Saving pennies is nice. City Council needs to find dollars.

October 31, 2026

Once again, the City Council is tying itself in knots over a city vehicle for the mayor’s office. These leases have raised questions, particularly over the past six years. Starting in 2020, when former Mayor Eddie Sundquist, through the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency, entered into a lease for a bigger, more expensive vehicle than the one that had been provided for former Mayor Sam Teresi, and continuing through a new lease in 2023 these vehicle leases have raised questions and created consternation. In our view, the city should take the least expensive option. On a per-year ...

Remember when county hotels were used for travelers?

October 29, 2026

There’s been a lot of discussion over housing the homeless in hotels over the past couple of years. That discussion is needed, because there are a lot of issues to be sorted out: how to provide the services needed to keep the homeless from simply being warehoused in hotel rooms, making sure the hotel spaces are livable in the first place, making sure spaces are appropriate for women and children and ensuring that issues aren’t created in the communities where hotels have contracts to house the homeless, as we have seen in Falconer and Ellicott. Here’s what’s been missing ...

Komatireddy is best choice for Attorney General

October 28, 2026

Saritha Komatireddy isn’t a household name for many New Yorkers. And that’s too bad, because she should be your next state Attorney General. We know all too well what we will get statewide by electing Letitia James as attorney general - more lawsuits that are so tinged by party politics that it’s hard to discern whether or not the case makes sense. That happens, in part, because James has been smacked down by courts often enough in her attempts to fill her prior campaign pledges to make life hard on President Donald Trump that it’s hard to tell where a case actually exists or ...

Four receive endorsements for state Supreme Court seats

October 27, 2026

Seven candidates are on the ballot for four justice positions on the state Supreme Court Eighth Judicial District that serves the Western New York counties, including Chautauqua. State Supreme Courts hear civil matters while the County Courts hear criminal matters. In making our selections for these positions, we consider ratings by the Erie County Bar Association to assist the public in the process. The Association notes candidates are evaluated on criteria necessary to hold judicial office, including integrity, experience, professional ability, education, reputation, industry, ...

Blakeman deserves a chance despite flaws

October 26, 2026

Voters across the state need to be realistic when deciding upon the race for New York state’s top position. No matter who wins, there will still be mandates and growing local property taxes. Neither incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul or challenger Bruce Blakeman are addressing those crises facing residents, counties, municipalities and school districts. Instead, this race has come down to personalities. In Hochul’s eyes, her challenger is a President Donald Trump disciple. On the opposing side, Blakeman has used a line from Trump’s “Apprentice” shows that is resonating with his ...

Langworthy has earned two more years in Congress

October 24, 2026

Facing long odds in the race for Congressional District 23, challenger Aaron Gies is to be commended for his tireless efforts on the campaign trail over the last four months. He has held numerous town hall meetings from Erie to Tioga County during the summer and fall. His major talking points at the meetings are all hot-button issues this election. Those include health care, education and preserving the region’s agricultural base. “I am running for Congress because I believe every person in this district deserves to have a representative who shows up, listens, and works with ...