Moving Ulster Forward: A Year in Review By the Numbers

Posted December 20, 2019

KINGSTON, N.Y. – Since first taking office in June, County Executive Pat Ryan laid out his “Big Five” priorities for Ulster County: A Green New Deal for Ulster County; Tackling the Opioid Epidemic; Growing and Diversifying our Economy for All; Ensuring Justice for All Residents; and Making County Government More Responsive and Responsible, and took historic steps towards achieving these goals.  During his first seven months in office, County Executive Ryan has delivered on his promises for the 180,000 residents of Ulster County - from tackling the opioid epidemic, to investing in renewable energy infrastructure, prioritizing smart economic growth, and more. 

$342.28 MILLION total budget appropriations laid out in County Executive Ryan’s 2020  budget. 

NEARLY $3 MILLION in grant funding necessary to tackling the opioid epidemic in Ulster County. This funding will go towards initiatives focused on decreasing opioid fatalities by 50 percent in two years. 

17,000 VISITORS have utilized the 11.5 miles of the Ashokan Rail Trail which was opened to the public for the first time in over 100 years. 

13,210 FOLLOWERS on social media as a part of the new Connect Ulster initiative. 

ONE-HUNDRED NINETY-SIX days since taking office. 

EIGHTY-TWO ACRES awarded by an Ulster County Court judgment in a proceeding against Tech City developer Alan Ginsberg that grants the County ownership through foreclosure. 

70 PRESS RELEASES put out by the Office of the Ulster County Executive. 

63 PERCENT of voters re-elected County Executive Ryan to a full four-year term. 

23 TOWN HALLS held in every municipality in Ulster County to listen to residents in every corner of the County. 

15 PERCENT increase in funding for the Ulster County Department of the Environment from last year’s Executive budget. This increase will provide more dedicated resources to help implement the County’s Climate Action Plan and remain on the cutting edge in developing and implementing climate and sustainability initiatives.

SEVEN POUNDS TEN OUNCES was the weight of Theodore “Theo” Willem Ryan, born at 5:31 p.m. on Saturday, July 27. Theo is the 6th generation of Ryan’s in Ulster County. 

SEVEN NEW POSITIONS in the Public Defender's office starting in 2020 added to better serve Ulster County residents in need of an attorney. 

FIVE NEW DEPARTMENT HEADS appointed by County Executive Ryan: County Attorney, Office for the Aging, Office of Economic Development, Veteran Services Agency, and the Office of Employment and Training.

THREE COUNTY EXECUTIVES in one year. 

TWO EXECUTIVE ORDERS. County Executive Ryan’s first Executive Order upon taking office was to establish an aggressive goal to supply 100 percent of the electricity consumed by the County’s buildings and fleet from locally-generated, renewable sources by 2030. His second Executive Order set new operating procedures that are designed to halt cooperation with federal immigration officials, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers.

ONE newly created Green Careers Academy. This brand-new initiative in partnership with SUNY Ulster will deliver the skills and expertise needed to land a job in the expanding clean technology industry. 

ONE joint lawsuit with Dutchess County, relating to General Electric’s (GE) PCB cleanup of the Hudson River.

ONE letter to Alan Ginsberg from the EPA holding him personally responsible. 

ONE cease and desist order issued against Saugerties polluter Joseph Karolys.  

FIRST-EVER Director of Opioid Prevention Strategy, Chief Diversity Officer, full-time Youth Bureau Director and Human Rights Commissioner, and Innovation Team and Department of Economic Development.

.25 PERCENT decrease in the tax levy included as a part of the 2020 budget, bringing it to the lowest level in a decade.

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