The addition of population has been a focus of my last three years, and it’s a driving rationale in my push for affordable housing and a Market Street neighborhood that profiles as entertaining and fun.
Attracting young people to our city and retaining those who graduate from our high school and colleges requires a commitment to their employment, their housing and their engagement.
It also demands an embrace of our potential as a college town, and I am proud that during my term we have seen the evidence of that strategy. From the ExCel Center to the Baking Innovation Lab, our colleges have expanded their footprint into our downtown, and the potential of both facilities is just being tapped.
Among the greatest assets our city has are the energy, creativity and talent of its students, and I have made their inclusion in city governance a priority. By welcoming new voices to the table, we strengthen the connection between our campuses and our community and build a city that is better prepared for the future.
Additionally, the integration of our student population in the creation of initiatives that enhance our quality of life gives them a valuable sense of “ownership” and provides a compelling rationale for their consideration of Oneonta as a place to call home.
That’s why I am excited about the success of the effort to have more of our college population become registered to vote in the city.
I’m also encouraged by the addition of two Hartwick College students to city commissions, and the launch of a new Town-Gown Taskforce. This task force, co-chaired by student leaders from Hartwick College and SUNY Oneonta, will include three students from each college as well as three community members. It is a deliberate effort to bring fresh perspectives into our civic conversation and foster greater understanding between students and year-round residents.
Cities that think younger stay more innovative, resilient and inclusive. By tapping into the ideas and insights of our student population, we can better address shared challenges and create new opportunities that benefit the entire community.
As has been well documented at this point, I am eternally optimistic about our city’s future and in the potential that comes of working together. But, as is also well known, my aspirational thinking has been met (in too many instances) by a resistance that has made accusation and misrepresentation a tool in their arsenal.
Hillary Clinton is credited with observing that “Politics is not for the thin-skinned or the easily discouraged.”
I will be nominating other students to boards and commissions. So, a word…
A young person filled with optimism for what can be accomplished can be turned away from public service by the ugliness of social media. These are our potential next generation of leadership, and I ask for all the respect our student citizens should be accorded.
2025 is a unique time. Alternate realities abound. And there are no shortages of experts or opinions.
In a video, I addressed this and laid out the strategy for creating a neighborhood for graduates and others who would provide an expanded workforce and customer base on and around Market Street.
You can find it here. http://bit.ly/3RcA309
I look forward to the important work ahead and to seeing what we can accomplish — together — when we commit to listening, learning, and thinking young.