RELFECTING ON 2020
The Saratogian editorial staff pick top 10 stories from last year
SARATOGA COUNTY, N.Y. » When the clock struck midnight and 2020 began last January, the New Year kicked off with people making goals and having high hopes for the year ahead.
However, that all changed on March 7, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the first two positive Novel Coronavirus cases in Saratoga County. From that day on, cases throughout the state and the Capital Region continued to rise.
With the spike in cases, the governor decided to put the state on “pause”, which meant many businesses and restaurants had to close to the public.
Restaurants had to pivot and change their game plan to allow for take- out only, while other businesses struggled too much to reopen.
Cuomo eventually announced the state would allow various businesses to reopen in a phased approach as long as the infection rate maintained a certain level in the area.
Although COVID- 19 caused 2020 to look like a very different year, some municipalities were still able to make the best of the situation and unveil completed projects.
With the year coming to an end, the editorial staff at The Saratogian ranked its top 10 stories from 2020.
1. No fans at Saratoga Race Course
As the summer approached, many people began to speculate whether officials would allow some fans to attend races at the Saratoga Race Course. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Saratoga Race Course provided its firstever meet with no spectators on-site on July 16.
On the eve of this historic Opening Day, wagering platform NYRA Bets and local company Stewart’s Shops officials announced a new initiative designed to make it easy for fans to stay connected to The Spa this summer during an unprecedented season.
The new NYRA Bets gift cards are available for purchase at more than 150 Stewart’s Shops throughout Saratoga Springs and the greater Capital Region.
Although thousands of horse racing fans did not f lock to Saratoga Race Course on Opening Day of its 2020 meet, that didn’t mean they weren’t watching the races.
Around the Spa City, however, racing enthusiasts attended watch parties.
Many Saratoga Springs businesses welcomed customers who would typically be at the track on Opening Day into their establishments to catch the races live on screen.
Ahead of the 2020 Runhappy Travers Stakes, Stewart’s Shops launched a new racing- themed face covering campaign featuring hometown favorite horse Tiz the Law.
The awareness- raising initiative, designed to highlight the importance of wearing face coverings to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, includes in-store signs featuring Tiz the Law, a New York-bred thoroughbred from Sackatoga Stable.
In the image, the horse is wearing a facemask with text on the sign stating “Tiz The Law says ‘ Wear a Mask!’”
In August, The New York Racing Association and Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce launched a new charitable campaign designed to raise funds for Saratoga Springs-area nonprofit organizations that have been impacted by the coronavirus global health pandemic.
Administered by the Chamber and held in partnership with the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund, NYRA Cares offered fans the opportunity to win a variety of Saratoga Race Course hospitality experiences, memorabilia and collectible items while supporting local non-profit organizations. All items have been donated by NYRA.
2. SPAC closed in 2020 due to COVID-19
Another popular summer attraction in Saratoga Springs is of course attending concerts and other events at SPAC. Once again, due to the pandemic, no concerts or other in-person events took place at SPAC.
For 2020, SPAC’s pivoted plan included virtual programming, and maybe more. Events such as the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, the Festival of Young Artists and Beethoven 2020 - all previously scheduled to take place at SPAC - will now be presented in an online format.
Officials with SPAC noted in June that SPAC was then projecting a shortfall of as much as $1.3 million.
In December, SPAC officials said that as a result of the cancellation of SPAC’s classical season, which was to have included performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, SPAC’s earned income dropped by $6 million, or 60% of its budget.
At the meeting in December, president and CEO Elizabeth Sobol announced that thanks to the great generosity from the community, the potential deficit was eliminated and SPAC will end the year in the black.
In the financial report, SPAC’s chief financial officer Jay Lafond shared that despite a challenging year the organization will achieve its goal of breaking even, its balance sheet shows a healthy amount of assets in relation to its liabilities and its endowment sits at $9.375 million.
3. Saratoga charter reform on ballot/voted down again
Residents of Saratoga Springs once again headed to the polls in 2020 to vote on whether or not to change the city’s form of government.
The question, as it was presented on the ballot, is: “Shall the Saratoga Springs City Charter be amended to provide for a City Council elected from six neighborhood wards of equal population, presided by a Mayor elected citywide, and for the appointment of a professional City Manager and other administrative officials accountable to the Council?”
Under the current charter, the City of Saratoga Springs utilizes the commission form of government, in which members of the City Council typically serve as both the head of their department and a legislator who votes on city matters. The current City Council members are the mayor, commissioner of finance, commissioner of public works, commissioner of public safety, and commissioner of accounts.
In recent years, there have been unsuccessful attempts to change it, including a proposition in 2017 that was rejected by a 10vote difference.
The 2020 charter proposal includes the creation of wards, a new element added since the 2017 proposal. A map of the six proposed wards can be found on the website for Common Sense Saratoga, a group that supports charter reform.
The fate of the charter was not decided on Election Day and after absentee ballots were counted, voters once again rejected the charter reform.
4. School graduations (drive-thru or drive-in)
Students and teachers had to make adjustments on the fly earlier this year when the state closed down schools for in-person learning. Students in all grade levels, including college students began to learn via remote online learning.
As the end of the 20192020 school year approached in June, high school and college seniors began to wonder if they would be able to celebrate their achievements with a commencement ceremony.
With gatherings still limited across the state in June, many school districts made the decision to host a drive-thru or drive-in commencement ceremony.
Graduating students in Saratoga Springs were assigned a time slot in which to arrive at the high school with their families, one vehicle per family. This kept traffic f lowing smoothly without any jams or backups. Vehicles were directed through a carefully laid out path around the school parking lots, winding up in front of the high school where a stage had been set up.
School staff was stationed at checkpoints making sure that cars were going the right way, graduates got out at the appointed spots, and social distancing was maintained as the graduates lined up for their stage walks.
With “Pomp and Circumstance” blaring through the school’s outdoor speaker system, loud cheers greeted each name read as students crossed the stage and received their diploma covers (the actual documents will be mailed out later). Students waved to one another and to their teachers from their cars.
The 16 graduates in the Waldorf High School of Saratoga Springs Class of 2020 marked a milestone in their lives with a unique graduation ceremony on Monday night at the Malta Drive-In Theatre.
Though the school could not hold its graduation ceremony in the Canfield Casino as usual this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, staff and other supporters made sure the students still had a safe and special occasion to honor their accomplishments.
Graduates and their families participated in the ceremony from their vehicles parked at the local drive in-theatre, except when individual graduates walked out to get their diplomas, which were placed on a table for them to retrieve.
Cars honked their horns to cheer on the graduates as they performed this traditional rite of passage in an unconventional manner.
Speeches and presentations were projected on the movie screen, including an opening address from Waldorf School Board of Directors president Richard Frank, words of encouragement from Waldorf alum Michael Maylahn and a personal message from former faculty member and alum parent Gina Karp.
Many college students were able to celebrate their accomplishments in virtual ceremonies.
SUNY Empire State College celebrated the graduating class of 2020 throughout the month of June with a series of online and social media festivities, culminating with a virtual commencement ceremony, which took place on Saturday, June 27.
5. Communities celebrate region’s reopening
At the peak of the pandemic in the spring, Cuomo announced a “phased” reopening plan for the state. Initially, Phase 1 included the reopening of construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, select retail for curbside pickup and agriculture.
Then after a 14- day period, the region could enter Phase 2 in early June. This meant the reopening of in-store retail shopping, real estate and professional services such as hair salons and barbershops.
Beyond these initial stages, Phase 3 allowed the reopening of restaurants and Phase 4 resumed education, recreation, arts and entertainment.
Although some areas of businesses ended up not being included in the first four phases of reopening. Gyms, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and malls took much longer before given permission to reopen.
As the Capital Region began a new phase, local leaders as well as businesses were relieved to go back to some sense of normalcy.
Although, throughout the rest of the year and into 2021, when entering stores and restaurants, people are asked to wear a mask and officials still urge everyone to practice social distancing and to practice good hygiene.
People once again cheered when the state began to administer vaccinations, which is expected to continue into much of 2021.
6. Saratoga County Fair goes virtual due to COVID-19
The Saratoga County Fair’s decision to go virtual this year to keep everyone safe against COVID-19 did not stop one of the fair’s time-honored traditions.
Fair directors, representatives of the county and regional chambers of commerce, and state dignitaries gathered in July for a ribbon-cutting to mark the Fair’s official start.
Tammy Ballestero, Fair director and president of the Saratoga County Agricultural Society, praised the efforts of executive director Susan Rhoades and concessions chair Lauren Rowland, who worked so hard to make sure this year’s Fair would still be a memorable - if virtual - experience.
This year’s fun included lots of online games and activities, as well as some important on-site events.
The fairground also played host to a food pantry drive-thru co-hosted by the American Dairy Association. The Fair also hosted a chicken barbecue fundraiser.
7. Police reform practices
Amidst public outcry after George Floyd was killed in police custody, Cuomo signed an executive order titled New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative on June 12. The order states that local police departments across the state must evaluate police practices.
Floyd, a Black man in handcuffs, died May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for several minutes even after he said he couldn’t breathe. Floyd’s death sparked protests in Minneapolis and beyond, and led to a nationwide reckoning on race.
Like many other communities, the City of Saratoga Springs formed a committee to conduct a thorough review of its police department’s policies, procedures, practices and deployment including, but not limited to, use of force.
The committee is also tasked with developing a plan for the city to incorporate necessary improvements within the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
The group includes the Saratoga Springs Police Department Chief Shane Crooks, who is mandated by the executive order to serve on the committee, as well as a dozen other community members appointed the mayor and each of the four commissioners of the city council.
Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly appointed four members: City Attorney Vince DeLeonardis, who will serve as the committee chair, along with Skidmore College director of Black Studies Winston Grady-Willis, Terry Diggory of the Saratoga Immigration Coalition and Chuck Caputo of Saratoga Pride.
Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan appointed Daesha Harris and Kristin Dart.
Commissioner of Public Safety Robin Dalton appointed Jason Golub and Andrew Sephas.
Commissioner of Accounts John Franck appointed Cecila Hayes and Camille Daniels, who will serve as the vice- chair of the committee.
Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco appointed Steven Boxley and Kimberly A. Galvin.
The committee will present its recommendations to the City Council and to the public.
After consideration of all public comments and input, the City Council will be required to adopt a plan by local law or resolution on or before April 1, 2021, and implement the recommendations.
8. City Center Parking unveiled
Although the pandemic halted many construction projects in 2020, the City of Saratoga Springs was still able to unveil, in November, the new City Center Parking Facility, a $16 million project that spent more than a decade in its planning phase.
Project leaders gathered in November for a ribboncutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the parking garage, a multistory structure located be
tween Maple Avenue and High Rock Avenue.
In addition to about 620 parking spaces, the facility features a pedestrian bridge over Maple Avenue that leads into the Saratoga Springs City Center, four electric car charging stations, overnight security, two green spaces and a rooftop area that can be utilized for parking and convention-related events.
Construction began on the parking garage in September of 2019, and the project was finished by the end of 2020.
The garage, a designbuild project in partnership with Bette & Cring and Envision Architects, will serve both the City Center and downtown Saratoga Springs.
Along with offering parking for people attending the meetings, conventions and other events held at the Saratoga Springs City Center, anyone visiting the city’s downtown district can park in the garage too.
The City Center Parking Facility offers a pay per park system, through which the first hour of parking is free. Each additional hour is $1, with a maximum of $15 per day.
However, in an effort to help downtown Saratoga Springs restaurants and retail businesses, during the challenge of the pandemic this holiday season, the City Center will offer visitors four hours of complimentary parking on a daily basis until Jan. 1.
A limited number of yearly parking passes are now available for purchase from the Saratoga Springs City Center. Parking pass holders will receive benefits such as covered parking, electric charging stations, video surveillance and overnight security on site.
9. Paul Lent Public Safety Facility opens
Officials in Saratoga County were ecstatic to showcase the grand opening of its new public safety building in August, marking the completion of a project expected to increase the effectiveness of services to local residents.
Located at 6010 County Farm Rd. in Ballston Spa, the facility is named for late Galway Supervisor Paul Lent, who passed away in 2018, shortly before the start of this building project. Lent focused much of his career on public safety, including in roles as a sheriff’s deputy and as the county’s long-time director of emergency services.
Lent’s wife, Sue, was invited to cut the ribbon at the ribbon- cutting ceremony, which was attended by many elected officials and supporters.
The Paul E. Lent Public Safety Facility brings five different departments under one roof. They are the Sheriff’s Department, Public Health Department, Emergency Services Department, Probation Department, and 9-1-1 Services.
Before this building upgrade, these departments were housed in overcrowded, outdated, and inadequate spaces, according to a press release from the county, noting that the facility also provides upgrades to antiquated 9-1-1 system technology.
Looking ahead, officials shared that the new facility is built for future growth, and will allow the departments to grow in pace with the population of Saratoga County to best serve its residents.
The 64,000- square-foot building, which includes space for 235 employees, cost approximately $28 million, less than that original project estimate of $30 million. It has had no negative impact on the county’s budget, the release said, sharing that the facility was built on existing countyowned land, adjacent to other county buildings.
The smart and growthfocused investment will ensure that Saratoga County can continue to provide high- quality public safety programs to all residents without creating an undue economic burden on the local population, the release said.
10. Plastic bag ban in New York State
In April, Cuomo signed a bill banning singleuse plastic bags into law. Cuomo said by 2050, estimates predict there will be more plastic in waterways than fish by weight. The purpose of the law is to encourage consumers to reuse bags and reduce waste associated with plastic bags.
The statewide law prohibits grocery stores from providing single-use plastic bags for most purchases. It allows for a $.05 fee to be levied for paper bags purchased at point of sale. The money would be split between the counties that choose to impose the fee and the state, with counties getting 2 cents of every nickel collected.
Cuomo said the state’s share would go towards the state Environmental Protection Fund. A program to distribute reusable bags will be put in place and if local communities decide not to take part the state will step in, Cuomo noted.
New York is the third state in the nation with a ban on single-use plastic grocery bags, joining California and Hawaii.
First- time violators of the plastic bag ban would receive a warning. For a second offense, violators would pay a $250 fine, and repeat offenders would face a $500 fine
The bags are considered by some to be a scourge on the environment because they are not biodegradable.
Environmental groups estimate tens of thousands of animals, including whales, birds, seals, and turtles, die every year from plastic bag litter in the water because they mistake the bags for food, such as jellyfish.