fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Ulster Legislature approves $12,500 in funding for UPAC

by Crispin Kott
May 5, 2021
in General News
0
Ulster Legislature approves $12,500 in funding for UPAC

Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston. (Photo by Dion Ogust)

Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston. (Photo by Dion Ogust)

The Ulster County Legislature last week approved $12,500 in funding for Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC) in a 13-9 vote following a debate about whether the theater should be eligible for aid when so many other residents and businesses are suffering. 

The issue was settled during a virtual meeting of the Legislature held Tuesday, April 20. 

John Parete, a Democrat serving District 22 (towns of Denning, Hardenburgh, Olive and Shandaken), was the most outspoken legislator against the measure, saying that benefitting “a multi-million dollar facility that has nothing to do with the COVID pandemic [or] the (Judeo)-Christian values of clothing the naked, housing the homeless and feeding the hungry.” 

Parete said he opposed “subsidizing a $14 million net worth tax-exempt business that has been shuttered for over a year. The UPAC building is assessed at $3.3 million and pays no school taxes, no city taxes, no county taxes. They don’t pay any sales tax. And as a matter of fact, in the federal 990 form (for nonprofits), they don’t even contribute to the police and fire in Kingston when they’re having a performance.” 

Dean Fabiano, a Republican serving District 3 (towns of Saugerties and Ulster), also voted against the measure. 

“You go to UPAC to see a show, you pay anywhere between $65 and $120 per ticket,” Fabiano said. “It’s a business. And for them, maybe not so much now with the pandemic, but prior to the pandemic, they’d been a lucrative business. Personally, I think the only outside agencies we should be funding, especially at this time…(are) People Place, Ulster County Community Action, and Family of Woodstock, where there’s a direct sending of money and sending of food and clothing to people who are in need. Especially now when the money is tight.”

Peter Criswell, a Democrat serving District 7 (City of Kingston) voted in favor of the funding. 

“I just want to say I’m going to be a loud vocal supporter for the arts ’til my dying breath,” Criswell said. 

Ulster County has traditionally included $25,000 in funding for UPAC each year, which is used for utilities like electricity and heating. That figure was cut in half as part of the county’s 2021 budget, but the resolution to execute the agreement was dropped following a tie 4-4 vote in the Ways and Means Committee last March. 

John Gavaris, a Democrat serving District 15 (Town of Wawarsing, Village of Ellenville), is the Ways and Means Committee chair, where he voted against the funding. It was brought out of committee by a procedural move by James Delaune, a Democrat serving District 17 (towns of Esopus and New Paltz) and brought before the entire legislature. Gavaris said he was reminded after the Ways and Means stalemate that approving the funding was part of a collective agreement as part of a larger debate over the funding of legislative programs. 

“I have a very hard time with voting yes for this, but because we did agree as a package with everything else that got approved with things that I felt were more important, I guess I have to vote yes,” Gavaris said. “But I’m very, very uneasy about this. And it’s one of the hardest ones that I’m going to vote yes for that I really do not stand by.” 

Legislature Chair David Donaldson, a Democrat serving District 6 (City of Kingston) voted in favor of the resolution. 

“The arts are a fundamental part of our economy,” Donaldson said. “And UPAC in particular, I know some think that they’re not doing things for the community, but they put on a ballet for…inner city children who would probably never see a ballet if that wasn’t done. They do that on their dime, and they typically do that once or twice a year. They’re a really important part of the experience of inner-city children in the city of Kingston, many of them children of color, many of them that live within that area who might never see a ballet. And some of them take up ballet after that.” 

Donaldson added that the arts are an important part of the community as a whole. 

“When it comes to the arts, the arts are essential,” Donaldson said. “Many people work in the arts, and many people are starving in the arts because the money’s not there because they can’t put on the shows, just like people that were cutting hair are having trouble. We need to look at everybody and make that consideration when we’re looking at funding things.” 

Tags: members
Thank you for reading Hudson Valley One. We rely on your support to continue providing local, substantive news. Please check out our subscription options to keep local journalism alive in the Hudson Valley.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher
Previous Post

Woodstock town employees question office building’s safety

Next Post

Demand for vaccine drops in Ulster; ‘Not a good sign’ warns Ryan

Crispin Kott

Crispin Kott was born in Chicago, raised in New York and has called everywhere from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Atlanta home. A music historian and failed drummer, he’s written for numerous print and online publications and has shared with his son Ian and daughter Marguerite a love of reading, writing and record collecting.

 Crispin Kott is the co-author of the Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to New York City (Globe Pequot Press, June 2018), the Little Book of Rock and Roll Wisdom (Lyons Press, October 2018), and the Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to San Francisco and the Bay Area (Globe Pequot Press, May 2021).

Related Posts

Leaders gather at New Paltz Firehouse to endorse Climate Act Scoping Plan
Environment

Leaders gather at New Paltz Firehouse to endorse Climate Act Scoping Plan

May 16, 2022
Saugerties Town Justice Dan Lamb passes at 65
General News

Courtroom renamed in honor of Judge Lamb

May 12, 2022
Saugerties’ Kiwanis Ice Arena sets records in attendance, revenue
General News

Kiwanis Ice Arena fees are increasing

May 12, 2022
Town to fight Columbia Power’s move to throttle community electricity plan
General News

Town to fight Columbia Power’s move to throttle community electricity plan

May 11, 2022
Saugerties Town Board asks DOT for a speed reduction on segments of Route 212
General News

Saugerties Town Board asks DOT for a speed reduction on segments of Route 212

May 8, 2022
Attorney Rick Golden’s work in New Paltz is drawing to a close
General News

Attorney Rick Golden’s work in New Paltz is drawing to a close

April 30, 2022
Next Post
Demand for vaccine drops in Ulster; ‘Not a good sign’ warns Ryan

Demand for vaccine drops in Ulster; 'Not a good sign' warns Ryan

Trending News

  • Bubbe’s Deli opens in Gardiner’s former Mountain Harbor 1.6k views
  • Saugertes man faces multiple charges after domestic disturbance 1k views
  • The moon is down in Central Hudson 689 views
  • Expanded High Falls museum provokes rich insights 347 views
  • Ryan and Molinaro run for Congress, Gallagher available to move up 240 views







Latest HV1 Podcast

Weather

Kingston
◉
54°
Sunny
5:32am8:12pm EDT
Feels like: 54°F
Wind: 5mph NW
Humidity: 57%
Pressure: 29.99"Hg
UV index: 1
ThuFriSat
73/52°F
84/63°F
97/68°F
Weather forecast Kingston, New York ▸

Ulster County COVID-19 Active Cases

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

×
You have free article(s) remaining. Subscribe for unlimited access.
View Subscription Offers Sign In
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Manage HV1 Account

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In

© 2022 Ulster Publishing