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Our view: Shock waves continue in energy policy

The OBSERVER’s View

Republicans and Democrats are like two ships passing in the night when it comes to New York’s energy policy. Both ships are in shallow water with a rocky bottom. In this analogy, that makes the state Independent System Operator a lighthouse trying to illuminate the darkness to allow the ships to pass safely to port. Unfortunately, both ships’ captains have blinders on – and we’re headed for a crash. The ISO said last week that electric grid reliability for the summer months is among the lowest on record, with 34,615 megawatts of power resources available to meet forecasted ...

Village keeps attacking free speech

Commentary

On Monday, April 27, Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson had me unjustly removed from the Village Board meeting by a Fredonia police officer for insisting to speak about an agenda item during the first public comment session of that meeting. The mayor had neither cause nor the authority to have me removed from this meeting. I left that meeting willingly out of respect for one of Fredonia’s Finest, who was visibly uncomfortable with the position that he had been put in by the mayor. According to the board’s own resolution, village residents are allowed to speak about agenda items during ...

Visionary tool adds perspective

Commentary

Eyes are windows to the soul, or so they say. It’s a lovely metaphor. Certainly eyes are the most beautiful part of our anatomy, our most luminous, mystical, and expressive features. Eyes speak to us more deeply and with more nuance than tongues or pens or swords. The full range of human emotions can be communicated through the eyes – confidence, vulnerability, joy, sadness, excitement, ennui, urgency, calm, truth, and even lies are expressed through those little orbs that adorn our faces. Eyes serve to connect us, or at least have the capacity to do so. They are mirrors, ...

Weekend voices: High future cost of doing nothing

Commentary

When a threat appears, we must consider the long-term consequences of our response – or lack of response. But we often kick the can down the road for our children to deal with and fall prey to excuses that make us feel good today while conveniently ignoring the consequences for tomorrow. Politicians understand that most people react emotionally to threats and take comfort in emotionally satisfying tribal-based memes that bypass any critical thought. Contrived memes are useful tools for manipulating an unthinking public, and could be used by either side. The first question to ask ...

Is state investment in Eagle Bay a wise choice?

Commentary

According to an article in the OBSERVER last month, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) was awarded almost $700,000 for the Eagle Bay site in Sheridan. Is this more favored friends and family development shenanigans? According to the Chautauqua County GIS, that is the exact price that was paid for that parcel. Will New York state own this parcel for all to enjoy free of charge? It looks like an awesome area for four wheelers and campers. No! It is another gift to a wealthy, private for-profit endeavor. New York state is throwing hundreds of thousands of our ...

Challenged Idaho law addresses sex, not gender

Commentary

BOISE, Idaho — Think of this. If you’re more than, say, 30 years old: ● What do you suppose the reaction would have been—from coaches and fellow pupils—when you were in high school if a boy wanted to play on a girls’ sports team? ● What do you suppose the reaction would have been—from coaches and fellow students—when you were in college if a man wanted to play on a women’s sports team? That’s right. Such an idea would have been not only dismissed out of hand but also rejected with disbelief that anyone would suggest such a thing. Why? Because this isn’t ...