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The OBSERVER’s View

COUNTY Homeless issue sparking concerns

Jamestown’s homelessness issue during the past summer was almost in your face. Within two blocks of the National Comedy Center, there were camps of individuals who were living near the Chadakoin River. It ultimately led to a State of Emergency being called by Mayor Kim Ecklund. In the north county, the problem is not as evident but it is definitely growing. During a Zoom conference that discussed code-blue shelter planning, the topic was addressed by Liz Cardona, who heads the Dunkirk Housing Authority. “We’re having homeless individuals sleeping in our stairwells, on ...

COUNTY: Still awaiting answer on airport

We’re glad to see the public didn’t have to wait long to see the latest study regarding the future of the Chautauqua County Airport at Jamestown. After a public presentation at the Chautauqua County Legislature’s December meeting, however, we’re left asking what the fuss was about. For the short-term, the consultants recommend pursuing a partner airline under the EAS program, focusing on hub connectivity, with other options to restore air service including collaboration with major carriers like American or United for consistent hub services or exploring an ultralow cost ...

RIPLEY: Small district big on unneeded posts

They did it again. A small school district in Chautauqua County insists on wasting taxpayer dollars. Last month, the Ripley Central Schools appointed a new principal to oversee grades kindergarten to six. While there is nothing wrong with the premise, the problem comes down to enrollment at the school. There’s only about 130 pupils. Does a district that small need both a principal and a superintendent that likely costs $350,000 in salaries and benefits for that population? Probably not. But it’s taxpayer dollars — not private money — so that gets spent more freely. By the ...

Health: Decision about weight loss drugs not easy

Americans elect their leaders on the premise that those individuals will be capable of making the right decisions on difficult, as well as easy, issues. An issue on which members of Congress might have to render a decision, possibly in the early weeks of the new legislative session, is the kind of topic that could generate opposition and trigger anger, no matter how the decision making shakes out. The issue is whether Medicare and Medicaid should pay for popular anti-obesity drugs for many more Americans than those already eligible for that benefit. The Biden administration ...

COUNTY: Legislative goals are fairly mundane

It’s good to have goals. In the next few weeks, we’re going to be hearing a lot about our elected officials’ goals in the form of various agenda-setting addresses at the city, county, state and federal levels. The first such effort came from Pierre Chagnon, R-Ellery and chairman of the Chautauqua County Legislature, during last week’s legislature reorganizational meeting. Those goals, honestly, are uninspiring. Chagnon has six goals in mind for the coming year: successful launch of the administrative director for the North Chautauqua County water and sewer districts, ...

FOOTBALL Bulls complete major turnaround

Lost in the 12-team College Football Playoff are the other bowl games that added a bit of pride and reward for a successful season in Division 1. Some invites have gone too far with 6-6 teams showing up for some of these contests. Others, who had fantastic turnarounds, were much more deserving. That was definitely the case with the University of Buffalo Bulls. In the Bahamas Bowl over the weekend, UB dominated Liberty University in a 26-7 victory. According to the UB sports information department, Linebacker Red Murdock led a UB defense that forced three Liberty turnovers and held ...