Belleayre closing due to layoffs

[skidbump]

Belleayre Mountain WILL NOT OPEN if layoffs go through December 31st.

If you care about Belleayre, the place you love, the people who depend on it to survive,and the local economy in general please speak up LOUDLY on our behalf.

Senator John Bonacic 845 344-3311
...Assemblyman Kevin Cahill 845 338-9610
Assemblymen Clifford Crouch 607 648-6080
Albany Times Union 518 454-5694
Kingston Daily Freeman 845 331-5000

 

[Rambo]

What???

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...wcWsDQ&usg=AFQjCNGnSVIdr_PgaSBstpifutWpzV9QsA

HIGHMOUNT — Belleayre Mountain Ski Center Superintendent Tony Lanza told employees on Tuesday that state Department of Environmental Conservation officials have directed him to make “substantial cuts” to the workforce.

He said he doesn’t expect the staff reductions to affect programming planned for the 2010-11 ski season.Lanza said rumors that as many as 48 employees will be laid off are inaccurate. “There is no number yet,” he said.

Lanza said the state agency, which owns Belleayre, will determine how many employees have to be cut and that he will decide who specifically gets laid off

 

[tjf67]

Belleayre Mountain WILL NOT OPEN if layoffs go through December 31st.

If you care about Belleayre, the place you love, the people who depend on it to survive,and the local economy in general please speak up LOUDLY on our behalf.

Senator John Bonacic 845 344-3311
...Assemblyman Kevin Cahill 845 338-9610
Assemblymen Clifford Crouch 607 648-6080
Albany Times Union 518 454-5694
Kingston Daily Freeman 845 331-5000

Crap like this is annoying. I say shut it down. I am sick of overpaid lazy on the tit state workers using over dramatic scenarios to try and push there agenda. The hill is Jr. Varsity anyways, even for the catskills

 

[Newpylong]

Bellwhere?

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Crap like this is annoying. I say shut it down. I am sick of overpaid lazy on the tit state workers using over dramatic scenarios to try and push there agenda. The hill is Jr. Varsity anyways, even for the catskills

While I don't know about "overpaid on the tit lazy state workers", and I am not a citizen of NY, I am for cuts as hard as they may be. These people who may or may not lose their jobs are either stupid or naive, somebody in the state ranks are getting canned to meet budget requirements. This country is in the shitter right now and cuts must be made on all levels of government. And by them rightfully or wrongly shouting from the hills creating this "dramatic scenerio" they must realize that somebody within the state ranks will get their job axed. So while people from the outside might feel for these workers plight, they must also realize that if it's not the people at Beleayre, it will be somebody else. Of course the way political agenda's and ideology work, I guess they could just keep passing the buck down to the taxpayer and raise taxes! People tend to forget who pays the way for state workers. All this being said, is Belleayre a stable government run operation or does it run in the red? I am guessing that if it was making money/breaking even/not losing much this would not be an issue. Perhaps this is an entity that NY should let go of and see if they can sell it to private investors.

 

[millerm277]

I wish Belleayre was run like a private resort. Namely, the current layoffs have nothing to do with how much or how little profit (or loss), Belleayre makes, as all of the money they make or lose just goes into the general DEC pot. In the same vein, it seems as though their funding is also dished out without regards as to how successful they are.

That's not an intelligent way to run a ski area IMO. And of course, this is all from my limited understanding of how their operations work.

 

[Gnarcissaro]

Bellwhere?

Exactly. AKA, "who gives a crap."

 

[ERJ-145CA]

Exactly. AKA, "who gives a crap."

I give a crap, it's a great place to ski.

 

[catskills]

Exactly. AKA, "who gives a crap."

180,000 skiers and riders a year think its a nice place to ski. I have ridden up the chair lift with skiers from Maryland that tell me Belleayre is one of the best kept ski secrets on the east coast.

If those 180,000 skiers and riders decided to relocate to your favorite place to ski and the lift line doubled in wait time, you might give a crap and have a crap.

 

[ZYDECORICH]

Exactly. AKA, "who gives a crap."

the place is excellent for families on a budget. the beginners area is the best in the area and the step up for learning is perfect. 20 bucks on wed. for a lift ticket.. no crowd... are you kidding me?

 

[Gnarcissaro]

OK, my apologies, I shouldn't lay down a blanket, "who cares." It's always unfortunate to see an area close, people love "their" areas. It's great to have cheap local hills for families and, well, THE LOCALS.

But I'd hazard a guess that a vast majority of skiers and snowboarders in the NE haven't even heard of this place. I'll admit, I hadn't prior to a few weeks ago, and I think I have at least a higher than average lock on, "whats out there." So in that regard, aside from you Joizey, New yawwwk, and mid-atlantic skiers, "who cares." :lol:

And regarding those 180 whatever-thousand skier visits. They won't make it up to where I ride, that's what VT and western MA are for. 8)

 

[x10003q]

While I don't know about "overpaid on the tit lazy state workers", and I am not a citizen of NY, I am for cuts as hard as they may be. These people who may or may not lose their jobs are either stupid or naive, somebody in the state ranks are getting canned to meet budget requirements. This country is in the shitter right now and cuts must be made on all levels of government. And by them rightfully or wrongly shouting from the hills creating this "dramatic scenerio" they must realize that somebody within the state ranks will get their job axed. So while people from the outside might feel for these workers plight, they must also realize that if it's not the people at Beleayre, it will be somebody else. Of course the way political agenda's and ideology work, I guess they could just keep passing the buck down to the taxpayer and raise taxes! People tend to forget who pays the way for state workers. All this being said, is Belleayre a stable government run operation or does it run in the red? I am guessing that if it was making money/breaking even/not losing much this would not be an issue. Perhaps this is an entity that NY should let go of and see if they can sell it to private investors.

This is some nasty commentary. I guess the best way to balance a $136 billion budget with a $1 billion deficit is on the backs of some seasonal hourly workers who might make $10 bucks an hour. They are really going after the big fish. By the way who pays for their unemployment?

New York State has 583 Authorities. All the board members for these Authorities are appointed by the Gov or local elected officials. They have (illegally) borrowed $41 billion without proper voter approval as required by the NY constitution. Here is a place to start fixing the big money drain in NYS. However, I guess it is easier to fire nameless hourly workers instead of all your crony board members who illegally borrowed all that money for your pet projects.

If you want to read about it here is the link:
http://www.cbcny.org/PubAuthorities.pdf

 

[threecy]

This is some nasty commentary. I guess the best way to balance a $136 billion budget with a $1 billion deficit is on the backs of some seasonal hourly workers who might make $10 bucks an hour.

Firstly, nothing has been finalized.

Secondly, the 48 employees notified were allegedly (according to news outlets such as CBS 6) full time, year round (which is amazing for an area that size).

 

[dmc]

WTF? All this drama every year..

Can't they just run the place and make money to pay for staff like everyone else?

Sure it's a great place for to ski.. But it's state run and the state aint got no dough right now. I bet those 180,000 Bellayre skiers would pay extra for a ticket and the higher paid staff would take a cut to save the joint.
I'd consider helping somehow.. If they were trying to raise $.. It does generate revenue for that area.

Anyway - most of them dislike Hunter - so I expect them to end up in Windham or Plattekill.

 

[dmc]

Firstly, nothing has been finalized.

Secondly, the 48 employees notified were allegedly (according to news outlets such as CBS 6) full time, year round (which is amazing for an area that size).

It's no secret that people like to work at Belleayre because it's a Govt. job... A friend of mine had a management job there for a while. They like all the benefits and stuff.. who can blame 'em...

But i wonder what 48 people do all year too...

 

[oakapple]

OK, my apologies, I shouldn't lay down a blanket, "who cares." It's always unfortunate to see an area close, people love "their" areas. It's great to have cheap local hills for families and, well, THE LOCALS.

If Bellayre has 180,000 annual skier-visits, it's more than just the Locals skiing it, unless you define "local" awfully broadly.

And regarding those 180 whatever-thousand skier visits. They won't make it up to where I ride, that's what VT and western MA are for. 8)

Ah...OK, so if a VT or MA ski area makes it onto NELSAP, "who cares?" is the appropriate response for everyone not from there?

 

[dmc]

the place is excellent for families on a budget. the beginners area is the best in the area and the step up for learning is perfect. 20 bucks on wed. for a lift ticket.. no crowd... are you kidding me?

This and the slew of other discounts and free tickets may be one of the reasons it struggles in the face of todays economy..

 

[drjeff]

Firstly, nothing has been finalized.

Secondly, the 48 employees notified were allegedly (according to news outlets such as CBS 6) full time, year round (which is amazing for an area that size).

Exactly about the number of year round employees - in a publically run, publically funded operation, one really has to ask the objective question of how many year round employees do resorts of similar size employee? Just remember if its 48 layoffs there still going to be multiple other year rounders not laid off, so in reality how many year rounders do they have? 60? 70? 80????

Sometimes business descisions aren't pretty, but if it makes the difference between staying open and closing, then tough choices need to be made

 

[o3jeff]

Exactly about the number of year round employees - in a publically run, publically funded operation, one really has to ask the objective question of how many year round employees do resorts of similar size employee? Just remember if its 48 layoffs there still going to be multiple other year rounders not laid off, so in reality how many year rounders do they have? 60? 70? 80????

Sometimes business descisions aren't pretty, but if it makes the difference between staying open and closing, then tough choices need to be made

Good point, 48 full time year, round employees get laid off and they still have enough full timers to run the place, sounds like the state finally caught up with them under wastefull spending. Unfortunately I find it hard to feel sorry for them.

 

[Warp Daddy]

I'm in favor of a concessionaire approach to the resolution of this issue . It seems to provide assurance that it would operate as a business not strictly a service of the public sector . I'm all for regional hills and place that provide family and local access , However in these times the state can no longer afford to "carry" a deficit in ANY agency it operates .

So NOW is the time to GET CREATIVE and try something different . Other states have employed this model