|
Vote No on Senate Bill 6835b
06/30/2008
Paul Rakov
Dear Governor Patterson,
New York State provides a safe, enjoyable and affordable recreation center at which people have, for generations, enjoyed the wonders of the winter season in the Catskills. This operation is the Belleayre Ski Center.
The state was the first to ride the wave of skiing's international popularity brought on by the first live broadcasts of the Winter Olympics Games in the 1950s. NY State introduced skiing to the Catskills before anyone else, public or private. Had it not been for the visionary leadership in government at the time who saw a way to bring economic vitality to a region that only enjoyed such prosperity in the summer tourism season, no other private ski center operation would have likely dared to enter the market. As it was, Belleayre lead the way for future competition from Hunter, Windham, Highmount, Cortina Valley and Plattekill.
Now, some of those same operations, namely Windham and Hunter, are trying to close Belleayre. And make no mistake, sir. That is exactly the outcome they wish. But they will not get it. The current proposed legislation (Senate Bill 6835b), thinly veiled as an outcry for for "fairness," is nothing more than two companies who have lost sight of their market, lost competence in their original purpose of providing a great ski experience, and do not have the marketing skills needed to promote their businesses effectively. Should this bill pass, it will mean a complete study of ALL state run recreational facilities from Long Island to Plattsburgh to Buffalo. Not only is this a tremendous waste of resources, both financial and human, but it will not produce any significant results. In fact, Belleayre is run well. It is efficient. It has shrewd marketers. It's facilities are maintained well because the management pays attention to details. In short, they continue to excel at exactly the mission the State outlined when it built the ski center more than 50 years ago...providing NY families with an outstanding ski experience at an affordable price.
Green County's ski businesses should be ashamed of how they sold out their core customers in favor of selling real estate, leaving skiers with a sub-par experience. If they spent as much creative energy developing new programs, maintaining their ski product and inventing new marketing promotions as they have wasting time with pointless legislation, then the Catskills would once again be considered a true ski destination.
Stop this legislation.
Vote No on Senate Bill 6835b.
Thank you.
Paul Rakov
Kingston, NY Return to Letters Page
|
