Monday, February 23, 2015

Use "Trail-Walk-Arounds" when necessary, but do not rip up the railroad tracks

Let's Clear the Haze. Mike Hein and his staff used a wide-ranging "Trail-Walk-Around" to get the trail to the other side of Route 209 without building a bridge. Therefore, between Hurley Mt.Road and the Glenford Dike at the Ashokan Reservoir, Use "Trail-Walk-Arounds" if there is not room for the trail next to a section of railroad track. Most logical people would agree that under no circumstance do you rip up the railroad tracks.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

The Catskill Mt.Railroad deserves to win the Pride of Ulster County Award

I agree that Catskill Mt.Railroad deserves to win the Pride of Ulster County Award from the UC Chamber of Commerce.  Let all Ulster County Businesses tell Ward Todd that we want to give the Pride of Ulster County Award to the Catskill Mt.Railroad.  I want to urge local citizens and businesses to get involved and take back our Ulster County business climate.  Some local environmentalists and trail advocates are destroying are business climate by sending the message that Ulster County politicians and leaders are not fighting and pushing back on the unreasonable demands of environmentalists and trail advocates.  Ulster County's average wages are $13,000 lower than Dutchess County.  Ulster County's wages are going to remain low if we citizens and businesses don't get involved and tell our politicians and leaders that we want them to push back against environmentalists and trail advocate and to allow private developers and the Catskill Mt.Railroad people to help grow our local economy and grow our local wages.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Ulster County - Let's bring in Larger Firms for Higher Wages

Today on KCR, talking with Ward Todd, I mentioned that the average wage for Ulster County residents is very low, about $13,000 less than Dutchess County residents.  I told Ward that we need to do more to attract medium to large companies to the county, using the SUNY Ulster College's Start Up NY designation at TechCity (former IBM site). I mentioned that we are emphasizing small business and tourism development almost exclusively.  This results in low average wages compared to Dutchess County.  We have very visible evidence of our low Ulster County wages........Look at the Hudson Valley Mall where one by one stores are closing at the mall.  The lack of Ulster County and City of Kingston having an aggressive plan for attracting medium to large companies to the area is hurting the lives of our residents, especially our young people looking for good-paying jobs for raising a family.  The Start Up NY program at SUNY Ulster-TechCity offers
10 years of no income taxes for companies moving from out of state.  Why don't our leaders aggressively use this Start Up NY designation to bring medium and large companies to the area?

Monday, February 2, 2015

On Air Suggestions to Mike Hein - Meet with CMRR & Use Trail Walk-Arounds

On Friday, Jan.23rd, Mike Hein and I discussed the Catskill Mt.Railroad. In the 4 short audio links below, I asked Mike to let Ward Todd broker a meeting with him and the Catskill Mt.Railroad. Also, I asked Mike why Trail Walk-arounds could not be used between the Hurley Flats and the Glenford Dike to accommodate the Trail, similar to the extensive Walk-around planned for the Trail between Kingston and the Hurley Flats. Why rip up the tracks between the Hurley Flats and Glenford when you don't have to?


To listen to 4 audio links, go to FACEBOOK and enter KCR or Kingston Community Radio.  Then,
Scroll Down to Ralph Mitchell January 26, 2015 posting.