“It’s all about perception,” said Brown. “We need economic development, otherwise I don’t know how long we can survive, even as a bedroom community. And for that you need to make this a compelling place for people to come and settle.”
Put it on TV, says Simek
While Brown is promoting efforts to make the city more livable, Democratic opponent John Simek is aiming for transparency at city hall using the untapped power of public access. Simek defeated Halwick in a primary for the Democratic Party line (Halwick still holds the Working Families Party line, but party officials say he is not actively running on it). In his appeal to voters, Simek, who chairs the city’s public access cable commission, said too many residents lack a clear understanding of how their government functions or how their elected officials are performing.
The remedy, he said, lies with Public Educational and Government Access, the official name for what most Kingstonians call simply “public access.” According to the state’s Public Service Commission, Kingston and seven surrounding communities in its PEGA zone are entitled to a full 36 hours a day of government programming spread over two channels. That, with a small investment in a videographer, would enable the city broadcast meetings of the Common Council, planning board and other government entities.
“I feel like people don’t really know what their elected officials are doing, if they’re doing a good job or not,” said Simek, a real estate agent with a background in property management and small-scale development. “I tell people, [with government access] you can see what I’m doing, you might not like it, and then you can let me know.”
Simek, who formerly served on the city’s board of assessment review, said he wanted to use his real estate experience to help redevelop vacant lots in the ward by identifying high-quality builders and encouraging them to invest in the city. He also believes that the city should capitalize on the presence of two hospitals to make Kingston a destination for medical treatment on par with Albany and White Plains.
That, and other “business friendly” initiatives like discounted parking permits for business owners and their employees, are part of what, Simek said, Kingston must do to embrace its future as a bedroom community where people come to retire or keep second homes or run home-based businesses.
“I wonder if the council sees Kingston as bedroom community and what they’re doing to make that work,” said Simek. “Because that’s what’s happening and we need to embrace it.”
I think a comprehensive plan is needed. I think parking permits is way short of any notion of “business friendly”… and embracing Kingston as a “bedroom community” would not recommend the man for alderman. But if that’s your vision, I guess you’d vote for him. Certainly makes the comprehensive plan simple.