Opinion

Council likely to back government, not residents

The OBSERVER’s View November 14, 2026

Within the next month, elected leaders in the city of Dunkirk are going to have a choice to make when deciding on Mayor Kate Wdowiasz’s $32.2 million spending plan for 2027 that includes a 12% tax increase. It simply comes down to this: Does the council represent the citizens of the city — its constituents — or will it support the government on life support. Our guess? Council will not think twice about passing on that hike to city residents. Why? It is the easy way out. We totally understand the reasons. No one wants to tell dedicated and long-term employees that enough is ...

Election results offer upstate no reprieve from costly policies

Commentary November 14, 2026

The election is over, so we have a brief reprieve from the nonsense and dishonesty that dominates our politics. OK, just kidding. Based on the campaign rhetoric one would think New York had the best economy in the country while leading the nation in unicorns and freebies for people who did not earn it based on our “generous welfare system.” If not for President Donald Trump, Iran’s Mullahs would forget their 1,400-year-old Quranic requirement to destroy everything non-Islamic, and the Chinese would respect Taiwan’s independence. Meanwhile those who oppose “forever wars” ...

People's column

Peoples column November 14, 2026

Decency wins election night Editor, OBSERVER: Thoughts on the recent election. DEI is decried by the administration. Empathy has been posed as a vice, a weakness. In aggregate, winning candidates were the epitome of DEI, many of them notching firsts. An Indian American woman elected mayor of Los Angeles. A Latino elected governor of California. A Latina elected governor of Texas. A black man elected governor of Wisconsin. A black woman elected governor of Georgia. A Native American woman elected governor of New Mexico. A total of 15 women elected governors. An ...

‘Driving force’ built relationship between Senecas, community

Editor's corner November 13, 2026

SILVER CREEK — A crowd of about 70 residents poured into the cozy and welcoming Anderson-Lee Library to pay tribute to and celebrate an important connection to the community and Western New York. For nearly a decade, the library has commemorated November as Native American Heritage ...

How, when will New York hit bottom?

Commentary November 13, 2026

Let’s pick up where we left off last week. As Ken Blackwell wrote at https://www.facebook.com/blackwellohio on Nov. 5, it’s time to tell “a bruised and bloodied team to get back out on the field and fight again.” He urges those dissatisfied with 2026 election results to “stop sulking and start fighting. Democrats (will) hold both chambers of Congress, and they will use every ounce of that power to grow government and shrink your freedom. “They will overreach, because they always do. When they do, (we) must be ready to explain to every neighbor, coworker and family ...

Terrifying memories die hard

Commentary November 12, 2026

Halloween 2026 is history, but the spooks are still standing on many front lawns. You know the ones – the 12-foot skeletons that tower over the rhododendrons – and make me anxious, even at this age. At least the bloody ghouls are mostly packed away now. I never liked Halloween. I know, I know. It’s almost unamerican. But it started early and never really went away. I was an outcast on Halloween. As an only child, and the only girl in an all-boy neighborhood, I never had anyone to trick-or-treat with. The boys certainly didn’t want to drag along that “sissy girl.” Back ...