It would appear, based on recent reports, that Ulster County may be number one in its proliferation of pot shops.

At 14, we’re currently tied with Dutchess at 14 and ahead of Orange, which sports 12. Both those counties have significantly higher populations than Ulster. Per capita, we’re the most high.

Not to worry, says County Executive Jen Metzger. There are still a lot more bars and liquor stores. In other words, pick your poison.

After losing her state Senate seat in 2020, Metzger was on the cannabis commission that basically set the rules for the establishment and supervision of these outlets.

Continuing the theme as reported by the Freeman, Metzger also praised the pot shops for their opportunities in creating jobs. What she didn't mention was the hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue for the county and localities.

Thoughtful people can debate the hazards of marijuana versus alcohol. For some users, it might be euphoric; for others, who don't use either, it carries a threat to life and limb.

Every Monday morning in the daily we read reports of drunken driving arrests by local police, not so much for drug-related events.

Suffice it to say, anyone impaired while driving is a danger to themselves and anyone else on the road.

There are also increasing concerns of the side effects of today’s dope being several times more potent than what the aging hippies used to consume in the good old days.

For public officials to extol its virtues, to me it just doesn't make sense.

Leachate and the Mayor

A few weeks ago Riverwatch issued a report on leachates in the public water supply. The red flags the environmental protection organization raised reminded me of the small American flags that graced the front lawn of City Hall last month for the country's 250th anniversary.

I was mistaken in reporting that leachates were leaking into the ground from these capped landfills.

RRA officials advised that the leachate from those landfills is collected in holding tanks and is delivered to the Kingston plant, where it is then dumped in the Hudson River.

Mayor Steve Noble, himself one of the county's leading environmentalists, expressed "serious concern" about these toxic materials, in addition to what Riverwatch referred to as thousands of "forever chemicals.”

As state law only requires the identification of two of these hazardous chemicals, as detailed in the Riverwatch study, there are no plans by the city to upgrade its processing plant. Rather, the mayor suggests the state should establish procedures on the site of these landfills to deal with these issues. He did not indicate that he thought the county or the RRA should be tasked with this responsibility. The RRA was deeply involved in attempting to establish a countywide landfill but is now pushing a “zero waste” philosophy and, presumably, hoping like hell the landfill in Seneca Meadows which takes all our trash doesn’t close.

Virtue Signaling

The county legislature has approved and the executive has signed a bill that would allow for a 50 percent reduction for those who are in the fortunate position of being recipients of subsidized housing.

Under programs long in effect, people of a certain minimal income can purchase at a very steep discount single family homes constructed by, among other agencies, Habitat for Humanity. It's a really, really good deal for those who otherwise would have almost no hope of ever owning their own home.

A two bedroom that would typically cost over $400,000 in today's market would be sold for $100,000 to these fortunate few.

The county doubled down in granting those folks a 50 percent reduction in county taxes. It does not include school or other local taxes.

County property taxes typically account for about 16 percent of the annual tax bills people receive.

I asked a county legislator just how much of a saving this would mean to the homeowners. The answer, after a few this and thats, was about $80 a year.

Match that $80 with the 50 percent tax break just approved and what do you get? Virtue signaling.