Breaking News

Local Commentaries

A Fine Mode Of Transportation

Do you remember learning to ride a bicycle? When I was about eight years old, I got a bicycle for Christmas. Since we lived where we had snow, it sat in the garage until Spring. I was not a natural at riding a bike. It took days for me to learn the balancing technique. My mother and my grandfather took turns holding me steady and running along. I had no training wheels. Finally, one night I took off on my own. I did not realize I was on my own until I got way down the street. I was on the sidewalk by the way. My only problem was I did not know how to stop. I ended up in someone’s ...

A Big, Mean-Spirited Bill

There is much debate and speculation on the potential effect of President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ on the complex web that is the economy of the United States. Having narrowly passed in the House it now moves to the Senate for consideration. What should be most disturbing to all however is the bill’s fundamental mean-spiritedness – specifically as it relates to Medicaid and SNAP benefits – what used to be called ‘food stamps.’ To target those individuals in our society who are already experiencing an already precarious hand-to-mouth existence - and attempt to make ...

Are We A Government Of One?

To be honest, I have been dismayed recently by the actions of both political parties in what I would call a surrendering of our country to a “government of one.” Starting first with the Democrats, it is clear that in deference to the desires of a former President—they deferred into looking more closely at the ability of Joe Biden to run again for that office. It is now clear that there were many warning signs prior to Biden’s failed debate performance last June, and that he should not have been the presumptive Democratic nominee for President. Because of the power of the ...

There Are Many Questions, Concerns About Jail Project

Like most Legislators, I have not been given the $120,000,000 report on the Jail. In 2004 and 2005 when this Legislature approved of the last Jail project, however, I was your County Attorney. From 2014 to 2022 I was a criminal court judge in the busiest City Court per Judge in WNY. It is from that background that I have some initial questions and concerns about asking the approximately 120,000 people of Chautauqua County to foot the bill for a $120,000,000 Jail project First, in 2005, a divided Legislature approved a $16,000,000 Bond issue that, among many other things, would ...

Rights, Privileges, And Nonsense

Judging from recent commentary, it seems the definitions of Rights and Privileges have been conflated in our political discourse. To start: A legal right is an action that an individual can take that cannot be legally infringed by other people or by the government. Natural rights for American citizens are defined in the second sentence of the Declaration, and are constitutionally protected by the Bill of Rights. Logically, one person’s rights cannot contradict another person’s rights; else they cannot be considered rights. A privilege always requires infringement of one ...

There Are Many Questions, Concerns About Jail Project

Like most Legislators, I have not been given the $120,000,000 report on the Jail. In 2004 and 2005 when this Legislature approved of the last Jail project, however, I was your County Attorney. From 2014 to 2022 I was a criminal court judge in the busiest City Court per Judge in WNY. It is from that background that I have some initial questions and concerns about asking the approximately 120,000 people of Chautauqua County to foot the bill for a $120,000,000 Jail project First, in 2005, a divided Legislature approved a $16,000,000 Bond issue that, among many other things, would ...