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The OBSERVER’s View

Making proper call on robot teacher

The state Education Department was right to ask the Salamanca City Central School District to pause its plan to launch a pilot program featuring a Realbotix educational robot and digital avatar in its high school STEAM program during the upcoming school year. There are a lot of unanswered questions that should be answered before this newest bit of technology is used in local classrooms. Concerns raised by parents and educators prompted Betty Rosa, state education commissioner, to send a letter to Salamanca school district officials requesting the pause. The pause prompted the New York ...

Perfect solution in village parking debate

For all the troubles and controversy surrounding the village of Fredonia in recent months, it is refreshing to see that the elected leaders appear to have reversed course when it comes to its parking-fee plans. On Thursday afternoon, the Mayor Michael Ferguson announced instead of motorists paying with a phone app system, a two-hour parking limit would be the norm for downtown. “I pride myself on being an advocate and supporter of shopping, dining and conducting business in our village,” Ferguson said. “I know I have spoken about the increase in business on the Route 60 corridor ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Another high cost for SUNY to absorb

New York state this week announced the ratification of a five-year labor agreement with the United University Professions (UUP), which includes approximately 42,000 SUNY faculty and professional employees. The agreement, which runs until July 1, 2031, was approved by 98% of UUP members who cast ballots. As part of the deal, raises in each of the five years include: 4.5%, 4%, 3.5%, 3%, and 3%. The contract also includes boosts to location pay and several other unit-specific payments “This agreement invests in the hard-working members of the United University Professions, recognizing ...

Surging prices impacting summer travel

One year ago this week, motorists were paying $3.15 per gallon to fuel up their vehicle. This year, that cost is $4.23 across New York state — and closer to $4.36 in Chautauqua County. Those figures come from AAA of Western and Central New York, which notes that volatility along the Strait of Hormuz and instability in the region have pushed crude oil prices into the high $90 per barrel range last week. According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand is on the rise while total domestic gasoline supply is also up along with gasoline ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Another football season almost underway

Don’t look now, but there’s a hint that summer is coming to an end. The good news, however, is many in the region will embrace the reason. On Monday morning, the Buffalo Bills unveiled a new look — their “Nickel City” alternate uniforms, an all-gray pant and jersey combo featuring "The Charge" helmet — an all-blue base bolstered by the iconic red charge. On the team’s website, the design is considered a tribute to the strength, grit and authenticity of Western New York's hard-working people throughout history. In addition, this week marks the beginning of training camp ...

State’s data center moratorium is reasonable – for now

It’s reasonable to see Gov. Kathy Hochul’s one-year moratorium on data centers as a reasonable delay in order to develop appropriate protections and guidelines in state law to govern data centers. What the governor has done is no different legally than what local towns and villages have been doing over the past year by enacting - and in some cases extending - moratoriums on wind and solar projects and on battery energy storage systems. It’s reasonable to see data centers as an emerging issue that requires a pause to manage the development appropriately. Our concern is that ...