“Saugerties, in general, is growing exceedingly fast to the point where it is beyond the planning stage,” he said. “There’s no real direction, no real plan. Side roads can’t handle the traffic. It’s too much, too quickly, for a town whose infrastructure can’t handle what’s happening this moment.”

Legislator Aiello on overdevelopment in Ulster County Press, March 14, 2007

Too many houses not enough planning

Over development brings excessive densities to an area and an overlooked infrastructure. It’s not just a matter of taking advantage of existing infrastructure, but abusing the infrastructure. An example of this is Barclay Heights and the Route 9W corridor.

A blind fixation with development will produce a void in the public discussion about the problems faced by existing infrastructure. For example, solid waste, water, electric, roads, accidents, traffic and schools. It is automatically assumed these current systems will handle new growth, but they become stretched and the cost to expand them is high. The local economy doesn’t allow the resources to find any expansion as we have a weak job market.

A lack of any serious planning becomes the problem and continuous new construction adds to the number of people. The result becomes new burdens on old residents. Improvements and development should be part of effects to improve neighborhoods, but end over development where it becomes out of hand.
The payment for “improvements” will become the responsibility of taxpayers and ultimately it becomes a very long, involved and expensive proposition. While change is inevitable it should also be sensible.

 

On Global warming...
Bob says our federal government and our own state are doing very little to confront the cost of a warming world to our society. Many other states and local governments are taking aggressive action to require more efficient energy use and stimulate the use of alternative energy sources. Even the CEO’s of many Fortune 500 companies have joined the battle to encourage our government to confront the problem more aggressively. Bob supports actions at all levels on the issue


“The County contract with construction manager Bovis Lend Lease lacked provisions for accountability.” Legislator member and Deputy Chairman of the committee investigating construction delays and cost overruns at Ulster County’s new jail.
Legislator Aiello in a news article in the Daily Freeman March 28, 2007
Issues

No Casino
When it comes to a casino in Saugerties, Bob Aiello’s position is quite clear.” I’m against the sitting of a casino in Saugerties.” I took a position against a casino and played an integral part in preparing a resolution on home rule, essentially stating that if the village and town of Saugerties boards respectively voted against the siting of a casino in Saugerties and it was possible to pass that at the county level, that the town’s position would be supported.” And that happened, Bob said. As a result of the Village and Town voting against the casino I was part of taking it one step further and prepared a resolution stating that the county could not get involved in any talks on siting a casino in Saugerties. Out of that resulted six other resolutions from towns demanding that same home rule. It happened.

On School Taxes
I’ve been listening about a different way to fund school taxes since I was a child, and we are no further ahead now than we were then. We all feel by now that we need to do it differently, that the property tax does not provide equity, that at this point in time it is archaic and not indicative of wealth or ones ability to pay. So my suggestion comes from a film called “Network” in a scene where Peter Finch stands up to a crowd, screams from a window and says, “tell them you have had it up to here and you’re not going to take it anymore.” That’s what Bob Aiello feels citizens need to tell there state officials. Bob feels the time for talking about it is over. Just do it…….
On Jobs
Every election year we hear the same story about bringing jobs to the area, and every year we lose our college graduates to other states for better jobs. Bob Aiello feels that people in economic development need to create a vision and a strategic plan. In order to follow that vision they must earmark a particular business that’s suitable for the area in which we live. The reality is stark and intrusive. It’s just too expensive to live here and if the vision is followed through we would see that one balances out the other. You can’t pay $1000 a month to rent an apartment when you earn $300 a week. We need to get serious about this and stop giving false promises of better times ahead. That is simply election rhetoric.
On his Plan for Single Payer Expanded Medicare Health Insurance
“It’s just common sense.” “It eliminates the insurance company, it eliminates the profit, it eliminates the administrative costs and it goes straight to the people who need it,” said Aiello on the floor of the Legislature at its October 2006 session.

Aiello believes tourism is the sleeping giant for Ulster economy

Efforts to develop Ulster County’s tourism industry is in direct response to a need for economic recovery since IBM left Kingston over ten years ago. Bob is looking to develop new and revise old ideas to bring economy and jobs to Ulster County.

First a new variable has entered into the economic equation. That is the price of fuel. More people are vacationing closer and closer to home. Driving a few hours has replaced many plane tickets.

Given that in apple production New York is only second to the state of Washington, and among 6 states that account for more than 80 percent of the total U.S. crop. The idea of an apple festival is approached. Along with Susan Zimet Bob is working towards achieving this new feather in Ulster County's tourist cap. In Orange County the Warwick Apple Festival is one of the largest tourism draws. They were ready to help.

Combining county promoted events such as an apple festival in New Paltz at the county fairgrounds along with similar established events like the garlic festival in Saugerties we can develop a unique blend of promotion with eco-tourism a growing trend to develop a new successful economic direction in Ulster County.

A bed tax?

According to county officials tourism in Ulster County "generates a half billion dollars annually". Aligning with this I have already proposed a bed tax that will, in our present economy would generate about 4.5 million dollars in much needed revenue.

Planning my daughters wedding for September I have learned there are already 1000 rooms booked and for those looking for that date, it is nearly impossible to find a room.

In addition to the bookings I was getting prices starting around 125 dollars a night, with most new rooms asking about 180 dollars for group rates.

It's time to institute this revenue stream as it is money coming from outside of Ulster County and the 4.5 million dollar figure is an accurate figure,” This cash influx is what this county needs and it needs it now .

My proposal is modest and under the 12 to 13 percent that exist in other counties in the state and in other states. To those who say this will hurt the industry might compare notes on a trip to strong tourist based areas like Cooperstown or Cape Cod and make comparisons.

If Ulster County can put an honest effort in tourism, with my full support, we can allieviate a substantial tax pressure we are feeling in Ulster County.
© Re-Elect Bob Aiello 2007