Will ROTA Keep Rolling?

Folk songstresses Giovanina Bucci (left) and Taylor LaValley
helped ROTA raise funds during a recent event.

By Luke T. Bush © 2015

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY – Feb.23, 2015


39 Bridge Street could become another empty storefront.

March might be the last month that ROTA Studios & Gallery will be open at that location.  The rent was doable for the non-profit co-op when it split the expense with a co-tenant.  But the situation became undoable after the co-tenant moved out, leaving ROTA stuck with full rent and utilities.

For years ROTA has offered a space for substance free – all ages events.  Young local musicians cut their teeth at the venue.  It offered an alternative to teens besides wandering the streets, looking for something to do.

Plattsburgh needs a youth center but after some talk years ago: nothing.  ROTA has been the closest to such a center.  But it hasn’t been limited to the young crowd.  The older crowd also enjoys the music programs from melodious folk music to thrashing loud rock.

As a gallery ROTA provided a different spot for area artists to hang their works and just hang around.  You could see the beautiful and the bizarre, sometimes in the same exhibit.

More info at https://www.facebook.com/rotagallery.  The page also offers the option of making a much-needed donation.

Or do you prefer another empty storefront in downtown Plattsburgh, large plywood bandages covering up smashed windows?

Budget Busters Could Mean More Cuts To Public Bus System

By Luke T. Bush  © 2015

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY – Feb. 20, 2015

“Where’s the bus?”

A question that takes on more importance for a rider waiting outside at a stop, exposed to sub-zero winter weather.

CCPT (Clinton County Public Transit) is doing its best to serve North Country riders while dealing with a shortage of qualified drivers.  Sometimes there are unavoidable delays or parts of a scheduled run are missed.

Some North Country residents are unable to drive due to age or disability.  Others with fixed incomes can’t afford a car or even a taxi cab.  They’re dependent on the county’s public bus system that operates within Plattsburgh City and the surrounding area.

Unfortunately the driver shortage might create even more inconvenience for those riders beyond delays or missed runs.

Planning Technician James Bosley didn’t need another hit on the CCPT budget.

He explained via an email interview how difficult it has been to balance the CCPT budget: “The $33,000 ‘shortfall’ [in governmental funding] for the 2013 fiscal year meant that local tax payer dollars had to make up the difference by way of Clinton County’s general fund balance. The $66,000 additional expense of overtime contributed to a 2014 fiscal year ‘shortfall’ which will be about $75,000. This amount will again need to be covered by County general fund balance.”

Another budget buster is the Medicaid takeover.  Under this system clients can take taxis instead of the bus to medical appointments.  Of course most clients prefer riding by cab.

“Medicaid transportation revenues dropped by about $20,000 annually after the takeover,” said James, “and this continues to contribute to the financial situation for CCPT.

In working towards a balanced budget he had to cut out some routes last year.
  
The driver shortage has resulted in bus operators working double shifts, overtime pay eating into the budget.

“This [overtime situation] is about three times the impact that the Medicaid transportation takeover has had on CCPT,” said James.

He notes that the driver shortage is not limited to CCPT.  “I am hearing,” he said, “that public schools and the ARC (Advocacy Resource Center) in the area are having trouble getting drivers as well.”

“The driver shortage is very serious,” James said.  “We were not able to run some of the North City runs last week because there was nobody to drive for an hour or two at a time.”

A private company, First Transit, Inc., is under contract to the county to provide qualified drivers.  It offers training for new drivers but those drivers are not bound to stay with CCPT after completing a course. They can leave and find work with other companies, adding no relief to the bus system’s driver shortage.

Another problem is the turnaround time to get a new driver behind the wheel.  It might take a month or two or longer for before a replacement driver could fill an open position depending upon whether or not if the new hire already has a Class A or Class B license.

The CCPT Planning Technician faces difficult decisions.

“It is possible that there will be route cuts in the near future,” said James.

If that does happen it means a rough ride for everyone involved.

Sensitive Dinosaur Plays Violin At ROTA

You never know who or what you will encounter at the ROTA Studios and Gallery.   ROTA is known for its musical events, all ages, substance free.  Location: 39 Bridge Street, downtown Plattsburgh.  Recently ROTA has found itself in a financial predicament.  A co-tenant moved out and ROTA now has to pay full rent for the space.  Donations are welcome.  More info: https://www.facebook.com/rotagallery .