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WJTN Headlines for Thursday Nov. 2, 2017

A Jamestown man faces multiple charges following a violent domestic incident Wednesday morning on the northside during which he struck his girlfriend several times and, threw joint compound all over her. 
 
City police were called to the scene at 846 Prendergast Avenue about 7 a.m. and found the victim on the porch of the apartment house covered with the joint compound.  Officers say the women told them that the boyfiend had gotten into an argument when he could find his hygiene supplies. 
 
Police say 19 year-old Brandon Tate began trashing the apartment, and threw the woman's car keys into a toilet.  Tate is then accused of holding the woman down with his foot, and took her cell phone when she tried to call for help.  He then allegedly knocked the victim to the ground, and punched her several times. 
 
Once she stood back up, Tate allegedly threw the five-gallon bucket of joint compound on her.  Tate was arrested, and was also found to be involved in a domestic incident this past Summer.  He was arraigned on charges of second-degree unlawful imprisonment, third-degree assault and second-degree strangulation and sent to the county jail without bail.
 
 
The majority of voters in New York state may oppose holding a constitutional convention, but one local group with state-wide ties favors having one. 
 
The constitutional convention is the first of three propositions on next week's Election Day ballot.   The League of Women Voters supports holding a convention because, local leader Minda Rae Amiran says it's a chance to reform the state's broken budget process.
 
While there have been yard signs, and other efforts to get people to reject a consitutional convention, there hasn't been a lot of publicity about the other proposals.  Amiran says Proposition-Two, if passed, would allow the complete or partial forfeiture of a public officer's pension if he or she is convicted of a felony. 
 
The proposal, if passed would also apply to elected officials at all levels of government in the state.  While the State League of Women Voters has decided to support Proposition-One, Amiran says the league has not taken a position on Proposal Two.  Proposition-Three, if passed would authorize the use of forest preserve land for specified purposes. 
 
 
A new survey from Siena College shows big opposition to a constitutional convention among likely New York voters in next week's election. 
 
The poll found that 57% of respondents plan to vote 'no' on the question of calling a constitutional convention.  Twenty-five percent of respondents said they will vote yes. 
 
Voters in Tuesday's election will be asked whether they support calling a convention, where delegates would consider changes to the state constitution.  By a similar 2-to-1 margin respondents to the survey say they believe "nothing good will get done" at a convention. 
 
The decision on whether or not to hold a constitutional convention is voted on once every 20 years, and would begin the process of re-working or re-writing the state's governing document. 
 
Chautauqua County is one of the rare one's that will have the proposition on the same side as offices being voted on next Tuesday.  That from Democratic Election's Comissioner Norm Green says the Board of Elections printed the ballots proposition side-up.
 
Green adds that by printing the ballots in-house, it is believed to save Chautauqua County taxpayers nearly $50,000 each budget year.  The public will also vote on two other propositions, one that would allow a judge to take away the pensions of lawmakers who are convicted of Felony charges.
 
 
The issue of transparency on the part of Jamestown city government was again called into question during this week's Council voting session. 
 
But, the senior member of the panel says they try to be as open as possible and, don't make decisions on important issues at one meeting, or behind closed doors. 
 
Lovell Avenue resident Raven Mason, who has been an outspoken critic of the city's Annexation plans for the Dow Street Substation in the village of Falconer, addressed lawmakers.  Mason questioned whether comments made by the public prior to voting sessions is even considered.
 
Mason and other members of the public got into a rare back-and-forth with lawmakers during last month's voting session.  Typically, the public is asked to address questions and concerns to the Council President, and direct answers aren't given. 
 
At the end of the meeting, long-time Councilman Tony Dolce said he for one, takes the city's issues to heart, from recent shooting incidents, and the drug crisis to the city's deficit. 
 
 
A New York City native looking to move into Jamestown has now taken possession of the historic Sheldon House on the city's eastside. 
 
The City Council and Chautauqua County Legislature recently approved the sale of the property from Jamestown Community College to Edward Signorile for $240,000.  Signorile tells the Post-Journal that he was first interested in the property when it initially went on the market. 
 
However, he says it just as quickly went off when Lynn Development Group put in an offer to buy it for their corporate offices.  However, when a state court ruled that a zoning variance was improperly granted, Lynn withdrew it's proposal. 
 
Signorile remained interested and, kept in touch with a local broker, and was able to put in an offer once the Sheldon House went back on the market.
 
 
New York state's top fiscal officer says a looming budget deficit combined with lower-than-expected tax revenues and cuts in federal spending are adding up to a "triple threat" to the state's bottom line. 
 
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warned late Tuesday about the possibility of more cuts from Washington and suggests state officials could face some difficult choices about funding important state programs and services. 
 
The Democrat noted New York is projected to have a $4 billion deficit next fiscal year.