There has been much written lately about the current state of the Adirondack Park economy. The current recession and the recent release of the Adirondack Park Regional Assessment Project (APRAP) Report has spurred this recent debate. As I mentioned in my first post The Adirondack Economy - A Local Initiative, the APRAP report can be interpreted in several different ways. Five different people could read it and come away with an equal number of opinions on the current state of the Adirondack Economy.
John Sheehan , the Director of Communications for the Adirondack Council recently opened up a fire storm of criticism from residents and business owners by claiming in a Albany Times Union Op Ed that the Adirondack economy "...is one of the most robust rural areas in the Northeastern United States." This statement was based upon an interpretation of the APRAP and comparisons to demographic data in other rural areas of the state outside the Park. His opinion piece unleashed a torrent of responses in print and on the web. While Mr. Sheehan may have made some good points, the response to his interpretation of the data demonstrates that the economy of the Adirondack Park has and will continue to be a sensitive subject for Adirondackers.
What is evident in the data is that parts of the Adirondacks seem to be doing well statistically when compared to other rural areas of the state outside the Park. There are also areas within the Park that are not doing well, have relatively high unemployment and low median household income. Collectively however, it can be said that the Adirondack Park is fairing quite well - statistically.
What is not seen in the data is the day-to-day struggle by almost every community to retain and attract residents and jobs. I have consulted for numerous communities inside and outside the Park, and this struggle is the biggest issue raised by residents and community leaders in almost every community.
In my opinion, the perception of our economic situation is likely exacerbated by the additional regulatory controls within the Park. While the true implications of the Adirondack Park Agency on the economy of the Adirondacks is a topic for another post, it is worth noting here that many people blame the APA for the current state of the economy. In addition to the APA, there are several very active environmental organizations such as the Adirondack Council that also become the target of blame. In other and more depressed regions of the state, there is no one entity to blame. In the Park, the APA and environmental organizations are convenient targets.
While sections of the Adirondack Park are having more difficulty then others in attracting residents and employers, and are clearly being outpaced by the more successful regions of the state, it could be worse. Yes, Adirondack communities can and should do better. What does the Adirondacks have that other rural and disadvantaged regions of the state do not?
We have the "Adirondacks" and this fact needs to be used to continually improve our economy instead of an excuse of why we are not doing well.
