York lawmakers and utility regulators were trying to encourage homeowners to move from coal furnaces to natural gas because it was a cleaner source of heat, and regulators didn’t ...

Do We Support Job Corps, Or Its Mission?

There is a crucial question that needs to be answered as debate continues over the fate of the federal Job Corps program - do we support the Job Corps or its mission? It’s an important distinction to make. There is only one outcome for those who support the Job Corps as it is currently constituted. But for those who support the Job Corps’ mission, there are options worth considering that could allow the mission to continue even if the buildings are no longer used. Take, for example, the village of Cassadaga. It supports the Job Corps in part because the federal entity is a ...

County’s Shared Services Push Needs More Than Money

Twice in recent weeks we’ve seen shared services agreements come to an end. The first was a note that North Harmony was ending its agreement to share an assessor and code enforcement officer with the town of Busti. Then, it was learned Chautauqua and Mayville are ending a shared code enforcement officer over conduct by Mavyille’s mayor that Chautauqua town officials said is inappropriate. These aren’t the first times locally driven shared services agreements have come to an end and we’re sure they won’t be the last. But the ebb and flow of these types of agreements makes ...

Faith Community Makes Its Mark In Big And Small Ways

Many area residents, we’re sure, don’t understand everything the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints espouses. We’re sure, however, that the church does good work in the community - and that’s something everyone should be able to get behind. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has again come through in a big way for the St. Susan Center, delivering 30,000 pounds of food and goods to the soup kitchen, which also functions as a resupply hub for more than 10 food pantries in the area. Members of the local congregation applied to the home church in Utah, ...