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Opinion

Housing Policy Is New Council’s First Real Test

In Our Opinion

We had said before the end of 2025 that new City Council members faced a steep learning curve before taking office on Jan. 1. Judging from community suggestions brought to the council recently by the Jamestown Justice Coalition, there are some who want the new four Democrats on the council to move quickly - particularly when it comes to housing. We don’t disagree that there is too much substandard housing in Jamestown. And we hear far too often about people who pay their rent only to struggle to get things like broken furnaces fixed or to have water problems fixed quickly. ...

New County Clerk Carlson Is Hitting The Ground Running

In Our Opinion

County Clerk Greg Carlson is hitting the ground running. Less than a month into his first four-year term in office, Carlson is asking the Chautauqua County Legislature to create a position of senior motor vehicle representative to help provide frontline customer service and help supervise daily operations at the DMV. Carlson plans to take an existing position on the payroll to fill the new position rather than adding to the county’s job count. It’s a good solution that provides some operational flexibility in the DMV offices given a state rule that sets a minimum of two staff ...

Will Dems Support GOP Domestic Violence Registry?

In Our Opinion

Everyone agrees that domestic violence is a scourge on our society. The question before New York state lawmakers this legislative session is whether or not they want to try something new to deal with domestic violence. Two bills (A.9538, S.8932) have been introduced in recent weeks to create a domestic violence registry for repeat offenders. The bills aren’t companion bills, which means there are two completely different proposals floating around the legislature waiting for action. If the bills had been crafted by Democrats one would believe the issue could be ripe for action ...

Telling Secrets To A Machine

Local Commentaries

I know people who are using ChatGPT as their personal therapist, and they always seem amazed by the quality of Chat’s answers. I’m guessing a great percentage of the questions posed to Chat go something like this: “This guy I like never called me back, and so I texted him, and he wrote a flat answer back with no emojis, and so I tried to call him like two days later, and he never picked up and never called back, and I don’t know what to do. Do you think he likes me?” And Chat will answer with something like this: “No.” Chat is definitely not the “Girl, give him ...

Having A Sweet Tooth During A Blizzard

Local Commentaries

By Marcy O’Brien Running out of Werther’s hard caramels doesn’t qualify as an earth-shattering crisis. Unless the only hard candy left in the house are the candy canes hanging on the Christmas tree. And they of course contain sugar. I’m supposed to limit my sugar intake. Werther’s, a German company, has been making their butterscotch-flavored morsel since 1909. They sell their candies in 100 countries. Here in the States, the candy has developed a reputation as a senior citizen favorite. Last Christmas, my grandson, Malcolm, said my candy dish was full of “old lady ...

Memorable Tales Of Lorna Doone

Local Commentaries

Lorna Doone is a historical romance novel that was written by R.D. Blackmore, and was first published in 1869. To be perfectly honest, that’s about all I really know about it. I do have, however, some very fond memories of a different Lorna Doone, and its place in my past, and present. Back in the days of growing up at 92 Bowen St. in Jamestown, Saturday mornings were planned out for us, before we could plan anything else. On some Saturdays, my brother Lou and I had Altar Server (Knights of the Altar) meetings at St. James Church, and after coming home we each found a note from mom ...