Editor, OBSERVER: March is spread the word to end the word month. That word in particular is retard or retarded. When some the community call a disabled person that name and make fun of them, this allows for feelings to be hurt. The new words are: respect; be kind to others; be helpful to others; kindness matters; disabled lives matter. MARY HAYES, Dunkirk
Opposing cuts for needy group Editor, OBSERVER: I am a constituent and supporter of New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They are our family, friends, loved ones, and members of our community. I am writing in extreme opposition to the governor’s proposed $335 million in cuts to services for people with these conditions. Inadequate support from the state and federal government further threatens the health of safety of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Last year, voluntary service providers faced an estimated loss of more than $327 ...
Small businesses missing perks Editor, OBSERVER: Our Airbnb house on Cedar Beach pays an occupancy tax, bed tax, city tax, school tax, state taxes and a county tax. Why does a hotel, which is now the Clarion Hotel Marina & Conference Center, not have to pay these taxes also? The Clarion hasn’t paid school or county taxes for the last 25 years? How is that helping small business? AL KERN, Dunkirk
Still time for Catholic Charities Editor, OBSERVER: Over the past year, 14,522 neighbors in need of all ages throughout Chautauqua County were served by the seven programs Catholic Charities offers here. We provided basic emergency assistance, including support for food and resources for housing. Our licensed counselors offered counseling services for all ages. We worked with more than 60 domestic violence offenders for systemic social change in a coordinated community response. WIC, which aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants and children up to age 5 who ...
Editor, OBSERVER: I was astounded to see that only 300 doses of the COVID vaccine are delivered per week lately and that about 11,500 have received the first shot. After deducting the former and those under 16 that leaves about 89,000 to receive their first shot. Absent a significant increase in doses received that means that in Chautauqua County we’ll be at this for about the next 5 1/2 years. I am curious as to the formula New York state uses to apportion dose delivery as there seems to be a question of equity. There are other questions, also, regarding the Chinese fire drill ...
Editor, OBSERVER: The true situation in Texas with the outage was caused by infrastructure shortcomings and insufficient planning for extreme weather and not by renewable energy failures. It was readily apparent that the front-page story belonged in the Opinion section — and not presented as factual news. While a few turbines did freeze up, due to lack of winterization, most wind capacity remained online. The greatest drop off in energy generation occurred due to thermal generators — natural gas, coal, and nuclear — going offline. These facts are readily available from ...