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Peoples column

People’s column

Region needs to hear both sides Editor, OBSERVER: Thank you kindly Paul Somerfeldt, for standing up at a recent Dunkirk Economic Development meeting. Until now, we have been hearing from boosters of nuclear reactors and data centers. Those private companies have a clear agenda: — Purchase relatively inexpensive land. — Use a large body of water for heat load transfer.See: http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2019/ph241/clark1/. — Take tax benefits which we pay to the state. — Sell energy to large urban areas. — Gain short term profits. There ...

People’s column

The OBSERVER’s View (July 30, 2026) states that “… no state official has indicated how struggling SUNY institutions are supposed to pay for these generous increases” in State University of New York salaries. In the midst of an international infectious epidemic in 2009, President George Bush recognized that the U.S. did not have sufficient vaccine production facilities to inoculate its own citizens. Overseas facilities were committed to the vaccine production for their own citizens. I suggested to then-Chautauqua County Executive Mark Thomas that the north county would be an ...

People’s column

Editor, OBSERVER: You know, Democrats talk all the time about how they hate President Donald Trump. They hate President Trump but they never say what he's doing specifically that they hate. So, is it the $1,000 trust fund for all the children being born? Just for being born. And when they become adults many of them will be millionaires, possibly multi-millionaires. Is it the lower drug cost on drugs that many of us use everyday through Trump RX? The fact that manufacturing is coming back to our country bringing high wage jobs like Toyota just announcing they are bringing Tacoma ...

People’s column

Editor, OBSERVER: Why do you publish opinions that contain inaccuracies and untruths? I am referring to the commentary about Social Democrats who the writer claims are Marxist or communists, which is not even close. We should not be confused with Democratic Socialist. We strongly support our system of Capitalism but believe that the citizens should have social benefits like Medicare, Medicaid, universal healthcare, subsidized childcare and more, paid for by taxing the very wealthy. I call myself a FDR Democrat. But besides the distortions and untruths about Social Democrats, my ...

People’s column: Community needs respect in dialogue

Community needs respect in dialogue Editor, OBSERVER: Our community is working through major items — the Fredonia Village water supply source, and a potential change from Grape Belt status and a natural environment to nuclear power production and data centers. As we work, let each one of us put our best foot forward. This means working together without malice, becoming dutifully informed, and accepting that the perspectives of others may be valid. Intimidation, baiting and taunting have no place in our decision making process. Starting with the Thursday water meeting, let's ...

Village discourse appears ‘unacceptable’

Editor, OBSERVER: Fredonia residents do indeed have the right to be heard by their elected village officials. Unfortunately, because of the actions and behavior of a few people, that right has been changed to sending a letter to the village, and requesting that your letter be read at the meeting. A previous writer to this publication has stated that nothing untoward has happened during the public comment time at the village board meetings, and that there is no reason for the board to consider this change. If you have attended or watched any of the village board meetings, you will ...