Molinaro (standing) chats with breakfast guests
POUGHKEEPSIE – Infrastructure, casinos, consolidation of services, and bank settlement money were all discussed by Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, and Dutchess County’s top officials Monday at the Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress annual Hudson Valley Leadership Conversation.
In 90-minute dialog, county executives Marcus Molinaro of Dutchess, Michael Hein of Ulster, Steven Neuhaus of Orange, and Sullivan County Legislative Chairman Scott Samuelson talked about what’s going well in their counties as well as what areas are in need of work.
The casino-resort complex to be built in Kiamesha Lake took center stage and Samuelson said it will have widespread benefits.
“It means a lot for Sullivan County, but I really think it also means a lot for the region,” Samuelson said. “We’ve already started some conversations on how we will make this extraordinary project a win- win, not only for the region but also the state.”
Boasting Orange County’s ability to get project approval quickly is one of the economic development goals Neuhaus has for the county. There are some large projects in the works for 2015.
“We are building more stuff in Orange this year than in the past 10 years combined,” Neuhaus said.
Hein credited Ulster County’s job growth with a business community
that embraces it and understands who they are. Tourism and agriculture
are the largest money makers in the county. He supports state
settlement money being applied to local infrastructure projects.
“We are loud and absolutely screaming with our senators, our assemblymen, and the governor’s office because that money is critically important to infrastructure,” Hein said. “And you’re right, it truly is a once in a generation opportunity.”
All four counties are in need of infrastructure upgrades especially bridge and road, but water and sewer as well. The officials agree that they hope to be able to use bank settlement money on infrastructure improvements.
Molinaro said the new development in the region should be in the urban areas.
“The new growth has to be in and around transit oriented development, beer and wine oriented development, city and village centers,” he said. “And if Poughkeepsie, or Kingston, or Newburgh or Beacon can’t embrace that, though I believe many of them are, then we have to push them there. Because that will be the future of the Hudson Valley.”
Molinaro’s comment brought kudos later in the day from Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano who said the urban areas – cities and villages – are the future for economic development in the region.
