To the editor:
We, the elected municipal officials of the Towns and Villages in Ulster, Greene and Delaware Counties, are writing to our regional media outlets, DEC and New York State officials in support of the Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park. We represent our municipalities and understand the powerful positive impact - the needed impact – this Resort, and the build-out of Belleayre Mt. Ski Center, can and will have on our area. We have also seen the long, slow and painful decline of our mountain Main Streets and communities. Hunting and fishing licenses in NYS, along with visits to our area, have dropped over 20% in the last 10 years, our population is shrinking, and lodging units are down 90% since the 50s and 60s, let alone a century ago. Additionally the NYC DEP is aggressively purchasing local properties that will forever be un-developable, further limiting our choices and potential to expand and preserve for the next generations of native dwellers. Read more