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The OBSERVER’s View

New York: State needs better plan for power

Gov. Kathy Hochul has an idea on how to keep New York’s power grid reliable in 2035 by pursuing nuclear power generation. It’s the best solution we’ve heard yet to have reliable, dispatchable electricity as it becomes pretty obvious that wind and solar power aren’t going to be able to keep up with New York’s growing power consumption needs. But David Leathers, Jamestown Board of Public Utilities general manager, hit the nail on the head during his recent remarks to the city BPU board when he said Hochul’s solution is 10 years away, but the state Independent System Operator ...

DUNKIRK: Ruling proves city is still powerless

Fiscally troubled Dunkirk inaccurately believes it dodged the bullet of a control board in the last month when Gov. Kathy Hochul played both Santa Claus and the Grinch and came through with a $13.6 million loan that includes a 7.5% interest rate. Though not all the electeds were on board with the borrowing to repay a Revenue Anticipation Note to the state, Mayor Kate Wdowiasz and Common Council had absolutely no interest in having additional oversight of the city’s finances and management. But a case involving a laid-off secretary, from Feb. 7, is the exact reason the city still ...

Fredonia: No price breaks for bad water

In many instances, customers receive refunds or price reductions for purchases or services that they believe are not up to standards. It happens when items are returned at a store or when purchasing an item off a restaurant menu. Though that customer may not always be right, business does its best to make sure the patron is satisfied. That is definitely not how it works in government. Despite subpar water – for the sixth time in 30 months for users — there is no discount, rebate or refund. Customers are still paying the full price for water that needs to be boiled before being ...

FREDONIA: Foes fail to stop the overspending

It is not often that Trustees Michelle Twichell and Jon Espersen are on the same page. They were last month in a 3-2 vote that approved the hiring of a new firefighter. “I really don’t see where we have the money right now to hire anyone else,” Twichell said before the vote. Espersen also admitted his reluctance. “Unless and until we have a completed contract with the firefighters union, I don’t feel it appropriate at this time to hire any new firefighters,” he said. “I understand the implications of paying overtime, but I also understand that there has to come a point ...

COUNTY: Land Bank already aiding Jamestown

County Legislator Fred Larson, D-Jamestown, wants to see Jamestown represented on the Chautauqua County Land Bank board. It’s something that we would like to see County Executive PJ Wendel keep in mind when making appointments to the land bank in the future - but it’s really not a major issue, in our opinion. Lack of city representation on the Land Bank board would only be an issue if the city was being ignored by the Land Bank. That’s not what’s been happening. In fact, rural legislators could argue that rural areas aren’t receiving enough attention because Jamestown ...

JOB Corps: Start working now toward solution

News this spring the federal government is preparing to close the Cassadaga Job Corps Academy is a shock to many, including students and faculty. The Job Corps is a federal job training and education program designed to serve low-income youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who face barriers to education and employment, founded by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. The Cassadaga Job Corps opened in August 1978. It offers training in carpentry, electrical, painting, plumbing, certified nursing assistant, advanced training licensed practical nurse and security officer/guard ...