Category Archives: Uncategorized

A courtroom can be open to the public and still leave people with only part of the story. That question is now before the Sixth Circuit. Samantha Hallman says she sought recordings of court proceedings in Oakland County, Michigan, after becoming concerned about how a judge treated her brother during a hearing. Her allegations haveContinue reading “The Courtroom Is Open. Is the Record?”

A midterm election can look like a familiar judgment on the party in power: Are people satisfied with the economy? Do they trust the president? Are they ready for a change? Victor Davis Hanson argues that this election reaches beyond those questions. He sees a deeper conflict over the country’s direction: the role of government,Continue reading “No Ordinary Midterm: A Choice About America’s Future”

A Valley Viewpoint Narrative In today’s America, the gap between what the law promises and how it’s practiced feels wider than ever. We see it in the spectacle of selective prosecution—where the same statute can be a weapon for one man and a shield for another. Justice, we were told, is blind. But lately, sheContinue reading “The Laws Beneath the Laws”

A Valley Viewpoint Narrative New York’s fracking ban is often treated as a settled question. It shouldn’t be. The policy may be more than a decade old, but its consequences are still being felt in the communities that sit above the Marcellus Shale. A New York Post editorial today points to the contrast between ChemungContinue reading “The Fracking Ban Is Still Costing the Southern Tier”

The Appellate Division’s ruling in the Red Hook Boat Club case is more than a win for the Town Board. It is a failure of judicial scrutiny. Four judges unanimously upheld the taking, accepting the town’s claim that the property should become a public waterfront park. They gave the Board broad discretion to choose theContinue reading “When Judges Stop Asking Hard Questions”

New York City has long been considered the economic engine of the Empire State. Its financial institutions, restaurants, hotels, retailers, professional services firms, and countless small businesses have generated the employment, tax revenue, and economic opportunity that sustain not only the five boroughs but much of New York State. That engine is now showing troublingContinue reading “New York City Is Losing Jobs. When Will Albany Recognize That Businesses Have Had Enough?”

The Empire Center’s latest report exposes a growing divide between government compensation and the financial realities facing Hudson Valley taxpayers. The Hudson Valley has long been known for its beautiful landscapes, historic communities, and increasingly expensive cost of living. But a newly released report from the Empire Center for Public Policy raises a question thatContinue reading “Public Payrolls, Private Paychecks: Who Can Afford the Hudson Valley Anymore?”

By Ed Kowalski | Valley Viewpoint For more than a hundred years, America’s largest law firms have operated under a business model that, quite frankly, most other industries could only dream of. Hire the best and brightest young attorneys, put them to work for extraordinarily long hours, charge clients substantial hourly fees, and reward theContinue reading “Big Law Is Changing. And It’s About Time.”

A Valley Viewpoint Narrative Thirteen girls from Camas High School’s cross-country team reached the starting line and made a choice: they would not pretend the race was fair. When the gun sounded, they walked away. The girls were protesting the participation of a Camas athlete who had competed in the boys’ division earlier in theContinue reading “They Walked Away Because the Rules Failed Them”

Accountability Is Not a Deterrence Campaign There is a real difference between holding public officials accountable for proven misconduct and warning future public servants that taking a job under the other party could bring them “a ton of problems.” At the University of Chicago, Senator Elissa Slotkin blurred that line herself. Slotkin said Democrats shouldContinue reading “Targeting Young Conservatives”

In May, Kathy Hochul signed laws that sharply restrict how New York’s local police, sheriffs, and jails can assist federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement. The package bars 287(g) agreements and limits the use of local detention facilities for federal immigration purposes.  Hochul says this keeps local police focused on local crimes. But when AlbanyContinue reading “HOCHUL’S IMMIGRATION PACKAGE PUTS POLITICAL POSTURING AHEAD OF PUBLIC SAFETY”

An endorsement should mean something. It should tell voters what we value and what we expect from the people asking for their trust. For The Valley Viewpoint, the standard is straightforward: responsible spending, lower pressure on taxpayers, public safety, respect for constitutional rights, honest government and practical results. We want elected officials who understand thatContinue reading “The Valley Viewpoint’s 2026 Endorsements: Local Results Over Albany Politics”