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In Our Opinion

Social Media Isn’t Ablaze About Enough County Bridges

A week ago everyone was talking about a social media post that raised concerns, once again, about safety of the Veterans Memorial Bridge across Chautauqua Lake. It’s a story The Post-Journal first reported months ago. State Transportation Department officials reassured officials in Bemus Point the bridge is safe to use after our reporting on the matter, and they did so again early this week in an attempt to put out fires on social media. The Veterans Memorial Bridge project bears watching. As we said a couple of months ago, though, we have to take the state at their word that ...

Holidays Crucial To Our National Healing Process

Although much of the national attention is ­– and will continue to be — focused on developments related to the Nov. 5 presidential election, the world beyond the political front is far from being in slumber mode. For example, on the retail front, merchants are not sitting back, intent on waiting until after Halloween to make important decisions associated with the busy Christmas shopping season. Many merchants already are “knee deep” in planning for the products with which their shelves will be stocked in the weeks leading up to Dec. 25. Also on their mind and capturing ...

DOT Shows Continued Accountability In Bridge Work

We have to agree with state Sen. George Borrello when it comes to the Chautauqua County Veterans Memorial Bridge. After a statement by the state Department of Transportation earlier this week regarding the safety of the structure, Borrello noted his appreciation for the response. “Our office has been pressing the governor’s office and the New York state Department of Transportation to confirm the safety of the bridge that carries Interstate 86 over Chautauqua Lake as it undergoes construction work,” he said. “After an assessment, they have confirmed their position that it is ...

Public Campaign Funding System May Be Overkill

The early returns are in - and tweaks are likely needed for the state’s publicly funded campaign system. We noted recently that Democrat Michael Bobseine has received $109,530 in public campaign money from the state. Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, kept between $57,824.15 and $59,607.31 in his campaign account in 2022, the last year he ran a campaign for the 150th Assembly District. It’s not a bad thing, particularly for challengers, to be able to quickly match an incumbent’s political spending power. State election funding can level a playing field that is often ...

Drug Bust In City Tells A Familiar Story

Once again, we find ourselves frustrated with New York state’s softness on those who willingly break some of our most basic laws. A drug raid last week on Forest Avenue resulted in charges against 12 Jamestown residents - a few of whom have been in and out of the criminal justice system for years. It has to be frustrating for police to be dealing with many of the same people as they deal with the scourge of illegal drugs on city streets. It has to be particularly frustrating for some of those who were charged to have been charged in relation to a past shooting or in dealing drugs ...

Plane Crash At City Airport Could Have Been Much Worse

An experienced pilot helped prevent loss of life when an electrical issue caused an attempted emergency landing last week at the Chautauqua County Airport at Jamestown. But the aftermath of the crash could have been much worse were it not for the quick action of volunteer firefighters, county EMS crews and Jamestown firefighters. All told, in addition to the city and county crews, volunteers responded from Falconer, Stockton, Frewsburg, Kennedy, Busti, Cassadaga, Kiantone, Ellery Center, Lakewood, Ellington, Sinclairville, Fluvanna, Mayville, and Gerry. That’s a heck of a response ...