Access is Important, But Not Necessarily to the Waterfront

Access, or lack of access, to a roughly two-acre strip of waterfront property is stirring up controversy in the Town of Red Hook, and as a candidate for County Legislator in this district, my view is that the issue may leave us stuck in the mud. While I support the idea of public waterfront access, the opaque legislative process that appears to have taken place at the town level, is frankly, not a good look for Democrats, especially when we should be focusing on other kinds of access—namely to healthcare, EMT services, childcare, affordable housing, services for seniors, and other matters essential to sustaining the quality of life in this community.

Without getting into all the details, the Boat Club conflict has triggered two lawsuits, including one in federal court alleging constitutional violations stemming from the Board’s apparently punitive and targeted legislative action. If that case has merit, not only could it last years, but it implies the kind of backroom conduct we Democrats should oppose at every level of government. And when all is said and done, and the acrimony among neighbors remains, it is not at all clear that the small property at the end of a narrow street could be affordably and reasonably adapted to accommodate a significant number of public visitors.

Meanwhile, I think we should focus on access that really matters...

ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
Over 40% of rural hospitals in New York operate at a loss, with many at risk of closure due to staffing shortages and financial instability (Healthcare Association of New York State, 2023: hanys.org). Dutchess County has been federally designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) in several key disciplines, putting basic care out of reach for many residents (HRSA, 2024: data.hrsa.gov). Recruiting and retaining providers must be a countywide priority.

ACCESS TO CHILDCARE
According to the Center for American Progress, 61% of residents in Dutchess County live in areas considered childcare deserts, where demand drastically exceeds supply (CAP, 2021: childcaredeserts.org). For families with children under five, this gap is not only a logistical challenge—it forces parents, especially mothers, to reduce work hours or leave the workforce entirely, which exacerbates gender inequity and hurts the local economy.

ACCESS TO EMT SERVICES
A 2023 report by the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services found that volunteer EMS agencies across New York are experiencing a 50% decline in active volunteers over the past decade, leading to delayed emergency response, especially in rural areas like ours (NYS DHSES, 2023: dhses.ny.gov). In parts of northern Dutchess County, EMT response times now exceed 20 minutes, well beyond the critical window for trauma and cardiac emergencies.

ACCESS TO SENIOR SERVICES
The population over 65 in Dutchess County increased by 29.2% between 2010 and 2020 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020: census.gov). Yet services like transportation assistance, meal delivery, and in-home support have not scaled to meet this demand. AARP New York has reported that over 75% of older adults wish to age in place, but many are unable to do so without adequate support services (AARP NY, 2022: aarp.org).

ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Housing affordability has deteriorated across the Hudson Valley. In Dutchess County, over 52% of renters are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of income on housing (Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, 2023: pattern-for-progress.org). Meanwhile, local housing construction has not kept pace with need, and existing affordable units are disappearing due to market pressure and lax preservation efforts.

Finally, we have yet to see exactly how the chaotic and anti-democratic policies of the Trump administration will make these and other challenges even more difficult. In that light, and at this time, we cannot afford distractions and infighting. We need to focus on the issues that are essential to a sustainable community, and with particular attention to the most vulnerable members.

Greater public access to the waterfront has been on the wish list in this region for decades—not because of one boat club, but because of geography and a railroad that runs along the Eastern shore. I would love to see a transparent and amicable resolution to this conflict in Red Hook, but in the meantime, most of us need access to more important things.

Troy Haley

Democratic Candidate

Dutchess Country Legislature District 20

Tivoli/Red Hook/Rhinebeck