The columnist Reynolds.
In terms of outreach, I like the way Steve Noble thinks. But he will face some hard choices come October.
Get out the vote
As noted elsewhere in these rags, RUPCO is conducting a survey of Kingston’s troubled Midtown area, which for the last 40 years has always been referred to as Kingston’s “troubled” Midtown area. One of the grassroots stats that surveyors will be studying is historically low voter turnout. In 2013, the last time RUPCO conducted such a study, election records showed 177 residents voted for alderman in the Fourth Ward, the heart of Midtown, a figure that rose only slightly to 192 last year. By comparison, 751 residents of the upscale and politically competitive Sixth Ward voted for alderman in 2015. Based on reapportionment, there were about 1,300 registered voters in each ward.
Voter participation has political consequences. If people don’t vote, politicians don’t pay attention.
Back to school
Where have all the flowers gone? Apparently, not to local schools, according to a recent report from the State Education Department.
In an alarming trend, school population in Ulster County has declined over 15 percent in the last 10 years, the state reports. By comparison, the loss of over 4,200 students (out of 27,205 in 2007-08) would surpass the enrollment of eight of nine county school districts, Kingston excepted. Seven of nine of those districts have experienced double-digit enrollment declines, led by Onteora (30.3 percent), Rondout Valley (28.5) and Saugerties (22.3). Kingston, which is building a $137.5 million high school complex, saw its enrollment drop by 17.1 percent during the study period.
Some of this is the product of a stubborn recession, but much of it is chronic economic malaise that leaders seem helpless to address.
There may be light at the end of this long tunnel. The state report also showed a leveling off in year-to-year decline, just below 2 percent. Highland was the worst of the bunch at minus 3.5 percent. Ellenville was dead even, and New Paltz, Saugerties, Kingston and Onteora around 2 percent.
Raising awareness
Democratic state Senate candidate Sara Niccoli of Montgomery County won’t get elected with $35-per-head fundraisers, as planned at Bella Luna on Partition Street in Saugerties for Sunday, 5 to 8 p.m. But she probably won’t be taking huge out-of-country donations, filtered through the Ulster County Democratic Committee, as did former senator Cecilia Tkaczyk in 2014. Both sides spent well over a million bucks in the 46th District contest between Republican winner George Amedore and ousted one-term incumbent Tkaczyk. Small gatherings of local supporters rally the base and give the candidate some face time with true believers.
Sara’s Sunday’s soiree is sponsored by the Saugerties Democratic Committee, former legislator Rob Parete and his wife Nicole of Marbletown, and former legislator Gary Bischoff and wife Marge of Saugerties. Info is available at saraniccoli.com.
Erratum
I made a mistake in last week’s column in stating that the proposed Irish Cultural Center lot at 32 Abeel St. in Kingston encompassed two acres. Given their parking issues, sponsors could only hope. It’s about half an acre in size, roughly 20,000 square feet. The proposed building will have a 4,500-square-foot footprint.
