Development plan offers reasons for hope

Dear Editor,

Swapping a dirty shingle with a sign of hope, iPark87 may soon replace TechCity in the town of Ulster, with the latter’s 20+-year record of business indolence, environmental wreckage, and tax avoidance arrogance. So, why do some people think we ought to proceed more tentatively in order to ensure that taxpayers are not getting power-screwed to another bad deal? A recent letter, “Is Tech City sale proposal fair to Ulster County taxpayers?” (Freeman, Dec. 13, 2021), is an unfortunate example of pessimism obscuring hope.

Few people know more about the history of this former IBM campus or worked harder on its revival than Town of Ulster Supervisor James Quigley, who recently evaluated TechCity’s Alan Ginsberg against potential developer National Resources: “We’re moving from someone who I knew had money and didn’t want to spend it to someone I know has money and the ability to spend it … is not going to want to make a mistake that is going to adversely impact their past successes” (“2 jailed in Tech City asbestos case,” Freeman, Dec. 3, 2021).

No deal is inherently perfect, but this one is worth a chance. Further, Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan and county Director of Economic Development Tim Wiedemann have been transparent and inclusive of public input along the way. As the Dec. 12 Zoom meeting with these two county officials sponsored by the TownOfUlsterCitizens.org exemplified, county residents should continue to voice their thoughtful suggestions on the types of businesses and workforce opportunities they would like to see. Folks, it’s time for a little optimism and a lot of involvement.

— Regis Obijiski town of Ulster, N.Y.