DUNKIRK: Joy has been lost in $10M award

March 15, 2025

City of Dunkirk residents have reason for frustration. An 84% property tax hike payment is about to come due and the $10 million Downtown Reinvestment Initiative that was announced by state Gov. Kathy Hochul in early 2023 seems almost irrelevant. Other than work taking place at the former bank location at Central Avenue and Fourth Street, there has been little to be excited about. Jamestown Community College pulled out of plans in December to locate its north county campus near City Hall and the community seems uncertain on the efforts for Memorial Park. During a recent meeting, ...

Economy: Having two takes on U. S. tax policy

March 14, 2025

The story of Republican tax policy in the Trump era is the contest between pro-growth ideas and anti-growth income redistribution. An example of both was on display in President Trump’s recent speech to Congress. The good idea was Trump’s proposal to let companies deduct the full cost of capital expenditures in the year they are made. Trump’s 2017 tax reform provided such “bonus depreciation,” which began to phase out in 2023 and is set to expire at the end of next year. Trump on Tuesday pitched extending full expensing retroactively to this January. “It was one of the ...

HANOVER: There’s no harm in second hearing

March 13, 2025

There is no denying the high interest associated with the potential battery storage system that is being proposed for the town of Hanover. At the public hearing last month, it was standing-room only. For three hours, residents spoke about concerns with few voicing support for the facility that would be located on Stebbins Road near the Silver Creek Central School. Interestingly, however, the mood of the hearing was different from a recent survey. All of the data from a survey on-site at the recent meeting, coupled with a poll online and correspondence from residents was compiled by ...

DUNKIRK: Senior housing a need for the area

March 12, 2025

One recently discussed project that makes sense for the city of Dunkirk involves a proposal that was put forth last month. During a Dunkirk Common Council Economic Development Committee meeting, Arthur Page talked about senior housing at the former Marsh Valve site on Brigham Road. Page envisions three apartment buildings, each with eight two-bedroom housing units. The parcel abuts railroad tracks, but Page said the buildings would be placed as far from them as possible. He spoke of putting “significant money into landscaping to try to buffer the sound.” The Dunkirk Local ...

COUNTY: Legislator’s focus rightly on the jobs

March 11, 2025

County Legislator Fred Larson asked a good question last week - what exactly is the county Planning Department planning if it isn’t worried about dealing with two of the most pressing issues facing Chautauqua County? We’re talking, of course, about job creation and boosting the county economy. Larson took issue with a 40-minute presentation by county Planning Department officials that was long on what the department did in 2024. The list is fairly long — completion of four plans and studies; administration of 12 mandatory projects, boards, and committees; and 13 community ...

COUNTY: Another route with the sales tax

March 10, 2025

County legislators took a good first step last week when they choose to discuss increasing the way a percent of the county’s sales tax is distributed. Chautauqua County’s sales tax rate is currently 8%. Every two years the county legislature must request the state Legislature give permission for the county’s sales tax to be higher than 7%. The most recent authorization is set to expire Dec. 1. Of the additional 1% the county collects in sales tax, 85% of those funds go to the county, while 15% go to the local municipalities. Most county lawmakers last week agreed with Fred ...