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In Our Opinion

Preservation Ordinance Will Only Preserve Historic Blight

Passage of a Local Preservation Ordinance has popped up on the City Council’s agenda tonight - and in our opinion council members should tread lightly on this ground. For starters, the ordinance includes reference to a Jamestown Preservation Board, a board that to our knowledge doesn’t yet exist and, frankly, doesn’t need to if we have a city Planning Commission. We don’t need another board or commission when groups that already exist in the City Charter - like the Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission - are defunct. Creation of new historic districts or amendments ...

Save Social Media Platform TikTok — Then Let It Go

ByteDance, a Chinese firm that the federal government says is essentially a front for the Chinese government, owns the popular social media platform TikTok, which is used by an estimated 170 million Americans. That’s a national security threat, says Congress, which last year passed a law giving ByteDance until Sunday to sell the platform or shut it down. ByteDance sued to stop the ban, but the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld the ban. President Donald Trump, who took his oath of office on Monday, vowed to use executive authority to save the app. The government was wrong to ...

Frustrated By Lack Of Snow Days? School Calendar Isn’t Helping

There were plenty of complaints - loud ones - about how the Jamestown Public Schools District handled cold, snowy weather over the past couple of weeks. It’s not like these are new complaints. We hear them every year - particularly in Jamestown when roads may be passable but sidewalks often aren’t when children in some city neighborhoods have to trudge their way to school. No school district will navigate school closings to everyone’s satisfaction every year. But the thin line schools have always faced when making the decision to stay open or to close when the weather is ...

County Hall Of Fame Induction Comes As Sirianni’s Career Climbs

In a few weeks, Nick Sirianni will add the title of Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame member to his already glowing resume. The Southwestern High School graduate has another prize in sight. We’re talking, of course, about the title of Super Bowl champion. Buffalo Bills fans had hoped the hometown team would be playing in the big game on Feb. 9. Their hopes were dashed - again - by the Kansas City Chiefs. Sirianni has his own history with the Chiefs, having lost to the two-time defending Super Bowl champions back in 2023 by a 38-35 score. Whatever happens in New Orleans on Feb. 9, ...

What To Do With Homeless During The Day?

One of the issues raised by neighbors of the Code Blue homeless shelter operated by ROME on Washington Street is easily solved. A locking garbage dumpster will solve the problem of garbage stored behind the building being strewn throughout the area as has been reported to some City Council members. It’s an issue, but a minor one that is easily rectified. A bigger issue is what to do when the homeless leave the evening shelters - and it’s not something ROME or the city can easily solve. Over the past couple of years, panhandling has been on the rise throughout the city as the ...

Lake Plan Debate Is Fascinating, Infuriating At The Same Time

Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association members have been making the rounds of town and village board meetings in the past month or so asking for support of a Chautauqua Lake management plan drafted by researchers from North Carolina State University. The plan was funded by the Chautauqua Lake Watershed and Management Alliance in 2023 at the request of the Chautauqua Lake Partnership and completed in July 2024 Since then, it has gained little traction here. As we noted in this space recently, there has been familiar opposition to the plan along familiar old lines. We hope area ...