OBAMA FOCUSES ON ECONOMY IN SOU SPEECH
WASHINGTON – Declaring the American dream under siege, President Barack Obama delivered a populist challenge Tuesday night during his State of the Union address. The President said it was imperative to shrink the gap between rich and poor, while promising to tax the wealthy more and help jobless Americans get work and hang onto their homes.
Seeking re-election and needing results, the president invited Republicans to join him but warned, “I intend to fight.” Obama said ensuring a fair shot for all Americans is “the defining issue of our time.” He said the economy is finally recovering from a deep and painful recession and he will fight any effort to return to policies that brought it low.
Obama outlined a vastly different vision for fixing the country than the one pressed by the Republicans confronting him in Congress and fighting to take his job in the November election. He pleaded for an active government that ensures economic fairness for everyone, just as his opponents demand that the government back off and let the free market rule.
The president also offered steps to help students afford college, a plan for more struggling homeowners to refinance their homes and tax cuts for manufacturers.
On Iran, President Obama said that while all options are on the table to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon — an implied threat to use military force — “a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible.”
With Congress almost universally held in low regard, Obama went after an easy target in calling for reforms to keep legislators from engaging in insider trading and holding them to the same conflict-of-interest standards as those that apply to the executive branch.
COUNTY LEGISLATURE MEETS TONIGHT IN MAYVILLE
MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature will hold it’s first regular meeting of the new year, with eight new members sitting in on tonight’s session.
Highlighting tonight’s agenda is a resolution for the county to enter into a contract for an unbiased study of the County Home. The resolution – proposed by north county republican George Borrello – is to contract with the Center for Governmental Research to provide an analysis of the facility and its operations.
Both County Home supporters and CSEA union officials have said the Center for Governmental Research was one of a few agencies they would like to see involved in the county home discussion. Last month, th county officials approved a measure to hire the marketing firm Marcus & Millichap, to market the public owned county home to private investors. In response, CSEA officials said the county should have an unbiased assessment completed prior to moving forward with any sale of the home.
If approved tonight by the legislture, the contract with the Center for Governmental Research is not to exceed $80,000.
Also, the county will consider an agreement with the Town of Ripley to Increase policing by the Sheriff’s Department at a total cost not to exceed $30,000 – at a rate of $35 an hour.
Tonight’s voting session begins at 6:30 in the legislature chambers in Mayville.
CELORON TO HOST PUBLIC MEETING
The village of Celoron will hold a public meeting tonight for its Waterfront Revitalization Plan. The meeting has been scheduled for 7:00 p.m. this evening in the Community Center at 47 Dunham Avenue in Celoron.
The Waterfront Revitalization Plan is an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to help shape the future of the community. The plan provides a revitalization strategy for the future of the Village commercial district, Lucille Ball Memorial Park and the former Celoron Amusement Park site.
Tonight’s meeting is the third public meeting in the planning process and will include a presentation and an interactive input session. The presentation will review the draft plan to implement the community vision.
The meeting is free and open to the public and the public is encouraged to attend. For more information call Shirley Sanfilippo at 716- 487-4175.
NAMES RELEASED OF VICTIMS IN BUSTI AUTO ACCIDENT
BUSTI – The Five people involved in an accident earlier this week in the town of Busti continue to recover from their injuries. The accident took place Monday afternoon at the intersection of Big Tree and Lawson roads.
According to police, shortly before 3:30 p.m. Ryan Casey of Irving, Pa. was driving a silver Jeep Patriot north on Big Tree Road when another vehicle driven by Richard Pierce Jr. of Garland, Pa. – which was heading east on Lawson Road – failed to stop at the stop sign and hit the Jeep. Pierce had to be cut out of his vehicle by Busti and Lakewood fire departments.
All five were sent to WCA hospital for treatment of injuries, non of which were life-threatening. Pierce was charged with failure to stop at a stop sign and will be in Busti Town Court later.
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