Welcome to Saranac Lake Governor Cuomo. We are glad that you have shown more than a passing interest in our little gem of a town. I saw you on the cover of the newspaper (ADE) the other day, and you look very relaxed and woodsy in your lumberjack wool shirt. I would like to use this moment to bring your attention to our economic situation as I see it for the coming year. Adirondack Health is facing some real hard choices, and I'm sure you know that they already laid off employees this month to try and survive, and continue to offer quality services to our community. More tough times are certainly ahead as they restructure and reposition themselves in a tough economy. One thing that stood out in the newspaper interview you gave was that you said Saranac lake needs an anchor event like the Ironman in lake Placid. I think that a better way to improve our economy would be an investment in a year round industry, rather than an "event". Yes we have a tourism economy. My restaurant thrives in the summer months, when weary, tired city dwellers come here to unwind and "cure" in our dense forests and mountain lakes. But in the winter and spring, we barely eke out a living, relying on locals who are doing the same. If we had a year round economy, it would do much to ease the burden of rising heating, and infrastructure costs we all bear.
My suggestion is to invest in making North Country Community College a four year university. Adding curriculum choices like art and hospitality would give North Country students the chance to achieve degrees in fields that are well suited to our upstate economy. Yes we have Paul Smith's College. But that is a private college. Students who graduate from there, will have larger tuition bills than if they went through the SUNY system. We have a great historic hotel in the center of Saranac Lake, that is currently owned privately (and for sale) by someone who does not seem to understand the important role his property should be playing as an anchor for our downtown. Paul Smith's College ran this hotel for many years, and the neighboring businesses benefited greatly from the revenue that was brought in by guests. Many of whom returned year after year to enjoy the hotel's amenities, and hospitality provided by eager and ambitious students. Townsfolk often recall to me with fondness the feeling our town had when that young energy was abound. I have even heard many lament the passing of the wildly popular Thursday night buffet that the culinary students put on for the benefit of the town, and to gain valuable experience in their field. Each week a different theme, but always a great draw, and a chance for folks to get together and catch up on the scuttlebutt.
There is a hotel and hospitality school in Lucern Switzerland that could be a model for the hotel's revitalization through the SUNY system. Why not take a look at what it means for a mountain town's tourism to have an international gem of a learning center located in the heart of the city center. I feel that if working class students had a chance to attain exceptional training, at an affordable tuition, they would be more likely to stay here where they could obtain modest employment and still pay off their tuition debt. Maybe they would even start their own business and add something real to the tax base...
Anyhow, It's Sunday. I have to get to work to open my restaurant, and besides you are on vacation, and don't want to read any long essay on your day off. Maybe if you get hungry, you could stop by for a bite. Just remember to call ahead, place your order, and then you won't have to wait for me to cook up a meal that I would be proud to prepare for you and the girls. Enjoy your stay in our little slice of heaven sir.
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