Donaldson: "sick and tired"

KINGSTON - Ulster County Legislature Chairman David Donaldson is calling for a boycott on Hunter Mountain and Windham Mountain ski resorts based on attacks on Belleayre Mountain’s state-subsidized operations.

Donaldson said during a news conference Friday that he is “sick and tired of Greene County private interested attacking Belleayre and using it as a pawn.”

Donaldson was referring to a recent state measure that passed in the Senate and Assembly approving the creation of a Blue Ribbon Commission to “examine unfair competition in the outdoor recreation industry,” as the resolution read.

The chairman feels the administrations of Hunter and Windham Mountain ski resorts are behind the resolution, which is currently awaiting Governor Paterson’s approval.  “They are just trying to put a more affordable solution to residents out of business so that their property value goes up.  It isn’t fair to the residents, and it isn’t fair to the county.”

Donaldson added that Ulster County relies heavily on tax revenue from Belleayre Mountain, and would be devastated if it were to close, a possibility if the new commission is formed.

“Are they going to look into Jones Beach? Bethpage Golf Course? State campgrounds? How about local parks, pools and the like, that receive state funding?  When they finish studying the impact of state recreation outdoors, will they then study the effect of the State University system on private colleges?  Make no mistake about this resolution they got passed; it was zeroed in on Belleayre.”

Donaldson also urged Gov. Paterson not to sign the bill, and “protect the right of the citizens of New York to provide public recreation at a reasonable price for all it citizens- not just the rich.”

Senator James Seward, who sponsored the legislation for the study of Belleayre, could not be reached for comment on Friday.