SCHUMER CALLS ON NYS DEC TO COMMIT TO A FULL SKI SEASON AT BELLEAYRE MOUNTAIN - SAFEGUARD ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF ULSTER COUNTY TOURIST ATTRACTION
Ski Center in Ulster County Has Provided Skiing in the Catskills for Over 60 Years, Attracting Over 175,000 Visitors/Year - Providing Jobs, Revenue
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation May Be Planning To Sharply Reduce Its Operating Budget for Belleayre Mountain Ski Center
Schumer: We Cannot Lose This Economic Engine for Ulster County
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to commit to a full ski season at Belleayre Mountain following reports that the agency was planning to sharply reduce its operating budget. The ski center has long served as an economic catalyst during the winter months for UlsterCounty with over 175,000 visitors per year who dine, lodge and shop in the region, providing jobs and revenue.
In an effort to safeguard the economic benefits of the region, Senator Schumer wrote a letter to the NYS DEC requesting they commit to a full ski season at BelleayreMountain.
“BelleayreMountainSkiCenter is bursting with economic benefits for UlsterCounty and we cannot let it fall to the wayside,” Schumer said. “I hope that the DEC will heed the community’s call and commit to a full ski season at Belleayre so that we can keep the jobs and revenue generated by the ski mountain.”
BelleayreSkiCenter in UlsterCounty, run be the state DEC, was established by constitutional amendment over 60 years ago. The center reaps enormous economic benefits for the region, providing revenue for the local and county government and supporting hundreds of local jobs.
Recent reports show that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation may sharply reduce or eliminate altogether the operating budget for BelleayreMountain.
In an effort to save jobs and revenue, Schumer wrote a letter to the DEC urging them to find the necessary savings to continue operating the ski mountain for the entire season.
“It would be a severe blow to the region should the ski center not operate for a complete season,” Schumer wrote. “While I recognize New YorkState is facing a difficult economic climate, and I applaud efforts to find savings, the benefits that would be achieved by cutting operating costs at BelleayreMountain would pale in comparison to the economic turmoil it would create in the region. I cannot overstate the significance that BelleayreMountainSkiCenter has on the local economy.”
A full copy of the letter is below:
Dear Commissioner Grannis,
I write to request that the Department of Environmental Conservation ensure a full ski season at the BelleayreSkiCenter in UlsterCounty. As you are well aware, the SkiCenter was established through a constitutional amendment process over 60 years ago. Ever since, the people of New York have enjoyed access to skiing in this part of the Catskills.
The economic impact the ski center has on UlsterCounty and the region, and in particular the towns of Shandanken and Hardenburg, cannot be underestimated. The ski center attracts over 175,000 visitors a year to the mountain, who then lodge, shop, and dine in UlsterCounty, providing revenue for the local and county government and supporting hundreds of local jobs. It would be a severe blow to the region should the ski center not operate for a complete season.
While I recognize New YorkState is facing a difficult economic climate, and I applaud efforts to find savings, the benefits that would be achieved by cutting operating costs at BelleayreMountain would pale in comparison to the economic turmoil it would create in the region. In a region that is dependent upon a vibrant year-round tourism trade, the significance that BelleayreMountainSkiCenter has on the local economy profound.
Again, I urge the Department of Environmental Conservation to commit to a full ski season at BelleayreMountain and ensure that UlsterCounty and the region continue to experience the economic impacts that the ski center provide.
