“Change is the only constant in life. One’s ability to adapt to those changes will determine your success in life.” — Benjamin Franklin
After crossing the Delaware River in a treacherous winter storm, Gen. George Washington’s army defeated a British garrison at Trenton, New Jersey. Earlier, the patriot army encamped for the winter with a short-term pessimistic outlook. But the patriots’ long-term outlook was optimistic. The victory at Trenton set the stage for other successes and boosted the morale of the patriots. The attack happened because all of the troops rowed, and in the same direction. None refused to row. Although there is no supporting evidence, I believe at one point someone shouted, “Get in the boat and row!”
Let’s say this up front. When Oneonta’s downtown revitalization is complete, it will become a model of best practices. That’s the long term optimistic outlook.
Now, downtown Oneonta is characterized by abandoned storefronts, struggling merchants, people sleeping outside, incomplete projects, the parking garage and former Oneonta Sales building demolished. Merchants complain about the loss of the parking garage and occasional street closures. Discouraging as these concerns may be, these problems are opportunities. Encourage others to form positive networks of doers to take advantage of these opportunities.
We are at a crossroads.
Looking at each component of downtown projects, some are tempted to nitpick. For example, consider the planned building on the former Oneonta Sales property at 27 Market Street. My initial response to the proposal from Rehabilitation Support Service was negative. I was concerned that a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement that would expire sometime in the future would burden city government with a tax exempt property, but there are financially sound remedies, such as creating an agency to purchase the property and offer a 100-year lease to RSS, keeping it on the tax roll. Another concern was RSS’s plan to house recovering clients proximate to temptations, but remember, RSS has a track record of successful outcomes. The agency has a number of residences in our area, many of them next door to owner-occupied family residences, and their neighbors are hardly aware of their presence. Projects underway and under consideration will remove or at least greatly reduce those temptations. This multistory mixed use development creates a net increase in parking, and much needed housing, the ultimate solution to homelessness.
Now look at downtown progress holistically. The short term outlook is pessimistic, but the long term outlook is optimistic. Social service agencies are collaborating to offer housing, support and rehabilitation to the unsheltered. Agencies like RSS are successful at developing productive citizens. Meanwhile, developers incorporate a concept known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, which includes strategic lighting, limited access to buildings, landscaping that encourages polite behavior, and more. Additionally, entertaining activities in Muller Plaza, augmented by the new performance stage, and the sales and entertainment arcade in the first block of Dietz Street make downtown a destination. People feel compelled to visit our many novel venues and feel safe here.
Our job, my fellow pensioners, is to educate our Common Council members, “Don’t pick apart the downtown plan.” Here’s what I know: we must follow encouragers and optimists with a plan. That plan will work if we keep all of the components intact.
Nitpickers may seek self-aggrandizement, but leadership demands positivity. Captioning others negatives, whether real or imagined, may garner attention, but it is counterproductive. Instead, get in the boat and row!