Boom-town economics!
A few days ago I discussed the economics of erie canal redevelopment. Low and behold, the TU is running a six-part series on the matter. Note the picture on the front page and caption about Oswego's "Harborfest":
Here's the TU description of the canal series of articles:
How should we improve the economy upstate?
I don't know, but we do have this 170 year old canal sitting here, that's got to be a sign!
I wonder how much revenue they pull in up at Lock 7 off of elementary school field trips. I remember those fondly.
The Oswego Harborfest, draws an estimated $15 million in revenues to this struggling port city.
That strikes me as funny because all the SUNY-OSWEGO grads I know consider Harborfest a huge drunken party weekend for college kids and trashy townies. And shouldn't it be a sign that, despite the wonders of "Harborfest," the town is still decribed as "struggling."Here's the TU description of the canal series of articles:
Times Union reporter Kate Gurnett and photographer Paul Buckowski spent the last year traveling the Erie Canal by boat and car.They visited dozens of towns and locks and talked to scores of people who work, live and play along the waterway.Over the six days, they delve into the issues and questions surrounding the canal's future, and whether its revitalization can improve upstate New York's economy.In their Travelers' Log, written when the canal opened this year, they share the stories of the people they met on their cold and watery journey from Albany to Buffalo.
I continue to find all of this very humorous. I'm fine with a six-part series on the canal. It's an interesting piece of New York and SmAlbany history. But I can answer the question those pose right now: the Erie canal's revitalization might be a nice niche tourist piece of a revitalized upstate econmoy. But let's not pretend it's going to be the centerpiece of upstate redevelopment. That's embarressing. It's like we can't think of anything else. Can't you see the conversations:How should we improve the economy upstate?
I don't know, but we do have this 170 year old canal sitting here, that's got to be a sign!
I wonder how much revenue they pull in up at Lock 7 off of elementary school field trips. I remember those fondly.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 at 5:39 AM.
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At 7:10 AM ,I agree with your statement about Harborfest only partially. Yes, it is a drunken time for all of the college kids and townies, but I remember many times my parents driving us up from Syracuse to attend when we were younger. they do get many people from the Syracuse area who are not hicks ;-)
At 7:19 AM ,
Fair enough. I've never been to Harborfest - my only accounts of it are from college students at Oswego, so I probably have a pretty biased source.
At 8:48 AM ,
Charles - I agree with your post. It would be great if the canal areas were beattiful tourist locations. I'm all for it. But it's just a non-starter in terms of fixing the economy. Economies run on much more basic things - like production value and, as you point out, tax climate.
mg
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