Drapkin “kicking butt”
TOWN OF WALLKILL – The economy of Orange County is doing well,
in fact, better than other counties in the region, and with changing age
demographics and types of businesses, it is a good time for the county
to explore creative new growth modes. That observation came Thursday from
Jonathan Drapkin, president of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress.
Speaking to the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Drapkin said the success of the county can be attributed to leadership.
“In economic development you have a very good team; that’s why you do so well,” Drapkin said. “You have strong leaders. We like to say in Middletown when Mayor Joe [DeStefano] says something, it happens generally; strong leadership. In another way of looking at it, Senator [William] Larkin is an example of where longevity and strong leadership blend together and the senator is an example of both strong leadership and longevity, and that also is important.”
Drapkin said there should be greater collaboration between the county’s three cities – Newburgh, Middletown and Port Jervis. Crime “is not the reality” in Newburgh. “There are two stretches in the City of Newburgh that are really bad, as bad as any place I grew up in New York City, but other than that there are many places I have been taken where I ask, ‘this is the city?’”
In Middletown, “my money is on ‘Mayor Joe’,” Drapkin said. “I think Middletown will change dramatically. But, Port Jervis is “a really complex issue because it is sort of like in the middle of nowhere.”
Drapkin said the cities must be integrated while at the same time, have their own branding. In Middletown, for instance, he said it should be healthcare.
He also praised County Executive Steven Neuhaus for his leadership in “taking on” Camp LaGuardia, which has been lying fallow for years.
For Stewart Airport, which has been struggling to boost passenger service and the cargo business, he said a third component should be added, that of job creation.
Regarding the Village of Kiryas Joel and the relationship with neighboring communities, “it is time to do away with animosity,” Drapkin said.
