With very little warning, uptown Kingston is expected to change their way of doing business. Doing business without access to the streets or the parking spots throughout the Stockade Business district. Right now you're wondering why?Well, Monday, June 7th, HG Entertainment plans to use our quaint little streets to film segments of a major feature. What it's about and who's in it...I have no clue. What I do know, is the City of Kingston is expected to lose parking meter revenue, the merchants will lose sales revenue and the DPW crews will invest taxpayer time erecting and removing barricades.
Store man
ager's patience will be tested. Why? Well, some businesses have employees scheduled in advance. If the days during filming are expected to be well below expected retail, then calls will have to be made over the weekend. I say this, because here it is Thursday and Uptown Businesses are just getting the notices now.If this were a parade and festival, wouldn't we be asking for a financial impact fee? Should the whole city be responsible for the possible overtime costs accrued because of the film crew? Perhaps they did settle this before, but it would seem unlikely since the locals are just getting word of it today.
In the flier, the Mayor states: "I recognize that this is a huge inconvenience, but it is a great opportunity for the City of Kingston." Sure, it will be nice to see our city streets in some movie someday, but it would have been nice to know about the interruption to our merchant functions more than three days prior. I hope HG Entertainment has made this worth it.
17 comments:
Yet another reason why I am looking for commercial space in the Town of Ulster instead of the City of Kingston. Parking meters and parking in general are another big reason.
I guess you missed the report that showed Ulster County as having as much income generated from the Arts and Culture as Orange and Dutchess COMBINED!
Wake up Mike, this is the future of Ulster County. Artists haven and green, clean, renewable energy.
I am disappointed that you don't see that.
I understand only the store managers were supposed to get the notice to keep the public interest to a minimum. Your post may have done just the opposite.
To the idiot who commented at 8:07am - Mike doesn't need to wake up. He is right on the mark with his writing! Who cares if Ulster County as more income generated from the Arts and Culter as Orange and Dutchess Combined. The money that may or may not be paid by HG Entertainment isn't going to the county - it's going to the City of Kingston - and it cause money to be taken out of the small business owners in Uptown. Being compared to Orange county is like being compared to a third world country in the Middle East. I'm disappointed that you don't know that!
Kudos to Mike for his writing! I'm not a fan of him normally, but today, I think he's right on!
And to the other comment accusing him of "spilling the beans" - it's the public's right to know what is going on in their community. You must be a Bush supporter to think that the public doesn't need to know the truth!
Well the Mayor also has allowed Maxwells to us City property for an outdoor Cafe. What revenue is the City getting from this and this is Public Property.
Time for you to change the name of this blog. You are progressive on one issue and one issue only.
My concern is that city will be reimbursed for the DPW's work and any other dept. that is involved in helping this company set up its production. Yes, it is great to have the exposure but we are sorely in need of funds and to incur another expense in any dept. is truly a hardship for the citizens.
Exposure to this industry brings in people to the SOUND STAGE located on Wall St. I don't hear Mike complaining when there are 20-30 people a day camped out using the sound stage @ BSP. I don't hear him complaining when these people patronize the businesses up there when they are not shooting. A little grandstanding perhaps?
It is part of the uptown economy. It has it's good points and very few negative points. Mike needs to start seeing the big picture here now that he is representing the entire county. This is exactly what Ulster County needs. It is a good thing, not a bad thing.
Open your eyes & your mind. If see the light, you see the future!
Doubling the per capita income for any industry compared to counties that are in total 4x's Ulster's size is something to be very proud of. That says the particular industry has taken root and is flourishing.
A rising tide lifts all ships, everyone benefits. Try not to be so myopic.
Mike. Bill Me later... I had to commandeer the Rondout Neighborhood Center “Bus Stop,” for the filming of the Memorial Day parade.
Why didn't the bathrooms get unlocked at Kingston Point for Memorial Day weekend?
An empty town - Kingston sure is becoming the right setting.
The City should be charging for a "permit" and for the added police that it will take to cover this event.
Missed opportunity for Sottile and his failed "lay-offs" budget.
Some mess Uptown today. I'm glad the City is getting nothing out of this.
Film production means bringing revenue INTO Kingston--hotel rooms, meals, crews hanging out in bars, patronizing other businesses--it's a boost not a bad thing!
So did the City get any revenue for the use of the Streets yesterday an dwho paid for the overtime that this fiasco caused.
Having visited uptown today (Tuesday) Im finding out that the film crew have their own private catering service and were very rude to shopowners during the day.
What will happen tomorrow when the funeral takes place on Fair St? Will Sottile step in and alter what he's created?
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