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Valley News Editorial
Finally, the state smiles on the Adirondacks
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or many years, it seemed those of us living in Northern New York could not catch a break. ItÕ s hard enough when we leave the area and people ask us where we are from. The response, Ò Northern New York,Ó is always followed by, Ò Albany?Ó Ò Syracuse?Ó Ò Buffalo?Ó Ò ?Ó Seriously, there actually was a national television reporter who would refer to Weschester County as Northern New York. It felt lawmakers saw the state in the same light. Millions and billions of dollars would flow like honey to everywhere but here, the Adirondacks. The rest of the state would evolve while the Adirondacks remained sheltered to all but a select few. Fortunately, one of those select few now wears the mantle of Governor, Andrew Cuomo. Since his election just over three years ago, the state funding pipeline has been expanded to include the North Country and the Adirondacks. The most recent example is the North Country Economic Development Council receiving $81.3 million in state funding to help with projects that will drive the economy of the region. Saranac Lake, which has been an Adirondack playground for Cuomo, received a generous share of the funding, with $5 million for the renovation of the Hotel Saranac and $2 million for the construction of a new resort and waterfront restaurant at the former Lake Flower Hotel. Bionique Testing Laboratories received $650,000 for expansion at its Lake Clear facility, adding 10,000 square feet for laboratories, storage and conference rooms; and the Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake received $3,360 for the hiring of a seasonal intern. Mayor Clyde Rabideau said Cuomo spoke highly of the area: Ò He really grew to love the area, knows what we are about and knows what we need.Ó It wasnÕ t just Saranac Lake. In Tupper Lake, the Wild Center received $250,000 to support Phase 2 of its Wild Walk. A pair of North Country movie theaters in Indian Lake and Au Sable Forks received funding necessary to make the transition to digital projection technology in order to stay in business. The Adirondack North Country Association received $59,200 for the Adirondack Regional Arts Trail. Towns and municipalities received funding for infrastruc-
ture projects and green energy alternatives. Two days later, the towns of Indian Lake, Long Lake, Minerva, Newcomb and North Hudson celebrated the land classification decisions made by the Adirondack Park Agency which would allow for snowmobile and hiking trail connectivity between the five towns and chances for economic growth. Cuomo was also at the forefront of this movement, bringing parties on the government, conservation and environmental sides of the issue to the table to come up with a land classification that would be acceptable to all sides. The state also showed strong support for the passage of Propositions 4 and 5, which both benefit the economy of the Adirondack Park. These are the most recent examples, but the biggest may still be the GovernorÕ s reaction to the North Country following Tropical Storm Irene. Cuomo was in the North Country two days after the storm cut its way through our region, devastating towns, destroying homes and uprooting families. His message remained constant: Ò We will rebuild better than before.Ó Since, the Cuomo administration has helped to fill the gap for the North Country, securing funding to rebuild both the Keene and Upper Jay Fire Houses and covering the remaining 25 percent in funding for FEMA property buyouts. We can sit here and hope that if it were any other governor, things would have been the same. But, we never saw David Patterson or Eliot Spitzer in the North Country. George Pataki, now an Essex resident, was the last governor before Cuomo to come to the area with any frequency, but not like this. Not all of his decisions have found favor here. The SAFE Act is a real bone of contention with a majority of North Country residents, many of whom are dependent upon or are themselves sportsmen. Local political leaders are split on the tax levy cap. Conservative groups find his push for equal marriage rights upsetting. However, with Andrew Cuomo in office, the state has often smiled upon the people of the North Country and the Adirondacks. As he prepares for what will most likely be a re-election bid as whispers of higher office float around him, we can only hope it remains this way for a long time to come. Ñ
Denton Publications Editorial Board
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December 28, 2013
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Viewpoint
Ring in the New Year 2014
T
he year 2013 seemed to spring and fallÕ s devastating flash by in the blink of tornadoes. The West Coast saw eye. While itÕ s hard to some of the worst brush fires in believe weÕ re in the last week recent years in which not only of the year, itÕ s time to face facts property was destroyed on a because like it or not, 2014 is massive scale, but also tragicalstaring us in the face. The pace ly claimed the lives of numerof life these days seems to have ous firefighters and residents. accelerated the calendar. TechWe continued to see senseless nology was supposed to give us shootings at schools and public Dan Alexander more time but oddly enough, it places that continued to fuel Thoughts from has done the opposite, keeping discussions on bullying, metal us so occupied that times flies. health, and gun legislation Behind the Pressline I have mixed feelings when which has resulted in growing it comes to turning the page on purchases of guns, assault rifles 2013 but each new year brings new hope, op- and ammunition. We also witnessed the tertimism and a sense of new beginnings. 2013 rorist bombing during the Boston Marathon had its moments of ups and downs. It was and the extended search for the perpetrators. oddly very different than 2012, but yet in The world came together recently to celeother ways, continued with unresolved issues brate the life of Nelson Mandela and also earcarried over from the previous year. lier in the year to witness resignation of one The year closed on a positive note with our pope and the election of a new PeopleÕ s Pope, government bodies finally agreeing on a twoone who is changing the Papacy and putting year federal budget plan that received bipar- a renewed sense of faith in the hearts of many. tisan support. Congressman Ryan (R-WI) and At the same time, the world seems no safer as Senator Murray (D-WA) put partisan politics a number of hotspots around the globe could aside and found a way to address their party ignite at any time. philosophical differences and focused on the We are also witnessing a new player in the common ground on which they could both exploration of space as China lands a rover agree. Our government was facing another on the moon and has announced ambitious debt limit showdown in February, so we must plans to surpass the previous exploits of the consider it an encouraging sign that an agree- United States. Time will tell if this nation is ment was reached by these long-time bicker- challenged by this competition or if we are ing political parties averting another possible no longer motivated to lead the world in adshutdown of the federal government like we vancements of science and exploration. experienced in the fall. If weÕ ve learned nothOur world and the nation will continue to ing over the last few years, it is that nothing be affected by major events but its how we beneficial gets accomplished when the two choose to deal with these events that defines sides dig in their heels and lob grenades at who we are as a people. How we support each each other. other and deal with the effects of these events 2013 also left us hanging. The economy makes all the difference. We can only hope hasnÕ t shown any true clear direction towards and pray that we can begin to address many recovery or recession. The stock market con- of these issues that cry out for resolution, cotinues to soar upwards and gasoline prices operation, understanding and compromise, continue to ebb and flow showing no ratio- especially when it comes to school shootings nal signs of why. Health care hasnÕ t gotten and the senseless taking of lives. any cheaper. Many Americans have lost their On behalf of all of us at Denton Publicahealth insurance and there still appears to be tions and New Market Press, we sincerely as much ranker over where the Affordable hope your 2014 is full of prosperity and joy Health Care Act will take the nation, as its for you, your family, your community, our rollout has been fraught with many problems. country and this small planet we share and Many among our countrymen are still left call home. recovering from Hurricane SandyÕ s 2012 efDan Alexander is publisher and CEO of Denton fects on the East Coast while other parts of Publications. He may be reached at dan@denpubs. the country continue to recover from the com.