“You must be counting the days…”
Now that I’ve officially entered lame duck status as mayor of the city, that’s become a common observation, implicitly recognizing the sometimes-difficult road we’ve traveled together.
And yes … At this writing, there are five weeks until I turn the reins over to Dan Buttermann and resume my life as a member — and not leader — of the community. I am looking forward to it.
I am, after all, just a community member — the same as you — and I shouldered this task without divine insight into everything that needed be done, or how best to do it. It was only my certainty that Oneonta’s course and direction had to change that brought me out of private life for public service.
The same as many of you would, I made the best decisions I could and prioritized what I thought most required my creative energies. That said, I don’t harbor many second-guesses, and those that I do are in the operations of government and not in the goals I’ve chosen to pursue.
This has been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I have done my very best to seize every aspect of it. I’ve gotten to know and work alongside so many motivated and dedicated people. It’s been a joy.
And we’ve accomplished so much together.
The goals haven’t changed since the day I took the oath of office, and while the road to each is long, (and we were never going to reach them together), I can say confidently that we are on the right path.
Our city is embarked on a renaissance.
The heart of our downtown has been transformed. Muller Plaza is no longer a desolate (and sometimes scary) square that one would hurry by, but a venue for entertainment, and a family-friendly place to relax with friends and loved ones.
Across the street, an iconic but long-derelict building has found new ownership. Its purchasers were impressed by the perceptible “vibe” in Oneonta, and it was a factor in their commitment to the building and its restoration as a centerpiece of Main Street.
I’m delighted to say that they are fully invested in the resurgence of downtown, and plan to be leaders in its development as a place to visit and live. To that end, they’re adding as many as 60 apartments in the long term and have already provided a home to a well-known glass-blowing studio that is sure to bring people to Main Street. Bobby Sharp Glassworks will open this winter and I can’t wait.
Municipalities across the Northeast are hosting an increasing number of the unsheltered and those in need of services. So, it’s with immense pride that I tell you this. Oneonta has been blessed with a team of dedicated professionals, agencies and empathetic citizens who, together, are making a real difference.
Their efforts are bringing hope to the hopeless and helping maintain and elevate the quality of life for everyone in our city. Those who might otherwise have been the impermanent residents of sidewalks, vestibules, benches and parks are increasingly finding case-managed support and housing assistance.
Our engagement of the Utica Center for Development has resulted in the reinvention of the Asa Allison Building (also known as The Armory) as a lifeline resource for veterans and their families. I cannot imagine what Oneonta would be without the Oneonta Veterans Outreach Center. Its success has me excited for the future of the armory and the expansion of its resources.
Embracing our progress and promoting an increasingly safe and vibrant city will help in recruiting new neighbors and retaining our population, but increasing housing affordability and expanding housing stock is crucial, too.
I’m so happy that a remodeled St. Mary’s school (as market-rate senior housing), and a renovated Oneonta Hotel (as mixed income apartments), will join the Dietz Street lofts and the Ford on Main as new residential opportunities in an ever-more walkable downtown.
Although I tried and failed to bring affordable housing to Market Street, that effort has spurred interest in development, and I have confidence that there will eventually be a host of new neighbors in an increasingly dynamic city.
All of this, and so much more, has been the consequence of collaborations and partnerships that I would never have enjoyed were I not mayor of the city.
This has been the honor and opportunity of a lifetime, and I will always be grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving.