Breaking News

In Our Opinion

State should make housing demolitions a priority, too

Jamestown officials are moving fairly expeditiously through housing demolitions so far this year. And that’s a good thing, but as we noted a couple of weeks ago something has to change in the way housing demolitions are funded as the sources of money fueling this binge of demolitions is dwindling. It’s worth noting, though, that even if money were no object, the state does the city no favors with voluminous regulations that unnecessarily drag the demolition process out and drive up the cost of demolitions. It's amazing what can happen when the power of government gets behind ...

Legislature should delay vote on office move

An artist’s rendering of the former Third Street post office features a big Chautauqua County logo on the building’s wall facing Jamestown City Hall instead of the Lucille Ball mural that was also used as a U.S. postage stamp. We’re sure it’s artistic license as part of a sales pitch rather than a serious proposal to actually remove the mural, but the artist’s rendering raises a question that we hope Chautauqua County legislators keep in mind before they vote on a proposal to consolidate the county’s Jamestown offices into the post office building - what else looks funny ...

In Our Opinion

Chautauqua Lake has seen its share of potential invasive species over the past couple of decades. We had a close scare with the water chestnut, an aggressive aquatic plant that was most primarily concentrated in the Chadakoin River outlet and nearby waterways like the Audubon Community Nature Center's big pond. Chautauqua Lake was largely spared the worst. Hydrilla has been found in nearby water bodies, but not in Chautauqua Lake so far despite warnings dating back to at least 2013 that the invasive plant is spreading. Luck hasn't been quite as good with starry stonewort, though ...

The post-commercial air service future is here for county

It should come as no surprise to anyone except the most ardent supporters of the Jamestown Airport that the federal government has once again declined to restore the airport’s Essential Air Service subsidy. We noted last year that the number of passengers had decreased in the latest Essential Air Service proposal while the amount of the federal government’s subsidy was projected to increase. That was hardly the best way to show the federal government that there was so much pent-up demand locally that the Jamestown airport would be able to average 10 passengers per flight and a ...

City housing problem is driven by an economy problem

It is little secret that affordable housing in Jamestown is a problem, though in recent years the affordable housing crunch has shown up most publicly in the number of people being housed in hotels and motels throughout the county. So it is little surprise why documentary photographer Karen Lippowiths would want to spend time in the city as part of her newest project, Extended Stay. Work on the exhibit will cross 13 states and 30 cities across Appalachia, from New York to Mississippi, starting earlier this week with a two-day stop in Jamestown. The project will document what ...

Safety net shortfall puts GOP’s stance on reserve fund to test

There was an interesting debate during a recent Chautauqua County Legislature meeting over the county’s ever-escalating safety net program costs. Lawmakers delayed a vote in June on a resolution that would have spent a $2.8 million from the county’s surplus to pay for safety net costs that are coming in much higher than the amounts budgeted for when the legislature approved the 2026 budget. According to the county’s website, Safety Net Assistance is for individuals who are not eligible for other assistance programs. It is a state- and local-funded program for: Single adults; ...