Senator Little’s ORDA letter to Democratic leaders
Senator Betty Little is urging Democratic leaders in Albany to scrap plans to defund the Olympic Regional Development Authority. Here’s the text released a short while ago.
March 24, 2010
Senator John L. Sampson
Senate Democratic Conference Leader
409 Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247Dear Senator Sampson:
The Senate Democratic Conference one-house budget resolution’s elimination of the Olympic Regional Development Authority’s (ORDA) $6.6 million state appropriation has sent shock waves throughout the Adirondacks.
It is hard to believe such an ill-conceived proposal could make it into a budget resolution that is being described as a “road map” for the enacted state budget due April 1. A change of direction on this so-called budget road map is desperately needed now.
Without question, eliminating ORDA’s funding would economically devastate the North Country. Doing so would crush much of our tourism industry, upon which we rely very heavily. Hotels and motels would close. Restaurants and shops would close. Families would leave. I have no doubt the ripple effect would extend far and wide.
Not only would this cut impact the region, the effect would be felt statewide. ORDA and the Winter Olympic venues attract tens of thousands of visitors from throughout the world on a year-round basis, economic activity that not only benefits the region but generates hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue for New York State.
I can only imagine that the inclusion of this proposal was the result of an uninformed staff member who has no understanding of ORDA and its vital importance. I sincerely hope that no senator would think it is a good idea to cut $6.6 million in state funding that would result in the loss of thousands of jobs and hundreds of thousands of dollars of revenue.
Our nation just celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the unforgettable and inspirational “Miracle on Ice.” Just weeks ago we all celebrated the victories of our Winter Olympic athletes at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. ORDA maintains and operates the ice rink where history was made thirty years ago as well as the other venues where our Olympic athletes trained so hard to represent our country so well. Is the intent really to shut these down? Has this been thought through?
I write today urging the Senate Democratic leadership to immediately denounce this proposal. Restore the funding and work across party lines to identify areas of the budget in which we can find savings to address the current budget crisis without causing undue and irreparable harm to the North Country and all of New York State.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth O’C. Little
Senator
Try “HUNDREDS of thousands of visitors (more than half a million a year) and “TENS” of millions of dollars in revenue, plus hundreds of millions in economic impact for the tri county area! It is the government’s job to support the infrastructure that allows for progress and prosperity whether it be roads and bridges or parks and recreation. If you’re going to condemn a whole region you should first learn something about it no matter how much fun it is to float around in your own blissful ignorance :)