When my parents moved from Connecticut to Saratoga Springs 25 years ago, I was not surprised.
Our cousins lived there and we visited quite often — it had become our second home. Several years later, my husband, baby daughter, and I moved to the Capital Region to be closer to them. Although the city itself has changed quite a bit over these past two decades, one thing remains the same: it’s still a wonderful place to work, live, and raise a family.
But even an idyllic spot like Saratoga has its challenges — from housing to tourism. And for residents and business owners, the question is — what’s the most effective way to overcome them?
Among the many unique qualities of Saratoga Springs is its independent streak. From the equine and racing industry to the shops on Broadway, the city itself is a microcosm of a complex and layered economy — one that’s typically associated with much larger cities. It serves as a model for cities and towns across the country. And yet even with so much success, residents are facing a significant housing crisis. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Let’s get real incentives for developers in and around the city. Let’s build safe and affordable homes along the continuum — workforce housing; starter homes for young families; transitional and supportive housing; homes for independent seniors looking to downsize; housing for veterans; assisted living for seniors and developmentally disabled adults. With federal dollars and representatives in Albany who understand how to obtain and shepherd those funds, we can turn a crisis into a triumph.
Without adequate housing, economic development falters. And Saratoga is simply too important to the region to let that happen.
Global inflation is being felt everywhere, and unfortunately, NYS is not immune. In the Schenectady County Legislature, my fellow legislators and I took immediate action to address the needs of residents — including 0% property tax increase for two consecutive years and tax rebates for homeowners. In Saratoga County, we can take steps toward economic recovery and insulate residents from the challenges facing this state, this nation, and the rest of the world.
Let’s end price gouging and government corruption. Let’s find ways to improve relations between small business owners and state agencies. Let’s reduce our taxes. Let’s secure universal broadband. And let’s partner with our farms and green innovators. Saratoga already knows how to build a booming economy — so let’s get the state and federal infrastructure dollars this district rightly deserves to bolster those efforts.
When out-of-town friends come to visit, the first place I take them to is Saratoga — and without fail, they ask to go back again and again.
They see what I see. That Saratoga truly is all that, and a bag of chips. Saratoga Chips, naturally.
Michelle Ostrelich is a Schenectady County Legislator and Candidate for New York State Senate, 44th District.
Source link
