Sunday Opinion: Selling shares in Big Tupper and merging emergency squads
Morning, folks. A mixed back this weekend.
The Adirondack Daily Enterprise weighs in with an idea for revitalizing the Big Tupper ski area: having developers Michael Foxman and Tom Lawson sell shares in the ski-area portion of the project to local families and businesses.
It would be interesting if the developers sold local people shares in the ski area.
For locals, their investment might guarantee that the ski area would get done, regardless of how quickly lots are sold. It could also keep ticket prices lower – maybe just for shareholders, or maybe for everyone.
For the developers, the extra capital might be welcome to help mitigate the losses incurred in running the ski area. It also could help public relations with the local community, pre-empting complaints about speed of renovation and lift ticket prices.
The Glens Falls Post Star argues that it’s time for emergency squads in the North Country to begin consolidating, as budgets continue to be squeezed.
So, in Thurman, we see the emergency squad clinging to an identity as an organization that stands alone, even as it is struggling to survive. One way the squad could strengthen its position as the provider of emergency medical services in Thurman is by consolidating with its neighboring squad, Warrensburg EMS.
But a consolidation, so natural and sensible, has so far been sacrificed on the altar of local identity.
The Watertown Daily Times wrestles with the travails of the Republican presidential contenders, noting first that the “wannabes” have struggled to avoid big gaffes. The papers also highlights the importance of foreign policy chops.
The worry is that a top candidate for the GOP presidential nomination does not know much about foreign policy. Perhaps others are in the same boat. But anyone running for president better know Libya from Liberia.
The Plattsburgh Press-Republican notes increasing scrutiny paid to businesses in Quebec that operate under English-language names.
[S]o-called francophone vigilantes have been filing complaints, leading to a new initiative: a crackdown on multinational chains and big-box stores that use English only.
Quebec’s language inspectors will ask for voluntary cooperation from the stores by, if they are going to put English on their signs, at least putting a descriptive term or slogan in French. For now, compliance is strictly voluntary and will not be accompanied by the threat of penalties.
The editorial thinks out loud about how this might affect the experience of English-language visitors to the province.
Tags: adirondacks, apa, economy, land use, politics
So all the concerns about Tupper, the bad ones in particular, would be moot, washed away, if us po’ folk get a taste of the proffits.
come over to the 1% side, luke. i am your father
Love the idea!
If there was big money to be made off of the ski area, Foxman would have made it a priority. Good luck with that 1% thing!
Hey great idea! Except for the bit of reality that nobody makes any money running a ski area. So as shareholders your share of the profits will be in the null set, or negative. Might as well just drive up to the mountain and throw a fist-full of cash out of your window.
But if anyone is really interested they should consider buying shares in a racehorse too!!!
“Totally Awesome Dude”. How much are the shares, I want to buy one.
What will/would be interesting to see is the same type of development at Titus Mountain. Would the fact that it is NOT in the Park be the one puzzle piece, when removed from the scenario, make all the world of difference.
Would any of the Environmental concerns, Community character issues, hatred of Developer/development, second home disdain, would any of this matter when done on the otherside of an imaginary blue line?
As far as shares of a ski slope, it’s a thinly veiled attempt to make Tupper Lake locals feel like they’re “included” or at least offered a chance.
Weren’t they planning this in Titus when it turned out the owner was stealing electricity? Bottom line, especially when, as we near Thanksgiving, there’s absolutely no snow to ski on, is that the season’s too short and unreliable to make money on skiing in this real climate and financial climate.
You are right oa and now this same guy is running Big Tupper. Pretty messed up but back on point. It is very telling if this would be a route the mountain goes. Foxman is already backtracking on his promise to revitialize the mountain early on in the project. Can you blame him? He’s got the annointed few kissing his butt and suckering others into financing the operation for going on three years now.
Locals buy shares in the ski operation? Wow, one more scam to subsidize Foxman and pick the pockets of the locals.
Why aren’t locals going to ski for free? After all, if the property taxes of the new development are used to build Foxman’s infrastructure instead of going to the Town, County and School budgets the local’s taxes will have to go up to cover the services needed by the new development.
New development never pays for itself. If it did, taxes in a highly developed area should be lower than a rural area. But it doesn’t work that way. Increasing the tax base also means increasing costs for services which in the long run means higher taxes for everyone. With the proposed ACR PILOT diverting property taxes to help subsidize Foxman’s project this will happen even faster.
The owner wan’t stealing the electric, the man running the ski operations at the time was. He rigged the meters on the snow blowers, and was charged, fined and let go. Done deal. The owners at that time were a group from out of State. Minnasota i think. That owner recently sold to a Malone local businessman. I wish Titus Mtn. the best of luck, and the gravel pit as well. The fellas there are all good men, and i have had them do excavation for me a number of times. i would reccommend them for work in a heartbeat.
On the Quebec issue. I would think that going to Quebec as an experience, as a tourist would be for the French culture.
However I wonder if enforcing French only in the end hurts long term economic growth for the province? How many English speaking firms in a variety of industries will decide its a tough place to do business?
I’m selling shares in the new Duck Hole Dam if anyone has some money to invest.
Thanks for clarifying, Two Cents. Forgot the details. Still, as to the owner, “happened on my watch” and all that. My point that there’s a failed (or at least so-far unsuccessful) scheme to develop Titus, which an earlier commenter asked about, still stands.
I would buy the shares if the shareholders get to own the ski area.
Otherwise, it makes a better investment to buy a six pack of beer and get the nickel back on the empties.
I think the developers are perfectly competent to get the ski area going if they want it. I think they want it and all the rest, too.
It is looking like the Enterprise does not trust them!
no prob oa, yes there were lots and swiss chalet style homes for sale on Titus, but i understand they were overpriced and of poor construction quality.
And these were built by Big Tupper’s biggest cheerleader.
Re: November 23, 2011 at 11:48 am
..so there you go. Nothing worse than poor quality/craftmanship in trade for higher profit.
Kinda like the state of our Government.