Kingston city budget lowers taxes for some
Mayor Steve Noble’s proposed 2018 budget would freeze the city’s tax levy for the second year in a row, creating a small decline in the tax rate for most Kingston property owners.
All posts by Jesse J. Smith
Proliferation of murals raises questions about Kingston’s preservation rules
Since 2010, O+ artists have changed the face of Kingston with 29 murals, prompting some to question why there is little public oversight compared with zoning laws governing property owners. The answer: Murals, though they last for years, are considered impermanent works of art, and are treated as works of art protected by the First Amendment.
County plan aims to help kids headed to court
As part of his 2018 budget address last week, County Executive Mike Hein announced plans for an ambitious new initiative
Kingston GOP drops support for candidate who criticized Native American mural
Kingston Republicans have severed ties with a county legislature candidate who criticized a mural depicting Native Americans for sending a potentially divisive “ethnic message,” rather than celebrating Kingston’s “original heritage.” Campaign Committee Chairman Jerry Brown said, “Her views are her own and have nothing to do with us.”
GOP county legislature candidate calls O+ fest mural ‘divisive’
Candidate Jean Jacobs said the images send a potentially divisive “ethnic message,” rather than celebrating Kingston’s “original heritage.”
Ulster County’s 2018 budget reduces property taxes once again
Overall spending is $324 million, a little less than $1 million below 2017 levels.
Kingston’s Irish cultural edifice plan in peril as panel gives thumbs-down
Backers of the plan to build an Irish cultural center in a residential neighborhood in the Rondout District say they plan to appeal a city commission’s ruling that the building, as currently designed, conflicts with the area’s historic character.
Kingston considers upping reservoir’s capacity
The infrastructure at Cooper Lake needs to be refurbished to bring it into compliance with state safety standards. Separately, the city is considering raising the dikes to increase capacity.
Kingston parking lot fees go into effect Oct. 10
The cost is 75 cents per hour. Payment will be by license plate number; no need to print out or display a ticket.
NYC developer is all in on Uptown Kingston
Charles Blaichman is one of the developers who transformed Manhattan’s Meatpacking District into some of the most valuable real estate in America. In Uptown Kingston, Blaichman is planning a smaller-scale revival, but one rooted in the same sense of a neighborhood with untapped potential.