As a small business owner whose very livelihood depends on events like the Belmont Festival in Saratoga, I was more than a little disappointed by your short-sighted remarks to the press and the public regarding the success of this year’s event. First, to make a statement without the full financial picture in place is irresponsible. Your statements show how little you know about what it takes to run and market a successful city not to mention a slap in the face to the Saratoga Springs business community, NYRA , The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, Discover Saratoga, The City Center Authority and all the other entities and individuals that worked tirelessly to make the Belmont Festival a success. And it was a success by many measurements: The city received national recognition on Fox News, was the focus of more than one article in the New York Times, gave your business community exposure many could not otherwise afford and brought throngs of new visitors to our city. You may not know the ROI on Belmont at this point, and you may not be able to measure it by your calculations, but I expect more out of the leaders of this city. To put a negative spin on such an incredible event is disheartening and shows your lack of leadership ability.  Belmont 2024 was a boon for the entire capital region and the city of Saratoga Springs is fortunate that we were chosen as the host city. Comments from city leaders like yours may make an entity think twice before hosting an event here in the future. Words Matter! Sincerely,

– Heidi Owen West 

RISE mislead city council by saying that the Williams St location will be used for administrative offices only and that no services to clients who are homeless and/or drug addicted, mentally ill, sexual predators, wanted criminals or prostitutes will happen at the Williams St location. However, the lease states all clients will be screened for sex offenses. So, why are RISE clients entering the building for screening if no services are provided? Are they going to be helping with the filing and photocopying?

Homeless and at-risk adults are not all dangerous and they need help, but not at the risk to children who attend school next door. Mentally ill and drug addicted homeless who carry knives, box cutters and hatchets, should not be right next to a school. In this case, it’s the children at Saratoga Central Catholic who are in danger once again.

City council was mislead by RISE and they are repeating the lie that Williams St. location is for administration only. City council needs to put a hold on the lease and have a public forum so that the public knows exactly what RISE is doing at Williams St.

– Jennifer Richard | Ballston Lake, NY

I am reaching out directly to all Saratogians to explain what has occurred with the recent issuance of Appearance Tickets related to Saratoga BLM. The Appearance Tickets were issued because the primary organizer of two BLM demonstrations failed to file demonstration declarations.

DEMONSTRATION DECLARATION

The City of Saratoga Springs requires by Code that any group planning to demonstrate must file a document called a “demonstration declaration.” There is no fee for the declaration and this requirement was established by the City in 2005.

The purpose of the declaration is to provide a way for the Department of Public Safety to work cooperatively with groups organizing demonstrations to ensure that the demonstrators and the public can be safe. As an example, two groups wanted to demonstrate in the same area during the Belmont Festival so alternative locations were provided and agreed upon.

This declaration process is administered by the Accounts Department, and each declaration, if completed properly, is approved. In 2024, the following organizations have filed demonstration declarations that were approved; Saratoga Peace Alliance, Jewish Federation, Horseracing Wrongs, and CSEA. Therefore, the only organization that has refused to comply with this ordinance, thus far in 2024, is Saratoga BLM.

APPEARANCE TICKETS

It should be noted that the issuance of an Appearance Ticket is not a custodial arrest. No person was placed into custody, handcuffed, or processed. The Appearance Tickets were served upon Mark Mischler who is representing the leader of Saratoga BLM.

It should also be noted that the pre-planned, non-violent, protests were not interrupted. In fact, the SSPD took appropriate actions to keep the demonstrators safe when they blocked traffic on the streets in Saratoga Springs.

I want to be clear that I strongly agree with the issuance of the tickets because not doing so would be a violation of the Constitutional Right to Equal Protection, in violation of the 14th Amendment. More specifically, we should not treat Saratoga BLM differently than the Jewish Federation or Horse Racing Wrongs or any other group. As noted, doing so would be a violation of the 14th Amendment and a violation of the basic tenet of unbiased policing.

– Tim Coll

As an educator, and a parent and taxpayer in the Saratoga Springs City School District, I fully endorse Amanda Ellithorpe’s re-election to the SSCSD School Board. Amanda understands the importance of a high quality education for every child, but stays mindful of her responsibility to the taxpayers of the district. Her fundamental understanding of school district finances, operations, collective bargaining units, and student assessments, as well as her knowledge of current district priorities and goals will provide seamless continuity and consistency to board operations.

Amanda uses a deliberate but diplomatic approach to her work on the board. With students and staff in mind, she asks questions and makes decisions with careful efficiency, effecting timely change in our schools. For example, her steadfast advocacy of the School Resource Officer program fortified the safety and well-being of our students and staff. While some board members waffled and dodged during the query process, Amanda was ready to deliver an informed vote, recognizing that the community at large desired and deserved a concrete decision that allowed the district to move forward.

Amanda skillfully balances her many responsibilities, all of which provide her with varied perspectives that help shape her work on the Board. A devoted Mother of two, Amanda not only fulfills her duties as a dependable Board Trustee but also serves as a Girl Scout Troop leader, demonstrating her commitment to empowering young girls and fostering their leadership skills, and serves on the Caroline Street School’s PTA.  As a single working Mom who wears multiple professional hats, her desire to dedicate time to serving our community in these capacities is admirable and speaks well of her character. 

Amanda’s background as a classical musician and her commitment to music and arts education is a wonderful fit for our culturally rich Saratoga Springs community. She is a consistent advocate and cheerleader for Fine Arts programs across the district, frequently attending performances and showcases with her daughters, and interacting with students and faculty to celebrate their achievements.

Overarching all else, Amanda’s personal commitment to her own children’s education reflects her broader dedication to the public education system, supporting all children in our community and working to provide the resources and support they need to thrive.

 I encourage my fellow community members to join me in supporting Amanda Ellithorpe for re-election to the Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education. With her proven track record of leadership, her commitment to safe and thriving schools, her dedication to our community, and her passion for the arts and education, I am confident that Amanda will continue to be an effective advocate for our schools and our students.

–Carrie Jackson

It’s a shame that parking in Saratoga Springs has become an issue once again. Local store owners are spending thousands of dollars to ensure that the “free” parking, that was never free to begin with, never has to be financially fronted by those who are actually using it.  This is called a usage fee. With minimal research, we can fully understand that these paved over swathes of land,  we feel are owed to us in order to safely and casually store our personal mobility boxes, were never “free” to begin with. They still are not “free.”  However, traditionally, the expensive burden required to build and maintain on-street, garage and lot parking has been shared by the area’s tax payers…despite the fact that many taxpayers do not have motorized vehicles. Furthermore, providing parking “free” to the user parking, results in the lack of available parking when customers ACTUALLY need it most.  This fiscal failure has caused you and me to most often drive to the heart of the city and usually disregard walking, bicycling and public transportation as feasible transportation options.  Additionally, the prevalence of parking in the city swallows up a huge percentage of the most valuable real estate in the area, without providing a direct economic benefit. If folks are demanding “free” motorized vehicles storage in the heart of the city, why should we stop there? How about some free storage containers for the things that don’t fit in our houses?

– Ian Klepetar

I am reaching out directly to all Saratogians to explain what is currently happening with the Saratoga Chapter of Black Lives Matter (BLM). The Office of Attorney General (OAG) recently issued a draft report alleging that certain public officials had an official policy of retaliating against BLM. Since this matter is subject to potential litigation, I will not comment further except to state the obvious which is the OAG will need to prove that statement in court.

During the recent public comment at City Hall, much was made about the OAG’s draft report and BLM’s anger was directed at me because I did correct an earlier draft of the report which contained material misrepresentations. I will always correct the record because the truth matters, and our democracy depends on the truth to survive.

At the last meeting, BLM, to its credit, protested, at least partly, in a manner that I felt was proper. They disagreed with me and voiced their displeasure by turning their backs. I support and applaud this first amendment right which did not disrupt the city council meeting.

 Having said that, although I believe in BLM’s right to protest and demonstrate, I want to be clear that I disagree with their ongoing messages. At the last meeting, BLM used the somewhat concealed message, F*** 12, a message that means, F*** the police, as the 12 is a reference to the old TV show, Adam 12. I do not believe our police officers are PIGs or Murderers as BLM continues to claim. Further, I disagree with the idea of defunding and abolishing the police department as well as the idea that the United States of America is a terrorist state.

 It is simply an honor to work daily with the men and women of our police department.

– Tim Coll, Public Safety Commissioner – Saratoga Springs

I am profoundly disappointed in the plan for parking fees to be collected in our city in a few months’ time. I think it will become a stain on the reputation of Saratoga Springs. I think placing parking meter stations on our streets will cheapen our Victorian charm. One of the perks of being a visitor or community member who frequents our many special businesses and events is that we can drive into town and park for free. With free parking we are saying to visitors and guests that they are welcome here and don’t have to pay a fee to spend time in our beautiful city.  We already have parking rules and fines in place to manage parking lots and bring revenue to the city.  Forcing visitors to pay for parking will absolutely hurt the businesses that are responsible for bringing visitors to our city. With parking fees in place, quick trips into town will not happen. No one should have to pay a meter for a 15-minute stop, for coffee and a bagel to go, or to grab an ice-cream, or go to the library to peek at the new releases.  And what about our work force, many of whom make minimum wage and work in or around our downtown area? If their employer does not supply parking for them, do these folks have to pay for street parking to go to work? 

All of this parking meter talk is not taking place where it should be taking place, which is at the voting booth next November. Until then, put the parking issue in park, and let’s have a fee-free summer season.

– Donna L. Giffune, Saratoga Springs

Many of us were happy to see Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub promptly modify the Council’s recently adopted rule that henceforth all leaves and yard debris will have to be bagged or otherwise containerized. That would have been especially burdensome to those of us who live in neighborhoods that are blessed with an abundance of large healthy trees, like Geyser Crest, and almost certainly would have encouraged the cutting down of more of those trees, contrary to the city’s own “Re-Tree Saratoga” program. We complained and were in the process of getting up a petition when Commissioner Golub announced a reprieve for the peak leaf-dropping season of mid-October to mid-November. Whew! Now if he will go just one step further and allow a similar reprieve for spring clean-up season, when the burden can be nearly as great, especially for those who didn’t manage to finish the job the previous fall. Think especially of those citizens (like me) with creaky backs and knees having to hunch and bend to pack all those leaves and branches into bags! We admire the machines that so efficiently scoop up those leaves and dump them into waiting trucks, and we are grateful to those who man the machines. May they continue their good work for a couple of weeks along about mid-March. 

– Carl Strock

It is my feeling that the public parking plan currently being proposed by our City Commissioners has not been nearly well reviewed enough to be ready to be implemented in the near future. The specifics of this plan need to be brought to the attention of all those that it will affect (I believe adversely) most, we residents and employees who drive our ever-growing community’s economy year-round. I live in Saratoga Springs, and I work at an established retail business on Broadway. I also converse with and hear the concerns of fellow residents, downtown employees, local shoppers, and out of town friends and tourists alike. A common theme I hear is one of general uncertainty and of unawareness regarding the planned parking program. While I have seen and read the Saratoga Springs Tourism Parking Plan’s details, maps, rates, revenue forecasts and expenses, it is very apparent to me that most of those that it will affect have not. The Plan states that it is decidedly “Tourist” focused. But is it? Will our local residents and employees not have to pay for parking in the long run? And will it not have a negative impact on our local shops and restaurants if put into place? My opinion withstanding, I have seen very little effort to fully inform our local residents as to how exactly we will be affected. Press and publicity on the “Plan” has been extremely limited, and no great effort on the part of the city has been made to inform (or get feedback from) our year-round residents and workers. No wonder it’s titled the “Tourism” Parking Plan. Sadly, lots of us are feeling very left out of the process and are worried that we will wind up paying in the end. 

– John Wilson, Concerned Resident & Downtown Employee

If knowledge is the foundation of education, it appears that the decisions being made by elected officials in the Town of Moreau and South Glens Falls are rooted in ignorance.

It raises questions as to why both the Town of Moreau board and the Village of South Glens Falls are contemplating a moratorium for the industrial park concerning the Saratoga Biochar project, yet neither board has extended an invitation for a presentation by Saratoga Biochar. The state has kept an open mind about the project and has set out some trust but verify guidelines for them moving forward. To date, the only other government entity in my town and area that has officially engaged with Saratoga Biochar in public meetings about their project is the town’s planning board—not the town board, village board, county board, city councils, or any other relevant regional government authorities. The lack of engagement prompts one to wonder: what are they afraid of, that the unfiltered truth might alter their perspective? That they might feel embarrassed to embrace the greenest factory being built in New York state with a sustainability record of -137 in green house emissions. Or that the company is going to take toxic crap from humans and turn it into gold that helps improve soil for food and trees and water by stopping leaching of chemical fertilizers. The main benefactor of this project is not Saratoga biochar but New York State, Saratoga County and the town of Moreau taxpayer. 

It’s perplexing that these boards seem inclined to heed the perspectives of the “NOT Moreau, NIMBY” faction, replete with fabricated facts and innuendo, while steadfastly refusing to seek input from the actual company possessing real facts and information about the project. True fairness and transparency in representing taxpayers would necessitate engaging with both sides of the discourse.

The new town board supervisor’s willingness to allocate resources, including unlimited overtime pay for employees and contractors, to ostensibly undermine one company, Saratoga Biochar is concerning. The apparent lack of consideration for factual information and the potential repercussions on taxpayers raises ethical questions. From my experience on the village board, singling out a specific project or business exposes the municipality to legal action, and the source of funds for legal fees and overtime pay warrants scrutiny. Moreover, the potential loss of income from the recent factory closure begs the question of whether taxes will be raised for the broader community, impacting 17,000 residents to appease 2,000, a consideration not explicitly conveyed during their election campaign. 

Bottom line is …Saratoga biochar is a safe and cool project that’s going to change the farming, gardening and soil remediation industry… While bringing green industry and green jobs to Saratoga County. 

– Brigid Martin, Yes Moreau founder and pro-town advocate