What is the Biggest Threat to the North Country?

Various Mayors offer concerns for the future wellbeing of our area

Story and photo by Lou Smith

When questioned, Mayors across the Northern New York were less-than-optimistic about what they feel is the biggest threat (picking from environmental, economic, crime-related or heath dangers) to the wellbeing of our communities. In all, six areas were selected and their elected officials contacted (Plattsburgh, Saratoga, Potsdam, Massena, Lake Placid and Lake George) and all reported similar answers.

"The economy has been struggling, it’s the number one concern for the North Country…We’re looking at a very vicious cycle," says Mayor Randy DeLosh of Massena, NY.

"There are ways that everyone in the North Country can work across jurisdictions to help out."

He stressed the issue that there aren’t adequate services here (Massena and surrounding areas), such as an airport, to attract businesses and people alike. According to the mayor, the GM Plant that has been operating for 49 years reports that today its production levels are going down and they are going to start laying off workers soon. That’s a 3:1 job loss ratio in the area if Massena suffers the loss of this factory DeLosh states.

"One of the challenges we face in the North Country is that we have no roof-top highways, poor transportation…no major highways for companies."

Others agree. Mayor Jamie Rogers of Lake Placid, NY voiced some options for fixing the ebbing upper New York State economy. He spoke of bringing in top-notch economic officials and really focused on how local government needs to help ease smart growth practices into the agenda as well as collaborating with other districts.

"We focus too much on economic development," Rogers says. "We should be focusing on sustainability…we need to invest together (with other communities) and share the benefits instead of competing."

Worries expand to that of our youth who will soon be trying to make a living. It seems that they just don’t want to stay in the area and try and find jobs. Robert Blais of Lake George shares this concern and goes on to elaborate;

"There is certainly along the Adirondack Park, unquestionably an exodus of our young," informs Mayor Blais, "We need to entice the young to stay and raise a family here."

It’s here that we see part of the problem; there isn’t anything here to keep the up-and-coming folks in the area to settle down and start a family. There just aren’t the proper incentives to chorale these people, and in areas like Lake George, tourism is the biggest stimulant to the economy. We can see a "Catch 22" problem here; for five months of the year the town is packed with business and people then nothing.

"Unemployment is high, fuel and heating costs are high, and tax rates seem to be ever-increasing."

Mayor Donald Kasprzak of Plattsburgh made it known that current situations on Wall Street and in the White House have forced people to recognize that there are problems that are going on. When questioned about which of the four provided the biggest threat, he replied that all have direct effects on Northern New York, yielding though that economic woes are indeed the biggest lurking monster.

"People are really struggling everyday to meet their ends…the economic problems facing the city and state are on my mind," says Kasprzak "There are ways that everyone in the North Country can work across jurisdictions to help out."

Ron Tischler, mayor of Potsdam had similar thoughts as Kasprzak in regards to the fact that all four choices all menaces to the North Country but is in the same boat as all the others; the economy is indeed what we need to be on the watch for. He also put emphasis on the fact that taxes and increased cost of living isn’t helping us out either.

"Unemployment is high, fuel and heating costs are high, and tax rates seem to be ever-increasing. What burdens the Village of Potsdam is the fact that 77% of the village is tax exempt (SUNY Potsdam, Clarkson, Canton-Potsdam Hospital, and all Churches). In other words, 23% of the population pays all the taxes. We have one of the highest tax rates in New York. This does not bode well for attracting new businesses and new residents, thus affecting our overall economy."

Mayor Scott Johnson of Saratoga took his answer to the next level by elaborating more on the fact that the cost of living is really going to take a toll on the inhabitants who call this section of the state home. He was also one of the first officials to show concern for the unfunded bailout of Wall Street, a move which might have saved us momentarily but creates new questions as well for the future of our nation.

"The fuel costs, particularly now on the advent of our winter heating season, present a huge challenge to the average homeowner. We need to eliminate/minimize the increasing unfunded mandates and advocate for better energy solutions to decrease dependence on foreign oil."

So what is the biggest threat to the North Country at this point in time? The answers yield that our economic pickle is the biggest stigma we are faced with. You just read what our elected mayors are concerned with and their answers should bring you to a realization; we are in for some rough seas. Due to our plummeting stock market and the soaring costs of everything, our situation isn’t a great one. Working together, across jurisdictions instead of focusing on turning profit seems to be where we can start to better not only our communities, but the state and country as well.

What do you think is the prime threat to the North Country?