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The OBSERVER’s View

The OBSERVER’s View: Split decision on taxing responsibility

There is no denying that New York makes it tough on business and development through numerous unfriendly policies and a high taxation. But who is more responsible for the hostile environment? New York taxes income, not all states in our nation do this. Property taxes are levied by local entities, such as school districts and municipalities. When it comes to our poll question, “Who do you blame more for the high tax burden in Chautauqua County?” it is not an overwhelming answer. About 53% blamed Albany while the other 47% blamed the local entities. This week’s poll question: ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Experience matters for Family Court judge

Voters have a choice when it comes to Chautauqua County Family Court Judge this year, with incumbent Michael Sullivan facing off against challenger Alexandria Moss. Both candidates are from the north county and come with qualifications that suit the position. Sullivan has served as one of the county’s two Family Court judges, handling more than 16,000 cases in Chautauqua County Family Court and another 850 from Cattaraugus County. Sullivan has also in the Court Improvement Project has provided him with a broader perspective on the challenges facing Family Courts and the importance of ...

Our choices for county legislators

For at least the last six years, this corner has been consistent regarding our spending concerns with the Chautauqua County budget. Recent contracts that have shot up payroll costs — from $66.6 million to $75 million in one year from 2024 to 2025 — and an increasing number of employees have all happened under the reign of a Republican majority and county executive. Certainly, unfunded state mandates are a major dilemma. But payroll costs, that are locally controlled and allowed to balloon, cannot be dismissed. In making our Legislature endorsements, we stick to our belief that ...

The OBSERVER’s View: DiNapoli keeping entities in check

Incumbent state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has a strong challenger this year in Republican challenger Joseph Hernandez. Hernandez has raised questions about DiNapoli's role in the growth of the state's debt load, wants to create a Medicaid Fraud Strike Team as Medicaid spending increases and fraud convictions decrease and proposes additional checks on $21 billion in state aid to New York City. Hernandez, like past challengers to DiNapoli, also wants to pull back from investing state pension funds in accordance with the state’s environmental, social and governance goals and invest ...

Have IDA take on city’s development efforts

Since Vince DeJoy was hired as Dunkirk’s Director of Planning and Development, the landscape of the city has changed greatly. One of DeJoy’s greatest successes in the role was New York state’s awarding of $10 million in funding for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. That money remains an important piece to the downtown puzzle, but Dunkirk is treading water. Due to years of poor financial planning and thievery, government is on the brink. DeJoy, the current administration and council had no part in putting the city on this path. But at the moment, things just do not seem to ...

Have IDA take on city’s development efforts

Since Vince DeJoy was hired as Dunkirk’s Director of Planning and Development, the landscape of the city has changed greatly. One of DeJoy’s greatest successes in the role was New York state’s awarding of $10 million in funding for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. That money remains an important piece to the downtown puzzle, but Dunkirk is treading water. Due to years of poor financial planning and thievery, the government is on the brink. DeJoy, the current administration and council had no part in putting the city on this path. But at the moment, things just do not ...