Jamestown sales tax revenues for first-quarter down from same period of 2013...
One of the city of Jamestown's main revenue lines is down for the first-quarter of this year. However... the news is not totally unexpected. That from City Comptroller Joe Bellitto... who reported sales tax revenues for the first three months of 2014... at last night's council work session. Bellitto says Jamestown just received it's $1.324-million share from Chautauqua County. He says that's a nearly $20,000 decrease... or about 1.5-percent... lower than the first quarter of 2013. He says -- based on what he was reading out of Albany... this was not unexpected. He says they are at about 22.7-percent of this year's budgeted amount. Generally... it had been reported that sales tax revenues were expected to take a hit this year due to the frigid, Wintery weather in the first quarter of 2014. Bellitto reminded lawmakers that the city budgeted a slight increase... to $5.815-million... in sales tax revenues for this year. He says the city did make budget... despite the first-quarter struggles last year.
Comments still being accepted on city of Jamestown's CDGB and HOME Program Action Plans for 2014...
Jamestown residents and organizations can still comment on the Department of Development's final plan for using about $1.3-million in Community Development Block Grant... and HOME Program funding. That from city Development Director Vince DeJoy... who says his department received a lot of good input before... and, during last week's public hearing. DeJoy says some people spoke during the required hearing. At least one thanked the department for continuing efforts to make public areas handicapped accessible... and, another asked about Homeowner Rehabilitation programs. DeJoy says Councilman Brent Sheldon asked about Rental Rehabilitation... and, he says there is some money left from last year to help do that. DeJoy says they're also continuing to leave about $160,000 for the demolition of vacant, and delapitated buildings. He says that should allow the city to tear-down between 5 to 10 houses... depending on size and environmental conditions. DeJoy says people can still offer written and verbal comments on the proposed CDBG and HOME Program Action Plan through May 28. He says the plan can be viewed at several locations... including his office. City Council is to vote on the final plan at a special meeting in mid-June.
Jamestown man jailed without bail for alleged assault, and stranglation of domestic victim...
A city man is in the county jail without bail for allegedly punching and strangling another person during a domestic dispute on Jamestown's southside early Monday morning. City police were called to the scene at an apartment at 335 Foote Avenue shortly after 2 a.m. Further investigation revealed that 51 year-old Willie Lockett had gotten into a verbal... then physical altercation with the victim. Officers say they learned that Lockett struck the victim several times.... injuring the person. He then allegedly strangled that person to the point of unconsciousness. Police say Lockett was arrested... and, arraigned on charges of second-degree strangulation... and, third-degree assault. He was sent to the county lock-up.
Police Memorial Day to be commemorated in Albany today...
Police agencies from across the state will head to Albany this week to pay tribute to those who have died in the line of duty. A ceremony will be held today at the New York State Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at the Empire State Plaza. Before the afternoon ceremony... there will be a church service for police officers who have died. That will be followed by a march to the Law Enforcement Memorial at the Plaza. The memorial is inscribed with the names of more than 1,300 police officers who have died in the line of duty across the state. It's a wall of polished black granite.
Horrigan says local panel narrows down new air carrier to one...
A local committee has made it's choice of a new air carrier to provide service at the Chautauqua County Airport near Jamestown. County Executive Vince Horrigan would not identify which of the two proposed carriers the 25-member panel is recommending to the U-S Department of Transporation. However... he says they'll fly to and from Pittsburgh. Horrigan says the committee is made up of industry and, government leaders, and local residents. He says the DOT tends to "lean" towards community input... and, then make a decision soon after. Horrigan also commended the efforts of county Public Facilities Director George Spanos for further crunching the numbers... and, finding the airport did have more than 10 "implanements" per flight. That means it's eligible for federal Essential Air Service funding. U-S Senator Chuck Schumer visited Chautauqua County a few months ago... and, pledged to help get the implanement more accurate. They were about 9.9... due in large part to flight cancellations due to weather... and, other circumstances. With the EAS retained... county officials recently learned the airport would be receiving $1.9-million in EAS funding.
NYS Senate Democrats to introduce Ethics Legislation...
State Senate Democrats are introducing legislation to curb the government corruption that has tarnished New York politics. The minority conference is slated to announce the package of nine bills today (Tuesday). They include measures to strengthen regulations on the use of campaign money, strip pension benefits from corrupt state officials, ban the use of campaign money for criminal defense, require more disclosure of campaign donations as well as a bill that would also establish a public financing system for state campaigns. The announcement comes amid backlash over Governor Cuomo's decision last month to close a commission he created to investigate corruption.
