The SullivanTimes - Issue #11 - February 5, 2019

The Sullivan Times We cover and uncover the big stories in Sullivan County, NY.

Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - Issue 11

Gunther, Metzger Join Local Leaders To Protest Cuomo’s Cut in Local Aid Story and photos by Rich Klein

Back, left to right: Town of Liberty Supervisor Brian Rourke, Village of Liberty Mayor Ron Stabak, Town of Callicoon Supervisor Tom Bose, Town of Thompson Supervisor Bill Rieber. Front: Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, left, with State Senator Jen Metzger.

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LIBERTY - ​ It’s not always easy for Democrats to sharply criticize a Democratic governor but on Friday here, both Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and freshman State Senator Jen Metzger did just that. In stinging rebukes, Sullivan County’s two representatives in Albany pulled no punches in protesting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2019 budget proposal to significantly reduce “Aid and Incentives For Municipalities (AIM). “ They were joined at a news conference here last Friday by speakers Luis Alvarez, chair of the County Legislature, Town of Liberty Supervisor Brian Rourke, Town of Thompson Supervisor Bill Rieber, Town of Callicoon Supervisor Tom Bose and Village of Liberty Mayor Ron Stabak.

Gunther pointed out that funding for towns and villages statewide will be only $59 millon under Cuomo’s executive budget. “But funding for cities will be provided in full. How many cities does Sullivan County have? That would be zero. And yet the rural and suburban parts of the state, which needs this support the most, are going to be paying the price. So now villages and towns are faced with a choice: either raise property taxes or exceed the (two percent) tax cap. Or the worse that would be, to cut services.” Gunther said that “Governor Cuomo knows how we have struggled over the years in Sullivan and Orange to turn our communities around. And this is not any help to all of us. I’m sick of all the focus on New York City. Let’s put a little focus on upstate New York. We will try to stop these cuts every step of the way and I have a great partner in Jen (Metzger). “ Metzger added: “We’ll be pressing hard not just to keep the present AIM funding but to see it increased. You can’t bleed a stone but that’s exactly what this proposal is,” said Metzger, who in November became the first woman representing the 42nd Senatorial District. (Her predecessor, John Bonacic, held the seat for two decades before announcing his retirement in May 2018). Metzger, pointing out her immediate past experience as a town council member and deputy town supervisor of Rosendale (Ulster County), said: “Local governments are the most resourceful form of government there is...and work really hard to staying within the tax cap.” Metzger pointed out that upstate communities like those she serves are uniquely challenged because they have very high property taxes coupled with lower income than suburban communities downstate, such as in Westchester, where new State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins lives, and Long Island, the home of former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

L-R: Village of Liberty Mayor Ron Stabak; Town of Callicoon Supervisor Tom Bose; Chair of SC Legislature Luis Alvarez and Town of Thompson Supervisor Bill Rieber

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Sullivan County Treasurer Nancy Buck said in an email on Monday that ​she actually had “heard about the proposed cuts before Assemblywoman Gunther and I went down to her office and told her -- and she started making phone calls right away. So my reaction is/was total disgust in hurting the Towns and Villages especially expecting them to stay within a tax cap. I live in Roscoe, so I am already peeved that the Governor didn't assist the three schools that had issues and that will be a huge impact on the taxpayers. I don't think he really understands the impact the Towns, Villages and Roscoe School District will feel from this and I really hope our local representatives can get this reversed. “ The SullivanTimes a ​ lso asked Buck what, if anything, the County can do to help. “As far as helping the towns, I do think that the County needs to continue researching ways in assisting our municipalities, even if that means sales tax. That is hard for me to say, because the County is receiving a raise in our sales tax, but a lot of it has been anticipated in the budgets, so it really is not a huge cash flow increase.

Because of the additional sales tax I have not had to borrow TANS (tax anticipation notes) and that has saved the County money in interest and the expense of borrowing money, plus it helps with Moody's and S&P ratings to borrow less.” ​Buck added that as far as the sales tax, she was referring to how much increased sales tax revenue the County is currently collecting and “sharing a portion of the increase with the towns.”

Luis Alvarez, chair of the County Legislature who has enjoyed a close relationship with the governor, said at press time is meeting with the legislators today (Tuesday) to talk further about the AIM cuts and related financial issues facing the localities.

In a January 29 letter to Cuomo asking him to reconsider the cuts, Town of Liberty Supervisor Brian Rourke said that “for the past five years our town has answered your call to contain municipal spending and stay well within the tax cap by making tough decisions and sacrifices.

This year, we have relied on AIM funding in the amount of $40,394 to do so. Without continued support through the AIM funding, it is likely our community will be forced to increase taxes, which is the exact opposite result intended by the AIM program and tax cap legislation. Your office has described AIM Funding as a “minor funding cut” however, smaller townships and villages depend on this evenue to avoid tax hikes.”

Alvarez sent a letter to the governor on January 30 that said: “The proposal to eliminate Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding for all but the most financially strapped communities could cost Sullivan County’s 15 townships and 6 villages more than $700,000. While that may seem like a trivial amount, it is not insignificant for our towns and villages, who rely on this funding to make ends meet. The elimination of AIM in the middle of the fiscal year would leave our municipalities with terrible choices in the long term (exceeding the property tax cap, permanently reducing staff and services, etc.).”

Alvarez concluded that “AIM funding has historically provided a crucial flow of unrestricted State aid to Sullivan County’s villages and towns.

Their budget cannot endure the elimination of these monies. I ask you to not move forward with this provision of the proposed 2019 State Budget. The impacts would be too severe to justify the savings. “

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Last week, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a report on sales tax collections for 2017 and 2018. The reports said that Sullivan

County collected $39,885,982 in 2017 and $46,428,015 in 2018, a year-over-year percentage increase of 16.40 percent.

Other local officials chimed in last Friday. Village of Liberty Mayor Ron Stabak pointed out that “it’s well known that over 50 percent of this community is low to moderate low income. I know many people that are working two jobs just to stay in their houses because their taxes are high. This is a blow to the local community. The state has all sorts of abilities... to generate revenue that I don’t. I have cut middle management..we are doing our best..the police force has been reduced. We are doing our best. We are what I consider a lean money-operating machine. “I’m disappointed and begging you governor, please don’t do this. Please don’t do that to the people of this community.”

Town of Callicoon Supervisor Tom Bose noted that the town shares services with the Village of Jeffersonville and the Sullivan West Central School District. He said that the town has been able to stay within the two percent tax cap for many years and has also kept a tight budget, including the use of an outdoor wood-burning stove to heat his highway department and having very little long term debt.

But with this proposed cut, Bose said the town might have to cut the town’s participation in the County-wide cleanup in the Spring and Fall for three days each season. “It costs our town $10,000 each year just to provide that cleanup service. If we cut that out, it would almost make up the loss of revenue (from state). I don’t want to do that. I think it would be foolish. It’s a great serviced to provide to our residents.”

Bose said if he had to cut that service, people would see garbage alongside “our beautiful roads.” Bose added that he is also worried about the possible loss of extreme winter recovery funding from the state that he said totalled $40,000.

Town of Thompson Supervisor Bill Rieber said: “This is damaging to almost all the small towns in upstate New York. My encouragement to the governor and to our representatives who are listening and doing the right thing, is to quickly put this to bed, take this out of the budget

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and maybe concentrate on other matters where the state can make some really big moves on saving money.” Along those lines, Rieber called for a district court system to replace the multiple -- and costly -- town and village courts. He also suggested the state take a look at the New York State Health Insurance Plan to save money. Late Monday, ​Cuomo and DiNapoli held a news conference in Albany​ where Cuomo announced a “heart attack” to the state’s finances. “The big drop in state revenues in January is the most serious fiscal shock our state has faced in years," State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said.

The SullivanTimes​ has reached out to Governor Cuomo’s press office for comment about AIM and asked if Monday’s bombshell announcement would impact any restoration of funding to towns and villages. At press time today, Rieber weighed in on the state’s shortfall announcement.

“Certainly all these high earning individuals didn’t magically leave New York State in the last months of the year,” Rieber said. “Could it be possible that many of these high earners preferred paying taxes in 2019 in the hope that there might be a reversal of the tax code reflecting how much state and local taxes can be deducted? Earnings were high last year for many people particularly those in the markets. I would venture to say that revenues for the first quarter of 2019 will be quite higher and this ‘emergency’ shortfall will be a distant memory. I would hope that our state legislators stand fast.”

Here is a chart showing Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) for the past two years

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Nearly 200 Turn Out To Hear From Delgado In 1st SC Town Hall Story and photos by Rich Klein LIVINGSTON MANOR​ - Nearly 200 people from around Sullivan County showed up here on Saturday to ask questions of and to hear from freshman Congressman Antonio Delgado, an attorney who grew up in Schenectady and who has lived for the past two years in Rhinebeck.

Delgado defeated six Democratic candidates in last June’s primary before ousting Republican John Faso in November. His appearance Sunday marked his third town hall around the 19th Congressional District since taking office -- and already he has had more town halls than Faso held during his full two-year term.

Delgado told the crowd that he is “looking at offices” in Sullivan County but would announce a location. ​The SullivanTimes ​in January reported that he is planning to share space with Senator Jen Metzger at The Left Bank building in Liberty but Delgado’s staff has yet to confirm that.

There were questions -- and some short speeches -- by residents about building a wall on the southern border, climate change, drug treatment, the national debt, the struggles of farmers, access to information, and the shortage of emergency medical technicians because of low wages.

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Before the questions, though, Delgado talked for a few minutes about what he’s been doing since taking office. He mentioned the ​first bill that he introduced​, aimed ​at amending the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require certain reports filed under such Act to include the disclosure of persons who are registered lobbyists under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. The bill ​still needs cosponsors.

On the contentious issue of President Trump’s demand to build a wall along the southern border, Delgado told an adamant resident that “we can agree to disagree. There are other ways we can secure our border that are more effective,” he said, pointing to the use of technology instead of a wall. “I’m happy to have a robust debate on border security,” he said, adding that he suggests a public hearing so the American people can hear both sides of the argument. But he added, “I’m not hearing experts say we need a wall.”

Delgado also walked a fine line in talking about the motivations of those who support the wall. “I don’t assume that if somebody’s for the wall that they want to divide..are divisive or that they are hateful,” he said. “But the origin of this concept..is not consistent with our values as Americans.”

But he seemed to take a harder line against those in Congress and other places of influence who deny climate change is harming the environment. “There’s little tolerance for those who are saying that climate change isn’t real, given the science,” he said. Delgado suggested that a select committee be created “to figure out what concrete steps need to be taken to bring down carbon emissions, to incentivize investment in renewable energy and transition away from fossil fuels.” He also sees a big opportunity for job creation out of new energy investments, including the retraining of workers.

Staying on the issue of the environment, Delgado said he is confronting the Environmental Protection Agency over deregulation involving drinking water and also wants the agency to start cleaning up contaminated sites like in Hoosick Falls. Regarding the drug crisis, Delgado doesn’t think mass incarceration is a good idea as a one-size-fits all approach. “I’m a big proponent of how we decriminalize substance abuse,” he said. “And make sure we put more money into drug treatment centers.”

Delgado, responding to a farmer’s concern about how corporations have monopolized the industry and have hurt small family farms, said “as a general matter, the monopolization of any industry I find profoundly problematic.”

On his campaign website, Delgado (who is on the House Agriculture Committee) stated that “t​he farmers in our district have been forced to

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endure the detrimental impacts of bad trade policies and an unfair Farm Bill. Farmers I’ve talked with in our district have told me they don’t want aid, they just want to earn a livable income from their business. We should help them by passing legislation to conserve and protect our environment, provide access to credit and business training for small rural farms, invest in preparing the next generation of farmers in our community, and fund programs like SNAP and those incentivizing purchases at local farmer’s markets.” ​Responding to another resident who asked what Delgado will do about the national debt, he delivered one of his most popular answers of the afternoon. It came after he touched on some ideas about how to raise revenue and cut spending.

“You then take that revenue and invest it in our people, invest it in infrastructure, invest it in better wages, invest it in much better school system and that investment pays for itself in a more productive economy from the bottom up,” he said to applause. Right before that, he said that it “wasn’t smart” to lower the top margin tax rate or to tax hedge fund managers less than working people.

“We need to do things that make our tax system more equitable,” Delgado said. On the spending side, he cited a Pentagon report that showed the Department of Defense had found $250 billion in waste.

Among those in attendance were Luis Alvarez, chair of the County Legislature, and legislators Ira Steingart and Mark McCarthy, whose district includes Livingston Manor. McCarthy said earlier today that he had never met Delgado before Saturday, citing each other’s busy schedules. “I gotta tell you I was duly impressed and I’m very excited that he’s our Congressman” McCarthy said. “He’s a bright guy and had tremendous in-depth knowledge of every question that was asked. What I really loved was the way he connected with people. He‘s a very personable, likable guy. And I’m pleased he wants to work with others. There’s enough divisiveness.’’ McCarthy, the former supervisor for the Town of Neversink where he lives, said he also liked Delgado’s focus on wanting to help the County and other rural areas of the district be fully connected to broadband. McCarthy, himself, suggested today that the federal government should change the law so that broadband

District 3 Legislator Mark McCarthy, center, with Antonio Delgado and a constituent

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companies be treated like public utilities,which would force them to provide service to everyone, much like the mandate for electric companies during the 1950s.

Chuck Sommer of North Branch said he had met Delgado in August at a concert in Callicoon Center.

“I feel like he’s open and you can communicate with him,” Sommer said. “Given all the nastiness at the national level, I think it’s refreshing that he’s a nice guy.” Sommer said he said it’s sad what’s happened to small farms and wants to see more help for them.

Chuck Sommer of North Branch

After the Town Hall, Delgado had a few minutes to talk with the media. ​The SullivanTimes​ asked him if he thought Virginia Governor Ralph Northam should resign after his 1984 medical school yearbook showed a man in black face and another with a Ku Klux Klan hood on on Northam’s page in the yearbook.

“I think he should resign,” Delgado said. “We have to get to a point in this country where we don’t have a tolerance for that kind of mindset.”

Delgado was also asked what he thought about President Trump deciding to abandon the 1987 ​Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty that ​was signed by President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987. “What I was concerned about was to what extent was there coordination with our allies in Europe. I want to know more about the process about how we withdrew...the Russians have gotten emboldened by this.’’ And after hearing that the Russians stating that they will now move ahead with proliferation, Delgado said: This intensifies the atmosphere in a way that I don’t think is typically helpful.”

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Unscripted Catskills Hotel/Retail Plan For White Lake Aimed At Filling Lodging Void BETHEL - ​Jay Stein, CEO of Dream Hotel Group that is behind the hotel/retail development planned for early 2020 at The Corner (Route 17B and Route 55) here, told ​The SullivanTimes​ last week that the company chose Bethel for a 100-room hotel because “first and foremost, the Town of Bethel needs more rooms. “ With great fanfare, The Dream Hotel Group in December announced details of its plans for the construction of The Chatwal Lodge, a 34-room boutique hotel planned on the grounds of The Chapin Estate. Stein said that because the new hotel will also include a private event space, guests attending those events will need a place to stay. Another reason he cited for the hotel on 17B are “the exciting events and

Jay Stein, second from left, at groundbreaking of The Chawal Lodge in December joined by Sant Singh Chatwal, chairman of Dream Hotel Group (at far left) and, at right, by Town of Bethel Supervisor Dan Sturm and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther

performances that Bethel Woods hosts every year” and “the rollover from all the special events we expect to host at The Chatwal Lodge in the coming years.” He said that Unscripted Catskills offers an ideal destination for travelers seeking more accessible accommodations.

“Second, we love the Catskills. The location of Unscripted Catskills and The Shops at White Lake is ripe for growth. There’s a lot happening in Sullivan County, and we feel the market could really benefit from a hotel like Unscripted.”

Asked how the company decided on 100 hotel rooms, Stein said that “the size of the hotel reflects what we feel is best for the market.

Unscripted is a boutique lifestyle brand and we feel 100 rooms is most ideal size for this specific location, situated within a mixed-use retail complex in the heart of Bethel, NY. “ The SullivanTimes​ also asked if the company would be seeking any tax breaks from the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency but Stein said “​it’s too soon to share this information.” The group, under the name Chatwal Hospitality, did submit an application to the IDA for The Chatwal Lodge project in mid November. The company also said it is not yet prepared to discuss possible lease agreements with stores that may want to open in White Lake.

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According to Dream Hotel Group’s website, Unscripted “is a new hospitality concept for the progressive, creative traveler. Every city has a story to tell, and Unscripted adapts to each location…through hyperlocal food and beverage, thoughtful design and a culture of friendly service..”

The SullivanTimes​ in December reported exclusively about Dream Hotel’s plans after an interview with Steve Dubrovsky shortly after the news conference about The Chatwal Lodge. Dubrovsky, who just turned 70, developed The Chapin Estate. One of his previous partners was Dan Silna, who is the new owner/developer of The Eldred Preserve, set to open its own boutique hotel and event space in August 2019.

Stein said that Dubrovsky “is an integral part of our team. He’s working with us on both The Chatwal Lodge and Unscripted Catskills developments. We respect his insight into the community and look forward to working more closely with him as we prepare to launch both projects in 2020.”

Designed by Rockwell Group, Unscripted Catskills will feature 100 guest rooms and suites, a large outdoor pool house and fitness center, expansive meeting and event space, and two food and beverage outlets, including a 2,000-square-foot restaurant and a 1,000-square-foot grab and go eatery.

Part of the 11-acre site being developed was made famous in the 2009 movie, “Taking Woodstock,” which chronicled how the Woodstock Music and Art Fair came to Bethel and the role that the former El Monaco Hotel played as the headquarters for the organizers in August 1969. The movie was based on the story by Elliot Tieber, who was president of the Bethel Chamber of Commerce and the son of the owners of The El Monaco.

Site planned for Unscripted Catskills and The Shops at White Lake

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