Picente points to agriculture, mental health in State of County address: 5 key takeaways

Gun violence, strengthening youth support systems, dairy farming and agriculture and renewable energy were among the main topics Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. spoke about Wednesday during his annual State of the County address.

Picente also used the opening portions of his speech to note the history of Oneida County – 2023 is the county’s 225 anniversary – and take a bit of a victory lap concerning his past accomplishments as county executive.

He once again touted the U-District and development going on in Baggs Square in downtown Utica. Picente further talked about the possible ongoing development of these areas.

Wednesday’s speech took place at the newly minted Munson. Formerly known as Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute (MWPAI), Munson announced its new name, along with a vision for upgrades to its campus, last week.

“Look around this county,” Picente said. “It is different, but we need to continue.”

“In every address, I’ve asked you to join me in this work, and you have. And that is the difference today. The state of Oneida County is strong. Stronger perhaps than any time in our history. Strong because we built a foundation of fiscal stability that has allowed real investment. Strong because we take care of all our people. Strong because when we are challenged, we respond and when we are told it can’t be done, we don’t buy it for a minute.”

'Gun violence is a major issue'

One of the first major points in Picente’s speech was issues he said the county is dealing with due to issues with Albany – namely bail reform. Picente tied bail reform to gun violence, something he said cannot be ignored.

“Gun violence is a major issue that cannot go unaddressed,” Picente said. “I’m announcing today actions I believe will help make our community safer as we continue to work with our state representatives to get this law changed.”

Picente said the county would install security cameras at all county-owned or affiliated facilities and high-crime, high density main streets throughout the community, pointing to Oneida Square in Utica as an example.

The county executive further noted the creation of an inner-city outreach program, stating many young adults are not connecting with the opportunities that are all around them. Picente said enrollment in the programs is a great challenge for the county.

Youth support from mental health to hunger

During his speech Picente noted mental health issues the county faces, including those of the county’s youth and teens. Some of those, issues, Picente said, were reflected in a Teen Assessment Project (TAP) survey, which highlighted some of the consequences and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on junior and senior high school students.

Quoting from survey results, Picente said 37% stopped doing their usual activities. Twenty-five percent felt they had no one to talk to, 22% engaged in self harm, 13% considered attempting suicide and over half of students experienced changes in their eating and sleeping habits during the pandemic.

School staff are engaged with students trying to address these serious issues, Picente said, but they need more assistance.

Picente said Watson Williams Elementary School Principal and President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Dr. Cheryl Beckett Minor, recently requested funding from Oneida County for the Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack program, which supplies meals and snacks, free of charge, over weekends and during breaks for students at the school.

Picente proposed expanding the program across the county.

“No child should go hungry,” he said. “No child should feel they have no one to talk to. And certainly, no child should feel they have to harm themselves or consider making a fatal decision.

“Strengthening support systems for these children will create better opportunities in their lives and in this community long term. When that opportunity is not there, the outcomes are disastrous. Every child deserves a real chance to reach their potential.”

Strengthening Oneida County's agriculture industry

Picente said the county would continue to strengthen its agriculture industry – placing an emphasis on dairy.

This year, the county made a $50,000 commitment to transform the 2018 Dairy Sustainability Action Plan to encompass all of agriculture, with the help of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Picente said.

The county will commission a feasibility study for additional dairy processing plants in Oneida County. Farmers need to know if additional processing is possible, Picente said.

The county executive further said he has instructed the county’s Planning Department to work with Cornell, co-ops, the Farm Bureau and other partners to create an emergency fund to safeguard dairy farmer’s bottom lines in a worst-case scenario — Picente highlighted milk dumping which occurred during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know the hardships faced by our county dairy farmers,” he said. “They have constraints forced upon them unlike any other industry.

“They don’t set the price of their milk. They have very little room to negotiate and are left out of a market-based system while taking on many of the costs and risks associated with the selling of milk.”

Solar energy's role in Oneida County

Picente used a portion of his speech to talk about renewable energy, specifically solar.

He noted his opposition to the newly created state Office of Renewable Energy Sitting, which he said paved the way to turn thousands of acres of prime farmland into solar panels, without giving local governments a say.

“I am in no way against renewable energy,” Picente said. “Just last year, we released our own electric vehicle charging station plan. We have our own solar projects. We have passed benchmarking laws and we have made our buildings more energy efficient.

“What I am against is this idea that Albany knows better than Camden or Deerfield or Marshall when it comes to how we want to develop our community. They do it with no regard to our land, our region or our future. It must stop.”

Picente noted agriculture is Oneida County’s largest industry and said there is developmental pressure associated solar energy and farmlands.

This is something the county takes seriously, Picente said.

The Oneida County Board of Legislators recently established a special committee looking at solar farms in the county, and is expected to come back with its recommendations later this year.

Picente said there are two local laws he hopes to see pass.

First, a local law requiring companies to have decommissioning and soil remediation plans for every project. Second, a local law that includes a PILOT program directing these projects to places where they make sense, away from prime soil, and toward brownfield and former landfill sites and other areas in that same vein.

“These are two common sense steps that allow solar energy to be created while still protecting our land and communities,” Picente said. “We must never forget that once our natural resources are despoiled, it is impossible to get them back.”

Anthony Picente proposes expanding U-District

Picente proposed the U-District, a sports and entertainment area in downtown Utica, five years ago.

Plan for the U-District originally included the Adirondack Bank Center and the soon-to-be-completed Nexus Center. On Wednesday, Picente talked of expanding the district, to include and encompass all of the historic Bagg's Square area.

Last year, Picente proposed a U-District Redevelopment Corporation to streamline, direct and facilitate public and private investment in the area.

On Wednesday, Picente talked about wanting to collect data on how best to develop the area.

He suggested launching a visitor survey to collect actionable data from those visiting Nexus. This data would be about what is needed around the venue, not within, Picente said.

“We want to hear from them,” Picente said. “Not necessarily on what is or isn’t inside the building, we know that gets the highest marks.

“We want to hear from them on what should be happening outside the building. What did they enjoy? What did they dislike? Where can we be better? What would help connect Nexus to the rest of the district, city and county? This can only assist the county, developers, and entrepreneurs as they look to invest and capitalize on this crucial asset.”

Picente further stated two ways to further incentivize private development around the district: holding a developmental challenge allowing potential developers to pitch ideas as if they were on the hit ABC show “Shark Tank," and creating an “opportunity zone” in the Bagg’s Square Improvement District.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Anthony Picente delivers 2023 State of Oneida County address