David Radovanovic
Web designer, sometime gadfly
What will be the biggest event for the village of Saugerties in 2013?
I don’t predict much change in 2013; government will continue to be corrupt, and local officials will continue to favor their own interests. Our village and town board members don’t seem to have much fire in the belly to get things done.
Is there some change you would like to see?
One of the most important things the village and town governments can do is to adopt codes of ethics that have some teeth in them and enforce them.
When you say government is corrupt, can you give any examples?
I’d rather not name individuals, my problem is more with the way the system runs. We need a strong ethics code, but I don’t see the board passing one any time soon. You should check the assessments of the businesses owned by councilmen and trustees; I think you’ll find inequities.
The village for many years had to borrow to meet its expenses at the end of each year. In order to have a solvent government, you have to have a strong ethics law. Too many officials are paying more attention to their own interests than to the town or the village interests.
State audits of the town’s finances cite no-bid contracts among the fiscal irregularities that must be addressed. We see this in audits year after year, and it doesn’t get addressed.
Do you expect things to get better next year?
Sorry about being so negative, but I would expect that the government will continue as usual. My biggest wish would be a code of ethics that is above board and has no loopholes to let people who are not behaving ethically slide.
Attempts to push for changes have been frustrating. It has gotten so that I don’t go to Village Board meetings anymore. Nothing seems to change, and some people just see me as an annoyance.
Daisy Kramer Bolle
Co-owner, Dig Boutique
How was 2012?
Twenty-twelve was an interesting year in Saugerties. We got the amazing hotel and banquet hall Diamond Mills, which really put Saugerties on the map. Even though HITS has been great for the town, getting this hotel made Saugerties feel a little bit like a gold rush town. New stores opened up all over town. I think all this expansion has been great for everybody. Everyone is generating buzz, pulling in customers, and it’s been overall great for the village and great for business. One other really big difference in 2012 was the First Friday events. It really brought a lot of people to town and it’s a lot of fun. Hoping it gets even bigger in 2013. It was so nice seeing the local residents as well as the merchants coming in and doing all their shopping local, as did I. We are really coming together to make this small town thing work, because we really love our small town.
What kinds of changes happened for Dig in 2012?
We expanded at the end of last year, and everybody seems to love our ever-changing new space. We have had a men’s section, which has been shuffled around a bit, then a sale section, then a gift section for the holidays, and now sale again, as our huge winter sale has just begun. The atrium will always be modern home wares and gifts. We are planning on more fashion shows in the new space as well, so get ready.
What’s on tap for 2013?
Really looking forward to 2013 because we have worked out all the kinks and our beautifully re-designed website is finally live. Please check it out at digtheshop.com.
Anything else on your mind for 2013?
I hope in 2013 we are able to ban fracking and take global warming and alternative energy seriously. Relating to this, I hope to spread the word about my new-found lifestyle. I’m on the Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr. It’s totally vegan and I drink green juice every day. I get the green juices from Lucky Chocolates in the summer! I have lost 30 pounds in six months while eating Amy’s Vegan Gluten-Free Mac-n-Cheese from Mother Earth almost every day. If I can do it, anyone can. They carry the book at Inquiring Minds. I wish everybody out there peace and joy in the new year.
For the other 20 predictions, pick up this week’s issue of Saugerties Times, now on newsstands.
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