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The OBSERVER’s View

The OBSERVER’s View: Council fritters away recovery act

Dunkirk Common Council just cannot seem to get the message. Earlier this month, State Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor issued a statement asking the elected officials to act on a proposed Fiscal Recovery Act. Though council members had discussions about it, they never approved it. This week, Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak questioned its status after Mayor Kate Wdowiasz reported the bill had expired. As noted by both state officials: “This bill cannot move forward without action from the Common Council and the mayor. We have done our part. The city must now do ...

The OBSERVER’s View: State once again misguided on taxes

New York state taketh away. Then it giveth back. Why is that worth celebrating? On Tuesday afternoon, the governor’s office — which consistently generously hands out school aid to districts statewide — wants property owners to know they deserve a rebate. But instead of reducing costs, it is coming the only way you can expect from Albany. It is spending more. Nearly 3 million New Yorkers across the state will receive over $2 billion in tax relief this summer and fall through New York’s School Tax Relief (STAR) program, the state projected. “The start of summer is also ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Site’s sale offers new beginning

Tonawanda’s Huntley Plant, once a generator of electricity that was shut down nearly a decade ago, remains in limbo. Despite town leaders hoping for a victory with eminent domain, NRG Energy Inc. is continuing litigation. In that court battle at the moment, there are no winners. Here in Chautauqua County, it is a different story. Earlier this month, NRG announced the sale of its Dunkirk plant to Genover — a company that specializes in redeveloping retired industrial sites. “We work with utilities planning generation retirements, sponsors evaluating industrial acquisitions, ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Justice not being served in prisons

A conviction of an inmate tied to a February 2024 incident that injured two corrections officers may signal justice being served, but it is far from good news. The announcement of the decision came Thursday afternoon for Windsor Coleman, 36, formerly of Massapequa. Coleman was found guilty of four counts of felony second-degree assault committed against Corrections Officers while he was housed in Lakeview Correctional Facility in Brocton, and two counts of felony first-degree promoting prison contraband, also occurring at the facility. “Whether they work for the Sheriff’s ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Proper perspective on county’s standing

Is Chautauqua County in a worse place than it was 15 years ago, as Democrats in the Chautauqua County Legislature contend? The answer to that question depends on one’s point of view. We've often said the government doesn't, by itself, attract jobs. It does, however, set the stage to attract jobs. The county is in the midst of building two industrial parks - the controversial Ripley site near I-90 and another in Sheridan. We wholeheartedly support efforts to complete public sewers around Chautauqua Lake, a costly project that will help decrease nutrients entering the lake as ...

Tumult keeps harming Fredonia reputation

After a sudden resignation by one trustee and another on medical leave, there has been a lack of activity regarding the Fredonia Village Board. Last week, the meeting was canceled — likely due to lack of a quorum. While the schedule is supposed to resume Monday with a workshop gathering, there is no question the internal and external turmoil of the village is impacting how things are getting done. Contentious meetings, that included a notorious scuffle, led to Jon Espersen saying enough was enough. Unrelated to that, Trustee Ben Brauchler appears to be on the mend. But the dynamic ...