Ulster County executive Pat Ryan appears to be giving a nod to the thought that government is capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time. His message represents a change in approach from that of the Hein administration. Ryan’s style has been more reminiscent of business management than public administration. He’s a problem-solver. He sets measurable goals for improvement in problem areas and deploys personnel toward meeting those targets.
It pays to be skeptical of numbers one doesn’t know much about. In economics, early numbers are often based on assumptions subject to substantial later correction.
Kingston’s burning, but this time don’t blame the British, embroiled as they are with Brexit issues. With median property prices increasing more than 20 percent in the first half of this year over last year’s first half, the market for Kingston real estate is hot.
Ulster County is now signed on to a state law that allows it to levy a 2 percent tax on certain property sales to preserve aspects of community character. We’re talking about real money. One possible local use is to help protect open space.
Maybe badly buffeted Norwegian Air will experience a resurgence. Maybe it’ll thrive again. Maybe it’ll survive only in another form under another ownership. Maybe it’ll go bankrupt.
New Paltz hopes to become the Mid-Hudson REDC’s first-ever village to receive the $10-million state DRI grant awarded annually to a municipality in the region.
Two Kingston projects years in the making marked significant milestones this week, taking important steps toward their larger ambitions. In doing so, they provided clues about the new directions toward which the Ulster County economy is evolving. They are harbingers of change.
Ryan brings a different style to the county executive’s office and an excellent grasp of the local economy. This should be interesting.
The Empire Center plays a significant watchdog role bringing transparency to government. It combs through public information and makes it available to the public. Its information-gathering and analysis perform a vital role. Somebody has to do it.
Life after IBM.