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A Message from Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger
Happy Halloween, and welcome to this latest edition of the Ulster County Executive Newsletter! 🎃 This week's highlights include information and updates on early voting, the Central Hudson public hearing, an initiative to expand emergency housing for families, meals and programs for seniors at Ellenville's Trudy Resnick Farber Building, and more. Check out what’s happening!
Warm regards,
Jen Metzger
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Polls are open at early voting locations for this year’s elections for local and County offices and the State Supreme Court, now through Sunday, November 5. For times and locations, as well as ballot information, visit the Ulster County Board of Elections (BOE) website. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. Be sure to make your plan to vote!
The NYS Public Service Commission held a public hearing in Kingston last week at the County Executive's request to hear directly from Ulster County residents on Central Hudson's proposed rate hike. In comment after comment, community members and elected leaders described billing errors and problems due to the company's mismanaged rollout of a new bill system over the last two years that has caused unbelievable financial duress, stress, and aggravation. You can read the County Executive's comments here.
Thanks to all the residents who came out to make their voices heard! If you were unable to attend the meeting, there is still time to submit public comments electronically: for Electric Service & for Gas Service.
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In recent months, we have seen a huge uptick in families who have lost their homes. County Executive Metzger has initiated a plan to enable emergency housing placements exclusively for families at the Kingston Motel, formerly the Rodeway Inn, after negotiations with motel owners to get extensive improvements to rooms, amenities, and grounds. She has also worked with County departments to bring services to the site, including public transit and on-site "office hours" by a Department of Social Services staff member to connect families with resources and assistance. As we work to expand the availability of permanent housing that people can afford through initiatives like the new Ulster County Housing Action Fund, we must also meet the critical need of our residents for emergency housing today.
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Ulster County Government Signs "Think Differently" Legislation
This past week, the County Executive signed legislation sponsored by Legislators Gina Hansut and Megan Sperry to develop resources and programming that foster understanding, acceptance, and support for individuals with disabilities, modeled on Dutchess County’s Think DIFFERENTLY program. By fostering an environment that values diversity and inclusivity, Ulster County continues its journey toward a brighter, more accessible future for all our residents.
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Senior community meals and activities are available at Trudy Resnick Farber four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
In partnership with Ulster County, the Town of Wawarsing Recreation Department, Family of Woodstock, and Sammy Brown’s Walk Away Cafe are hosting a new program for seniors at Ellenville's Trudy Resnick Farber Building on Tuesdays and Thursdays (11 am - 2 pm). Seniors can enjoy a hot meal made by a local business, and engage in arts, crafts, table games, and conversation.
We continue our community outreach on services and programs folks would like to see at this County building in downtown Ellenville, and last week our office hosted a discussion forum in Spanish for Hispanic and Latino community members. Over a quarter of Ellenville residents speak Spanish at home according to the latest census, and we want to make sure that our outreach efforts are as inclusive and accessible as possible.
You can follow our progress on a reimagined Trudy Farber Building on the project page on Participate Ulster.
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Ulster County Presence at Hudson River Watershed Alliance Event
Ulster County Chief Diversity Officer Esi Lewis attended the Hudson River Watershed Alliance's Annual Watershed Conference on October 24 to speak about the role of the County and local government in improving diversity, equity, and inclusion, aligning with this year’s conference topic: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Environmental Justice.
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2023 Bubble Fest
On October 21, several Ulster County Departments participated in the 2023 Bubble Fest at Broadway Bubble in Kingston to share information with the community about County Services.
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Join us on our new web-based platform to learn about– and weigh in on— County projects, programs, and issues that directly affect your community, from housing initiatives to rail crossing safety to farmland protection. Our projects include:
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Rail Crossing Safety Study -The Ulster County Transportation Council's study will focus on assessing existing street crossings, crashes, and trespass incidents along the regional West Shore Railroad Corridor in the City of Kingston while considering the impact of surrounding land uses. Public input is key to understanding how people interact within the corridor. We need your help to identify areas of concerns, opportunities, and current conditions. TAKE THE SURVEY
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan - Rooted in a rich history of nourishing both local communities and extending its reach to New York City and beyond, agriculture remains a cornerstone of our County's identity, evident in the picturesque vistas along stream valleys and hillsides. An update to the plan will equip us with the essential resources to shepherd agriculture into the future, preserving its integral role within the fabric of Ulster County. TAKE THE SURVEY
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Shandaken Rail Trail Project -The Ulster County Transportation Council completed the Ulster and Delaware Corridor Revitalization Study in 2021 with extensive public input and made recommendations for a multi-phase trail project in Shandaken. The project will connect from the Highmount Post Office on the access road to Belleayre Mountain to the Belleayre Beach Day Use Facility in Pine Hill, and work will be divided into seven sections. As the design process evolves there will be several public meetings where community members can learn about the design and give input. LEARN MORE
The Ulster County Government will be lighting up the County Office Building in green as part of Operation Green Light to shine a light of hope and support for Ulster County veterans during the week of Veterans Day (Nov. 11). If you’d like to participate at your own home or business, you can simply change your exterior white lights to green for the week of Nov. 1-13!
Ulster County is NOW hiring!
Consider a career in public service and earn a living by making a difference. We’re hiring nurses, engineers, accountants, bus drivers, grant writers, and more.
Visit the civil service portal and apply today to join our team.
Ulster County Government strictly adheres to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and Americans with Disability Act.
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Help Assist the Ulster County Warming Center
Be a part of Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties' mission to provide hope, help, and support to those in need across our community. The Warming Center is looking for Resident Assistants (per diem) and Program Assistants for this upcoming 2023-2024 season.
Apply today and help us make a positive impact!
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