As another year ends and a new one is about to begin, we look back on some of the moments that helped to define 2022 in Sullivan County.

Through 52 weeks and 104 editions of the Sullivan County Democrat, 2022 represents a year of consequence. It was a year that saw major changes to local and state politics, a historic investment in environmental protection as well as major economic development throughout our region.

Although only a sampling of the big news in Sullivan County this past year, the following events will surely impact the new year ahead. 

Redistricting/Elections

New York State, like many government bodies, went through the redistricting process in 2022. The Democratically-controlled State legislature’s initial maps, which had Sullivan County moving into the 17th Congressional District, among other things, were thrown out by the courts, who said they were drawn with “impermissible partisan purpose.” 

New maps were created by an appointed Special Master. Locally, this meant Sullivan County moved back into the 19th Congressional District, where a Special Election was held once Antonio Delgado was appointed as Lieutenant Governor. The special election was won by Pat Ryan in August, however, when the new lines took effect, he was in the new NY-18. Republican Marc Molinaro was elected as our new NY-19 representative this past November. 

There were also notable changes in the State Senate. Once lines were redrawn, Sullivan County was in the 51st State Senate District and is now represented by Peter Oberaker who was just re-elected to a second term. 

There were few changes with the Assembly districts, for the time being, as Aileen Gunther was re-elected to represent most of Sullivan County in the 100th Assembly District. Brian Maher was elected to represent the 101st Assembly District, which includes the Town of Neversink, and Joe Angelino was re-elected in the 121st Assembly District, which now includes the Town of Fremont.  

Election Day itself was noteworthy, as members of the public and several poll inspectors lamented long lines and need for more equipment, with some saying they knew people who left and didn’t vote. The County Legislature has since discussed the situation and noted that they’ve had conversations with the Board of Elections to address concerns that were raised. 

Department of Health

There was great public concern after news broke last January that the NYS Department of Health (DOH) would be leaving their North Street, Monticello location, and instead relocate to Orange County, by the end of Spring. 

A spokesperson for the DOH told the Democrat that the decision to move the district office, which serves Sullivan County and had around 21 employees, was due to “difficulty in finding adequate office space in the Monticello area,” a claim since challenged by County and elected officials.

NYSDOH district offices enforce regulations that protect the public’s health, safety and environment related to food, water and indoor air quality in restaurants, camps, pools, beaches, hotels, motels and fairgrounds for the 21 counties/cities in New York State that do not deliver that service. They also investigate concerns about hazardous or unhealthy conditions in and around homes and workplaces. It was later announced in spring that the DOH would not leave until at least the end of summer, which is when the area is busiest. 

More recently, County officials, who claimed they were reassured by the DOH that services would not be impacted, announced that the DOH would maintain a smaller office with about 4-5 employees (mostly administrative staff) on the County’s Liberty campus.

Opioid Crisis

The opioid epidemic was once again a big topic in 2022, with officials reporting how about 20 percent of deaths in the County each month, on average, could be attributed to the crisis. There’s also been talk about the rise of fentanyl on the streets, how it is being marketed as every other type of drug because it is so cheap and how deadly it can be. So many lives have been lost in the crisis, and a moving vigil was once again held on International Overdose Awareness Day at the end of August by Sullivan 180, to remember those no longer with us. While those on the frontlines have reported little change, there are some encouraging signs. Money from settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors have started to trickle in and the Sullivan County Drug Task Force, who’ve worked tirelessly to address opioid issues, have presented on how they plan to use the funds to combat the epidemic. A couple of other big moments of note was the unveiling of Bridge Back to Life Center, Inc.’s mobile treatment unit last January. It has been traveling across the County, bringing much needed treatment directly to those who need it. Also, this fall, Lexington Center for Recovery opened a methadone clinic, the first of its kind in the State, in Monticello, at 26 Hamilton Avenue. They also announced plans to open a second clinic on the County’s Liberty campus. The Hope Not Handcuffs initiative also continues to pick up steam, with local law enforcement buying in and more people signing up to be “angels” to assist those seeking treatment. We will continue to cover the work of the Sullivan County Drug Task Force, as well as their community and law enforcement partners as we head into the new year.

Sullivan County  Legislature

It was another busy year for County Legislators. Some of the highlights include auditors deeming the County financially stable. Furthermore, the recent passage of the 2023 Budget includes more investment in road and bridgework, as well as increasing the Sullivan Promise Scholarship from one to two years, covering tuition for local high school graduates attending SUNY Sullivan. Speaking of SUNY Sullivan, legislators also committed funds towards an aquatic and recreation facility on its campus. On the transportation front, the Legislature has continued its support for Move Sullivan, which expanded from two to four bus routes this year. They also eliminated bus fares until at least the end of 2023. The County Airport also had another banner year for fuel sales, as well as some new tenants with Hatzolah Air moving into a hangar, and the possible addition of a helicopter charter service setting up headquarters there in the future. They also received an $18 million grant to redo the terminal, which would be the latest in a series of renovations there. And finally, it was recently announced that all union contracts have been settled with multiple years left on them - the first time in the Legislature’s 25-plus year history that’s been the case. Having those buttoned up provides cost certainty for the County moving forward.

Since legislators took office in 2020, there remains a divide between two groups within the Legislature. The majority group is Chairman Rob Doherty, Vice Chair Michael Brooks, Majority Leader Alan Sorensen and Legislators Nicholas Salomone and George Conklin, and the minority group is Minority Leader Ira Steingart and Legislators Joe Perrello, Luis Alvarez and Nadia Rajsz. Two moments where the divide was most evident was during redistricting discussions over the summer and bed tax committee talks in the fall. As for the former, Steingart questioned whether his peers followed through with the agreement that after initial meetings nobody would speak to the mapmaker during the process, and that the mapmaker would only speak with County Manager Josh Potosek and Real Property Tax Services Director Chris Knapp. That led to a testy exchange between Steingart and Doherty, after Steingart suggested they ask for an affidavit to see if the mapmaker had contact with any of the legislators. The majority of the Legislature ended up picking map three of the three options presented. Steingart and Doherty had another spat when Steingart stated that he felt Sorensen should recuse himself from the Bed Tax Committee (who will eventually meet to determine how the money will be distributed) due to his job as Orange County Planning Commissioner, citing a potential conflict of interest. While Doherty and Sorensen said they didn’t see a conflict, Sorensen ultimately chose to recuse himself, saying he didn’t want his participation to be a stain on the funds. Doherty then asked Steingart, who as Planning Committee Chair serves on the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association Board as an ex-officio, non-voting member, to recuse himself, believing there to be a conflict. He also brought up that Steingart was found guilty of ethics charges relating to the SCVA in the past. Steingart would later defend himself, claiming that his attorney advised him that if he were to appeal those ethics charges in a higher court it would have been thrown out. Steingart ultimately chose not to recuse himself from the committee, and it was determined that the arbiter of whether or not there was a conflict is the County’s Ethics Board.

Looking ahead, all nine legislators’ seats will be up for re-election next November, meaning the possibility for primaries and contested races. In addition to navigating the election year challenges, they will have to continue to work at finding a solution to the County’s future trash problems caused by the imminent closure of Seneca Meadows Landfill where they send a large percentage of the County’s waste. Hughes Energy has presented a possible research and development operation at the County landfill on two occasions. The proposed project has been met with public opposition. While it’s uncertain whether or not the Legislature will move forward with the project, Doherty has stated that a committee will be formed to find a solution.

A hero remembered

January 15 was a day that shook a family and the community to its core when Forestburgh Volunteer Fire Company’s Assistant Fire Chief William “Billy” Steinberg, 37, tragically lost his life while in the line of duty suppressing a structure fire in the Town of Thompson.

Days later, Billy’s funeral procession on Broadway in Monticello was joined by hundreds of firefighters and members of the community, who looked on as Billy’s legacy was carried forward by his family and fellow firefighters. In lieu of flowers, the Steinberg family accepted donations that were to be put toward a memorial in honor of Billy.

In August, that memorial was unveiled and dedicated before a mass of Forestburgh residents, fellow first responders, Boy Scouts of Pack 101 from Rock Hill, and other local leaders. Billy’s Father, James Steinberg Sr., was among many who spoke before the crowd that day with praise in remembrance of Billy and all that he had given to his community and those that call it home throughout his entire life.

Months passed and Mohammad Islam, 33, was convicted as a repeat arsonist who lit the flame that ultimately caused the death of Steinberg. He was sentenced to 15 years in jail for first degree manslaughter, among other charges, on December 19 by Sullivan County Court Justice Jim Farrell.

In a combined effort to protect future volunteer firefighters from repeat arsonists, New York State Senator Mike Martucci and New York Assembly Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther co-wrote a bipartisan bill titled ‘Billy’s Law.’ The bill will continue its process through the hands of New York Legislators when session resumes in January.

Environmental Bond Act

To many in the region, protecting the environment takes great priority. In the pursuit of this, local environmental protection activists and groups celebrated earlier this year with the passing of the State-wide Clean Air, Clean Water, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. 

This Bond Act allocates $4.2 billion dedicated to various environmental projects throughout New York, preserving local open space agricultural operations and family farms, fend off communities against extreme weather, oppose climate change, and improve water infrastructure.

Various environmental protection groups rallied around the promotion of the Bond Act prior to its passing.

Although it is not guaranteed that Sullivan County will see any of the money being released into the state, the historic victory for environmentalists all around New York remains.

Gun Legislation Changes

New York saw many alterations to the historic gun laws over the course of the year which continue to spark local discussion. 

In June, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a 6-3 ruling that dismantled a portion of New York’s long standing Concealed Carry Law. This change decreed that requiring an applicant to show “proper cause” in order to legally obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun was unconstitutional.

Moving in response to SCOTUS’s decision, as well as a mass shooting that took place in Buffalo,  New York Legislators passed new legislation, which was later signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.

The updated state law changed the permitting process for concealed carry applications, established further restrictions for concealed carry in specified areas which included public places, large events, public transport, and other “sensitive” places.

It was reported by Sullivan County Historian John Conway that the new laws also caused confusion and caution among local historical reenactors who would otherwise utilize muskets and other firearms for their events.

According to Conway, multiple reenactments across the state had been canceled out of caution of the new laws. In Sullivan County, there were no cancellations of any scheduled events, however it was reported that turnout numbers were affected.

Camp FIMFO

The proposed future of Kittatinny Canoes in Barryville, Camp Fun Is More Fun Outside (FIMFO), was a topic of discussion that persisted throughout the year as Town of Highland Planning Board meetings consistently were packed with residents and locals with their own opinions and thoughts on the project. 

Owned and overseen by Northgate Resorts, the original project included an outdoor recreational water playset for children, a mountain coaster ride, various camp sites, and as well as other amenities. It was also intended for the project to create roughly 89 full-time jobs, with nine of those being manager positions. At the time, It was expected to total around $2.5 million in wages. 

Despite receiving the backing from various individuals and organizations throughout the county, parts of the project received backlash from residents and locals concerned with environmental, financial, and cultural impacts of such a proposition.

After receiving alterations to the layout plans, such as the scrapping of the mountain coaster ride idea, the project remains a topic of hot discussion before the various boards within the Town of Highland, as well as residents of Barryville.