Mayor Shayne Gallo. (Photo: Phyllis McCabe)
City of Kingston
In Kingston, four years seems to pass faster than some other places, which leaves Democrat Mayor Shayne Gallo pretty much in the same shape as he was in 2011. Recall that Gallo, brother of the late mayor T.R. Gallo (mayor 1994-2002), eked out a primary victory over a one-term alderman by seven votes. Gallo, who can be truculent, has made only sporadic attempts to build bridges to party stalwarts in the ensuing three years.
Demonstrating unique vision for a Kingston mayor but precious little progress on major issues like a police station on Broadway and the eternal sinkhole on Washington Avenue, Gallo will confront the same hostile Democrats who denied him his party’s nomination at convention four years ago.
Gallo’s ace in the hole could be U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson. If the popular Gibson can secure federal funding for the sinkhole, the police station and millions more to repair the storm-damaged sewage treatment plant, Kingstonians might give Gallo II another four-year engagement. But there is also the possibility that after having thrown all his considerable talents and energies into a job fraught with frustration, Gallo, an attorney, might find private practice most attractive.
Stateside
Having easily been re-elected, Ulster’s contingent of seven of eight state legislators (the exception was the defeated Democratic state Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk) will continue their independent ways. Well-funded poobahs of autonomous duchies, they have no reason to change.
Cece’s conqueror, former assemblyman George Amedore of Rotterdam, can fairly assert it was his victory that secured the Republican 32-31 majority in the state Senate. Long-time incumbent Republicans Bill Larkin, Jim Seward and John Bonacic might beg to differ. But if Amedore doesn’t hold the seat, in 2017 the Republicans could be back to playing footsie with Democrats for control of the House of Lords. Ergo, it follows that senate GOP leadership will reinforce Amedore’s victory with generous helpings of pork, something Democrats failed to do for Tkaczyk.
Here and there
Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach isn’t up for election in 2015. It will only seem that way as he ducks in and out of the spotlight. Auerbach’s role as leader of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party will become increasingly important.
The columnist Reynolds.
In the towns, most supervisors appear solid, as do incumbent board members seeking reelection. Saugerties and New Paltz could be exceptions. In Woodstock Jeremy Wilber has most factions in the same boat, albeit rowing in different directions. To the surprise of no one, there will be major controversies in New Paltz, Rosendale and Saugerties.
Kingston-based HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley may or may not find a partner with deep pockets, but will probably spin its wheels for at least the first half of the year.
With the Nevele Hotel rejected as a state casino sight, nobody seems quite sure what could happen on its 500 acres. How about a retirement community for ex-IBMers? Does a county landfill tucked away in a far corner make sense?
The passing of Hurley patriarch and farmer John Gill, 92, will bring renewed efforts to name the reconstructed county bridge over the Esopus near the town hall in his honor.
Energetic U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer will inevitably make several well-publicized but largely meaningless (especially now that the GOP has control of the Senate) publicity forays to the region in his continuing mission to visit every county every year. Locals need to be wary about standing between Schumer and a TV camera.
The UCCC-Kingston adjunct campus will open in October, just in time for pre-election hoopla. While doing little for Kingston’s stagnant economy, it will work wonders for politicians on the make.
Lawyers will tie up the Park Point student housing project in New Paltz for most of the year. At some point, the developers will get the point and move on.
Absent massive state support, developers of the proposed Niagara Bottling plant in Lake Katrine will cap their project.
Anonymous bloggers will become even more blovicious (a combination of the words bloviate and vicious, meaning windy and mean-spirited).
The Freeman will sell its property to a High Falls flea market.
A state Supreme Court judge will issue a ruling on the dispute between the Catskill Mountain Railroad and the county sometime in the spring, ordering both sides to their neutral corners. County lawyers will file an appeal. With its lease expiring in May 2016, the railroad folks will run Thomas the Tank Engine, the Polar Express or maybe something called The We Like Mike Special every weekend from Labor Day to Christmas.
With Assemblyman Kevin Cahill’s Albany muscle, several southern Ulster resorts will be given state licenses to operate gambling video display terminals (VDTs).
The state legislature will allocate half the $5 billion banks settlement windfall to highways and bridges. Counties with clout and united delegations will get most of the money, thus putting Ulster at the end of the line. State bureaucrats will take three years to finalize application forms.
With bagpipers and step-dancers marching in tune, the Irish Cultural Center in Rondout will break ground at the end of the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Merger talks among the New Paltz, Highland and Marlboro school districts will stall until somebody comes up with a name for the new district. “Apple Valley” will resonate with some.
Ulster County Community College will name a new president in June. The new arrival will promise to upgrade programs, hold the line on tuition increases, and build dormitories. He or she will also ask where the president’s house is.
That’s all, folks. Happy New Year.
