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In Our Opinion

Supreme Court Defends Freedom Of Speech

We are grateful for the Supreme Court’s unanimous verdict in National Rifle Association v. Vullo — a case that cut to the heart of freedom of speech. New York state officials targeted the NRA specifically because they found the NRA’s message objectionable, and pressured private enterprises to “blacklist” or refuse to conduct business with the organization. “Today’s decision confirms that government officials have no business using their regulatory authority to blacklist disfavored political groups,” David Cole of the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued on ...

Friendly’s Demolition Is A Reminder Change Is The Only Constant

The demolition of the old Friendly’s Restaurant in Brooklyn Square began in earnest last week. It was a shocking sight even though everyone has known for months that it was coming. Burst water pipes and the ensuing damage in the building made demolition a foregone conclusion even before the property was purchased to be the site of a new, expanded Tim Horton’s. But knowing something is going to happen is often different than seeing something happen. That was the case last week as heavy equipment began tearing the old restaurant down. In the seeming blink of an eye, a familiar ...

Symposium Is Worth Watching For Those Who Care About Chautauqua Lake

There’s been a lot of talk about misinformation regarding Chautauqua Lake - particularly since local criticism of the state’s new wetlands regulations began. The June 2 Chautauqua Lake Symposium, organized by County Executive PJ Wendel, was the most concise explanation of how DEC Region 9 officials intend to handle Chautauqua Lake issues under the new designations as well as how state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, and Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, think the state Legislature can protect lakes like Chautauqua Lake in the future. It is especially noteworthy to ...

Continued Push For Law Enforcement By Camera Is Troubling

Legislation introduced in the state Assembly this spring is the latest step in a troubling trend - law enforcement by camera. Assemblyman Fred Thiele, D-Sag Harbor, recently introduced the Protect our Pedestrians Act (A.10169) to amend the state Vehicle and Traffic Law to create owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with stop signs in the villages of Upper Brookville and Flower Hill in Nassau County and East Hampton in Suffolk County. You may ask why a bill affecting three villages on the other end of the state affects us here in Chautauqua County. The answer is ...

EMT Shortage Is A Growing Crisis In County With No End In Sight

Yet another rural fire department is facing a difficult choice regarding how it handles EMS coverage. This time, it’s Bemus Point, whose fire chief recently approached Village Board members to discuss options to provide EMS services as the department’s roster of EMTs dwindles. One of the chief’s recommended courses of action included the merging with the county’s EMS system, which several other volunteer fire departments have already done. Other courses of action included continuing as is or merging ambulance service with another local fire department. “We’re facing ...

United Ways, Like The North And South County, Are Stronger Working Together

We commend the boards of the United Ways of Northern and Southern Chautauqua County as they discuss a merger of the two organizations. It only makes sense to have one United Way. Merging the organizations reduces overhead, meaning more of the community’s dollars are spent on programs. The organizations were already sharing staff and had shared services agreements, but perhaps the most public of the organizations’ shared services has been the combined Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. And, many programs funded by the United Way organizations in each end of the county have ...