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The OBSERVER’s View

HOSPITALS: County fortunate with health care

We are in no way discounting the excitement and energy that comes with the activity on East Main Street at the site of the future Brooks-TLC new hospital. Our newspaper has been a strong advocate for the project through years of reporting and editorials. Ultimately, we are grateful it is happening. That being said, there needs to be some clarification regarding the county’s health care system. Two weekends ago, Democratic Chautauqua County Legislators expressed their appreciation for the project in a news release. Those legislators — Bob Bankoski and Marcus Buchanan of Dunkirk, ...

DUNKIRK

Dunkirk has been under fire for the last two years when it comes to the city’s finances. But there is one bright spot that cannot be forgotten. Its wonderful waterfront. Lake Erie remains a treasure as a natural resource and tourist attraction. One major event, announced before the festival schedule this week, is worth a return: the third annual Dunkirk Walleye Festival. It will be from June 5 to 7 on the Dunkirk City Pier and is open to the public. Last year, 45 teams were registered with more than 250 anglers and over $47,7600 was given in prize money. Sponsorship, vendor and ...

NEW YORK STATE: Revisiting sex offender classifications

Republicans in the state Assembly want to place all convicted sex offenders - even those classified as low risk of reoffending - on the state’s publicly searchable sex offender registry. Currently, only sex offenders classified as Levels 2 (moderate risk) or Level 3 (high risk) are listed on the publicly searchable areas of the database. The legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Angelino, R-Binghamton, has been publicly requested at least twice publicly by Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley in the wake of a case in Onondaga County after a man classified as a Level 1, low risk ...

COUNTY: Unpaid EMS fees sign of trouble

Two Chautauqua County fire districts not paying EMS fees billed by Chautauqua County isn’t a big deal - yet. County officials said in a news release recently that the county is taking steps to resolve unpaid fees owed by the Forestville and Frewsburg Fire Districts for Advanced Life Support ambulance intercepts. If payment agreements aren’t reached, the county may suspend some services provided in the areas. We hope it doesn’t get to that, though county officials said Forestville and Frewsburg fire district officials have hired attorneys after raising “novel constitutional ...

DUNKIRK: Nobody here can fix a broken city

It usually takes a crisis before a community starts to care. The city of Dunkirk’s chaos has been long overdue. A municipality with a population of 12,400 residents needs a budget of $30 million to operate. With a shrinking tax base — and high poverty rate — it is a recipe for disaster. Last week, union workers and leaders from across the region voiced their displeasure with contract talks during a council meeting. They even included a “no confidence” vote against Mayor Kate Wdowiasz. “This action follows a long and troubling pattern of leadership failures that have ...

COUNTY: Making investment in Comedy Center

There are going to be some who will be upset if the Chautauqua County Legislature approves a $200,000 allocation to the National Comedy Center when the legislature meets Wednesday. We understand the concerns. Millions of government dollars have been given to help build the center, and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been given – largely from the state and federal governments – to help market the center and sustain it during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are some who will say the National Comedy Center shouldn’t get more local government money given the needs facing the ...