TRR photo by Chris Conroy State Assemblyman Jake Gunther addresses the Bethel Business Association at their February 28 meeting. (Click for larger image)

Gunther: Good or bad, change is on the way

By CHRIS CONROY

MONGAUP VALLEY — “We’re really on the edge of very potentially exciting times,” the assemblyman told the business people of Bethel. “We have economic growth opportunities that you wouldn’t have dreamt of ten years ago.”

New York State Assemblyman Jake Gunther (DC-98) stepped before the Bethel Business Association at the February 28 meeting to talk about those “exciting times” that may be ahead. At the top of his list were the availability of Empire Development Zone incentives, the proposed Bethel performing arts center and the promise of casinos. The timeline for all of these projects vary, as do the balances between their positive and negative impacts. Some of these were discussed at the meeting.

The Empire Development Zone incentive, designed to bring a solid base of new businesses to the area has already begin to have an effect on the county as a whole. “First,” Gunther said, “it has meant Kohl’s, which was 1,000 jobs in the county. That used up five percent of the economic Empire Zone designation.” He went on to say that the complete use of the zone allocation could lead to nearly another 20,000 jobs.

“In the 1960’s,” he said of Monticello Raceway, “there were six and seven thousand people per night. Now there’s about 150 people.” The installation of video slot machines and the eventual construction of a casino, he said, could bring back those numbers. “[Bringing back numbers like the] people who used to come for different reasons…will change a lot of the economic equation for us.”

The proposed Bethel performing arts center, which took its next step toward approval at the March 5 meeting of the Town of Bethel Planning Board, will be yet another draw for different people.

All these project, Gunther said, will bring people into the area, create jobs and generally benefit the business and economic climate of the county as a whole.

There is, however, also a negative side to this growth.

Oddly enough, one of the strongest potentially negative impacts is the same as the chief positive one: there will be more people coming through the county. More people means more cars and traffic along local roads, especially 17B. “I can imagine,” Gunther said, “my family having to make a round-trip to the Galleria mall in Middletown and having it be an eight-hour trip.”

Another impact of economic success and second home growth could be an increase in taxes. That’s a situation that Gunther said he finds “really puzzling.” “Looking at history, I find it incredible to think that this will alleviate or reduce our tax burden…If the end result was to flatten [taxes] out, I’d consider that a win.”

Impact on social and community services is also a given with the expected growth. A larger population could add students to schools and the added task of dealing with gambling related addiction issues are all being looked at by various county agencies.

The only one of the development plans that is complete is the Empire Zone program. No definite timeline can be set for the performing arts center until the project has completed its approval process. Casinos and video lottery terminals at the raceway are currently the subjects of legal action that could tie their progress up.

Gunther said he has started a task force to look at the development of the county. Currently meeting twice a week, they are looking to mitigate the negative impacts and encourage the positive growth. The only sure thing, Gunther said, is that change is coming and coming quickly. “We’re not going to say ‘Well, we’re going to stop this,’” he said.