Representation is being diluted in Town of Ulster

Dear Editor,

During the last reapportionment in 2012, I advocated to have the Town of Ulster represented by a county legislator whose district would be entirely within the town boundaries. The reapportionment committee did not listen and split Ulster into two districts, neither of which is entirely in the town boundaries.

With the current plan for 2022 Ulster will once again, be denied a sole representative. The Town of Ulster with a population to support 1.6 Legislators is left split. This time the reapportionment committee decided that three districts with no legislator entirely within Ulster's border would be a better solution.

Under the current plan, each legislator in the this plan will represent two towns: Ulster/Saugerties, Ulster/Town of Kingston or Ulster/Esopus. Ulster is being chopped up in pieces, which dilutes the representation and makes it very difficult to have a unified voice on Town of Ulster issues.

I realize that it is not an easy task, but it is also not impossible. It is my opinion that this map should be changed, giving the town of Ulster one representative entirely within its borders. I encourage all town resident to speak out and demand fair representation for our town.

The public hearings will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 16, at the Modena Fire House, 1953 U.S. Route 44/state Route 55, in Modena, and at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, at the Saugerties Senior Center, Cantine Memorial Field, 207 Market St., Saugerties.

— Brian B. Cahill Town of Ulster, N.Y. The writer is an Ulster County legislator in District 4, representing the towns of towns of Ulster and Kingston.