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Visit www.saratoga.org and click “Job Zone.” It’s possible we’ve never had as many job openings posted on this exclusively local online job portal since it was
first created. 

Just among the recent posts, we have local employers looking for cooks, tellers, pre-school teachers, laborers, hotel front desk attendant, security officer, and loan processor. Dig a little deeper, you’ll full-time positions available as branch managers, business analyst, certified nursing assistant, machine operator, carpenter, director of data management, electronics tester, fashion stylist, family advocate, immigration services specialist, landscape architect, news producer, planner, veterinary assistant, warehouse worker, and welder. Right now, every sector in our local economy is struggling with open jobs that can’t be filled. 

Some suggest the labor shortage is being caused by the Federal government’s $300 weekly unemployment bonus. There have been calls for this bonus to be discontinued. It is set to expire in September. I certainly know a few people who are staying home versus returning to work because of this bonus. I also know others who need this support because of childcare issues and school-aged children who still have not returned to school full-time. 

The reality is that Saratoga County had a labor shortage before the pandemic. At the time, our unemployment rate was about 3.5%. Now it is 4.4%. Then, there were approximately 4,000 people who qualified for unemployment benefits. Now there are just over 5,000. Even if all 1,000 of the “new” individuals on unemployment came back to work, we’d still have a labor shortage. Getting people on unemployment back to work will help. It won’t solve the problem.

I believe there are larger demographic forces at play. Locally, we have an aging population. During the pandemic, the percentage of people over 65 who decided to retire started to increase. The stock market helped many of them immensely in the last decade. Even after the bottom fell out last March, the market rebounded and retirement investments continued to increase in value. Those 65 and over were also more susceptible to the virus. So some made the choice to retire for health and safety reasons. 

On the other end of the spectrum, we’re not having as many kids as we once did. This isn’t hurting us today but it will soon. The younger generation now in high school and college has also stayed away from working more so than prior generations. Roughly twenty years ago, more than 70% of this cohort worked. Today, that percentage is down to nearly 40%. During the pandemic, some parents kept their children at home versus encouraging them to take a front-facing job where they might be at risk. 

Our immigration system is broken. It’s been broken for decades. The US Chamber of Commerce has been a leading advocate for immigration reform because of the labor shortage. Once again, immigration reform won’t solve the problem. But if done thoughtfully, it can help the hospitality, technology, agricultural, construction and healthcare sectors. 

The Chamber is doing what we can to help. Any employer in Saratoga County can post open jobs for free on the Job Zone. This was once a members-only benefit. We realize everyone needs our help now. That’s why we made the change. We’ve also created a Saratoga County Help Wanted promotional campaign. For as little as $100, we’ll do a mini-social media campaign to promote your local job openings. This is helping but it won’t solve the labor shortage.

We’re seeing local employers increasing starting wages. Some have bonus programs if you get a friend to apply or if you stay for a certain period of time. We’re seeing flexible hours and work from home options. Employers are hosting their own drive-up job fairs. Some are providing transportation to and from work or partnering with CDTA. We’re also seeing businesses automate. You can see this every time you exit a big box retailer and there are more self-checkout lines than staffed ones. And small business owners are just working more hours themselves.

I feel particularly bad for our locally owned small businesses. This summer as we return to normal, it’s likely many of them will be understaffed. This is where you can help. Be kind to these businesses and their employees. It may take them a little longer to serve or to help you. Have some patience. Be respectful. Remember that those who are working will likely be working harder than ever before.

SARATOGA COUNTY — Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, announced a bill she sponsored to ensure more volunteer firefighters qualify for disability and death benefits passed the Assembly and the Senate. Her legislation will soon be sent to
the governor.

“Volunteer firefighters put their lives on the line to protect us without any compensation for their service,” said Woerner, in a statement. “These brave men and women are heroes, and they shouldn’t have to worry about covering the costs of medical expenses because their insurance denied them. This not only causes distress for their families, but also unnecessarily increases litigation costs and delays the payment of qualifying benefits to volunteer firefighters injured while protecting their communities.” 

Woerner’s bill ensures volunteer firefighters who suffer a vascular rupture related to official duties and activities that causes death or disability are covered under the Volunteer Firefighter’s Benefits Law (VFBL) (A.6767-A). While these types of injuries are generally covered under the VBFL, certain insurers fight these claims and assert that injuries are unrelated to their service, Woerner said. The new bill, called the Chief James Brooks Jr. Act, will provide presumptive coverage for vascular ruptures similar to the coverage for heart attacks. 

The bill was inspired by Chief James Brooks Jr., who was a member of the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company for 20 years and served as an assistant chief. James Brooks Jr. died in September after tearing an artery while responding to a structure fire in Dresden four months earlier. He was taken to Rutland Regional Medical Center and later flown to University of Vermont Medical Center, where he suffered a series of debilitating strokes during a surgery to repair the damaged valve. Brooks, who was 45 when he died, had his workers’ compensation claim denied despite state law requiring Washington County to cover expenses. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city will host the first Missing Sidewalk Links Open House 3 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 24 at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center, 15 Vanderbilt Ave. 

The Missing Sidewalk Links Program aims to help the city achieve a goal of better joining downtown and neighborhoods. Missing Sidewalk Links prioritizes the construction of missing sidewalk segments that lie within a one-mile radius of the city’s urban core. This one-mile radius was determined as a high priority because of its high concentration of schools, parks, businesses, public facilities, public transportation stops, medical facilities, and residences. 

The locations were selected utilizing the “Pedestrian Networks and Facilities” chapter in the City of Saratoga Springs 2016 Complete Streets Plan as well as coordination with the Department of Public Works. The sidewalks will be built in the city right-of-way or existing highway boundary. Locations of the sidewalks will be determined by survey and designed by engineers.

Following this public outreach and informational period, the scheduled timeline calls for final design in the fall, and construction next spring and summer. 

The project is funded by a $1.52 million grant through the 2019-2024 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Federal funding provides 80% of the funding with the city providing 20% – roughly $380,000. 

Barton and Loguidice, an engineering firm, has been hired by the city to provide preliminary and final design services.

Interested residents and property owners are invited to stop in during the Open House to meet city staff and learn more about the project. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — As part of the latest round of stimulus funding, the American Rescue Plan provided direct funding to states, counties, and municipalities across the county. 

For New York State, there was a total of $360 billion in funding secured. Of that total, $6.14 billion was reserved for relief to metropolitan cities, $3.9 billion for counties and $825 million was reserved for smaller cities, towns, and villages. The Capital Region counties of Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Saratoga received a combined $165 million in funding and the respective cities, towns, and villages of the region received a combined $263.16 million in funding. 

The funding can be used for a number of uses by state and local governments including Costs associated with responding to COVID-19; Support workers performing essential work during COVID-19; Cover revenue losses caused by COVID-19; Make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure, according to The Capital District Regional Planning Commission. 

CDRPC is a regional planning and resource center, established pursuant to New York State General Municipal Law, serving Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties.

States and local governments cannot use the stimulus funding to cover the cost of pensions or to offset a reduction in taxes.

The specific breakdown for Saratoga County in total is $74.4 million, with Saratoga County receiving $44.58 million and the municipalities receiving $29.82 million, according to CDRPC. 

Saratoga County’s municipalities saw the lowest overall allocation of the four counties. The city of Saratoga Springs saw the highest allocation with $7.7 million in funding. Clifton Park received the second most funding allocations with $3.99 million in funding followed by Halfmoon with $2.7 million. The Towns of Milton and Wilton received $2.12 million and $1.86 million, respectively. Malta, Moreau, and the Town of Ballston received $1.78, $1.7, and $1.26 million respectively.

The city of Saratoga Springs has received half its $7.7 million funding, with the balance assumed to be received next year, city Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan said. 

GALWAY ­— The Galway Public Library has announced the opening of their new Story Walk.

Visit the The Galway Public Library at 2112 East St. in Galway and proceed to the back of the library where you will see a sign marking the start of the Story Walk. Pages of a book are posted on signs along an easy to walk trail. The trail is ideal for families and promotes both literacy, exercise, and outdoor recreation. The current book that is posted is The Keeper of Wild Words by Brooke Smith and illustrated by Madeline Kloepper. 

The library will post new books seasonally.  The Story Walk is open to the public during daylight hours; sign in at the start of the trail. 

For more information please contact the library at 518-882-6385 or jpasieka@sals.edu for more information.

Ballston Spa — Help celebrate the 202nd anniversary of Abner Doubleday’s birth in Ballston Spa. 

A commission once determined that Doubleday invented the game of baseball, but if he made any contribution at all to America’s pastime, it probably was minimal. Apart from that, Doubleday had a most interesting life, including service in the U.S Army at the absolute beginning of the Civil War. During the course of the war, he attained the rank of Major General. 

Local historian David Fiske relates Doubleday’s life and achievements at the house where he lived as an infant (which now is the tap room for The Real McCoy Beer Company). Fiske will also explain the intriguing origins of the “Doubleday invented baseball” story. 

Food will be available from Flaco’s Tacos, who will be offering tasty crafted tacos and Baja-inspired fare. The event takes place from 3-6 p.m. June 26 at the Real McCoy at Ballston Spa, 28 Washington St.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) has announced their 2021 Eastern Spring Nationals to be held from Thursday, June 17 through Saturday, June 19 in Saratoga Springs.

The 2021 Eastern Spring Nationals brings AACA members from around the country to Saratoga Springs for the first time.

“The AACA is excited to be in Saratoga Springs for the first time in our 87-year history. The world’s largest antique car club has over 300 regions and chapters worldwide and we are so pleased that one of our newest regions, Saratoga Region AACA tackled bringing us to the area,” said AACA CEO Steve Moskowitz, “We thank them, as well as we thank all the magnificent help and support from the Saratoga Automobile Museum. It has been a great partnership of people dedicated to preserving history and sharing it with others.”

The automotive show field will be open, at no charge, to the public on Saturday, June 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Saratoga Spa State Park. There will be food trucks on-site as well for spectators.

“The Museum is excited and proud to welcome the AACA to Saratoga Springs for the first time in their history,” said Carly Connors, executive director, “the AACA weekend should prove to be a wonderful time of celebration after a challenging year. We are positive this event will also help to bring new generations of collectors and enthusiasts into the automotive hobby.”

The Museum is located within Saratoga Spa State Park, adjacent to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and Hall of Springs.

For more information about the AACA show, please visit aaca.org. For more information about the Saratoga Automobile Museum, please visit saratogaautomuseum.org

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga Springs City Center saw a revenue decline of $1.6 million during the past 15 months as a result of the pandemic. 

In a letter sent by former and current members of the City Center Authority leadership to the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors this week, the City Center, which has been largely closed since March 2020, saw a reduction in earned revenue from the rental of its facility of just over $900,000 following the implementation of state protocols limiting the size of indoor events.   

Additionally, the venue saw a drop of nearly $700,000 in its share of city and county occupancy tax revenue, compared to the previous year.     

The letter requests the Board of Supervisors consider using a portion of American Rescue Plan Recovery Funds allocated to the county to help the City Center recover from the losses experienced due to the pandemic. 

The letter, dated June 1, was read during the Board of Supervisors monthly meeting on June 15. 

ALBANY — On Tuesday June 15, Day 472 since the state began counting COVID-19 infections, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state was lifting state-mandated pandemic restrictions “effective immediately.” 

New York State which once counted the highest infection rate in the nation, is today the lowest, the governor said during his presser Tuesday: “We had people dying of COVID before we had even known COVID was here,” Cuomo said. “(Today) New Yorkers have accomplished what seemed impossible on Day 1.” 

As a state, New York this week achieved a 70% vaccination rate of the 18-and-over population having at least one shot. Overall, that counts as just over 55% of the population having at least one shot and approximately half the state’s population of about 19 million residents having completed the vaccine series.   

The highest vaccinated region is Long Island – which counts 75.3% over-18 residents as having had at least one shot. The greater Capital Region had the second highest at 74.4%. The lowest rates of vaccination are in the North Country and Mohawk Valley regions – at 63.9% and 60.6%, respectively. 

The lifted state-mandated restrictions apply to both commercial and social settings – such as malls, movie theaters, offices, sports and arts and entertainment activities, and specifies lifted restrictions on previously mandated social gathering, social distancing and capacity limits, as well as cleaning protocols and securing contact information for tracing purposes. 

As per the CDC, mask requirements remain in effect for pre-k-12 schools, public transport, and healthcare screenings.