kingstonnavigator

City of Kingston Minority Leader’s Report
March 1, 2011
We Are All In This Together

I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight.  It is so important tohave open lines of communication between our City’s government and thepeople we serve.  President Noble, my fellow members of the CommonCouncil and to everyone here tonight, I respectfully submit this year’s Minority Report:

It seems like yesterday I was here before you giving last year’s reporttalking about many of the same issues.    Looking back I spoke with theoptimism of a fresh Alderman thinking wheels of government would spin,and change would happen overnight.   Now I know things happen slower here than in the public sector, yet my optimism and faith in our great City has not dissipated one bit.

The news of late causes deep concern with budget mandates,dwindling jobs and rising taxes.  Alleged overtime discrepancies and questionable actions from one of our most respected public servants has eroded the public trust.  These are very difficult times indeed.  Let’s look atour roadmap and see where we’ve been, then let’s look ahead to how wecan work together to rebuild that trust and begin to turn our city around.

The same topics rise to the surface; loss of jobs, unsustainable pensions &labor agreements, uneven assessments and an unbalanced tax rate scaringaway new business.  We continue to confront crime and gangs in our streetsand inefficient spending at City Hall.  The list goes on.  Last year we spokeof efficiency and planning, this year we are talking about survival.  Since2007 we have seen our City’s fund balance drop from more than $15 million dollars to less than $4 million in 2009, jeopardizing our financial footing.Uneven assessments resulted in high legal fees and grievance settlements, combined with falling home values this further increases the burden on aproperty owner.  In this year’s budget, for the first time ever, thesegrievance settlements were bonded, adding to our City’s long term debt.Now is the time for a new way of thinking and doing business.  We havesuccessfully combined our Fire Dispatch with the County beginning theprocess of sharing services and resources which is a step forward.  As unioncontracts expire later this year it is essential the discussions are open, fair,and agreeable for all.  If we can achieve sustainable labor agreements we can restore services and make needed repairs to our Parks andInfrastructure.  The future of our City depends on it.

In the Mayor’s address he spoke of the wonderful things that have taken place on Kingston’s Waterfront.  Where all of this is a wonderful assetto our City, we have 2 other business districts that seem to constantly fallby the wayside.  The Uptown shopping district is one of Kingston’s Crown Jewels, yet business owner’s cries for help are swept under the mat, or inthis case, the Canopy.  Our midtown corridor continues to struggle, yet we ignore chronic violators whose storefronts repeatedly break design and coderegulations.  Let me remind you that one has to drive down Broadway to getto the Waterfront.  More visitors arrive by car than by boat 12 months out of the year and we MUST work to empower these areas. Whether we do itthrough the creation of Business Improvement Districts or other incentives,when we do it, new jobs will follow. We all have hopes that the Kings Inn property will bring an opportunity to reinvent the neighborhood and createa welcome and much needed place for visitors and residents alike.   With community groups engaging in the re-birth of Kingston we can achieve great things.  We have some of the most dedicated people who callKingston home, and they are on the front lines of moving us forward. Members from our community dedicate their time keeping kids out of harm’s way.   Take a look at the Hodge Center, the Boys & Girls Club andour own Rec Programs and you’ll see why it is so important to engage ouryouth before crime and gangs find them.   We have a Neighborhood Watchthat has helped garner attention to how we as citizens can be pro-activeagainst crime and work with law enforcement to keep our streets safe.   We are all in this together.

A key component of our success stems on jobs and job creation.  We need to look at all levels of opportunity which includes small business,health care, creative arts, education, history and tourism among them. Until we embrace business by working to equalize the homestead/non-homestead tax model we can’t compete with neighboring communities. The City of Kingston also needs to hold the line on social services and thecottage industry it has become.  The amount of parcels off our tax rollscontinue to overburden the rest of the community and we must strike abalance between the two by taking a hard look at our zoning laws whichpermits this to happen and then address it.    I am pleased to say that my suggestion of creating a special Laws & Rules Committee meeting each month focusing on our zoning regulations will begin in March and we willwork to bring these codes up to date.  Doing so will help protect ourheritage and historic neighborhoods while working to streamline the processfor new development.  It will be an ongoing effort that will embrace the expertise of Planning and Building & Safety, combined with community and business leaders working together to move us forward with a strategy forsuccess.  This is the first step for a Comprehensive Plan that is so desperately needed which can be done affordably.  Making sure that all departments communicate with each other is part of this process.  I often witness how the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing which is inefficient and costly.

As we look ahead we must embrace change.  Using digital media and social networking is an easy way to keep the public informed and is costeffective as well.  For example during a snow emergency our DPW can alert the community with up to the minute information.   In today’s world of instant media we must be part of the revolution.  Another component to Kingston’s future should include the inception of a Strategic Plan Committeein order to chart a course over the next 15-20 years to insure future generations of a vibrant and healthy City.  We will soon have a new neighborhood with Hudson Landing.  It was a long process and we have toacknowledge the commitment of the community and developers who listened to find a common balance.

As outlined here tonight, we have much to look forward to but we have a lot of work to do.  This spring our leadership will be defending their actions in a Sexual Harassment Lawsuit, we will continue to fight the County to change the practice of Safety Net funding, and we will wait for the outcome of federal and state investigations in our Police Department.   With the opportunity for a change in leadership for Kingston this fall we must insistthat these and other issues take a front seat in order to put us on the righttrack.  It is vital that we repair public disconnect and regain the trust of ourpeople.  We must hold the line on property & school taxes which arecausing homeowners and business owners alike to pick up and leave.  Andwe must have a strong voice at the state level to fight unsustainable andunfunded mandates.  Improving the quality of life for our residents alongwith having honesty and integrity in our leaders, and a transparent and efficient government will move us in the right direction.  Once you fix thefoundation, the rest of the house can be re-built.

Before I close tonight, I want to be sure to thank those who give their dedication and commitment to the City of Kingston.  To our police department who does an outstanding job in fighting crime which is no easy task right now, our firefighters who are there for us within minutes of a 911 call, and to the DPW members who have gotten us through a very difficult winter even through staff cuts and layoffs.  Our City would not run without them.  I ask that the public continue to be engaged and informed of what is going on.  We are all in this together.  We love our City and know in ourhearts this is the best place on earth to call home.  Thank you.

Respectfully Submitted,
Andi Turco-LevinCity Of Kingston Common Council
Minority Leader 2011

The case for 2 winning and walkable schools

At a vulnerable moment in Kingston’s history, when several of our most critical public institutions seem to need fixing, it’s curious to find two institutions — that are excelling — slated for the chopping block.

Sophie Finn and Frank L. Meagher elementary schools will shut their doors to children in grades K-5 beginning in the 2012 school year, if the recommendation of the school system’s Master Plan Facilities Committee is adopted by the full school board.

Sophie Finn, on Mary’s Avenue, would be converted, once again, into an alternative high school. Meagher, on Wynkoop Place, would be converted into office space for school district administrators or, more likely, shut down altogether, ending a 100-plus year run as Kingston’s oldest operating elementary school.

The rationale for the closures, of course, is financial.  Faced with declining enrollment and  under-utilization throughout the district’s 11 elementary schools, school administrators are looking to save as much as $680,000 by closing Meagher altogether, not including personnel reductions.

As aldermen on the Kingston Common Council, we know all too well the pressures faced by our counterparts on the school board in searching for ways to curb costs and control taxes. But as aldermen representing the home wards of Sophie Finn and Meagher, we also feel strongly that closing both of these schools to our youngest Kingstonians is unfair – to them and to city tax payers.

Both schools are well-loved by parents, for good reason. Class sizes are small; performance  measures are consistently high, following aggressive and long-term efforts by recent principals to lift test scores; and student bodies are diverse. Even as Title I schools serving a large portion of disadvantaged children, both schools enjoy a high degree of involvement by parents and neighbors.

What’s more, both are walkable for a majority of their students – a concept that some might dismiss as outdated and quaint but that we think plays a critical part in the potential appeal of Kingston neighborhoods to young couples looking to make a home and raise a family.  At a time when the city, the Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Robert Woods Johnston Foundation are investing considerable time and money in a “Complete Streets” program aimed at curbing Kingston’s alarming rates of childhood obesity, the closure of two walkable schools serving almost 450 students seems out of step with bigger public imperatives.

The $680,000 to be saved by closing Meagher represents less than one-half of 1% of the school system’s proposed $145 million annual budget, and once the additional costs of busing newly displaced students is factored in, the savings will be even less. Since the schools are within a half mile of each other and collectively cover a large swath of Midtown, the expanded busing could add considerably to the $7 million-plus we already spend annually on student transportation.

But if closures are the only workable way to make a dent in school spending right now – and we don’t think they are – then the school board at least needs to look, finally, at wielding the budget ax elsewhere.

By the Facilities Committee’s own reckoning, Zena School, in Woodstock, has the lowest enrollment in the system, with only 70% utilization. Situated in a largely rural setting, surrounded by trees, Zena is hardly walkable for anyone, let alone children.

We do not advocate closing any school, but if you’re going to close one, then be fair about it. And fair does not include pitting two high-achieving, walkable schools in Kingston against one another.

Hayes Clement represents Ward 9, home of Sophie Finn School, on the Kingston Common Council. Bill Reynolds, the Council’s Majority Leader, represents Ward 7, home of Meagher School.

 

By Rebecca Martin

Here are important dates for Kingston Citizens to take note or place in their calendar as it pertains to the Board of Education. Camille mentioned that there are going to be EMPTY SEATS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE this year. Anyone interested in running can contact her at ce*********@*****************ls.org

ONGOING

1st & 3rd Wed. of the month.  6:00pm Ex. Committee. 7:00pm Public Comment

2nd Tuesday of each Month, 8:30am
Jim Shaughnessy is a guest on WGHQ.

SAVE THE DATE

Monday, February 28th  6:00pm – 8:00pm
Budget Forum at the GW Montessori Elementary School in Kingston

Thursday, April 14th  12:30pm
Coffee and conversation at Quick Chek on Albany Ave.

May 3rd
Last day to register to vote in the school election.

Monday, March 7th – 9:00am
Coffee and conversation at Monkey Joe’s Coffee Roaters on Broadway.

May 10th 6:00pm – 9:00pm
“Meet the Candidates Night. Generally held at Miller Middle School.

May 17th
Election – School Board Committee members and budget

 

By Rebecca Martin

The Pike Plan process has been a real quagmire. Whether you are for or against it, here we are.

A notice was sent out to the public advising that the city will hold a Pike Plan Pre-Construction meeting on Tuesday, March 1st at 5:30pm. The meeting will take place at the Kirkland Hotel located on Main and Clinton in Kingston. The purpose is to discuss the ‘Rehabilitation’ of the Pike Plan Project.

In preparation for the meeting unfortunately for citizens, it will be hard to find information that isn’t polarized to one side or the other. Earlier on in the Pike Plan Commission process, there weren’t minutes kept – so what is true and what isn’t relies mainly now on perspectives.

What I can suggest is that you speak to the following parties to become familiar with both sides as things currently stand.

Kingston USA, Robert Tonner, President: ta*@********ll.com or Eric Francis: bo********@***il.com
I think this organization is the most reliable in obtaining factual information as to where the project lies today. This group is opposed to the pike plan, and says that the project isn’t a rehabilitation, but a complete tear down and rebuild project that will cost far more than what is budgeted – impacting the citizens of Kingston and still covering the historic character of the buildings while diminishing business for those who are struggling under the current design.  Kingston USA is made up mainly of those business and building owners living in the Pike Plan district.

KUBA, Kevin Quilty, President:  ku******@************wn.org
Kevin supports the project, and represents the ‘business’ community in Uptown Kingston. Surprisingly, there are 400 members (give or take) who comprise this organization. The majority of members are not impacted by the pike plan.

KURA, Gerry Soldner, President: in**@*************ts.org
KURA (Kingston Uptown Residents Alliance) is a volunteer organization made up of esteemed members in our community. Gerry is a Kingston Citizen who I hold up high. He is intelligent, investigative, and sensible.

There are others who have played an integral role in the process which I will gladly share if you need more contact information. For others, please feel free to post your opinions or helpful tips regarding this matter in the comment section for citizens as they prepare for this upcoming meeting.

THIS JUST IN: I received this from KingstonUSA .  Feel free to contact them if you have any questions.

As some are familiar, a Master Plan Facilities Committee was established to “study the district’s facilities and make recommendations to the Board of Education for a Five Year Capital Improvement Plan”.  It was established three years ago in January of 2008.

At this time, the committee concludes that Meagher Elementary School be closed and Sophie Finn Elementary School be converted into an alternative educational center for High School students.

There is one last public comment opportunity on the subject after the MPFC makes it’s recommendations.

Wednesday, March 2nd, Board of Education facility at 61 Crown Street

4:30pm: The Master Plan Facilities Committee will make their recommendations to the BOE. There is no public comment at this time.

6:00pm: The Board of Education Executive Committee

7:00pm: Public Comment (each citizen is limited to 2 minutes each).

I recommend that you attend the 4:30pm meeting if you wish to speak later on. If you do go, please post your experience in the comment section of this post.

Future meetings for the Master Plan Facilities Committee are Wednesday’s at 4:30pm April 6, May 4, June 1 all at the Crown Street location.

Thanks.

By Rebecca Martin

Last week on my way into Mother Earth Storehouse in Kingston, there was a young man selling pies – and delicious looking pies of all sorts that included vegan recipes – in the entranceway. He was gentle and soft spoken with the crowd that had gathered to check out the goods and to learn of a new organization that he was a founder of called “the O-Yeah: the organization yielding on end to animal homelessness“.  Their aim is noble and makes a lot of sense by working to end pet overpopulation in the city of Kingston. It’s a perfect illustration of hyper local, which in my estimation is what we all need to get back to in our efforts and endeavors.

An organization after my own heart, I waited my turn to speak to him to learn more of what they were up to.

So here’s the deal. This big hearted and intelligent crew bake pies out of their professional kitchen as a part in raising money  to purchase a location in midtown Kingston.  They have a website that is as interactive as it is informative. You can become a member and use their forum to get advice, support and to learn of how you can help.

I love this concept and wish them the very best. Perhaps we’ll conduct an interview one of these days when they get further along so that we can learn more about several of the extraordinary youth in the city of Kingston.

Until then, check out their pies.  Seriously.

By Rebecca Martin

The recent accusations that Lt. Matthews allegedy tried to ‘double dip’ by being paid twice as a city police officer and an SRO at the Kingston High School would be a bold move. Imagine, someone of his stature feeling comfortable to take the chance in requesting to be paid – twice.  How could you blame a simpleton like me for questioning the oversight here and wondering where else there might be questionable department accounting?

I’m no expert, but the whole situation inspires my thinking as to who is ultimately responsible. Isn’t this an executive city matter?  If so, City Hall is  caught with its pants down again. First the safety net and now this?

Come on fellas. Get with the program. You are paid by the taxpayers to manage infrastucture and the budgets that surround it – and that’s really all. How hard can that be? Not so much for those who are qualified. There. I said it.

This is more serious then electing an adminstration out and hoping that another will do better.  It’s a matter of professionalism and responsibility, and that has nothing to do party lines.   I have a feeling this sort of thing is pervasive and whether it’s a lack of attention or sneaky – we may never know.

In the meanwhile, this isn’t acceptable and Lt. Matthew’s alleged actions may impact more than the budget. It may discredit the cases of some or all of  those he put behind bars.  With a six figure salary, stealing from taxpayers and then putting our safety at risk is a very serious crime. If he is guilty, then I hope he will be punished to the full extent of the law. Afterwhich  Kingston – you’ve got to look more closely at department head budgets – and if that’s too much for you to do – then you don’t belong in the leadership positions that you are in. On that note, Kingston Citizens – we need to be paying closer attention. Our government is a reflection of us and if we are apathetic as a community,  then how can we expect anything less?

It’s a bold stance to take, but I believe that someone should be hired to run this city, as I don’t believe Kingston is served by party line leadership any longer. We don’t need the most popular candidate with the most resources to run our city (which by the way, the voter turnout is always a small fraction of the number of citizens in the community. What does that tell you?).  We simply need people who are qualified to do the job.

By Rebecca Martin

Friends,

I have been notified that all people living in the affected area of the gas leak in Kingston MUST BE AVAILABLE to have their gas lines turned off by Central Hudson before the problem can be solved. With 1100 homes, that’s going to take the most time – and it will only take ONE HOME to hold up the entire process.

If you are not home now, please call Central Hudson at 800/527-2714 and speak to a customer agent to give them a contact number.

Thanks.

Kingston Citizens –

I just got off the phone with Central Hudson and all home owners in the effected area MUST BE HOME FOR CENTRAL HUDSON TO GET IN TO TURN OFF THEIR GAS LINE. Newer constructions have meters on the outside of their homes – but older homes have meters in their basements.

If they are not able to get into one home THE PROCESS IS DELAYED. Please wait if you can, or call Central Hudson to give them a contact number at 800/527-2714.

Apparently, this very thing happened in Montgomery last month with 600 homes effected. It took over two days to complete the process. In Kingston, approximately 1100 homes are effected.   Let’s cooperate to make this move forward as swiftly as possible.

As mentioned in the last post, there is a warming shelter at the Midtown Rec Center.

Thanks.

By Rebecca Martin

Friends,

If you’re like me, you’ve lost your gas for the next couple of days.

Here is the area effected:

http://www.centralhudson.com/pdf/affectedareas_SpringSt.pdf

There is emergency shelter at the Midtown Rec Center for those in need. Please make sure to check on our elderly and young families for support. I have also been told that Chiz at Heart Street on West Chestnut Street is in need of space heaters.

Please help in any way that you can.

Thank you.

By Rebecca Martin

I was pretty shocked to learn of Bob Margolis’s recent passing. More recently, a music writer at Ulster Publishing, his pieces were stellar and ones that I always personally looked forward to.

You can read about him  HERE.

My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Gardens Coalition Meeting Set for Jan. 19

Calling all volunteers interested in working on community and school gardens! The Kingston City Gardens Coalition is holding its first meeting of 2011 on Wednesday, January 19, at 6 p.m., at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County offices located at 10 Westbrook Lane, Kingston, N.Y.

The meeting will offer a chance for volunteers interested in working on community gardens to connect with others who are already at work on school and community garden projects in Kingston. Groups or project leaders who have community and school gardens planned for 2011 should attend as a way to connect with other project leaders as well as with potential volunteers. Attendees will also have an opportunity to discuss their vision for community and school gardens in 2011.

The Kingston Citywide Gardens Coalition is comprised of citizens, educators and community leaders who are involved in a variety of school and community garden projects in and around the City of Kingston, NY. The coalition meets monthly to hold gardening workshops and skillshares and to offer support of community and school garden projects. Members of the coalition include citizen volunteers from Kingston as well as project leaders and volunteers from the New York City DEP, the Kingston Land Trust, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, Kingston City Schools, Bard College, the Healthy Kingston for Kids Project, and the Ulster County Bar Association, among others.

For more information about the meeting on January 19, contact Arthur Zaczkiewicz via email at art***************@***il.com or by calling 845.340.3990, ext. 334.

By Rebecca Martin

Are you familiar with Patrice Courtney Strong? If you are not, she not only operates New York Energy $mart Communities in Kingston, but she is a strong advocate for many positive initiatives, including the Main Street Manager program that runs out of her headquarters at 446 Broadway in Kingston.

I recently received one of her blasts noting that Kings Inn was to be a BAK (Business Alliance of Kingston) focus in 2011. The next meeting is on January 18th.  Try to attend if you are interested in the future of this project. Here are the details:

Read the NEWSLETTER and take the survey.

Please join us on Tuesday, January 18th, 5pm at our new headquarters, 446 Broadway for BAK’s first meeting of the new year. We’ll be looking for your suggestions as we sketch out our direction for the new year.

We’ve come to believe that formation of a Business Improvement District would be the best way to work on the goals we’ve set out, below. In 2011, we’ll move much closer to making that a reality. Please join us to learn how you can participate, and how to make your voice heard.

Sincerely,

Patrice Courtney StrongPresident, Business Alliance of Kingston

By Rebecca Martin

Last year, we did a poll to get feedback from citizens on the parking meters in Kingston.

I’m no expert on the subject, so I’ll rely on good old fashioned common sense.

How is it sensible to provide limited parking, poor signage for shoppers on where to park when street parking is not available and then issue parking tickets while someone is dropping  a hundred bucks at one of our small businesses that aid in their staying afloat? The meter maids are the most organized game in town.

I don’t think meters are the answer.  I have heard city officials proclaim that the meters were meant to keep business owners from parking on the street all day long. It has failed in doing so as many simply feed the meters all day long while the parking problems persist.

What is more likely to be true is the money the city raises through parking meters help supplement the city budget in a major way. Probably to the tune of $200,000 throughout the year.

What Kingston needs is a long range parking plan in our business districts. I am sure there are many successful models to look at in choosing one to fit in our community.

Here are some of the comments that we received. I ask that readers see this as a token – for if the city of Kingston chose to do a true study on proper parking practices,  there would be a great deal of good information made available to help encourage instead of punish patrons while instructing business owners or operators and others to park in designated areas.

1. Don’t enforce the meters on Saturday and after 4 or 5pm during the week.

2. During the holidays, it was a pleasant surprise to park in the Village of Saugerties and find red bags over the parking meters with Happy Holidays on them. If nothing else, the goodwill generated by the gesture made the pain of spending Montano prices for my son’s shoes a bit more tolerable and we return (far too frequently!) for new shoes. But, I think about that whenever I park in uptown Kingston. How about a cheery bag over the meters on Farmer’s Market day saying “Welcome to Kingston Farmer’s Market” and likewise for the holidays, other significant days, etc. More than the quarter saved to park, it makes the city seem friendlier.  AUTHORS NOTE: The city of Kingston placed Santa Hats on the meters during the holidays. It ain’t much, but it’s a start.

3. I think that each driver should get one pass/warning. But I also know that the city installed meters due to the fact that a lot of the motorists were parking all day which left no empty spaces for out of towners or customers to shop within the city limits. It is quite the quandary because people will not do a lot shopping within city limits if they have to worry about keeping the meter full while conducting their business. So without the business the parking dept, has to resort to meters to generate revenue. The money they spent on meters should have gone to construct an attractive parking that would have allowed people to park for free.

4. As long as you feed the meter, parking time should be unlimited. Weekends should be free to encourage browsing, sightseeing, and shopping.

5.  I would like to see expanded municipal lots & possibly no charge parking on certain days or at certain times

6. I’d like to see the penalty $ by lowered to $10. Give us a break!

7. The Parking Meters, that used to be .10/hour in Saugerties are now .50/hour just like Kingston. Saugerties is now a complete ghost town.

8. Well, I’d sure like the city to put up P-signs for Parking: there are no signs on the lots, no signs directing people to them. I’m a resident and I had not reason to believe they were not private. There is one on Broadway on the north side near ONeil and one just off Broadway on Franklin… and they are totally neglected

9. Actually, the meters are important in deterring workers and business owners from preventing customers from parking. Bigger problem: more parking is needed in uptown.

By Rebecca Martin

In today’s Freeman editorial, they are spot on to refer the tragedy on New Years Eve in Kingston as a shared responsibility.

For 300 people to come to a location in a residential neighborhood without a single call from the neighbors is a bit unbelievable. In addition, it illustrates a basic need that KC.org has been driving home now for the past five years – that our  Alderman need to get out into the neighborhoods they represent on a regular basis. That’s an obvious part of the job.  A regular meeting for their constituents to discuss relevant issues should be built into their positions in the same way that they are obligated to committees on top of their council seat.

As for placing so much of the blame on the Police department, people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.  Finger pointing isn’t going to solve the problem.  Better communication throughout however – will.