State Senator Jim Tedisco (file photo)
Senator Jim Tedisco
Saratoga, Schenectady, and Niskayuna Counties are home to many world-class tourist attractions, some of the finest state and national parks, and many tourists visit the 44th Senate District each year to visit the area’s major tourist attractions. We have great recreational facilities that act as economic drivers and job creators.
According to a Saratoga County IDA report last year, tourism provides an annual economic impact of $647 million to the metropolitan area and generates $266.9 million in employee income.
According to a report from Empire State Development, tourism has an economic impact of $387 million in Schenectady County.
Visitors to the 44th Senate District and the region spend $1.194 billion annually on lodging, dining, entertainment and attractions, transportation, and retail shopping.
More than 17,000 people work in tourism-related jobs in Saratoga and Schenectady counties.
As a former high school and college athlete and then college basketball coach and athletic director, I know how important recreational facilities are to our communities.
That’s why I was honored to be recently appointed by Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortto to serve as Ranking Member of the New York State Senate Committee on Culture, Tourism, Parks, and Recreation.
In addition to this leadership position, I will continue to serve as a senior member of the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Horse Racing and Gaming Committee, as well as a sitting member of the Banking, Libraries, and New York City Boards of Education.
My job as Ranking Member of the Senate Culture, Tourism, Parks, and Recreation Committee continues to be a strong voice to my constituents and to advocate for the best of every part of the 44th Senate District that makes up our region. We believe in fighting for our interests. It’s very special and very attractive to visitors.
The 44th Senate District includes Saratoga Spa State Park, Morrow Lake State Park, the historic Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady, Saratoga National Historical Park, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Peebles Island State Park in Waterford, This is an important mission for the metropolitan area, given the inclusion of MiSci. , Ulysses S. Grant Cottage in Moreau, Saratoga Automobile Museum, Tann Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, National Horse Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, New York State Military Museum, Saratoga Children’s Museum, The X-Files Preservation Collection in Wilton, and the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa. There are many world-class attractions, including Schenectady’s Rivers Casino, the Saratoga Casino Hotel, and, of course, the historic Saratoga Race Course, which will host the 156th annual Belmont Stakes this year. .
In addition to hosting the Belmont Stakes, Saratoga County is preparing for a huge influx of tourists to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga, the turning point for America that saved the American Revolution and changed the world. ing. This commemorative ceremony is likely to attract a lot of attention from history buffs around the world.
I’m used to working on legislation that deals with state parks and tourism-related issues.
In 2021, I authored and passed bipartisan legislation that would allow state forest and park rangers and DEC park police to carry life-saving EpiPens to treat people with severe allergic reactions in emergencies.
When I was in Congress, I worked with the Saratoga Springs Save the Ballet Committee to advocate for keeping New York City Ballet, the greatest ballet company in the world, here at SPAC as a summer residency. I was proud to have succeeded in doing so.
My new leadership role on the Senate Culture, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Committee provides the foundation for continued support for bipartisan legislation (S.7688) that would install surveillance cameras at the entrances and exits of all state parks and recreation facilities. will be provided. Facility.
The bill is in response to the September 30 kidnapping of a 9-year-old girl at Moreau Lake State Park.
The Governor has announced that his budget will include funding to install security cameras and equipment in all state parks.
I would like to introduce a bill that would provide free admission to all state parks and recreation facilities to all honorably discharged veterans, and a lifetime Liberty Pass that provides free access and parking to state parks to all active duty military personnel and veterans. (S.675). 2252).
I am also sponsoring a bill regarding free use of state parks and campgrounds for volunteer firefighters and members of volunteer ambulance services (S.655).
While the rest of New York State faces serious challenges, the 44th Senate District continues to grow and become a destination for people to visit. We continue to work hard to protect this special place we call home and preserve the recipes we have perfected that make our quality of life so great and our region such a tourist attraction. You need to try hard.
I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders in the 44th Senate District to make that happen.
Sen. Jim Tedisco (R-Ballston Lake) represents all of Saratoga County, Niskayuna and the city of Schenectady.
