Breaking News

In Our Opinion

Kudos To Fire Department For Carbon Monoxide Grant

Last year Jamestown officials partnered with the American Red Cross to distribute hundreds of free smoke detectors throughout the city. The program’s success showed two things - that there is a need amongst many city residents for smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, and city officials needed to find a way to help provide detectors to those who can’t afford them. Kudos, then, to Matt Coon, city deputy fire chief, and city officials for their successful application to the U.S. Consumer Protection Agency for grant money that will help the city create a Carbon Monoxide ...

Area Plan For Chautauqua Mall Makes A Lot Of Sense

Given what’s happening to old malls around the country, we can’t argue with Ellen Barnes’ desire to create an area plan for the area around the Chautauqua Mall. It would be nice if more information was forthcoming to the Lakewood Village Board member to support her effort to be proactive rather than reactive. That is, after all, what we typically beg for from an elected official. It’s frustrating to see Barnes’ efforts stymied. What to do as anchor tenants in shopping malls declare bankruptcy and eventually close has been a problem for years. We’ve seen it in the ...

Three Year Mistake Continues To Cost City Taxpayers

For three years, many city employees saw no increase in their contribution for their health insurance. It was a great deal for employees - albeit one given at taxpayer expense. That is not, of course, the fault of city police officers, firefighters and retirees. The blame falls on former Mayor Eddie Sundquist for not increasing those premiums as part of his budget proposals and the City Council for not catching the fact that premiums weren’t increasing on a yearly basis. Any worker from any walk of life isn’t going to kick that gift horse in the mouth. The status quo is not ...

The word “transparency” is now big among Americans. Especially on the governmental front — local, state as well as national — anger pours forth when the public learns about secrecy having prevailed, especially regarding an important, controversial issue that impacts them directly, such as one that causes an increase in certain fees or their taxes. Sometimes the lowest levels of government end up sparking the biggest, noisiest outcrys and furors, as a result of people not having been accorded an early heads-up regarding relevant goings-on about which they deserved expeditious ...

New Economic Development Coordinator Has A Lot To Do

Jamestown has hired Aili Makuch as its new economic development coordinator. The question now is what will the city do with it. It’s a valid question. In the past, the economic development coordinator has done a lot of behind-the-scenes work. The position’s work mostly shows up during Jamestown Local Development Corporation and Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency meetings. The economic development coordinator didn’t report to the City Council, at least not publicly. When the public complains about a lack of economic development activity in the city, they’re speaking about what ...

Taxpayers Take A Hit With Proposed Frewsburg Library Tax

The Myers Library in Frewsburg currently receives $30,000 from the town of Carroll and $6,500 from the Frewsburg Central School District. That amount generates 32% of the library’s $113,824 budget. Now, Frewsburg Central School taxpayers are being asked to roughly triple their support of the library through a proposition that will be included on the May school board election and budget vote ballot by approving a yearly $100,000 district-wide tax that will be given to the library. We don’t doubt that the Myers Library provides services enjoyed by some Frewsburg School ...