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In Our Opinion

Why Rush Into A Decision On CHQ Transit Hub?

It’s funny how bad decisions keep coming back to haunt you. Six years ago Chautauqua County needed to find a new home for its bus system after National Comedy Center officials asked that CARTS not use the area in front of the center as its downtown hub - even though that was one of the transportation-related uses the former Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Station was originally renovated to house. County officials made their way down Third Street and purchased the former Ray Nelson Service Station at 215 E. Third St. to be the new CARTS hub. We weren’t crazy about the move at the time. ...

The Time Was Right To Begin Moving Homeless

Recent targeted sweeps of homeless, first in Ransom Alley and then this week in Brooklyn Square, needed to happen. Let’s not forget, this isn’t a recent problem. Our reporting on the homeless population really began three years ago. Many of the publicly visible homeless moved from their tents in Brooklyn Square back in 2022, but they were still here in greater number than most wanted to acknowledge. They were here in enough number to make if difficult to run publicly-funded and volunteer-run Code Blue shelters. They were here in enough numbers for well-meaning private citizens ...

Former Judge’s Dental Benefits Mess Should Have Been Avoided

The controversy over dental benefits for Fred Larson, retired City Court judge and current Chautauqua County legislator, is unfortunate on many levels. Larson has been a dedicated public servant over the years, including his tie-breaking (and party line crossing) vote to sell the Chautauqua County Home. We have no doubt that his approach has rankled some in a political arena that is increasingly dominated locally by the Republican Party. And, we can understand Larson being upset that the legal work is being handled by Assemblyman Andy Goodell given the political disagreements between ...

Eventually, “Targeted” Shootings Will Miss Their Mark

Jamestown has seen four targeted shootings in the past three weeks. On Aug. 3, city police responded to Lafayette Street near Isabella Avenue for a reported gunshot complaint, with a man arriving at UPMC Chautauqua a short time later with an injury police said was consistent with a gunshot wound. A short time later officers were dispatched to a report of a gunshot complaint in the area near Columbia Avenue. Officers found rounds had struck a home in the neighborhood, with no injuries to anyone in the neighborhood. Three more shootings Friday and Saturday followed. The first shooting ...

Revitalizing Lakewood’s Waterfront Has To Start With Chautauqua Lake

It’s only natural for the village of Lakewood to discuss revitalizing the waterfront at Richard O. Hartley Park after the relative success of the village of Celoron’s work to revitalize its Chautauqua Lake waterfront. The addition of a new playground at the park brings attention to the ...

It’s Hard To Provide Oversight When Meetings Are Canceled

The Chautauqua County Legislature’s Planning and Economic Development Committee won’t hold its regularly scheduled meeting this week. There is apparently nothing for legislators to do. We find it hard to believe that, absent delegated work from the County Executive’s office, there is nothing regarding planning or economic development activities for legislators to do. Quite the opposite, the lack of agenda items is an opportune time for county legislators to discuss any number of topics. Among them: how effective do legislators think the bed tax spending not reserved for ...