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Peoples column

Inland residents also need protection

Editor, OBSERVER: I had to chuckle reading the editorial (Feb. 19) and the justification for this new idea to buffer impacts of wave action in the Dunkirk harbor. Seriously, the biggest impact is in the winter months when there are no boats to be found in said harbor. This money needs to be spent on buffering the impacts of Lake Erie wind events that are now routine to the residents down on Crooked Brook, Point Drive West and Point Gratiot. Wasting taxpayer dollars on unneeded boat protection is just unacceptable when people’s homes are flooding. BARRY MOORE, Dunkirk

There are options with renewables

Editor, OBSERVER: Industrial scale solar developers are targeting Chautauqua County towns making promises of riches and “green” bragging rights. New York state is careening towards energy policies that mimic California and Texas —- but those two states do not have winters like ours. The reliability and security of the New York grid will also mimic those two states with added solar and wind. If the New York grid was modernized, the electricity output would increase by 30%. That much is lost on the outdated, faulty wires. Thirty percent is more than all proposed Western New ...

Removing dam boosts nature

Editor, OBSERVER: I’m currently working on an internship tasked with promoting environmental awareness along with the hopes of creating as large a wildlife refuge as possible. I believe I have a possible solution to the obsolete dam problem in Brocton that should be brought to light. All over the country, municipalities have been removing obsolete dams completely which offers a wealth of benefits as compared to maintaining them or even altering their purpose. Around 70 dams were removed in the U.S in 2020 which may not sound like much, but the rate of dam removal is increasing as ...

Vaccines are doing their job

Editor, OBSERVER: The recent commentary “Mixed messages on ‘best’ COVID practices” (Jan. 29) needs to be challenged. The writer makes the comment “The COVID vaccine does not prevent infection or transmission.” This is true but it is incomplete. The function of a vaccine is to activate the body’s immune system to counter the infection by agents such as viruses or bacteria. This occurs with polio, measles, smallpox and others like shingles. Thus the COVID vaccines have been marvelously effective in activations the immune systems of millions of people in the US and around ...

Having a right for self defense

Editor, OBSERVER: I would like to comment on the article in the OBSERVER concerning Sen. George Borrello’s legislation (5,8026) that would eliminate the “duty to retreat” clause from New York self- defense statutes (Feb. 3). Sen. Borrello is spot-on! Our right to self-defense should not be limited to our homes. We should be able to defend against violent attacks wherever we may be. As the senator stated, “We have a right to use firearms to defend ourselves. That right doesn’t end the minute we leave our homes.” Think about it. This is common sense! Thank you, Sen. ...

‘Disturbing’ tone on cannabis

Editor, OBSERVER: I found the statements made by Tremaine Wright of Brooklyn, the chair of the state’s cannabis control board in the Jan. 29 article “Conversation on cannabis plots next steps” quite disturbing. Wright tells us it will be run with “equity, inclusion and justice at the forefront of the new cannabis industry we are building.” How about administrating this controlled substance with safety, efficiency and accountability instead? And if that’s not foolish enough she declares that she would be using the word “cannabis” instead of referring to it as ...