Before sunrise on Friday, Nov. 7, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik answered the prayers of Republicans across New York state in declaring her run against incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul for next November. That intention to seek the top position in the Empire State marks the first time two powerful women ...
Did you read the Oct. 11 Associated Press story about the new leader of a religious denomination in the United States? Never mind which denomination. That’s not the point. The focus of the story is that the denomination’s membership is almost entirely white, while the new leader is black. ♦♦♦ What really matters is the new leader’s ideas, character, and ability, not his melanin level. Nevertheless, the denomination should be proud in this sense: It’s not all that many decades ago that no almost entirely white denomination would have elected as any leader, much ...
The Fletcher Elementary School community is mourning the loss of a 4-year-old who should have been part of the school for the next five years. There’s a lot that we don’t know about the tragic accident that left a family mourning their 4-year-old child and a neighboring school district in shock that one of its bus drivers was involved in such a tragic accident. Some aspects of Monday’s accident will become clearer as the New York State Police, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and Jamestown Police Department finish their investigation. There will surely be calls for change, ...
Roughly a quarter of registered voters took part in the Nov. 4 election. It’s disappointing, of course, to see so few participate in the election of local leaders who will decide the future of Chautauqua County and its cities, towns and villages. We’ve made it easier than ever to vote, but turnout in local elections barely budges. It’s obvious that the issue isn’t how people cast their votes but rather a lack of interest in local issues that are decided in odd-year elections.It’s disappointing, though not surprising, that local elections generate little interest from many ...
News last week that the state will pause enforcement of its All-Electric Buildings Act was cheered by many. Those cheers are warranted and, unfortunately, likely only temporary. Reducing emissions is a laudable goal. It’s good for all of us and for future generations if we emit less carbon dioxide into the environment. We should want to be more environmentally friendly in the cars we drive, the homes we live in and the power that we use. The problem is New York pursues those goals in the most ham-handed ways possible. The All-Electric Buildings Act is no different. Forcing ...
To The Reader’s Forum: In our country, where informed citizens were intended to share the decision-making via free and fair elections, an increasing number of people have decided to skip it and live with what other people choose for them. Not that they’re happy, oh no. Finger pointing and cursing politicians is a high art form. But let’s remember that people voted and chose those elected officials and their policies. If you weren’t involved, you allowed them to choose for you. Only about half of the people who are eligible to vote actually do. (Many eligible people ...
