The columnist Reynolds.
Kingston’s three county legislators take the position that the county and its brokers should have tried harder to get a taxpaying commercial buyer for the parcel. Maybe so, but three years on the market suggests a different strategy. O’Connor doesn’t disagree with these liberal Democratic champions of the poor who charge Kingston is already bearing too much of the burden of low-income housing. “The towns could do more,” he says, but obviously he’s all in whenever a good deal comes up for his constituency.
This controversy will die down by Labor Day. RUPCO, adept at securing funding from multiple state and federal sources (our tax money brought home, after all), will make us proud, as it has on so many other projects. I find that a safe prediction.
And a very tiny percentage of the thousands of residents desperate for safe, affordable housing will get a nice place to live.
Poli-biz
News that Kingston missed out on a $10 million state grant to revitalize sections of Midtown suggests that the new (seven-month) Noble administration may be suffering from growing pains. Playing catch-up after the mega-grant went south, the mayor made it sound as though a valiant effort against stiff competition fell short.
Before even taking office, Steve Noble may have ill-advisedly advised city grantsmaster Gregg Swanzey via email that he would not be part of his administration. Even if Swanzey, acting on orders, was a bit too zealous of his criticism of Noble during the mayoral campaign, it is not a good thing to kill a golden goose, especially when the goose knows where all the gold is buried. Now there’s a new hire learning the ropes.
Sources tell me Assemblyman Cahill hosted a chummy gathering in the tight quarters of a fancy Uptown French restaurant, bagging perhaps $8,000. Across town last week, County Executive Mike Hein threw his annual birthday fundraiser at the spacious Chateau with about 175 in attendance. Ducats to each event case went for $95. As any politician appreciates, it is far better to attract a large crowd of well-heeled donors to a large room than a smaller one.
Both Democrats can expect another cash infusion when the tri-county regional labor council convenes next month to endorse candidates for state legislature and Congress. The labor group donated $25,000 to Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus earlier this month. Hein, a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, can expect no less than Neuhaus, who was at the Republican convention in Cleveland. Neither exec is a candidate this year.
More than cash is involved. The council also cranks up phone banks and produces mailings for its candidates with the aim of reaching every one of its 10,000 members in Orange, Ulster and Dutchess counties. In a published report Neuhaus explained the politics in the most basic terms. “They support me and I support them,” he said.
And finally, condolences to the Al Teetsel family on the death last week of their daughter Rebecca, 37. Teetsel, a former Kingston alderman, and wife Fern have lost three of four adult children in the last few years. Faith can be a comfort, but one wonders how much tragedy one family can endure.
