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The OBSERVER’s View

The OBSERVER’s View

Ten years ago, almost to the day, we lamented the difficulty in comparing results on state tests from year-to-year because New York's Education Department changed testing and assessment guidelines more often than most people change their socks. We noted, at the time, that proficiency rates in English language arts was 37.9% and 38.1% in math, truly depressing when one considered that meant only a little more than one-third of students were performing at an acceptable grade level. The state recommended at the time not to try to compare 2016 data to prior years, which would have been ...

The OBSERVER’s View

For three years, Chautauqua County Legislature Democrats have called for reducing the budget surplus — that totals more than $30 million — by $2 million. Since they are the minority party, they have failed because Republicans have not once backed the idea. Considering the most recent meeting last week, that could be changing. Though a vote to give back the $2 million failed, there were Republican legislators who began to speak out about reducing the slush fund. Most notably, Legislator Fred Johnson of Westfield mentioned giving back some $15 million to $20 million. What’s most ...

The OBSERVER’s View

In March, intense rains doomed the Fredonia water system for the 10th time in 37 months forcing a boil-water order. Last week was a very different result. After heavy downpours on the morning of Aug. 23 and throughout the day, Canadaway Creek was rising quickly after more than 4 inches of lake-effect rain in 24 hours. Fortunately for users, there were no troubles with the village water system. That is a good thing. It shows the efforts by trustees, specifically Paul Wandel, have led to improvements at the archaic and troubled plant. In June, Wandel mentioned the much needed ...

In new era, always someone watching

Flock Safety is at least acknowledging the privacy concerns that have been raised by members of the public and by civil liberties groups over the past several months by announcing changes to its platform. We aren't sure those changes go far enough, though they do appear to be a step in the right direction. Flock operates a vast nationwide network of automated cameras that record the license plate numbers and other characteristics of all passing vehicles every day. Thousands of law enforcement agencies in 49 states can search and share Flock's data across jurisdictions to aid their ...

Finding loose change won’t bolster city finances

It is becoming obvious that those who are addressing the Common Council in Dunkirk are penny wise and pound foolish. As the city navigates through a major financial mess, those stepping forward to complain about $15,000 pay bumps — for a combined position — and out-of-town union officials seeking pay increases, definitely ignore a bigger picture. Even with about $500,000 awarded by the state to Dunkirk’s coffers, there is a big problem with the bottom line for 2026. As we have stated in this column before, the $30 million spending plan approved by the last Common Council is not ...

Welcome solution for area grape farmers

This week’s announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be spending $20 million to purchase grape juice from area farmers is welcome news for the region. Just last week, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer was trying to make juice out of sour grapes with his proposal to use the Section 32 funds provided by the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 to purchase grapes from local growers hurt by the cancellation of their purchase contracts with Refresco. The same mechanism was used in 2025 to stabilize prices through a similar request through utilization of Section 32 funds, with ...