A Bit of a Twist

Events in town recently have been much like the past winter's snowfalls, 'few & far between', but like politics, less is often more. In the case of the Town of Ulster, less even better.
Supervisor Quigley seems to have managed the impossible. In playing by the rules and letting policy follow process Supervisor Quigley has managed to keep supporters content and detractors appeased, no small task in a small town. There will always be the odd extremest who claims to see the big picture but peers through at it through a microscope often extolling his or her own agenda as what's best for everyone. This elitist mentality, 'what's best for me is what's best for all', as if they have inside information from the great beyond, (they might, it is usually from where they hail), is what has destroyed many a community New York and around the country. The truth is the truth and only a balance between two extremes can benefit everyone in town. We need development, but.... we need smart development and when our elected officials let the process play out as in the case of Ulster Gardens, we can enjoy growth without sacrificing quality of life.
No one needs a history lesson to see the differences in the Town of Ulster today vs. the Town of Ulster just a few short years ago. No 'closed door' sessions, no questionable activities and no 'back room deals'. When you elect officials that lead and put process and policy before politics, the Town and it's residents benefit.

With the month of May just around the corner, the anticipation of summer is teasing parents and children alike, Ulster Little League will be holding Openning Cerimonies this Saturday, UISYTT would like to wish all little leaguers a fun filled and successful baseball season.
Whether or not you have a child participating, come down and watch a game or two this season, even more come down and lend a hand. We've seen the same faces year after year doing the grounds keeping, running the concession stand, coaching and keeping up appearences and we thank each and everyone for their contributions, a few more hands can only make things better.

Can't Take It Anymore!

I don't know if anyone is paying attention, afterall the UlsterReport is filled with such vitriol and inuendo that it is difficult to find any truth at all in it's 'reporting'! We know that the UlsterReport's
mission statement is to slander current TofU Supervisor Jim Quigley, it is troubling however that they will not post comments from anyone who thinks that the Town of Ulster is better off since Woerner was unseated and that Supervisor Quigley has done an admirable job in executing his responsibilities and keeping his promises.
With our current 2 party system of government the entire constiuency will never be fully satisfied with either party in control, it is unproductive however when lies and rhetoric take the place of truth and fact.
It is no differnet on a State or National level and if resident's, citizen's and voters are to get a fair and balanced portrail of their current and aspiring leaders.

Regarding 'The Ulster Report'

In an effort to dispel unfounded innuendo and attempt to answer questions posed by said blog:

The original post relating to Ulster Gardens was based on rumors being spread by a competing developer, we made an assumption that they were factual and found them not to be so. In an effort to correct misrepresentations we spoke directly to the developer and engineer and found the project to be far more positive than originally thought.

We also like the fact that competition among developers can only insure that the TOwn of Ulster gets the best the industry has to offer.

Mandelbaum and Warwick Properties have a stellar record regarding existing projects and as far as a EIS or FEIS, the property in question has been surveyed and resurveyed, the issues are the same today as they were when Ulster Manor was proposing development much more intrusive, (of a much larger scale and footprint), this developer unlike Ulster Manor has demonstrated a willingness to accomodate the concerns of local residents and to mitigate any issues of concern yet unresolved.

Because UIYTT has offered comments many times on the Ulster Report blog, NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN POSTED, you can find this comment in duplicate on UIYTT, BLABER NEWS & COMMENTARY, CAHILL FOR KINGSTON, Ira Fusfeld of the Daily Freeman, the Kingston Progressive and any other blog read by local residents.

UIYTT is transparent and unbiased, GOOD DEVELOPMENT IS GOOD DEVELOPMENT, except in the case when it causes unwanted competition for existing developers.

"It's A Wonderful Life"

“We have to pass the 'Bill' so that we can find out what's in it”! We all know where that is getting us.

When government sacrifices process for progress the cure becomes worse than the disease. It doesn't have to be healthcare and it doesn't have to be national. Development in the Town of Ulster has a process. The public, the developer and the town need to work together in an honest and transparent manner. When followed, the process insures that new development works to benefit everyone concerned.

When a project is designed the developer is required to research the impact it will have on the town, i.e.: the landscape, the residents, traffic and schools, in general the 'quality of life' of everyone and everything it will affect. Only when the town and its residents have had their concerns addressed or 'mitigated' and their questions answered can a project move forward.

In the past, elected officials of the town have given resident's good reason for skepticism. Closed door meetings and 'questionable' tax pilots and arrangements have benefited favored developers at the expense of the town residents. The results have been bad for the town and bad for its residents.

In direct contrast to supervisors of the past, James Quigley has opened the process to the public. Informational meetings at Town Hall regarding 'Ulster Garden's', the latest 'new project' being presented to Ulster resident’s offers insight and input to the proposed development.

Cloaked and hindered by prior administrations, such open meetings give residents the opportunity to meet the developer. It makes partners out of adversaries and insures any development will be beneficial to the town as well as profitable for the developer.

Mr. Quigley understands residents have been shut out of the process in the past. By attending the meetings residents were able to ask questions and present their concerns before the project is officially presented to the Town Planning Board for its recommendations.

Ulster Garden's, a 162 unit development consisting of 112 senior housing units and 52 affordable housing units presented by The Chazen Co. with the hope of Planning Board approval has begun to address the concerns of local residents. Questions of standing water and traffic are just two of the issues of concern addressed by Chazen’s director of civil engineering, Peter Romano, Jr..

Representing the developer, Jonah Mandelbaum, principle owner of Warwick Properties, Mr. Romano understands that the town will have to live with Ulster Garden's long after the developer is gone.

Additionally, Warwick Properties offers town residents an alternative to Steve Aaron's Birchez Associates and Chambers Properties. Something that recent issues between Aaron and the City of Kingston regarding his default of payment of taxes and his attempt to use it as a tool in getting a better tax deal serve to prove.

It is not uncommon for competing real estate developers to try and sabotage each other’s projects with allegations of wrong doing and lack of benefit to the community. With this in mind one has to ask who benefits if this project is not built?

Like Mr. Potter of the movie, 'It's a Wonderful Life', Mr. Aaron has been the only game in town for seniors hoping to find housing that is both desirable and affordable. Although Warwick Properties is no Harry Bailey, issues between Chambers and the Town of Ulster demonstrate the necessity for good alternatives. In short, we need more Bailey Parks and fewer Potter’s Fields.

A New Year Ahead!

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year from UIYTT!

BAck in January 2012 with New Posts!

KCSD, Budget Gaps, Business as Usual!

Why is it that like day follows night Kingston School Budget Gaps and Budget Crises follow the Superintendent's contract and pay raise.

SEE RELATED FREEMAN ARTICLE Kingston school district faces $12.5M budget gap

$12.5 million dollars is an awful lot of money for even the most ardent public servant to fill!

• Does anyone truly believe that the School Board had no idea of how big the budget gap would be?
• Does any taxpayer, especially one who lost his/her job in the 'economic downturn', really believe that it's too little taxes, and not enough spending that is the problem?

Not to mention the waste, fraud and abuse!

• Does anyone in his/her right mind believe that scaling back on administration and teachers and yes even the closing of a school or two is a reasonable solution especially as the student enrollment is decreasing?
• Does anyone still think that throwing more money at the problem is the solution?

It's time KCSD caught up with the times, bigger classrooms, longer hours and merit based pay raises are a better answer, especially since everything they have tried has failed.

It's time administration expenses and positions are reduced and everyone realizes that for every teacher, every secretary, every principal, every principal's assistant, and every assistant's assistant we are paying the pensions, (pretty big ones by the way), of 1 1/2 to 2 teachers etc., in retirement.

Maybe we need some 'charter schools' in the district. Maybe we need to elect a board that understands that money is not an endless resource and that every $1 spent needs to return 100% value, no waste.

It may not be exclusive to the Kingston School District, but it is a product of mismanagement by government at all levels.

It's time for taxpayers to turn off the spigot and for our Politicians, Board Members and School Administrators to act responsibly!

RIP Officer Travis Nissen, UPD

The Town of Ulster lost a fine young man last night when Officer Travis Nissen was killed in an automobile accident on Rte 28 in the Town of Olive.

Officer Nissen will surely be missed by family and friends but there is more to his story. As his official duty encompassed the security and safety of our children as the School Resource Officer at the M. Clifford Miller Middle School in Lake Katrine, Officer Nissen, as he was known at the school, was a mentor and friend to many of the students, past and present. Officer Nissen touched many young lives in our town, he always had a smile, a word of encouragement and all the time in the world for each and every student.

The halls of Miller Middle School will never seem the same without his presence. The Town of Ulster Police Department has lost one of it's finest.