Something Smells Fishy at Ulster County Tourism
The other day at Ulster Politics Headquarters we were talking about our next post. One of our staff members had brought in the latest “Ulster County Travel Guide”. The Travel Guide is published by our taxpayer funded "Ulster County Tourism Department". As we were flipping through the guide that was hot off the press, we noticed that in addition to coming out really late in the tourist season, that one of Ulster County’s award winning small businesses was somehow “left out” of the guide this year. Normally something like this wouldn’t warrant a post at Ulster Politics, but something smells fishy here in the Ulster County political scene, and we decided to report it, and let you decide.
Ulster Tourism used to know about Skate Time 209. We found out through some quick research that former Ulster County Tourism Director, Hallie Arnold, took the opening lap at Skate Time 209's Grand Opening, but this local business doesn't seem to be on the new Democratically appointed Director, Rick Remsnyder's radar screen. Could this be because Skate Time 209 is owned by Ulster County Executive candidate Len Bernardo who is running against Democratic candidate and Ulster County Administrator Mike Hein?
Skate Time 209 was listed in the Travel Guide last year, and is listed on Ulster Tourism's website under “Things to Do and See” and then by clicking “Sports and Recreation”. But, you won't find Skate Time 209 in the new "Travel Guide".
You will find a whole category in the guidebook dedicated to "Ice Skating". You'll also find a whole category dedicated to "Recreation and Family Fun", and will find things to do like mini golf, batting cages, go carts, places with snack bars and that do birthday parties.
But what you won’t find is roller skating, skateboarding or birthday parties at Skate Time 209. Ulster Politics isn’t sure what makes mini golf, batting cages, go carts, etc. worthy of being listed as "Recreation and Family Fun" and a tourist attraction worthy of being placed in our "taxpayer funded Tourist Guide" and not roller skating.
Skate Time 209 has a snack bar and does birthday parties. Why list businesses like "Yummies Ice Cream and Mini Golf Café" and not "Skate Time 209"?
Ulster Tourism would like you to believe that this was just a small "mistake" and what's the big deal. Ulster Politics thinks it smells fishy. And we all know that stinks.
Either way, Ulster Politics thinks that we need a change in Ulster County because either our government is playing dirty politics with our tax dollars (and they should be replaced), or they are incompetent (and they should be replaced). We’ve reported, now you decide. Is Ulster County Tourism playing dirty politics with our tax dollars by “forgetting” to include Skate Time 209 in the taxpayer funded Tourist Guide book, or are they just incompetent?
Skate Time 209 was listed in the Travel Guide last year, and is listed on Ulster Tourism's website under “Things to Do and See” and then by clicking “Sports and Recreation”. But, you won't find Skate Time 209 in the new "Travel Guide".
You will find a whole category in the guidebook dedicated to "Ice Skating". You'll also find a whole category dedicated to "Recreation and Family Fun", and will find things to do like mini golf, batting cages, go carts, places with snack bars and that do birthday parties.
But what you won’t find is roller skating, skateboarding or birthday parties at Skate Time 209. Ulster Politics isn’t sure what makes mini golf, batting cages, go carts, etc. worthy of being listed as "Recreation and Family Fun" and a tourist attraction worthy of being placed in our "taxpayer funded Tourist Guide" and not roller skating.
Skate Time 209 has a snack bar and does birthday parties. Why list businesses like "Yummies Ice Cream and Mini Golf Café" and not "Skate Time 209"?
Ulster Tourism would like you to believe that this was just a small "mistake" and what's the big deal. Ulster Politics thinks it smells fishy. And we all know that stinks.
Either way, Ulster Politics thinks that we need a change in Ulster County because either our government is playing dirty politics with our tax dollars (and they should be replaced), or they are incompetent (and they should be replaced). We’ve reported, now you decide. Is Ulster County Tourism playing dirty politics with our tax dollars by “forgetting” to include Skate Time 209 in the taxpayer funded Tourist Guide book, or are they just incompetent?
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30 comments:
They are playing, to the winners go the spoils and to the whiners and losers (Ellen Difalco and Cathy Ellis) go, ---- well, nothing.
How many years did these two sit back and let the Republicans ignore Democrats in Ulster county? Some people can't except that they are on the short end now. Too bad! You better get used to it because it is not going to change.
Suck it up. DiFalco and Ellis ought to join the Rich Cahill "I got my ass kicked and won't go away" club.
9:19 - If what you are saying is true, that is awful. You seem to be confirming the allegations in this post. The tourism department should not play political games. Tourism bringS in tax dollars which offset the tax burdens for hardworking taxpayers in Ulster County.
By not promoting ALL of our tourist attractions, we are only depriving our own taxpayers of tax dollars that are infused into our economy from people outside of Ulster County. THIS STINKS
These political games need to stop.
to 9:34 blah blah blah... wake up. You sound like an ignorant, naive Little Dick Cahill TV show caller.
The Democrats decide now, get it? That is how it works, when one side wins, they get to decide. The republicans didn't seem to have too much trouble remembering that when they were running things.
Is the Freeman writing this blog? On the FRONT PAGE of the Daily Freeman today, the story says that the "Ulster County Fiscal Debate has Political Overtones". It then goes on to accuse Michael Hein of using the current problems in Ulster County for his own political gain.
Ulster County politicians need to stop using our tax money to further their personal agendas.
If 9:19 is correct, then electing Hein in November just means more of the same political bu11shi*
I'm not interested in what happened in the past, I want to know what Hein will do if we elect him in November, and if he is going to continue these bull11shi* "tit for tat" games with our tax dollars, then he need to GO AWAY.
Are the taxpayers supposed to "suck it up" because the Tourism Department is playing political games and not promoting legitimate tourist businesses. I'm sure that Bernardo's business is not the only business that they left out.
"Get used to it because it is not going to change" 9:19 says!!!!
Taxpayers are pissed off, and if Hein is not going to change things, VOTE HIM OUT
The Freeman didn't say that, Noonan did. In fact, he admitted the problems exist.
But county Legislature Minority Leader Glenn Noonan, while acknowledging the precarious financial situation the county now finds itself in, said Hein is using the dilemma to further his political career.
I do not understand why using political advantage is bad?
Isn't that why we choose parties and work for them in the first place? To act like it doesn't happen and will not continue to happen, NO MATTER WHO WINS, is foolish and disingenuous.
That is NOT the DEMOCRATS MONEY..That is the TAXPAYERS MONEY..Can Ulster County that has done nothing BUT force out businesses and industry as the 64th HIGHEST TAXED COUNTY in THE ENTIRE NATION really afford to TRASH anymore businesses?? Well THEY seem to think they can and just PILE the LOST TAX REVENUE on the remaining businesses and taxpayers!!!!!! The democrats and Hein budgeting have done so MUCH to bankrupt us already!!!!
That is NOT the DEMOCRATS MONEY..That is the TAXPAYERS MONEY..Can Ulster County that has done nothing BUT force out businesses and industry as the 64th HIGHEST TAXED COUNTY in THE ENTIRE NATION really afford to TRASH anymore busineese?? Well THEY seem to think they can and just PILE the LOST TAX REVENUE on the remaining busineses and taxpayers!!!!!!
To 9:40-
Once again, this is the problem with politics in Kingston.
"The Democrats decide now, get it? That is how it works, when one side wins, they get to decide."
Last time I checked, we still lived in a country controlled by the will of the people. You seem to think that the Democrats control what happens. The elected candidate, Republican or Democrat, need to represent all of the people.
The Democrats DO NOT get to decide what to publish in the tourism publications. Just because Len Bernardo own it, does not make it a place we should not go to. You libs think you can get him by not publishing his business, and costing him money. Using tax payer dollars to discredit and harm a political candidate is illegal BTW, and if this is the case, I would not hesitate to file a lawsuit if I were Len Bernardo
9:40 -
Apparently you have never learned what the essence of democracy is. In a democratic system, yes, those who received the most votes do get to make the decisions - within limits.
A democracy is NOT a dictatorship of the majority. It is NOT a system in which the majority gets to do away with the rights of the minority. It is most assuredly NOT a system in which the majority gets to play games with the system and use tax dollars in order to guarantee that they stay in power.
If the majority deserves to stay in power, they should be able to do so on a level playing field. Distorting the playing field is not democracy.
Furthermore, the funds received from the taxpayers by a County agency are to be used to achieve the purpose for which the agency was established. Period. Nothing more. To use that agency - and thus the funds it has been allocated - for political purposes is a disgrace and needs to stop immediately.
I would be willing to bet that, if the question were put to Mr. Hein and the Democrat leaders in Ulster County they would, without exception, repudiate your "winner take all" theory. While many of us may oppose his election on grounds of qualifications, Mr. Hein seems to be an honorable man who - I'm sure - would not want these games played on his behalf. I would hope that he would make certain the "error" was corrected forthwith.
This is a democracy, and that means that ALL of the people are represented, not just the party in power.
In answering the question as put forth by the blogmaster, I think that Ulster County Tourism is BOTH Playing Dirty Politics AND Incompetent.
And to 9:19 who attacked Ellen DiFalco and Cathy Ellis, it's ACCEPT that they..... not EXCEPT... that they That's not a typo, that's just ignorance. Where did you go to school?
Hey Ulster politics, who else was cut out. This strikes me as more cut to tourism.
This strikes me as criminal behavior. We to have a DA investigation of not only this tourism issue but all of Mike Hein's recent high profile appearances. HE'S CAMPAIGNING ON GOVERNMENT TIME, CAMPAIGNING ON THE GOVERNMENT'S DIME. IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
why is the tourist guide book listing places that do "birthday parties" anyway? are people really traveling to Ulster County for "birthday parties"? I think our tourism tax dollars could be put to better use than promoting birthday party destinations
this department needs some oversight, and fast. Where's Sue Zimet in all this?
These bozo's are creating an issue where one does not exist.
Do you think that every single tourist related business is listed? I would bet that maybe 10% are.
Think about it. The tourism guide would be as thick as a phone book.
Roller Skating is a niche market, even locally. For my tax dollars I would much rather see B&B's, Wineries, Art galleries, Hiking Trails, and Eco-tourism in there.
I am glad to see professionals are putting this together and not some country bumpkins as in years past.
noonan works hard? what has he accomplished with all that hard work? he wrks hard following people around all day.
noonan has sour grapes because he had zero support for county exec and he paid for all those noonan-quigley bumper stickers.
What about the Bernardo's getting 2 tax bills for Skate Time 209 this year? Then a letter from Lew Kirschner saying that they are going to auction the property off in September. When they went to Real Property Tax in Kingston, they were told it was a MISTAKE?
That's a lot of "mistakes" by Ulster County Employees that are happening to the Bernardo's.
To 9:49 I got news for you, the county employees don't know who Bernardo is.
Every time that I go to an event and Remsnyder and his crew are there, they all act so concerned about the businesses in Ulster County. They were at the tourism business card exchange sponsored by the UC Chamber of Commerce and their little speech was sickening - all about how if we can do anything for your business, let us know, blah blah blah. How INSINCERE. I vote dirty politics AND incompetent.
This kind of crap is like shoplifting. It happens fast, and if no one notices - then you got away with it. But, if you catch a shoplifter in the act, you got them redhanded - and they want you to "forget about it". Because the act happens in a split second - the shoplifter wants to act like it's no big deal. BUT IF THEY GET AWAY WITH IT, IT HURTS THE BUSINESS OWNER. This is not just about Bernardo, this is about all businesses. What if it's your business next. Think about it.
10:22, I got news for you. The voters at large, aka, the little people have no idea who Hein is
Ellen and Cathy need hobbies other than posting on political blogs.
They should see from the results of their candidacies that they have no clue what they are talking about.
The same voters they talk about are the same voters that dumped them badly. They do not agree with them, if they did, they would have elected them. Or is it a case of the voters being wrong?
Bitter,vengeful hate speak is all they ever post. Never anything positive or constructive.
Rich Cahill school of politics 101 at Piss and Moan University.
What good does it do to have a tourism guide come out the last week in late July? the tourist season and is almost done. People have already made their plans. This is incompetency at it's purist. Sullivan County had their guide out in JANUARY! Ulster County's comes out in late July, give me a break.
Blaber has removed all negative psots about Auerbach, now all he has is a photo of himself and Auerbach with arms around each other. I think a romance is brewing.
The Nevele must be slow Rob Parete has all this time to take shots at Noonan on a blog about the county screw up on the travel guide. What does one have to do with the other. Running cover????
I wonder if Hinchey still diagrees with Bush's decision to lift the executive ban on off shore drilling. Oil is down 23 dollars since.
Blaber, your graphics are awful.
Could you please learn photoshop or illustrator so that you could at least have put Bernardo's head in the picture for your O'Reilly/pinhead of the week picture.
Clark Richter kicks your butt in this area. You art work is awful. You had to steal your Blaber News logo from UlsterPolitics
Get some skills if you want to be a full service blogmaster.
cc: Clark Richters & Ulster Politics
Both Blog Polls lasted a day after the poll closed. Sottile was ripped apart in that poll.
The original comment and "commenter's" id are under "Is Hein Morally Bankrupt?" but I wanted to be sure that everyone saw this. It is very well written.
Thanks You Steve!
I just got an email copy of the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation Network Newsletter, which announced the Upper Hudson Central Labor Council endorsements for County office, and their pick for Comptroller, based on a questionnaire and interviews...
Republican James Quigley III!
Yep, Ellenville's "favorite son" candidate, Elliott "How am I doing?" Auerbach, becomes one of the FEW Democrat-line candidates to ever blow this endorsement from the consortium of area unions... and lose it to a Republican no less!
Add this to his NOT getting the CSEA endorsement (Which also went to Quigley! Maybe being willing to have thrown the Ellenville Hospital under the bus when it was struggling to get local support, and with it the CSEA workers there, had something to do with that?), or even the Wawarsing Democratic Committee endorsement, and one can see a real pattern here... those who KNOW Auerbach and his record the most are LEAST likely to support his candidacy!
(I did a quick follow-up and it seems the vote against Elliott WAS UNANIMOUS, another astounding rebuff! As one who RECEIVED the HVALF endorsement for Legislator in 2003 -- you need two-thirds vote to pass -- and the CSEA endorsements in 2001 and 2003, and thus went through the process twice, I can only imagine one has to be REALLY poorly perceived to get absolutely NO support there at all! To that point, I understand he was caught in a blatant lie -- no surprise there! -- and, when leaving, told the person escorting him out it didn't matter about the endorsement because he was going to win anyway! What a pompous, deluded ass!)
So much for his "100% pro-union record"! (Another myth with no substance!) And his "unique qualifications" for the office, as I believe was related on Blaber's blog earlier; well, even a lipsticked pig has "unique qualifications" for any office, but that doesn't make them the RIGHT ones! I still would love to see a listing of the personal and professional "successes" that keep getting alluded to but never get spelled out in all the breathless hype!
Speaking of which, whatever became of "Lou S." who posted the original two fulsome paeans to Auerbach on Blaber's blog but then, after I outed him AS Auerbach posting through a sock-puppet? "Lou" was never heard from again, and never came back to say he WASN'T Auerbach... nor did Elliott post to deny my charges!
Why doesn't Blaber check out the source email address of those and other pro-Elliott ANONYMOUS posts here to see if they all originate from the same email address, particularly if that address is in his Village Hall office computer?
Oh, and Elliott was NOT at the Village Board Meeting Monday night, for the third time in four meetings, even though he probably COULD have arranged with the HVALF folks to schedule him early so he could have been back in time to do his JOB.
Guess he's not really that interested in being Village Manager that much any more, now that he's mucked it up so, and is hoping to skip town ON OUR DIME, campaigning while he's getting PAID BY US to keep an eye on the Village business!
Maybe the Board should look closely at whether there's some conflict of interest going on and conclude that, if he really doesn't want to BE VM any more, they should help him in his desire by speeding his exit and letting him campaign FULL time at HIS OWN expense?
Or on the money he gets, like the $1000 from Mohegan (formerly Modoc) attorney Lenefsky, that comes with obvious strings?
July 30, 2008 5:48 PM
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