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The OBSERVER’s View

County: Solving murders was team effort

In September 2021, our region — and especially the town of Portland — was in shock. On consecutive days, remains were found along the Chautauqua Rails to Trails along Woleben Road. A quiet and scenic portion of the north county had become a crime scene for days as numerous police vehicles made the trek to the location. More than three years later, this community and Buffalo families have some closure. Last week, the second victim found was identified in a press conference in Buffalo. A team effort led to a second murder charge for Richard Fox. “As a result of the diligent and ...

New York: ‘Dangerous’ job in the spotlight

New York has no one to blame but itself in regard to the strikes that are taking place in Collins, Brocton and other incarceration facilities across the state. On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would call in the National Guard today if worker actions continue. Corrections officers on strike carried a list of more than a dozen demands. First among them is the reversal of the HALT Act, which has limited the ability for officers to use disciplinary actions against incarcerated individuals. Second on the list of demands is the elimination of 30% staffing reductions. Most officers ...

New York: Hochul’s smart step on nixing rate hike

Gov. Kathy Hochul did the right thing last week by pulling a proposed New York Power Authority rate increase for hydropower. The authority was asking to triple its hydropower rates from $12.88 per megawatt-hours to $33.05 per megawatt hour over four years as well as make some other changes that concerned organizations like the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier and the state Association of Public Power. “Today, I'm calling for an end to the Power Authority's unacceptable proposal to raise electric rates on its customers statewide,” Hochul said. “Too many New ...

NEW YORK STATE: Slumbering over prison dangers

Attacks on law-abiding correctional officers by inmates are becoming all-too-routine news items across this region and New York state in recent months. This week’s lockdown at Collins is one more example of leadership needing to take steps to have those who are employed to keep the peace safe. Unfortunately, high-ranking officials are not doing enough. How many more lockdowns and injuries are needed before action is truly taken? State Sen. George Borrello has been outspoken in the last month regarding the situations. Other incidents in January, at Brocton and other state locations, ...

Nation: Fewer births are startling trend

More deaths than births soon to be national problem Seventy-five years ago, New York held nearly 50 seats in the House of Representatives — 45 to be exact. It has 26 today. It’s not news that rural New York has been losing population, with its rural communities being hit particularly hard. That’s a story throughout the Rust Belt. The real issue is that what has been a regional problem is soon going to be a national problem. According to a report released this week by the Congressional Budget Office, deaths will outstrip births across the country by 2033, seven years ...

STATE: Win for democracy with Congress

Voters won earlier this week when a bill was removed that would have delayed holding a special election to fill a vacant seat in the U.S. House of Representatives until November. The bill was pulled from consideration - a rare move given that it was given a message of necessity that would have allowed the bill to move to a floor vote in the Senate and Assembly immediately rather than going through the normal legislative process. Whether it was a sudden outbreak of common sense in Albany or the result of back-room arm-twisting between Gov. Kathy Hochul and President Donald Trump - ...