There is a basic law of economics which states, if you subsidize undesirable behavior, you will get more undesirable behavior. I believe the same is true if you ALLOW undesirable behavior.

If you had not yet heard, this past Saturday downtown Saratoga Springs was once again the epicenter of a 6-hour long standoff between protesters and everyone else.

The unscheduled event, which violated city ordinances, shut down multiple roads and left businesses and restaurants empty on what could have been their busiest day of the season.

This comes approximately 5 weeks after the emergency city council meeting which was held to address this specific type of situation. At that meeting, Mayor Meg Kelly came out strong stating

“It is time to make some changes here because we cannot have this happening time and time again in the city of Saratoga Springs – period. We are not going to block streets.”

Public Safety Commissioner Dalton shared her sentiment “The Saratoga Springs Police Department recognizes the right to peacefully protest, however, one person’s constitutional right does not supersede another’s.” Assistant Chief Cattone then laid out guidelines and actions which would be taken moving forward.

I am not sure what happened between that October 1 meeting and last Saturday, but officers from SSPD, the Sheriff’s Department and the State Police stood by as the protesters chanted “Biden won but we’re not done…These are our streets” and taunted the officers. There were also numerous reports of bystanders and families being harassed before they got out of town.

I have to say that I am disgusted, embarrassed, and sickened by this situation. We are in a global pandemic, businesses and families are struggling, yet some individuals feel they have the right to shut down roads, detour traffic at their discretion, and shout vulgarities over a megaphone. And let’s not ignore the fact that the blocked intersection is the primary road to Saratoga Hospital. What happens when a frantic mother is rushing her asthmatic child to the hospital and discovers her route is shut down and she must find a detour?

On Monday morning I had the opportunity to speak with several downtown business owners, and the financial gravity of the situation really hit home. One food/drink establishment shared, “We are struggling to make rent and pay staff. Normally on a 75-degree day, in November, we would be hopping until closing. We were empty from about 3-9 on Saturday. That crushes us.” Of important note, this was restaurant week! The other businesses I spoke with shared the same frustration and anger.

So, my question is why weren’t arrests made? Why weren’t the roads opened? Why do we tolerate this behavior?

According to SSPD Chief Crooks a tactical decision was made based on information relayed to him by supervisors on scene. “There were too many protesters vs. the number of officers.” I asked him the next logical question: why were officers on scene for hours if they weren’t going to make arrests? “Officers were there in case anything happened with the public,” he responded. “There were a number of interactions between the group and bystanders.”

I understand the police are in a no-win situation. They are damned if they do and they are damned if they don’t. But allowing these situations to continue is unacceptable and only emboldens the organizers. Forget the horrific impact on business and the potential for medical disasters due to the street detours; let’s look at the financial impact to you and me.

Every one of these occurrences, and they are increasing in regularity, costs the city thousands of dollars in overtime. An estimated guess of the infamous July 30 protest in front of Congress Park, which lasted well into the late evening, cost us $10,000. That is money not going to kids’ programs, homeless assistance, or critical infrastructure.

Who are these protesters? With the exception of the few individuals behind the megaphone, the majority this past weekend were white teenagers from our local high school and Skidmore College. The scene looked more like a dysfunctional Justin Bieber concert than anything else. Perhaps there is an opportunity here for Skidmore administration to step up and contribute to the good of our community. If Skidmore students are arrested for civil disobedience (blocking roads), I would think they should face disciplinary action under the school’s code of conduct. Skidmore students are guests in our community. I would love the hear Skidmore’s view on this.

Start arresting these kids as soon as the roads are blocked and let’s see how long their resolve lasts.

But don’t get lulled into a false sense of security. The troublemakers in the late September protest were a whole different group of agitators. In that protest they marched through our streets, harassing diners and yelling at families, while surrounded by their own security force dressed in black with baseball bats!

One thing I can predict is that sooner or later something bad is going to happen. We will either take the path of neighboring cities and slide downhill into crime and chaos, or the citizens will begin standing up to these groups and take back the streets. Neither scenario has a good ending.

In closing, the primary function of government is leadership, and to maintain law & order. Sadly, they are falling short on both right now. I know many families who have stopped coming into town because of this problem. Those families used to spend their hard-earned money shopping and eating in our city. Can we afford to turn our back on anyone right now? Do we want a city where women and children feel threatened?

They need to figure this out and put an end to it NOW. Otherwise, deputize community members and let them clear the streets.

-Chad

This coming Wednesday, November 11, we will celebrate Veterans Day on the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I; the armistice that began on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. On this solemn day we are called to honor all those who served our country, both dead and alive, in war and in peace.

Those of us who know freedom, should be thankful for those who sacrificed for it. For without their sacrifices we may still be celebrating the royal wedding, speaking German, or practicing a single religion. All of our veterans gave something, and some of our veterans gave everything, and because of those sacrifices we live in the greatest nation on Earth.

Yes, I said it. The greatest nation on Earth. Never has a nation been so great, so prosperous, so powerful and so wealthy, and used it for so much good. When natural disasters strike, the world calls for the United States of America. When rogue nations invade neighboring nations, Lady Liberty goes into action and the full might of the world’s strongest military responds.

The men and women of our armed services are willing to sacrifice, suffer and lay down their lives for us. To truly understand their ethos, I want to share their creed with you. While they each have their own, which is unique to their service, I have chosen that of our longest standing branch, the United States Army:

Soldier’s Creed:

I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat. I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

Please join me in thanking all the men and women of the United States armed services.

God Bless AMERICA! 
-Chad

In mid-September I wrote a story entitled ‘Downtown Dilemma.’

The story, which addressed the many facets of our ongoing homeless problem, received quite a bit of interest and positive feedback.

I ended the story by issuing a challenge to SOS, City Council, the County, Code Blue, and everyone else with the expertise and power to make a difference: Initiate meaningful change that will affect generations, and create a benchmark for other cities and towns to follow.

About a week later I was happy when Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Adam Feldman reached out to me. After a few discussion it was decided that the Saratoga Collaborative to End Homelessness will publish a monthly column in  Saratoga TODAY.

The goal for their monthly columns in partnership with Saratoga TODAY, will be to keep the community informed, educated, and engaged regarding the ongoing efforts to tackle this complex social problem, as well as the causes of, and solutions to, homelessness.

It will explore the collaboration which started in 2019, for the purpose of working as one team, across sectors and agencies, to move beyond programmatic-level approach and develop a systems-level solution to homelessness in Saratoga County.

In this series, they plan to cover the full spectrum of system elements needed to prevent and end homelessness, from affordable housing to supportive services, rental subsidies, and street outreach teams.

The monthly feature begins next week so be sure to check back. Together we can ALL make a difference.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —With a motto of Health, History and Horses, Saratoga Springs has also become known for its philanthropy and generosity. In a normal season, a single summer gala can raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, and year-round donations keep our many non-profits moving forward.

Local organizations such as Code Blue, Shelters of Saratoga and the Salvation Army are on the cutting edge when it comes to helping the less fortunate. But has all of this good come at a cost?

The Saratoga Springs homeless population has been on a steady increase for at least the past five years. During the winter of 2014-15, the ‘number of people sheltered’ at Code Blue was 82; it was 261 last winter!

How do we balance our moral obligations with our ongoing economic sustainability? What are the safety concerns associated with this? Who are the homeless?

On any given day, if you take a ride down Woodlawn Ave. (1 block off Broadway) you may see people passed-out on the sidewalk, bedding strewn all around, and groups of homeless gathered. Depending on the weather, some of those homeless may make their way to Broadway, the epicenter of the city’s economy, where they will panhandle and set up shop in front of local businesses. 

But their presence is not limited to panhandling and vagrancy. Drug use and alcohol consumption accompany regular reports of public urination, defecation, and fornication, usually focused around our several parking garages and visible to the public.

THE PARKING GARAGES

As I drove down Broadway earlier this week, there was an individual passed-out on the grass in front the Stewarts Shop across from the City Center. Just a few hundred feet from that location is a multi-million dollar parking structure project, complete with a skybridge over Maple Ave. While the parking structure is a definite boon to our city, many residents share “safety concerns” once the structure is open to the public. Ryan McMahon, Executive Director of the City Center says those concerns have been taken seriously and were addressed in the design process.

“Both of the stair towers are enclosed in windows so there is visibility from outside as well as continual illumination in these, and most areas,” stated McMahon. “The structure will have a security office at the Maple Avenue entrance which will be staffed most of the time, including overnight. Within the security office there will be access to over thirty cameras that cover the inside and outside of the structure. Finally, there are ‘blue phones’ located on each level of the structure, at the stair towers, which will have a direct line to the police dispatch.”

But there is a big difference between securing a single parking structure and an entire downtown.

THE BUSINESSES

Saratoga Springs has been referred to as a ‘jewel nestled in the foothills of the Adirondacks.’ We are the perfect blend of arts, entertainment, shopping, and dining. Sadly, the vibrancy of our downtown could be in jeopardy. Store owners have serious concerns with the ongoing vagrancy issue. Their entire livelihoods are tied into their sales. And their sales pay the salaries of thousands of local employees. Aggressive panhandlers and public urination in front of stores is not good for business.

I reached out to Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus and he was well aware of this problem. “No doubt that the homeless situation downtown is one of the top challenges mentioned to me by business owners, their employees and their customers. It has been for a number of years,” said Shimkus. “I know Shelters of Saratoga has a new executive director now. I think we’ll need him and the City to find a way to do even more to collaborate and to provide more consistent outreach to help those on the streets get the services they need.”

THE PEOPLE

Who are our homeless? According to the new Executive Director of Shelters of Saratoga (SOS), Duane Vaughn, this issue isn’t specific to our community. “The issue is a national issue and there are many contributors such as mental illness, loss of job or housing, addiction, family conflict or domestic violence. The list can be long and it can be a combination of some or all these factors.”

He added that Shelters is currently working on policy and procedure to refine what they should do, and what they currently do well. “Our goal is the health and safety for the people we serve, our community and our staff. My
plan is to open broader communication with our complete community which includes other non-profits, City and County Governments and of course, our Saratoga Springs neighbors.”

Not one to back down from a challenge, Vaughn feels this is a doable task and one he is ready to tackle. “I have had conversations with City and County government, and all are passionate about helping our most vulnerable populations.  We will revamp how Code Blue is operated and if all goes as planned, open a day drop-in center where we can bring various government and non-government services to our most needy community members instead of having them seek out and navigate service provision.”

{loadmoduleid 268}

THE CITY

Call it serendipity or just good timing, but since I began writing this piece earlier in the week some significant decisions have taken place. At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting it was announced that the Saratoga County supervisors approved a plan to let SOS use part of the county’s Woodlawn Avenue building. The building will serve as a homeless outreach center connecting individuals with social services, mental health, treatment, veterans counseling and other needed services.

Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton weighed-in with an optimistic outlook. “Without question, Saratoga Springs has a homeless problem that has grown significantly over the last few years and it ties up a significant amount of our time and resources, but this week marks what will hopefully be a noticeable effectiveness of our efforts; this outreach center changes the game.

“As far as public safety, our police officers are stuck in the middle. They have residents and business owners complaining to them to keep downtown safe – from the panhandling, behavior and sometimes simply the visual of being homeless – but poverty isn’t criminalized, we cannot make this group of people disappear somehow,” Dalton added.

“The professionalism of our officers really shines through in situations like this, they treat the homeless with dignity and respect and want to get them the help they need, but also completely empathize with the business owners and residents. When in doubt, always call us, we will be there to help.”

THE CONCLUSION

Saratoga Springs is not your average run-of-the-mill town with a stagnant economy and shuttered businesses. We are the shining city upon a hill. We set an example that others follow and continually reimagine our events and locations to maximize our appeal. But staying on top is not an easy task, and we must be humble enough to realize it could easily slip away. Prudent decisions need to be made by a cross section of all our leaders.

To quote the Peter Parker principle: With great power comes great responsibility.

We have a responsibility to ALL our citizens to do what is good, right, and just. They are the business owners and the tourists, the homeowners and the homeless. We must create sensible solutions that work for everyone while maintaining individual rights and basic human dignity.

And let’s think in terms of preventive health vs band aids. Band aids are great for covering up wounds that already exists, but our goal should be to eliminate the disease that causes these wounds. Far too often I see young homeless people walking our streets lost in life. Over the next three decades how many times will they be arrested, rushed to the emergency room, or huddled on the sidewalk shivering in the middle of winter?

In closing, I issue a challenge to SOS, City Council, the County, Code Blue, and everyone else with the expertise and power to make a difference: Initiate meaningful change that will affect generations, and create a benchmark for other cities and towns to follow. Let’s   move the needle on this!

God Bless!
-Chad

SARATOGA SPRINGS —With a motto of Health, History and Horses, Saratoga Springs has also become known for its philanthropy and generosity. In a normal season, a single summer gala can raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, and year-round donations keep our many non-profits moving forward.

Local organizations such as Code Blue, Shelters of Saratoga and the Salvation Army are on the cutting edge when it comes to helping the less fortunate. But has all of this good come at a cost?

The Saratoga Springs homeless population has been on a steady increase for at least the past five years. During the winter of 2014-15, the ‘number of people sheltered’ at Code Blue was 82; it was 261 last winter!

How do we balance our moral obligations with our ongoing economic sustainability? What are the safety concerns associated with this? Who are the homeless?

On any given day, if you take a ride down Woodlawn Ave. (1 block off Broadway) you may see people passed-out on the sidewalk, bedding strewn all around, and groups of homeless gathered. Depending on the weather, some of those homeless may make their way to Broadway, the epicenter of the city’s economy, where they will panhandle and set up shop in front of local businesses. 

But their presence is not limited to panhandling and vagrancy. Drug use and alcohol consumption accompany regular reports of public urination, defecation, and fornication, usually focused around our several parking garages and visible to the public.

THE PARKING GARAGES

As I drove down Broadway earlier this week, there was an individual passed-out on the grass in front the Stewarts Shop across from the City Center. Just a few hundred feet from that location is a multi-million dollar parking structure project, complete with a skybridge over Maple Ave. While the parking structure is a definite boon to our city, many residents share “safety concerns” once the structure is open to the public. Ryan McMahon, Executive Director of the City Center says those concerns have been taken seriously and were addressed in the design process.

“Both of the stair towers are enclosed in windows so there is visibility from outside as well as continual illumination in these, and most areas,” stated McMahon. “The structure will have a security office at the Maple Avenue entrance which will be staffed most of the time, including overnight. Within the security office there will be access to over thirty cameras that cover the inside and outside of the structure. Finally, there are ‘blue phones’ located on each level of the structure, at the stair towers, which will have a direct line to the police dispatch.”

But there is a big difference between securing a single parking structure and an entire downtown.

THE BUSINESSES

Saratoga Springs has been referred to as a ‘jewel nestled in the foothills of the Adirondacks.’ We are the perfect blend of arts, entertainment, shopping, and dining. Sadly, the vibrancy of our downtown could be in jeopardy. Store owners have serious concerns with the ongoing vagrancy issue. Their entire livelihoods are tied into their sales. And their sales pay the salaries of thousands of local employees. Aggressive panhandlers and public urination in front of stores is not good for business.

I reached out to Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus and he was well aware of this problem. “No doubt that the homeless situation downtown is one of the top challenges mentioned to me by business owners, their employees and their customers. It has been for a number of years,” said Shimkus. “I know Shelters of Saratoga has a new executive director now. I think we’ll need him and the City to find a way to do even more to collaborate and to provide more consistent outreach to help those on the streets get the services they need.”

THE PEOPLE

Who are our homeless? According to the new Executive Director of Shelters of Saratoga (SOS), Duane Vaughn, this issue isn’t specific to our community. “The issue is a national issue and there are many contributors such as mental illness, loss of job or housing, addiction, family conflict or domestic violence. The list can be long and it can be a combination of some or all these factors.”

He added that Shelters is currently working on policy and procedure to refine what they should do, and what they currently do well. “Our goal is the health and safety for the people we serve, our community and our staff. My
plan is to open broader communication with our complete community which includes other non-profits, City and County Governments and of course, our Saratoga Springs neighbors.”

Not one to back down from a challenge, Vaughn feels this is a doable task and one he is ready to tackle. “I have had conversations with City and County government, and all are passionate about helping our most vulnerable populations.  We will revamp how Code Blue is operated and if all goes as planned, open a day drop-in center where we can bring various government and non-government services to our most needy community members instead of having them seek out and navigate service provision.”

{loadmoduleid 268}

THE CITY

Call it serendipity or just good timing, but since I began writing this piece earlier in the week some significant decisions have taken place. At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting it was announced that the Saratoga County supervisors approved a plan to let SOS use part of the county’s Woodlawn Avenue building. The building will serve as a homeless outreach center connecting individuals with social services, mental health, treatment, veterans counseling and other needed services.

Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton weighed-in with an optimistic outlook. “Without question, Saratoga Springs has a homeless problem that has grown significantly over the last few years and it ties up a significant amount of our time and resources, but this week marks what will hopefully be a noticeable effectiveness of our efforts; this outreach center changes the game.

“As far as public safety, our police officers are stuck in the middle. They have residents and business owners complaining to them to keep downtown safe – from the panhandling, behavior and sometimes simply the visual of being homeless – but poverty isn’t criminalized, we cannot make this group of people disappear somehow,” Dalton added.

“The professionalism of our officers really shines through in situations like this, they treat the homeless with dignity and respect and want to get them the help they need, but also completely empathize with the business owners and residents. When in doubt, always call us, we will be there to help.”

THE CONCLUSION

Saratoga Springs is not your average run-of-the-mill town with a stagnant economy and shuttered businesses. We are the shining city upon a hill. We set an example that others follow and continually reimagine our events and locations to maximize our appeal. But staying on top is not an easy task, and we must be humble enough to realize it could easily slip away. Prudent decisions need to be made by a cross section of all our leaders.

To quote the Peter Parker principle: With great power comes great responsibility.

We have a responsibility to ALL our citizens to do what is good, right, and just. They are the business owners and the tourists, the homeowners and the homeless. We must create sensible solutions that work for everyone while maintaining individual rights and basic human dignity.

And let’s think in terms of preventive health vs band aids. Band aids are great for covering up wounds that already exists, but our goal should be to eliminate the disease that causes these wounds. Far too often I see young homeless people walking our streets lost in life. Over the next three decades how many times will they be arrested, rushed to the emergency room, or huddled on the sidewalk shivering in the middle of winter?

In closing, I issue a challenge to SOS, City Council, the County, Code Blue, and everyone else with the expertise and power to make a difference: Initiate meaningful change that will affect generations, and create a benchmark for other cities and towns to follow. Let’s   move the needle on this!

God Bless!
-Chad

GREETINGS LOYAL READERS,

I hope you are healthy and staying safe. I never thought we would be living through a global pandemic and economic meltdown, yet here we are.

Today I want to explore a polarizing subject of great importance: When should the regional economy be reopened? For all the elected officials reading this, I feel for you. You are in a no-win situation. There are plenty of Monday morning quarterbacks who consider themselves experts in epidemiology, economics, and virology, but the consequences of their opinions and platitudes are meaningless. Your decisions however, impact lives and economies. May God grant you wisdom to make prudent decisions.

Now I will do what I always do and share my personal views of this situation. By the end of the article you may agree or disagree, but hopefully we will all leave this with a little more information, a little more insight, and a lot more understanding.

THE ONGOING BATTLE…

Our current pandemic is not unique to this generation; humans and viruses have been battling for global supremacy since the beginning of time. Shaped by evolution to ensure their own replication and survival, viruses are a daunting opponent.

Thankfully, humans have been blessed with an equally ingenious group of epidemiologists who have managed to outsmart and outwork those microscopic enemies. From Hippocrates to Larry Brilliant, epidemiologists have kept the human race moving forward.

Relative to prior pandemics, the mortality rate of COVID-19 is rather low, but the transmission rate is rather high; these are both important facts needed for any decisions. Let’s take a quick look at pandemics from the past 100 years:

AIDS PANDEMIC  (1981-present)
Death Toll: 35 million

FLU PANDEMIC (1968)
Death Toll: 1 million

ASIAN FLU (1956-1958)
Death Toll: 2 million

Spanish Flu (1918)
Death Toll: 20–50 million

SIXTH CHOLERA PANDEMIC 
(1910-1911) Death Toll: 800,000+

And while it didn’t take place in recent history, I think it is important to mention the Bubonic Plague, (346-1353). Death Toll: 75–200 million

After an extensive search I was unable to find any consensual global death toll estimates for Covid-19, but it appears the range of global estimates are well below the prior pandemics mentioned above.

MORTALITY RATE…

Regarding the mortality rate of COVID-19: It seems to be changing daily as randomized test results come in, but it appears a generally accepted figure is 1.5%. A sobering figure but not relatively high when compared to the mortality rates of other epidemics such as Ebola (50%), Smallpox (50-90%), SARS (9.6%) or MERS (35%). *Both SARS and MERS are coronaviruses. Recent data from the randomized testing is showing that the infection rate of COVID-19 is potentially 25-50% higher than reported. This would mean the mortality rate could be substantially lower than the 1.5% figure.

A recent Stanford University antibody study now estimates that the fatality rate of infected individuals is likely as low as 0.1 to 0.2%, far lower than previous WHO estimates that were 20-30 times higher.

We need to treat this pandemic for what it is: A high transmission, low mortality virus. This is not a death sentence.

TO OPEN OR NOT TO OPEN…

This simple question is as powerful as Hamlets famous soliloquy ‘To be or not to be’, in which he is questioning the value of life.

It appears the general argument to remain in lockdown hinges on two specific facts:

1. A full quarantine will reduce deaths from COVID-19.

2. Ending the quarantine will increase deaths due to COVID-19.

While both statements seem to be 100% accurate, there is a fatal flaw in relying solely on that logic to defend an ongoing shutdown because it neglects to mention non-COVID-19 deaths which may occur due to the shutdown.

As anyone who has raised a family, run a business, or paid rent can attest, finances and health are not mutually exclusive. Money may not buy happiness, but financial insecurity can certainly impact your health (physical & psychological.)

Some of the risks associated with financial worries include, but are not limited to: heart disease, overdose, depression, domestic abuse, addiction, anxiety, molestation, stroke, relapse, suicide, migraines, diabetes, sleep problems, etc.

Additionally, there is a psychological effect from being locked down in your home. Police calls related to domestic abuse have increased substantially over the past month and local organizations which deal with domestic situations have seen a troubling increase. These are personal traumas that will last a lifetime, not a season.

As addressed in the article on page 9, people are putting themselves at undue risk due to COVID-19 fears. They are neglecting needed medical care for fear of contracting the virus at hospitals or Doctor offices.

Also, the high mortality rate is isolated to a very small segment of the population, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, allowing us to better control outcomes among age groups. Those in the high-risk categories can remain self-isolated with regular monitoring.

Is a life saved from COVID-19 more valuable than a life lost due to the shutdown? I would say no.

Companies and individuals make decisions every day that effect life expectancy.

Insurance companies decide what procedures and medicines they will or will not cover. Automobile companies decide the trade-off of safety vs. expense. The boxer steps into the ring accepting the possibility of catastrophic injury, mountaineers hike Everest knowing they may not return, and large swaths of society smoke, drink, and shovel unhealthy food down their gullet despite the warnings.

THE CONSTITUTION…

Quarantines were a normal occurrence throughout early American history. But the creation of the U.S. Constitution, as well as ongoing legal and procedural developments and the advent of modern medicine have helped shape current views on this topic.

While the First Amendment guarantees among other things, the Freedom of Assembly, what rights does the government have to abridge these freedoms for the greater public good? And, for that matter, who should oversee these powers, the federal Government or the state government?

This topic is far too in-depth to address in this editorial, but I will make two simple statements.

• The Tenth Amendment says: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

• James Madison pointed out in The Federalist, No. 10 that if a state adopts a disastrous new policy, at least it would not be a catastrophe for everyone. On the other hand, if a state’s new programs work well, other states can adopt their ideas and adjust them to their own needs.

Therefore, I would say the main power to address this issue lies in the states, with the Federal government acting as the facilitator and addressing specific national issues such as borders, travel bans and critical supply logistics.

FINAL THOUGHTS…

This is not a black and white issue with a simple solution, but we have plenty of data to point us in the correct direction. This shutdown could eventually (soon) create an economic meltdown like we have never experienced, with the fallout rippling through every aspect of society.

When I hear people nonchalantly say “Saratoga Springs should just shut down until next summer” it makes my blood boil. You are talking about families losing everything they have; dreams shattered; life savings gone; home foreclosures all around; college savings evaporated; businesses shuttered; not to mention the countless health issues addressed earlier in this editorial which will destroy families.

And let’s not forget that the tax revenue generated during our summer months is what helps to pay for many of our essential services such as police, fire, schools, sewer maintenance and roads. 

Currently the date set by Governor Cuomo for the potential reopening of businesses in upstate NY is May 15. That is only 2 weeks away. Things may look a little different in the beginning and we may need to wear masks and continue to social distance, but that is certainly an acceptable inconvenience for a short period of time.  This cannot last through the summer.

We need businesses open. 

We need normalcy. 

We need money flowing through the system. 

We need to be paying our bills. 

We need to navigate our way through phase 1 and enter phases 2 & 3 as soon as possible.

*For those individuals who are considered ‘at risk’, your self-quarantining may need to last until a vaccine has been developed or the virus has run its course.

THE NEW NORMAL…

We are a nation of survivors. Life WILL get back to normal.We have made it through world wars, pandemics, presidential assassinations and 9-11. We have crossed oceans, explored the unknown and put men on the moon. We will overcome this. We will get back to normal. We will forge on and once again experience the American dream of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

God Bless !

-Chad

GREETINGS TO ALL MY LOYAL READERS,

I hope you are staying safe and following the social distancing protocols. The sooner we can flatten the curve, the sooner we can all get back to regular life. I hope we still remember what ‘regular’ looks like!

Life at the newspaper has been somewhat lonely. We have 4 staff working in the building and we are spread out in different rooms. The in-house staff includes me, 1 sales rep, and 2 graphic designers. The rest of staff is hunkered down at home working remotely.

While I miss seeing the full staff, as well as my advertisers and of course all of you, I am very happy we have been able to provide continuous uninterrupted news and information to keep you ‘in-the-know’ about your community.  Some days have been more challenging than others to find good stories, but this remains a vibrant and caring community with plenty of great stories to tell.

Technically we are living through a once-in-a-century event. The last great pandemic took place 100 years ago. The Spanish Flu lasted from January 1918 to December 1920. It infected roughly 500 million people and killed approximately 70 million. But the Spanish Flu didn’t end the American dream, and neither will COVID-19.

I predict when we come out of this, we will experience a retail and dining boom like we have not seen in our lifetime. I know I am CRAVING: fine dining, hitting the gym, clothes shopping, massage, Jiu-Jitsu, chiropractic, home improvement projects, a haircut, etc. Yes, I am firmly confident that the wheels of capitalism will spin at full speed and cash will be flowing through the economy and the markets.

I suppose in the future, when I am bouncing my grandkids on my knees and they ask “Grandpa, were you alive in the great pandemic of 2020?” I can say “Yes I was sonny; in fact, I wrote about you during the pandemic in a letter to my readers!”

In closing, I, as well as the entire team at Saratoga TODAY, want to send a big heartfelt THANK YOU to all the front-line workers keeping society running. These include but are not limited to doctors, nurses, lab techs, EMT’s, police, firemen, bank tellers, grocery store workers, delivery drivers, power plant operators, garabage collectors, government officials, auto repair workers, chefs, volunteers etc.

God Bless & see everyone soon!

-Chad

GREETINGS EVERYONE,

This is Publisher Beatty coming to you from deep underground in the Saratoga TODAY emergency bunker.

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, I want to assure you that we are doing everything to maintain stability in our news reporting cycle. This week’s paper just went to press, and we will be dropping bundles at locations by later tonight. As always, we are available at Stewart’s Shops, Price Choppers, Hannaford’s, etc…And you can always stop by our office and grab a copy from one of our newspaper racks located in front of the building. All our home-delivery routes remain intact.

If circumstances eventually eliminate our ability to print and distribute a physical paper for a period, we can still provide you with local news and information through our online and social media outlets. You can also access all our award-winning magazines online right now!

With 75% of our employees now working remotely, we are working diligently to return phone calls and emails. There may be a short delay and we thank you for your patience.

If you are one of our advertisers, we thank you for your ongoing support.
We will continue to deliver your message to our readers and deliver results to your business.

I ask everyone to stay calm, stay smart, and think about those who may be less fortunate or have compromised immune systems. We can get through this together.

Stay Strong, Saratoga.
God Bless You and God Bless America!

Are you looking for a fun way to pass the time and support local businesses while you are quarantined at home? Check out our annual BEST OF THE SARATOGA REGION contest. With over 100 categories, local businesses go head-to-head as they vie for the BEST in their field. CLICK HERE and cast your vote today…and tomorrow.

GREETINGS EVERYONE,

This is Publisher Beatty coming to you from deep underground in the Saratoga TODAY emergency bunker.

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, I want to assure you that we are doing everything to maintain stability in our news reporting cycle. This week’s paper just went to press, and we will be dropping bundles at locations by later tonight. As always, we are available at Stewart’s Shops, Price Choppers, Hannaford’s, etc…And you can always stop by our office and grab a copy from one of our newspaper racks located in front of the building. All our home-delivery routes remain intact.

If circumstances eventually eliminate our ability to print and distribute a physical paper for a period, we can still provide you with local news and information through our online and social media outlets. You can also access all our award-winning magazines online right now!

With 75% of our employees now working remotely, we are working diligently to return phone calls and emails. There may be a short delay and we thank you for your patience.

If you are one of our advertisers, we thank you for your ongoing support. We will continue to deliver your message to our readers and deliver results to your business.

I ask everyone to stay calm, stay smart, and think about those who may be less fortunate or have compromised immune systems. We can get through this together.

Stay Strong, Saratoga.
God Bless You and God Bless America!

Are you looking for a fun way to pass the time and support local businesses while you are quarantined at home?
Check out our annual BEST OF THE SATAOGA REGION contest. With over 100 categories, local businesses go head-to-head as they vie for the BEST in their field.
CLICK HERE and cast your vote today…and tomorrow.

Most of us have a friend, family member or acquaintance who is a freelance worker. They enjoy the freedom of working from home offices, using their own equipment and supplies, and take all the risk of their own employment on themselves. They are not beholden to anyone; they work when they want to work, and take days off when they want to. Many of these freelancers can pick their kids up from school, and prioritize parenting over work when they need to, not when their employer says so.

However, with the passage of the PRO Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, business for freelancers and independent contractors would not be business as usual.

The PRO Act if passed will change the working conditions of freelance and independent contractors with respect to employers by revising the National Labor Relations Act. Freelancers would become unionized, enhancing workers’ rights to support boycotts, strikes, and other acts of solidarity.

Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, said passing the bill is significant.

“The Pro Act would ensure a process for reaching a first contract once a union is recognized, impose penalties against employers who retaliate against organizing drives and provide more substantial relief for workers whose rights have been violated,” Cilento said.

In New York, the state assembly is working on a bill to force freelancers to either get hired by employers or fire themselves. The state Senate is working on a proposal, too.

The business community is skeptical. Many believe the PRO Act and similar state legislation like California’s AB5 law would push freelancers into unionized shift work, force them to spend more cash on childcare, give the responsibility of parenting their kids to strangers, and pay more in taxes for the privilege.

Tom Mahoney, Publisher of The Express in Mechanicville, a small weekly, is wary of the PRO Act.

“If they get their way, I will have to pay taxes I don’t pay now,” he said. “This may make me shy away from employing freelancers negatively impacting business.”

“Our business is not big enough and the volume of work is not too high (to afford employees), and for a small town weekly newspaper, we rely on our freelancers, even those who deliver the newspapers to our customers,” Mahoney said.

Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce said government’s desire to do good often backfires.

“We know how important the ability for freelancers to maintain their current work style,” Shimkus said. “Many freelancers have expertise earning their money this way.”

Shimkus said Saratoga County has an exceptional quality of life that freelancers appreciate.

“We have a large freelance community. They like their freedom. Freelancing means enjoying this lifestyle because they know they can work anywhere, so they come here,” he said.

Shimkus is wary of the Pro Act having unintended consequences for the county saying he believes future freelance workers will not make the move to come to Saratoga County because they will be tied down to their jobs.

“Oftentimes, the Legislature’s desire to do good often comes with unintended consequences,” he said.

“All you have to do is walk in on a business day to any coffee shop and you can find a good percentage of people are on their computers or meeting people as freelancers,” Shimkus said.

Shimkus said there is no chance the PRO Act will become law; the freelance community will unite against it.