"Wicked" Made Possible by Democratic Leadership

Check out this great letter to the editor published in the Daily Gazette on December 20.

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Countywide cooperation paved way for ‘Wicked’

"Wicked" coming to Proctors for its month-long run is a huge win for Schenectady County. Like the visit by "Phantom" in 2006, which the Chamber of Schenectady estimated brought in over $10 million to local businesses, downtown merchants are sure to be filled during this holiday season.

Considering the national economy, we need to pause and remember what made this economic renaissance possible. In 2004, Democrats on the Schenectady County Legislature, led by [Chairwoman] Susan Savage, brought in Ray Gillen, a well-known and respected economic development expert, and set out a new plan for countywide economic development.

Proctors became the centerpiece of a rebuilt downtown, with Metroplex investing $10 million, and the Schenectady County Legislature kicking off the fund-raising drive with a grant of $1 million and capping it with a $450,000 grant, along with a 15-year, $200,000-per-year agreement to sustain the centerpiece. It was this support and the theater expansion that made shows like "Phantom" and "Wicked" possible.

The new plan has paid major dividends. From the new Clinton Square, Hampton Inn, and Aperitivo [Bistro] to a rejuvenated Jay Street and Parker Inn, what was a struggling downtown is now the thriving heart of a resurgent county.

While the current economic climate is difficult, we know we have leadership that can weather the economic storms to come because they have a proven track record of doing it before.

Steve Smith
Glenville