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The OBSERVER’s View

PRESIDENCY: Executive orders dismiss compromise

Our concerns about the second Trump Administration’s executive actions on immigration are twofold: First, the White House should employ a greater focus on illegal immigration specifically and, second, executive orders violate the principles of our republic. As we noted in our editorials during the Biden Administration, executive orders circumvent the process in ways that poorly serve the public. Sweeping proposals such as Biden’s student loan forgiveness plans or Trump’s plans on immigration, as we wrote about the former in August of 2022, “should go through proper, ...

EDUCATION: Cost no hurdle again for state

It’s a fair question, because the person leading the state’s school system is getting a$155,000 a year raise to oversee a state educational system that spends the most in the nation — with raises like hers it’s easy to see why, by the way — while attaining middling educational results for children. This commissioner is overseeing a revamp of graduation standards that are just as likely to water down the value of a diploma as they are to actually prepare more students for college or the workforce. This is an education commissioner whose department needed state legislative action ...

Schools: Letters confirm area worries

Parents in the Dunkirk City Schools and Jamestown Public Schools last week received a letter from the district detailing what someone who is the subject of an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement action should do. Such a letter shouldn’t have been necessary in the first place given the limitations Dr. Kevin Whitaker discussed with The Post-Journal and WRFA-LP following last week’s school board meeting. Despite Trump’s change of sensitive location guidelines, Whitaker said there are still limits that govern what law enforcement can do in schools, including Immigration and ...

CITY SCHOOLS: A plan to invest in fiscal future

As area schools begin to look ahead to May with budgeting plans for the 2025-26 year, Dunkirk Superintendent Michael Mansfield understands the importance of the bottom line. At last week’s school board meeting, the district leader called for additional hires for the accounting office. “With the capital project coming on board, negotiations are coming up with the teachers association, (and) we have some retirements coming up in the office area, we really feel it’s time we invest in a business administrator,” he said. This year, Dunkirk’s budget was nearly $60 million. Add in ...

FREDONIA: Small fee hikes won’t cover costs

Fredonia is growing more desperate for more funds. With expenses surpassing revenues, trustees last month announced a willingness to take a look at current fees. Trustee Jon Espersen brought up the idea and shared information with other members of the Village Board. “I passed out to all the trustees our current — from 2009 — not just parking, but all the other fees attached in there,” he said. “I would ask that we all take a look at that and see how we want to adjust them.” Last week, the village approved a Revenue Anticipation Note to get through the remainder of the ...

HANOVER: Recent success fuels town hopes

Feb. 25 will be an important night for the town of Hanover and its fire departments. On that evening, a public hearing will take place to discuss the advantages and drawbacks that could come with the consolidation of five fire departments into one district. The Town of Hanover and representatives from the fire departments will receive input from Brad Pinsky, an attorney focused on Fire and Emergency Service agencies, and Noel Guttman, Chautauqua County Emergency Coordinator, regarding fire district consolidation. Legal requirements for any potential consolidation will likely be ...